30 October 2008
Documents and reports obtained by The Analyst's investigative reporters suggest that Sinoe Country Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby may be at the epicenter of a major financial syndicate in Sinoe County.
When news of the illegal withdrawal of US $25,000 from the county's development funds broke out in late September, following five months of hush-hush, the Minister Internal Affairs ordered an immediate probe.
The Analyst's documents and reports, which are part of investigations conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), indicate that on May 22, 2008 Superintendent Grisgby surreptitiously withdrew an amount of US$25,000 from the Sinoe County Development Account at the ECOBANK in Monrovia.
The MIA investigation report did not say why the money was withdrawn from the account and how it was used, but it indicated that the amount was withdrawn without the approval of the Sinoe County Sinoe County Development Council and obviously for extra-budgetary purposes.
The report revealed that the amount in question was siphoned through a private company called the Sinoe Trust of which he (Supt. Grisgby) is the Board Chairman. The cheque was signed by the superintendent and co-signed by the wife of his brother who is said to be the county treasurer and also a signatory to the County Development Account.
According to the MIA report, Superintendent Grisgby also circumvented and in some instances ignored the processes and procedures put in place by the Budget Law and the MIA for the withdrawal of money from the County Development Accounts.
The Budget Law states that the Development Superintendent is signatory A-1 to the Account and that the Superintendent will only sign cheques in the absence of the Development Superintendent.
In this particular case, it said, not only did the superintendent ignore the Budget Law but that he also concealed the entire US$25,000 withdrawal transaction from the Development Superintendent until the deal was uncovered.
"The US$25,000 cheque was processed without the knowledge and consent of the development superintendent who is signatory A-1 to the account," the report revealed.
The Budget Law and MIA regulations also forbid the withdrawal and utilization of County Development Funds for initiatives that have not been approved by the County Development Council.
The MIA investigation report then noted that on these accounts, the US$25,000 expenditure was clearly outside of the budget approved for the implementation of the county development projects.
For such misdirected expenditure, the MIA report has called for action to be taken against those on the County Development Fund Management Team who failed to adhere to the policies governing the use of the fund.
Our reporters also gathered that unlike other transactions, the withdrawal of the US$25,000 was never reported by the county authorities in all of the reports it submitted to the MIA subsequent to the transaction.
The MIA report however noted that Superintendent Grisgby apologetically admitted to authorizing the withdrawal of the US$25,000 and revealing that he and his sister-in-law, Francis Modusu, signed the controversial cheques and used the money to purchase rice for resale in Sinoe County through the Sinoe Trust Company of which the superintendent is board chairman.
When the MIA team of investigators reportedly requested the superintendent to produce documentary evidence affirming the use of the money, he produced receipts only accounting for US$17,000, leaving the balance of US$8,000 to account for.
"Receipts were produced for the purchase of rice valued at US$15,000, while US$2,000 was paid for freight," the report said.
According to the report, documents were also displayed indicating that Sinoe Trust Company was credited the amount in question in May 2008 as loan to be reimbursed to the County Development Fund on/or before May 2009. To date, no part of the loan has been paid.
The report also established that there is no loan agreement/payment plan between the County Project Management Committee and the Sinoe Trust Company.
In the event the loan is not paid, which is most likely, funds already earmarked for projects will not be disbursed and that these projects will either not be completed or will not even get started. Meanwhile, the MIA scandal investigation team has recommended several measures to account for the money.
Prominent among the recommendations is that "a spot audit be conducted into the Sinoe Development Fund to check compliance with GAAP."
Also recommended is that the "Sinoe Trust Company be made to pay interest on the loan and that all signatories to the County Development Fund be warned to refrain from spending funds from the account outside of the approved budget, and more so, without following the procedures outlined."
Another key recommendation of the report is that the superintendent, Sylvester Grisgby be reprimanded for the misapplication of entrusted funds.
Observers believe that this recommendation of the committee is pivotal and borders on criminality. Under the Criminal laws of Liberia, misapplication of entrusted funds is a criminal offense and that the recommendation that the superintendent be reprimanded for such is now another test case for the political will of the Government of President Sirleaf.
