15/09/2024
September 14, 2024
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Intellectual Class Of Paynesville (ICP) Is Concerned About The Gross Betrayal Of Public Trust By A Significant Number Of Our Lawmakers, The Mayor Of The City Of Paynesville And Other Public Officials Representing Various Districts And Agencies In The City Of Paynesville; Thus Demanding Them To Act In Accordance With “Article 10 Section 1 A-D” Of The 2014 Code Of Conduct Provision Governing Both Appointed And Elected Officials Of Our Government – While Issuing A One Week Ultimatum.
Comrades and friends, cadres, street vendors, motorcyclists, taxi drivers, the poorly paid nurses and doctors, our gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), courteous classroom teachers, fellow social justice campaigners and economic freedom fighters, members of the press, the erudite militants and compassionate affiliates of Paynesville foremost and premier advocacy movement, the Indomitable Intellectual Class of Paynesville (ICP).
With high level of God’s grace, we extend you revolutionary greetings from Paynesville most enlightened revolutionary movement – the Indomitable Intellectual Class of Paynesville (ICP).
Today, we have come before the press and the struggling majority of our city’s population to uphold the uncompromising values of our tendency as we mandate all non-law-abiding lawmakers and other officials of government in the City of Paynesville who have not declared their assets to do so in the course of one week or risk unspecified actions from the Citizens of Paynesville.
We believe that in Democracy, transparency and accountability are not mere options; they are the fundamental principles that uphold the integrity of elected and appointed officials, and the trust of citizens. Today, we stand at a crucial juncture where these principles are being blatantly undermined by those who have been trusted with public office.
It has come to our attention that a significant number of lawmakers and other officials of our government representing various districts and agencies in the City of Paynesville continued to contravene their fundamental duty to upholding accountability and transparency by failing to declare their assets.
Something that violates Article 10 sub-sections 1 a-d of the Code of Conduct governing both public and elected officials of the Republic of Liberia. We see such ongoing refusal not just as a delay in duty, but a gross betrayal of the very public trust they swore to uphold.
We believe that the public has the right to know the financial standings of those who enjoy considerable power over our lives and our economy. It is not about personal privacy – it’s about public accountability.
For too long, the public has been subjected to disturbing display of elected officials escaping their obligations. Their deliberate failure to declare their assets is a clear attempt to shield personal wealth from scrutiny, raising grave concerns about corruption, conflicts of interest and insincerity.
It’s evident that those entrusted with crafting laws should take seriously their own legal obligations.
However, the recent revelation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) that a huge number of our lawmakers and other officials of Government have neglected to declare their assets while in office provides a rather comical reminder of their selective approach to accountability. It’s almost as if the transparency they preach is reserved exclusively for others, leaving their own financial dealings securely behind the screen of silence.
The Intellectual Class of Paynesville considered the blatant refusal of Mr. Robert S. Bestman; the Mayor of the city of Paynesville to declare his assets as a gross disrespect to the law, and is demanding him to swiftly declare his assets.
Meanwhile, what saddens us the most is to see a legal luminary – the Chairman on the Judiciary Committee at the lower house as well as the Chairman of the Paynesville Legislative Caucus, the fifth most powerful man in the lower house – Hon. Michael M. Thomas, is yet to declare his asset. It’s quite alarming when a legal luminary, someone who has extensively advocated for transparency and accountability in public office, fails to declare his asset after being elected as a lawmaker. Such an unreal behavior not only undermines the principles he had championed, but also casts doubt on his commitment to ethical standard.
Hon. Thomas’ failure to declare his assets directly contradicts the value of the office he resides in and the hallowed oath he vowed to protect and raises concerns about his fitness for holding public responsibility.
Simultaneously, it’s concerning when long-serving lawmakers, statesmen who should be familiar with the importance of transparency and the laws that were made under their watch being violated by the very people – specifically Mr. Sekou A. Kanneh of District #2 and Mr. Samuel R. Enders of District #6 Montserrado County.
The ICP is demanding both Mr. Samuel R. Enders and Sekou A. Kanneh to declare their assets in the period of one week; beginning from today’s date.
We want to appreciate District # 3 and District #5 lawmakers Hon. Sumo K. Mulbah and Madam Prescilla A. Cooper, for declaring their assets in accordance with the Law.
To conclude, we want to be emphatically clear that time for honeymoon is over. It’s about time our lawmakers and public officials dance to the sweet tone of transparency and accountability by declaring and publishing their assets in the period of one week.
The Intellectual Class of Paynesville will not relent to rally the vast majority of the over seven hundred thousand (700,000,000) constituents of the city of Paynesville, if our ultimatum elapsed and our demand is not adhere to.
The time is now: will you choose to declare your asset or witnessed an uncontrollable uprising from the citizens of the most populated city in Liberia? The choice is yours!
Long Live The City Of Paynesville!
Long Live The Undying Fighting Spirit Of Chairman Konah – The Man Who Is Powerful Than Mr. Boakai In the City Of Paynesville.
Long Live The Indomitable Intellectual Class Of Paynesville (ICP).
Signed: Cde. Chancy Duogbo Chaddeh Secretary General/ICP
Approved: Cde. Alex S. Konah Chairman/ICP
