Bong County Superintendent Suspended Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has indefinitely suspended Supt. Rennie B. Jackson with immediate effect. Mrs. Lucia Herbert, Assistant Superintendent for Development is the Acting Superintendent of Bong County effective immediately. If you may recalled, Pres. Sirleaf recently suspended activities on the Bong County Escrow Account when audit reports found that some County officials could not account for funds disbursed from that account for development purpose in Fuama District. The President had earlier turned the audit reports over to the Minister of Justice for further investigation. However, following her trip to Sanoyea District at which time she met with Supt. Jackson and other Bong County officials , she indicated that she would in fact put the investigation on a fast track giving the Minister of Internal Affairs full investigative authority in the matter. Brief excerpts from the President's remarks on the matter reaching UBCAAindicated her total displeasure over how the administration of the project was handled by County officials. UBCAA learned that she rhetorically asked why she was left in the dark by County officials on the matter only to read about it in the press. She went further asked, as paraphrase here, why was the total payment of the project made to the contractor before any work was done? From all indications, it was just a matter of time before the wheel fell, hence this decision. Accordingly, the National President of the United Bong County Association in America, on behalf of the officers and members of the United Bong County Association in America, commends Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the the decision. The National President believes this decision to investigate this matter will put to end once and for all all the circumstances surrounding the Hindi road Project and the Escrow account associated with it. The National President believes in the end when all is set and done, the people of Bong County will be served, and that speaks volume. Sanoyea District Says No To Sen. Taylor, Pres. Srileaf Agrees In a dramatic display of solidarity with their Commissioner, the citizens of Sanoyea District today overwhelmingly rejected calls by Sen. Taylor to rescind the recent appointment of Commissioner Kantos C. Bornor. BACKGROUND: On Thursday October 9, 2008, I received an E-mail from Hon. George Mulbah Chairman of the Bong Legislative Caucus informing me that Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirelaf was scheduled to visit Sanoyea District today, Sunday October 12, 2008. He informed me that on her agenda among other things was a request from Sen. Taylor to rescind the appointment of Commissioner Bornor, claiming the citizens of Sanoyea District petitioned her with such request. Alarmed with such information, I immediately contacted two prominent sons of Sanoyea District (Mr. Andrew Tehmeh and Mr. Nalon Kaine) to ascertain if they had knowledge of such petition to Sen. Taylor from the citizens of Sanoyea District. Both told me that Sen. Taylor had done this before, attempting to unseat Com. Bornor and would not be surprised if she is behind this again. Mr. Tehmeh told me that the first time it occurred, the Minister of Internal Affairs actually went to Sanoyea only to see that Sen. Taylor did not appear. Mr. Kaine told me that he had actually met with the citizens of Sanoyea District on this very issue when he was last in Liberia, and they told him they wanted their Commissioner to remain, as he is doing a great job. Armed with the above information from the two sons of Sanoyea District, I decided to act. I called Commissioner Bornor who confirmed Sen. Taylor's intention to have him removed from office. I asked him about his chances of thwarting Sen. Taylor's move against him. Com. Bornor told me, "Mr. Matthew, I have done and continue to do my best as Commissioner of this District. My record is out there to be examined by anyone. I believe the President will listen to my side before making any decision, I truly believe that. The people of Sanoyea District are with me on this one." With such statement from Com. Bornor, I decided to call a contact in Monrovia. My contact told me, "the President is going to Sanoyea district with an open mind. She will listen to the people of Sanoyea District to ensure their wishes prevail on this issue". RESULT: Well, to cut long matter short, Pres. Sirleaf went to Sanoyea District today and held a District wide conference with the citizens. I am pleased to inform you that the so-called petition as claimed by Sen. Taylor never materialized as the citizens of Sanoyea District overwhelmingly stood firm with Com. Bornor. Our contact who was present at the meeting immediately alerted me of the outcome of the whole episode. I immediately called Com. Bornor to get his reaction. No doubt he was in a great mood. He told me, "the President just left from here, the people stood with me, and I am still the Commissioner. I want to thank everyone for this outcome. I always felt I was doing the right thing, and people today confirmed that. Sen. Taylor spoke after the citizens spoke, that she respects the voices of the people and agrees with them. The President then told me to hug her as ways to put everything behind us". Now, you might be thinking why I took special interest in this matter. If you might recalled during our Convention in Atlanta, we raised about eight hundred dollars for the victims of the Sanoyea District incidents wherein