The Inquirer (Monrovia)
10 November 2008
The membership of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) over the weekend elected a new leadership that would run the affairs of the union for a two-year term.
A total of 245 members voted in the process, although there were over 260 journalists on the registered voter listing.
Mr. Peter Quaqua, the incumbent Secretary General of the union, was elected as president over Mr. Bernard Waritay, a former Deputy Minister of Information for Administration, who represented the union in the Transitional Government, headed by Charles Gyude Bryant.
According to the results of the poll released by the James Kiazolu's Elections Commission, Mr. Quaqua got a total of 137 votes over Mr. Waritay who obtained 107.
It was the second time Mr. Waritay had contested for the position having lost in his first attempt during the past elections two years ago, to clinch the position against the union's incumbent president, George Barpeen.
Mr. Jacob Parley, who is the Editor-In-Chief of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), won the position of Vice President on while ballot.
For the position of Secretary General, which had four contestants, journalist Philip Sandi formerly of ELBC and Radio Veritas, defeated his three rivals, Jallah Grayfield, Philip Moore and George Watkins.
Mr. Sandi got a total of 120 votes followed by journalist Grayfield who came second with 69 votes. Journalist Philip Moore became third with 38votes while George Watkins dropped at the bottom with a total of 15 votes.
Mrs. Melissa Chea- Annan, a senior female staff of this paper won the position of Assistant Secretary on white ballot.
As for the position of Assistant Secretary General, the union's incumbent Financial Secretary General, Mr. Joshua Kpenneh retained his position over journalist Moses Wonyou of Star Radio.
Speaking after the process, defeated presidential aspirant, Bernard Waritay welcomed and accepted the results and promised to work with the new leadership for the betterment of the union. Other journalists who lost in the process also welcomed the results and promised to work with the Peter Quaqua's leadership.
Commenting on the union's electoral process, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf congratulated journalists for the peaceful and matured manner in which they conducted the process.
The state broadcast station, ELBC quoted the President in an interview with the press at her Sinkor residence that her government is prepared to work with the new PUL leadership in the interest of the nation.
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