Meanwhile, this paper has learned credibly that news about the withdrawal of US$25,000 from the County Development Account by orders of the Superintendent as a non-interest loan to a private firm for one calendar year has been greeted with frustration and disappointment by many Sinoe citizens spoken to by this paper.
According to them, Superintendent Grisgby has abandoned the county and was now operating from a make-shift hideout in the NARDA Building on Johnson Street, Monrovia whence he attends important meetings or meets high profile county guests in Greenville.
The Analyst made several attempts, without success, to contact Superintendent Grisgby to respond to the Sinoe citizen's allegation.
When this paper contacted the office of the Chairman of the Sinoe County Legislative Caucus, Senior Senator Mobutu Nyenpan, our reporter was told that he was not in office and that he was recuperating from a minor surgery.
Two other members of the caucus, representatives Jefferson Karmon and Timothy Davis, were said to be out of the country. However, this paper has gathered that the Sinoe Legislative Caucus is not a signatory to the County Development Account.
Observers say if Superintendent Grisgby's illegal cash withdrawal from the country's redevelopment fund is to warrant prosecution for corruption, it must be established whether the act is a theft of property or misapplication of county funds.
It can be recalled that the Superintendent of Bong County was recently suspended by President Sirleaf for similar alleged acts of financial impropriety related to the Bong County Development Funds.
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Sinoe Citizens Unhappy Over Media Report 2008-11-03 By: Charles B. Yates A-cross section of citizens from Sinoe County has expressed dissatisfaction over recent media reports which allegedly linked the Superintendent to allege financial impropriety.
The citizens said since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government; the county has begun experiencing major development progress as compared to previous governments.
Speaking to this paper, the citizens observed that the current county officials are performing extremely well to improve the developmental image of the county and that they were surprised that some dishonest elements are bent on undermining the ongoing progress of the county.
The citizens said these unpatriotic citizens are trying to divert the attention of the people of Sinoe County.
“We are not going to undermine this administration and if anyone thinks he or she can stage a movement to undermine the superintendent and his progressive staff, that person will not succeed,” the citizens told the Inquirer.
The citizens said that latest media report of financial impropriety which linked Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby to be the private owner of the Sinoe Trust is far from the truth.
In an effort to establish the truth, the Inquirer launched an investigation over the week-end and it was discovered that the Sinoe Trust is the sole property of the Sinoe County.
According to our investigation, the Sinoe Trust was established with the endorsement of the Sinoe Legislative Caucus and agreed upon by the majority of the county senior citizens both in Liberia and in the United State.
The business license and Article of Incorporation also confirmed the legal ownership of the company as Sinoe County.
The Sinoe Trust is a company 100% owned by Sinoe County with all of the county legislative caucus being members on the board.
Our investigation also shows that all the commissioners and most of the prominent citizens of the county are also members of the trustee.
“If anyone from the caucus or the local government comes out to say that they are not signatory or aware of the Sinoe Trust, then that person should be considered a traitor,” the citizens said.
The citizens further clarified that the US$25,000 that was withdrawn from the county’s account was intended to invest in the county’s own company.
The Sinoe citizens noted that the amount was withdrawn from the account as a loan to facilitate other business plans of the county’s company and in return the profit would be added to the county’s budget for the development of the county.
The Inquirer’s investigation shows that some officials of the county are against the operation of the Sinoe Trust as a local newspaper over the weekend reportedly linked the Superintendent to a huge sum of US 25,000 impropriety.
According to the Sinoe citizens, since the seating of the UP-led government, major developments are taking place in the county and other counties across Liberia as compared to previous governments.
Sinoe Citizens Unhappy Over Media Report 2008-11-03 By: Charles B. Yates A-cross section of citizens from Sinoe County has expressed dissatisfaction over recent media reports which allegedly linked the Superintendent to allege financial impropriety.
The citizens said since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government; the county has begun experiencing major development progress as compared to previous governments.
Speaking to this paper, the citizens observed that the current county officials are performing extremely well to improve the developmental image of the county and that they were surprised that some dishonest elements are bent on undermining the ongoing progress of the county.