many of the citizens of that District were viciously attacked during a land conflict. That amount was augmented to one thousand dollars and wired to Com. Bornor with instructions that he forward us comprehensive report on the sharing of the funds to the victims. About a week or so ago, I forwarded you that report in which Com. Bornor compiled the names of the recipients with signatures to verify that they got their share of the fund. From that and many conversations with him before and after he received the fund, I became convinced that he was someone we could trust and work with. I believe it was the right thing to do to support him when it became cleared to me he was being unjustly targeted. I am therefore elated for the outcome of this all. I am in no way taking credit here. The credit goes to the great people of Sanoyea District who stood firm with their Commissioner in the face of unjust treatment. To them I say, THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. UBCAA is proud of you. I thank Mr. Andrew Tehmeh and Mr. Nalon Kaine and those who worked behind the scene to warrant the result we are all happy with. I thank Pres. Sirleaf for listening to the people and making what I termed the RIGHT DECISION for the people of Sanoyea District. THE PEOPLE CAN MOVE United Bong County Association Delegation Meets President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf At The UN... An eight member high power delegation of the United Bong County Association in America (UBCAA) on Tuesday the 23rd of September 2008 met with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the Liberian Mission at the United Nations in New York. The delegation was headed by the National President Joe Flomo Matthew. Other members of the delegation were, Ethel Livingstone, National Vice President, Rev. Dr. Mulba Borsay, National Chaplain, Blyden Kennedy, National Treasurer, Lynda Williams, President Rhodes Island Chapter, Memplay Forlorma, President Maryland Chapter, Garnett Gbamokollie, President New Jersey Chapter, and David Flomo, Presidential Adviser. In a prepared remark, the National President thanked President Sirleaf for honoring UBCAA’s request for the meeting. He thanked the President for the efforts being made by her government relative to development, land reform, security, and other governmental initiatives in Bong County in particular and Liberia in general. He expressed thanks to the President for the the successful negotiation on behalf of the people of Bong County for $500,000 donation for the next five years from Mittal Steel. H asked the President to include UBCAA on the governing committee of the Mittal Steel fund. He informed the President about UBCAA’s development initiatives that would pay maximum dividends to Bong County. Initiatives such as the wiring of Gboveh High and E. J. Yancy High Schools with computers, donations of beds and mattresses to Phebe and JFK hospitals, arrangement for annual voluntary travels of members to Bong County to conduct workshops in various disciplines at various institutions in Bong County and and other parts of Liberia, and the construction of a state of the art Educational Resource Center in Gbarnga . On the appointment of future County officials, he urged the President to contact UBCAA, especially if such person is from the Diaspora so that UBCAA can participate in the vetting process, among other things. A detailed statement including the excerpts from above was then presented to President Sirleaf by the National President. In response, President Sirleaf commended UBCAA for the roles it has played and continues to play in the overall development of Bong County. She thanked UBCAA for joining her efforts to develop Bong County and Liberia. She urged UBCAA to engage County leaders to ensure corporation and cohesiveness. She declared that UBCAA’s position statement, presented to her will form part of her agenda during her next Executive Council Meeting in Gbarnga sometimes “during the dry season”. UBCAA is working with the office of President Sirleaf on the possibility of sending a delegation to the President’s Executive Council Meeting in Gbarnga. She promised to work closely with UBCAA so as to enable it completes its development objectives. She promised to look into the possibilities of her government’s assistance to UBCAA to ship materials/equipment it has solicited to Liberia. President Sirleaf received a beautiful portrait of herself from United Bong County Association in America. The presentation was made by the National Vice President on behalf of UBCAA. The meeting lasted for about an hour. UBCAA takes this time very respectfully to thank President Sirleaf for taking time off her busy schedules to meet us at United Nations. UBCAA believes her decision to meet with us is an indication that she holds our County and our association in high esteem. For that and many more, we commend her. UBCAA also like to thank Mr. & Mrs. Gbamokollie for the hospitality accorded its delegation. The Gbamokollie made their home available and provided food through out the duration of the delegation’s stay.  