Amid Leaked Audio Recording Proving Otherwise
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
The acting director of the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko in Liberia’s central Bong County, Paulette Findely has refuted media report that she looted the institute’s properties.
Recently, a leaked audio went viral on social media regarding a plan to sell the CARI’s generator with an unknown staff of the institute, an audio Madam Findley has been linked to.
But speaking to a team of Journalists recently, she said she has never taken any material from the institute, clarifying that one million worth of materials were left at the institute during the departure of UNMIL.
In December 2019, citizens in Liberia’s central Bong County have expressed serious disappointment over the discovery of several valuable items allegedly stolen from the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Bong County.
The missing items, including a 50kVA generator, fencing wires, fuel tankers, containers and an air conditioner, were all discovered packed in a compound in the Millionaire Quarter Community in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The assets are among several other missing items believed to have been removed from the institute’s premises by its head of Natural Resource Management.
But according to the CARI boss, materials that she met at the institute when she took over in July of 2019 are all available and not a single one has gotten missing as being reported by the media, adding that those materials cost about million United States Dollars.
“What we did as an institution was to write the General Services Agency (GSA) to inform them that we want to sell the materials and support CARI so we are still awaiting the respond of the GSA and if it is possible, we will be definitely doing what is right for the betterment of the research institute,” Madam Findley maintained.
She said from the angle of the government regarding funding to CARI, there is no money in the institution’s account and the institute is only surviving on donor’s support. Director Findley indicates that the government of Liberia is only focused on paying workers’ salaries but not to give extra funds for the operation of the entity.
“People who are saying that we are stealing money here at CARI need to open their eyes and see the reality on ground. They need to be extending commendations to us for the level of work we are doing because right now the only thing government is doing is to pay staff not to support any activity here,” she added.
The CARI Director has also denied hearing any audio in the public linking her to the sale of the institution’s materials.
Contrary to media report, Madam Findely has clarified that in no point in time she has listened to a recording adding, ‘I don’t know about any recording whiter audio or video and I have not heard it so I can’t speak to that’
Responding also to the issue of nepotism, Madam Findely said she has no relative at the institute explaining that those who are working there are people who are qualified to do the job.
Meanwhile, it has been discovered that there are several equipments in brushes at the compound of CARI including 250, 100, 50 and 25 KVA generators with several other materials.