The citizens said these unpatriotic citizens are trying to divert the attention of the people of Sinoe County.
“We are not going to undermine this administration and if anyone thinks he or she can stage a movement to undermine the superintendent and his progressive staff, that person will not succeed,” the citizens told the Inquirer.
The citizens said that latest media report of financial impropriety which linked Superintendent Sylvester Grisgby to be the private owner of the Sinoe Trust is far from the truth.
In an effort to establish the truth, the Inquirer launched an investigation over the week-end and it was discovered that the Sinoe Trust is the sole property of the Sinoe County.
According to our investigation, the Sinoe Trust was established with the endorsement of the Sinoe Legislative Caucus and agreed upon by the majority of the county senior citizens both in Liberia and in the United State.
The business license and Article of Incorporation also confirmed the legal ownership of the company as Sinoe County.
The Sinoe Trust is a company 100% owned by Sinoe County with all of the county legislative caucus being members on the board.
Our investigation also shows that all the commissioners and most of the prominent citizens of the county are also members of the trustee.
“If anyone from the caucus or the local government comes out to say that they are not signatory or aware of the Sinoe Trust, then that person should be considered a traitor,” the citizens said.
The citizens further clarified that the US$25,000 that was withdrawn from the county’s account was intended to invest in the county’s own company.
The Sinoe citizens noted that the amount was withdrawn from the account as a loan to facilitate other business plans of the county’s company and in return the profit would be added to the county’s budget for the development of the county.
The Inquirer’s investigation shows that some officials of the county are against the operation of the Sinoe Trust as a local newspaper over the weekend reportedly linked the Superintendent to a huge sum of US 25,000 impropriety.
According to the Sinoe citizens, since the seating of the UP-led government, major developments are taking place in the county and other counties across Liberia as compared to previous governments.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
PRESS STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR SYLVESTER M. GRIGSBY SUPERINTENDENT OF SINOE COUNTY October 31, 2008
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS:
I DO NOT MAKE IT A HABIT TO REACT TO PRESS REPORTS. I BELIEVE OUR WORK SHOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF CONSIDERING THE DEPTHS FROM WHICH THIS COUNTRY IS EMERGING. ALSO, AS A FORMER PUBLISHER OF A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER I HOLD STRONG VIEWS ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM AND THE TRUTH. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE GROUND WILL ALWAYS RISE AGAIN.
I AM HOWEVER CONSTRAINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE PUBLICATION IN THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER TODAY AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET. THE ARTICLE DID NOT CARRY A BY-LINE NOR DID IT STICK TO STRAIGHT REPORTING. IT THEREFORE APPEARS TO REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE NEWSPAPER AND ONE CAN ASSUME IT WAS AN EDITORIAL.
I AM SURE DISCERNING READERS WILL NOTE FROM THE CHECK PRINTED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IT WAS ISSUED TO SINOETRUST WITH A MEMORANDUM FOR COUNTY INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY.
SINOETRUST IS A 100% OWNED ENTITY OF SINOE COUNTY. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY SO AS TO AVOID WHAT I OFTEN REFER TO AS THE SISYPHUS TRAP OF DEVELOPMENT AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING. IN THAT SCENARIO, YOU UNDERTAKE INCREMENTAL PROGRAMS WITH VERY LIMITED AND SCARCE RESOURCES. BY THE TIME YOU REACH THE STAGE WHERE THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD HAVE IMPACT BENEFITS BECOME WIPED OUT AND THE PROGRAMS HAVE TO BE REHABILITATED AS IF THEY WERE BEING DONE ALL OVER AGAIN.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DECISION TO TAKE THE AMOUNT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. I TOOK THAT DECISION AS HEAD OF THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A RICE FACILITY TO GUARANTEE CONSTANT SUPPLY OF RICE ON THE COUNTY MARKET AND ENSURE THAT THERE WERE NO WILD SWINGS IN THE PRICE OF THIS VITAL COMMODITY DURING THE RAINY SEASON. IT WAS A DECISION TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF SINOE. I FELT EXTREMELY BAD DURING MY FIRST RAINY SEASON AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE COUNTY THERE WAS A SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE IN THE COUNTY. PEOPLE FORMED LINES, WITH CUPS AND PANS, TO BUY RICE. ONE CUP OF RICE THAT YEAR SOLD FOR 50 LD. WE HAVE BAD ROADS IN THE SOUTHEAST. DURING THE RAINS ROADS CUT AND BRIDGES COLLAPSE. TRUCK DRIVERS REFUSE TO CARRY GOODS THERE. PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THEREFORE SKYROCKET OFTEN OUT OF THE REACH OF PEOPLE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN 2007 BECAUSE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER KING AKERELE NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNMIL VESSEL TO TRANSPORT MUCH OF THE RICE TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE RAINS THAT YEAR. THIS YEAR, A VESSEL SANK AT THE PIER OF THE PORT OF GREENVILLE AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OTHER VESSELS TO BERTH IN GREENVILLE.
