Low Level Representation At Political Parties Dialogue Today; But Information Minister Expresses Satisfaction
By T. Lula Jaurey IPNews-Monrovia, Liberia-16 August 2018:A proposed meeting of President Weah and opposition political parties got under today with a total low representation of key opposition leaders. The meeting which according to the Executive Mansion was intended to dialogue with Political Parties leaders on the current political, economic and departmental path of the country witnessed what political observers called ‘ mere political show’, with key actor walking out of the meeting. Minutes after political leaders, parties Representative and Journalist converged , protocol officer announced that Journalist would be excused out of the hall after the president shall made his introductory remarks , which was reechoed by his Excellency the President, George Manneh Weah. The let-out of Journalist brought total confusion as whether the planned meeting was actually intended to provide a general space for opposition leaders and their representatives to better understand the agenda of the current government. The meeting saw the absence of major political party leaders, which viewed by observers as a ‘deliberate boycott’, due to the absence from a planned dialogue of key political leaders such as former Vice President of the Republic of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai, of the Unity Party, Charles W. Brumskine of the Liberty Party, J. Mills Jones of the Movement For Economic Empowerment, Alexander B. Cummings of the Alternative National Congress, Kennedy Sandy of the Liberia Transformation Party, Simon Freeman of the Movement For Progressive Change and among others. Even though, some were represented by their respective party Chairman, yet, political observers sees the absence of key political leaders from the one day political dialogue as unfortunate considering the current political course of Liberia. However, some opposition leaders, who made below the electoral trash-hole of a total votes of 2,000 , during the 2017, Presidential elections were represented to spices out the day. During the meeting, Political Parties which were fully represented by their standard bearers were: Benoni Urey, All Liberian Party, and Prince Y. Johnson, Movement For Democratic Reconstruction Party, among perhaps two none noticeable political figure such as Jonathan Mason, ULD, and Windell McIntosh, CDA. Strangely, at the start of the meeting there was a major power failure of the entire building hosting the meeting bringing the program to a momentary stop which had not happened at any major Hotel for such meeting nature. Following nearly four hours of close door meeting, Information Minister Eugene Nagbe, spoke to the Press expressing satisfaction on the outcome of the meeting. Minister Nagbe told reporters outside of the hall that the meeting afforded political parties leaders to express themselves on many issues such as the economy, poverty, rule of law, bilateral relations of the country, and the safety of members of the opposition, among others. He further expressed gratitude to members of the opposition community for allowing the free sealing of democracy by their active participation into today’s meeting. Furthermore, Nagbe lauded the Media for the courage exhibited in waiting long hours for the news which is remarkable. Nagbe pledged government’s continued willingness to working with the opposition community in directing the affairs of the country. Meanwhile, some political observers spoken to after the meeting expressed outraged at the absence of opium leaders and civil society leaders from today’s meeting. They questioned the morality behind holding a meeting of such nature behind closed doors.