Click Here for More Photos... Bong County Development Agenda as envisioned by the Government of Liberia... The government of Liberia has put forth a detailed plan for development in Bong County for the next four years. Click Here to read the document in detail... United Bong Presses for a seat on the “Bong County Development Committee... United Bong on numerous occasion has informed the Superintendent and the Bong Legislative Caucus of its desire to be represented on the “Bong Development Committee”. Your humble servant recently reiterated this in an e-mail to the new Chairman of the Bong Legislative Caucus Hon. George Mulbah. Click Here to read the e-mail sent to Chairman Mulbah and his response. United Bong shall remain steadfast on this until such time it is fully represented on this Committee. United Bong believes despite its physical absence on the ground in Bong County, it is a stake holder in the developmental affairs of the County and as such should have some inputs on how developmental decisions are made. We look forward with interests contents of final decisions on our request. MITTEL Steel Releases First Check of $500,000 to Bong County... MITTEL Steel has released a check of $500,000 to the Bong County Development Management Committee. The payment is part of an agreement between the company the government of Liberia to compensate the County for land use in the operation of the company. United Bong expresses enthusiasms for this positive development and hopes that the fund will be used for the purposes intended as agreed by the citizens of Bong County. United Bong shall closely monitor the life cycle of this fund as it goes through the pipeline for development. Bong Legislative Caucus Elects New Leaders.. After months of leadership impasse, the Bong County Legislative Caucus recently elected new corps of officer to lead the Caucus for the next two years. Those elected are: Hon. George Mulbah - Chairman Hon. Bill Connech - Co-Chairman Hon. Korpu Barclay - General Secretary Hon. Edwin Juah - Financial Secretary United Bong congratulates the newly elected officers for positively responding to calls from their colleagues to take leadership of the Caucus. Our thanks go to all the members of the Caucus for taking the bold step in resolving the leadership impasse. United Bong stands ready to work closely with the new leadership so that together we can get down to doing the people’s business. John Carroll University Donates 80 beds, 80 mattresses, and 35 desk to United Bong. John Carroll University, a local Catholic University in Cleveland Ohio on Friday August 8, 2008 donated beds, mattresses, and desk to United Bong to be used for any humanitarian purposes the association chooses. Making the donation, the Director of Facility Management for John Carroll University Mr. Mike Roeder said the University was happy to join United Bong in its efforts to provide humanitarian materials for the citizens of Bong County. Accepting the donations, the National President Mr. J. Flomo Matthew thanked Mr. Roeder and the University for responding positively to efforts of United Bong. The items were on Saturday August 9, 2008 put on trucks and taken storage facility until such time they are shipped to Liberia. The truck rental of about $366.00 was paid on behalf of United Bong by the National President. Bong County Junior Senator Travels The County - See The Portrait Of A True Leaser... Since his election, the Junior Senator of Bong County Sen. Franklin O. Siakor has traveled the length and breath of Bong County engaging local citizens and leaders on development initiatives. A video diary of Sen. Siakor’s travels is now on YouTube for viewing public courtesy of your humble servant. To see the videos, go to YouTube.com. In “Video Search” box, type Siakor and click on “Search”. All the videos in this series will be listed. Click each and see the portrait of a true leader in action. United Bong Donates $1000 to Sanoyea District Victims... The United Bong County Association in America has donated $1000 to the victims of the  Sanoyea District incidents. The money was raised at the recent 2008 National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. In a telephone conversation with the Commissioner of Sanoyea District informing him of the donation, the National President Mr. Joe Flomo Matthew told Commissioner Kantos C. Bornor that the citizens of Bong County residing in the United were pleased to identify with the victims and hope the donations will assist them in some ways. Commissioner Bornor for his part thanked the officers and members of United Bong for the donations. He promised to ensure those affected benefit from the donation. United Bong Ships Building and School Material to Liberia... United Bong recently shipped 42 boxes of Notebooks and 36 boxes of floor tiles to Liberia for Bong County students and the education resource center project respectively. The items, solicited during the administration of Mr. Dennis Garsinni, had been in storage in Minnesota for several years with fees paid by Mr. Garsinni. Through the instrumentality of Mr. Garsinni in identifying a reasonable shipper, it became necessary to ship the items to Liberia. To ensure that the items, especially the notebooks reach the intended targets, the National Administration has identified three respected individuals in the Bong County School System to oversee the distributions. They are, Mr. Joseph Kwenah, Chief District Educational Officer - Panta/Kpaii, Mr. Francis Nyekpeh - Professor and Head of Agricultural Studies - Cuttington College, and Mr. Klemeni Gbelemai - Director of an NGO in Gbarnga, Bong County. These individuals will submit detailed report to United Bong about the status of the distribution mechanisms. They shall also take custody of the tiles until such times they are needed for the project. The National Administration would like to thank Mr. Garsinni and his family for underwriting the costs of the storage for these items.