President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dismissed the Auditor-General of the General Auditing Commission (GAC), Robert Kilby and the Director-General of the General Services Agency (GSA), Ms. Pearine Davis-Parkinson, for non-compliance with, or violation of, public financial management and procurement laws.
In an unrelated matter involving human trafficking, the Liberian leader has also dismissed the Deputy Minister of Justice for Administration and Public Safety, Col. Freddie Taylor; the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration for Operations, Mr. Robert Budy; and the Director of Border Management, Cllr. Wilson Garpeh.
She has suspended, pending an investigation, the Deputy Minister for Public Works for Operations, Mr. Victor Smith, for failure to adhere to the public procurement and financial rules relating to the awarding of construction contracts.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf, in a brief nationwide address, said that after reviewing documentary evidence, "I am today formally requesting the concurrence of the Honorable Legislature to dismiss the Auditor General, Robert Kilby, for failure to disclose private business activities that represent a clear conflict of interest with his official duties as Head of the institution with prime responsibility to investigate and advise on non-compliance with our public financial management and procurement laws." President Sirleaf will shortly communicate to the Legislature the causes of his dismissal.
For the same reason, the Liberian leader said, she has dismissed the Director General of the GSA, Ms. Pearine Davis-Parkinson, who approved those contracts in violation of the country's procurement laws and procedures.
Though unrelated, President Sirleaf announced that, based on an investigation by the Ministry of Justice relating to Human Trafficking, she is dismissing the Deputy Minister of Justice for Administration and Public Safety, Col. Freddie Taylor; the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration for Operations, Mr. Robert Budy; and the Director of Border Management, Cllr. Wilson Garpeh.
The President has instructed a team headed by the Minister of Labor to conduct further investigation on additional measures that may be taken and on the role and action to be taken against the former Solicitor General, Cllr. Micah Wright; the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization; and the Indian Honorary Consul, Upjit Sachdeva.
The Liberian leader is also suspending, pending an investigation, the Deputy Minister for Public Works for Operations, Mr. Victor Smith, for failure to adhere to the public procurement and financial rules of the Government as relates to the awarding of construction contracts.
President Sirleaf concluded her unscheduled address to the nation with these words: "Join me in our continued fight against corruption."
Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, continuing with the nomination of officials to positions in government, has named the following persons to the Ministries of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Education, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate, where applicable.
Those nominated to the Ministry of Agriculture are Mrs. Seklau Wiles, Deputy Minister for Administration, Dr. Charles McClain, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development and Dr. Moses Zinnah, Managing Director - Program Management Unit.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President has nominated Mr. Edwin Sele, Ambassador, Kingdom of Morocco.
The President has also nominated Mr. James F. Andrews as Assistant Minister for Fiscal Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Mr. Charles K. Gaye, Assistant Minister for Technical & Vocational Education Training.
In another development, President Sirleaf has established the National Maritime Security Committee.
The Committee will be responsible for, amongst other things, developing and implementing the nation's Maritime Security Strategy; implementing, enforcing and reviewing all related activities consistent with maritime security-related International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions, protocols and treaties to which Liberia is a signatory; and planning for maritime security incidents and coordinating the response(s) of the various stakeholders.
The establishment of this Committee is consistent with Section 2.14 of the Guide to the Implementation of the International Ship and Port Facilities Security (ISPS) Code of 2003, as amended, to which Liberia is a signatory.
The Committee comprises representatives of all ministries and agencies relevant to Liberia's maritime sector as follows, with the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Maritime Authority as co-chairs.
Others are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Liberia Maritime Authority, the Ministry of National Defense, the Liberia National Coast Guard, the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Liberia National Police.
Others are the Ministry of Agriculture; the Bureau of Fisheries and at the National Security Agency, the National Port Authority, the National Security Agency and the Ministry of Finance including the Bureau of Customs and Excise, the National Oil Company of Liberia and the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Office of the National Security Advisor.
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