The Inquirer (Monrovia)
31 December 2008
In keeping with its tradition, the INQUIRER Newspaper has selected and recognized several personalities and institutions for their exemplary roles in the year 2008.
This exercise has been based on the invaluable contributions these selected individuals and institutions have made over the one year for the good of humanity and our common patrimony, Liberia.
The INQUIRER did solicit the views of the public, which was received through entries delivered to the paper's office on Gurley Street over the past few weeks. We believe the selection carried out by the senior editors of the paper will meet your expectation.
The Inquirer takes great pleasure to reserve the right to withdraw its recognition from any of the honorees who fails to live up to expectation. Now, considering the tedious task involved in carrying out the exercise as we pat the backs of our senior editors for the good work done, we have the profound honor to present our personalities and institutions of the year 2008 as appended below:
Ailing Archbishop Michael Francis, Missing Voice in the Society; Liberty Party flag bearer Charles Brumskine and Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh of the ADP are our Politicians of the Year; President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Most Focused Politician of the Year, Ambassador Dew Mason, Investor of the Year, Mr. George Haddah, Most Determined Businessman of the Year, Governor Mills Jones, Administrator of the Year and Mr. John Morlu of the General Auditing Commission as the News Maker of the Year.
Others are LBDI Bank of the Year, Mr. Upjit Jeety, Silent Educator of the Year, Minister Chris Toe, Minister of the Year, Mr. Kofi Woods, Most Determined Public Servant of the Year, Minister Brownie Samukai, Disciplinarian of the Year, Madam Julia Duncan Cassell, Superintendent of the Year; Scrap Dealer Association of Liberia, Business Institution of the Year, Liberty Party and Unity Party, Political Parties of the Year, Mr. Joseph Cornomia, Out Spoken Politician of the Year, Hon. Sam Page and Edwin Gaye, Lawmakers of the Year, Mr. Andrew Dackie Allakamenin, Deputy Minister of the Year.
The Inquirer has also honored the Concerned Christian Community (CCC), as our Relief Group of the Year; CBL, Financial Institution of the Year, Monrovia Transit Authority, Public Corporation of the Year; His Honor Yusuf Kabba, Judge of the Year, Mother Esther Nyemah, Religious Leader of the Year, Talking Drum Studio (TDS), Peace Promoter of the Year; Col. Chris Massaquoi, Security Officer of the Year, Mrs. Kanvee Gains Adams, Musician of the Year, COMIUM, GSM Company of the Year, Commissioner of the Year, John Stewart, Women Group of the Year, Association of Female Lawyers (AFELL), Women of the Year, Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull and Legislative Aide of the Year, Mr. Darius Dillion.
Others honored include, Commissioner Meekie Gray, Police Officer of the Year, Firestone, Company of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, Mr. Marouf Mansour, Educator of the Year, Jene Bell Manning of the AME University, Concession Company of the Year, AcellorMittal; Scrap Company of the Year, Green Pasture and Managing Director of the Year, Abraham Simon.
Politicians of the Year
Our politicians of the Year Award this year is being shared by Liberty Party (LP) political leader, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine and Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh of the Alliance for Peace and Democracy (APD)
Cllr. Brumskine, during the year under-review, openly engaged the government vocally and insisted in correcting what many Liberians saw as bad policies. Dr. Tipoteh for his part constructively engaged government especially the President of Liberia through his sound writing and communications to the media. His, was always an advice that could lead the way to good governance.
Most Outspoken Opposition Politician of the Year
Bong County former Representative, Joseph N. Cornomia Sr, did not hesitate to point out government's short-falls during the year under-review. He exposed corruption in and out of government especially the Mamba Point land case which is causing the Government of Liberia (GOL) thousands of United States dollars in losses but to the benefit of few officials.
Political Parties of the Year
Undoubtedly, our political parties of the year are the Liberty Party (LP) and the Unity Party (UP). During the year under-review, the Liberty Party was prepared at all times to collaborate with the policies of government and the ruling Unity Party by giving solutions that could be better for the citizenry.
The Unity Party, in correcting some of its weaknesses, instituted some changes in its leadership structure which automatically saw the emergence of a youthful but experienced head of its secretariat. The party had since continued to articulate its policies in the interest of the people since then.
Commissioner of the Year
Our commissioner of the year is Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Commissioner John Stewart who during the TRC hearing seriously took on witnesses and perpetrators no matter what their status in the society. He fearlessly took on the witnesses, victims and perpetrators in a constructive but tough manner that their true color during the crisis came out for Liberians and the international community to see. He fearlessly asked them questions that other commissioners never dared.
Woman of the Year
Our Woman of the Year is TRC Commissioner Pearl Brown-Bull as she stood the test of time in making the historical aspect of the TRC very relevant to Liberians and the International Community. Her steadfastness and eloquence unveiled the typical Liberian womanhood as if it was in the years of Liberia's importance among the comity of nations. She is not only outspoken but stands in the vanguard of properly executing her duties in a way that can bring pride to every woman.
Legislative Aide of the Year
The INQUIRER has selected Mr. Dairus Dilion as its Legislative aide of the year. Mr. Dilion was selected based on his pragmatic performance in speaking out against the ills in society during the year in review.
He has been vocal on the issues of selective justice allegedly being practiced by the government in prosecuting former government officials who are accused of corruption when people in the present administration are involved in corruption and are not being prosecuted.
Company of the Year
The INQUIRER, after a discreet search to find its Company of the Year, landed in Harbel and selected Firestone Liberia as its Company of the Year. It is no secret that in 2008, Firestone continue to carry out improvement starting with its collective bargaining agreement with its employees.
The company continues to move up the rungs of the ladder by improving the working condition of its workers, its educational system, housing facilities, and recently the reopening of the Duside Hospital that has been down for years due to the civil war. We applaud this company for a job well done in 2008 and hope such goodwill would continue in the future.
Business Association Of The Year
The Liberia Scrap Association (LSA) is our business association of the year. This association has been very reconstructive in engaging the government of Liberia when it comes to the association's relationship with the government.
Despite the imposed ban on the association by the government of Liberia, the association has been very peaceful in engaging the government. The scrap association leadership exhibited complete control over its membership during the ban.
Most Determined Public Servant
The Minister of Labor, Att. Samuel Kofi Woods is our most determined public servant of the year. Minister Woods has been very instrumental in rebuilding the labor image of Liberia with the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Additionally, Minister Woods, in recent time has led the campaign for youth employment throughout the country. He is also credited for initiating the Liberia Emergency Employment Program (LEEP), a program that seeks to provide job opportunities for many youths in the country.
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