THE PRESIDENT INTERVENED FOR THE MAJOR RICE DEALERS TO OPEN DEPOTS IN THE COUNTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST. HOWEVER, THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT SENT BY FOUTA WENT DOWN WITH THE VESSEL THAT SANK AT THE PIER.
AS A MATTER OF FACT THE FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF RICE UNDER THE FACILITY STAYED IN THE BOAT IN MONROVIA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH HOPING THE PORT WOULD REOPEN. WE THEN HAD TO REVERT TO SENDING RICE BY ROAD IN SMALLER QUANTITIES WHICH PROVED QUITE EXPENSIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN MADE OF THE LOAN ASPECT OF THE MONEY WITH DRAWN FROM THE CDF. IT WAS ACTUALLY A FUNGIBLE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE EXPECTED MONEY TO COME IN FOR THE TRUST. WE THEREFORE TOOK THE AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED WHEN WE RECEIVE THE MONEY EXPECTED. IT WAS NOT A LOAN IN THE STRICTEST SENSE OF THE WORD.
ONE LAST POINT. THE TREASURER OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PMC) WAS ELECTED DURING THE SPECIAL COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING HELD IN GREENVILLE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008; SO WERE ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PMC. THE TREASURER WAS NOT PUT THERE BECAUSE SHE IS MY SISTER IN LAW. TO INSINUATE THAT IS AN INSULT TO MRS. MONDUBUE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN A COUNTY THAT IS LARGELY MALE DOMINATED.
My comment has to do with the intention of Superintendent Grigsby when he withdrew the US $25,000.00 from the county's account. Perhaps, Grigsby intention was good, but he went about it the wrong way because corruption in Liberia is a serious threat to our security as a nation. If the goal was to generate additional fund for the county, why the superintendent didn't follow the required procedures that are already in place? Secondly, to have relatives who are signatory to a public account is not a good thing because of the kind of message it sends. For example, according to the news, the Superintendent and a close relative signed the check without the knowledge of the Development Superintendent. Do you see corruption here? Bong County Superintendent was just suspended for similar act which is being investigated.
My advice here is that public officials and ordinary Liberians must work to protect their own integrity because no one will protect it for you if you show lack of judgement by your action.
Based on recent plays with the treasury and other indicia of SOUPISM, I am now reasonably convinced that the territory of Liberia is a SOUPIST OCCUPIED ENTITY, a lemma of my theory of the territoriality of the African State.
Sir, writing is an act, an intentional act; as such, it requires judgmmnt/and judgement requires reflection/and reflection requires GROUNDS thereof: what then are the reflective grounds of your judgment that the soupist occupied territory of Liberia is a "nation"?
I await a reasoned, theoretical response, not a Websterian or lexica grounded response. To you Sir,
Kindest Felicitations.
Glad that actions has been taken to address allege misappropriation of funds. I found the practice of individuals making use of public funds for their personal use not only selfish; but also irresponsible. i applaud the investigative reports of the anlysts newspaper and call on them to continue to bring to the open these shady deals that can only reaffirm our nation's place in the backwater. Last time Superintendent for Bong County was suspended on similar allegations; i call on the president to suspend superintendent Grisgby, to signify her zero tolerance policy on corruption