IPNEWS-Monrovia: Reports reaching the authoritative and investigative Independent Probe Newspaper says ongoing COVID-19 testing at the Union building on Sophie Road, adjacent the beach, is on the verge of imminent shutdown over intense land ownership between Ezzat Eid, a prominent Lebanese businessman in Liberia, and the estate of the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue, former Secretary of Public Works of Liberia under President William V. S. Tubman’s regime.
It may be recalled, as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the World Lebanese Cultural Union in Liberia on May 5, 2020, turned over a newly renovated building to the Ministry of Health to be used as a health facility. The modern building is now used as COVID-19 testing center in the country as Liberia continues its fight against COVID-19 Pandemic.
Speaking at the event, the president of the World Lebanese Culture Union in Liberia Ahmed S. Wazni said after the Union (Lebanese Cultural Union) observed the outpour of reported cases in the country, its leadership collaborated with the Lebanese Embassy in Monrovia to develop a COVID-19 Response Plan, leading to a decision for the turnover of the facility once used as Lebanese recreation center to the government of Liberia.
However, immediately following the turnover of the facility to the government of Liberia for its COVID-19 response efforts, concerns begun to mount following a declaration by the family of the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue, former secretary of Public Works Liberia that they are legitimate owners of the property and wonders how did the Lebanese Cultural Union incorporates and abrogated to itself such property to its own with subsequent turnover to the government of Liberia for COVID-19 response use.
As those questions mount, IPNEWS has established that the property was given to the Lebanese Cultural Union by top Lebanese Businessman in Liberia Ezzat Eid.
IPNews also established that Mr. Ezzat Eid is in full knowledge of the unsettled issues surrounding the 2 lots of land, which is part of the total 2.5 acres parcel of land from the estate, had not yet been granted to the World Lebanese Cultural Union for onward turnover to the government of Liberia.
Even though Mr. Ezzat Eid, and the World Lebanese Cultural Union have refused to respond to an earlier inquiry by IPNEWS into how they acquired such property.
Documents of communication exchanges between the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate, and Ezzat Eid, dated Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in available to IPNEWS, clearly indicates that both Ezzat Eid and the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate, represented by Yanay Boayue, begun discussions and are into unsettled land ownership over the purchase of the parcel of 2.5 lots of land contrary to suggestions that the Liberian businessman Ezzat Eid acquired the property.
According to documents, Ezzat Eid and the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue started negotiations to first lease the property. This was after Boayue had notified Eid that the property was part of the late Joseph Boayue estate and prior to the building being constructed.
In a reply to Mr. Boayue’s communication dated the same February 29, 2012, Mr. Ezzat Eid proposed: “Dear brother Boayue: Your email is to our mutual friend Martin was forwarded to me.”
You know this is a community business, I am not taking this decision on my own. I do not want to be in bad book with the Lebanese people. So, I would like to you to please accept the following and this will be a great contribution from you to the community. Ezzat Eid then writes a suggested proposal for lease: “I hope to put a closure to this by next week Wednesday because as you as you are aware, I will be leaving Liberia and please don’t let me down because I have high hope and high value for your family.”
In a subsequent reply to Mr. Ezzat Eid letter, the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate, on May 4, 2012, raised reservation on delays by Mr. Ezzat Eid to adhere to the mutual agreements contained in his communication to the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate.
The May 4, 2012 Communication by the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate, reads: “Dear Mr. Eid,
“A whole week has gone by without any resolution to the issues at hand. From this point forward, I suggest you communicate directly with me either by phone or through email, and not through Mr. Karpeh as you have chosen to do. As I mentioned to you previously, its unfortunate that was find ourselves in this situation.”
Since then, Ezzat Eid has avoided communications with the late Joseph Whama (Nya Suah) Boayue estate.
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