PHOTO: Rep. Marvin Cole
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- A controversy has erupted in the central Bong County, as a former staffer in the office of Representative Josiah Marvin Cole wants him voted out in the 2023 polls.
William Dolo explained that representative Cole has reportedly failed to fulfill his major campaign promises since 2017, and doesn’t deserve an additional six (6) years in parliament, but the administrative assistant to the Lawmaker, Eldorado Cammue has dismissed the claim as baseless.
Mr. Dolo, who admitted having disagreements with Rep. Cole over his campaign promises, clarified that he resigned, and was never sacked as insinuated.
William failed to provide his letter of resignation in a heated radio interview in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Particularly for promises, William named the failure of the representative to construct the motorcyclist terminal, the lack of district reports to ensure accountability, setting up of a development council to supervise development in the district, giving Gbarnga to its original people; among others are pledges that ensured his state power.
The lawmaker is on record of those political promises while vying for the seat, as nothing substantial is seen on legislation, apart from disturbing money in vote rich places in the county.
William Dolo also accused the lawmaker of being corrupt, allegedly looting other institutions including C.B. Dunbar maternity hospital, the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI), as well as his reported refusal to settle his financial obligations to the Bong County Technical College.
Representative Josiah Marvin Cole earlier this year revealed through an interview that the administration of the Bong County Technical College wrote his office to settle his arrears to the school and was nearing completing the payment.
It is not yet clear whether the lawmaker has completed his payment, as his office has not provided any update, least to mention the Bong County Technical College administration.
The former chief of office staff to the lawmaker also reminded the public of the district #3 representative classifying the people of Wainsue as goats as another tint that will undermine his re-election.
Wainsue is a vote rich region in electoral district #3 that no politician will ever play with its inhabitants.
Dolo feels the lack of political tolerance in the lawmaker, among others as factors that will also hinder his re-election bid in 2023.
Meanwhile, the administrative assistant to the Lawmaker, Eldorado Cammue termed the accusations as baseless and wants the public not to give ears to the negative propaganda spilled.
Mr. Cammue described his boss’ performances over the last five years as unprecedented.
He therefore, called on others to join the process to ensure his boss gets additional six (6) years in parliament.
On the issue of dismissal, Cammue explained that William exhibited the attitude of not “going to work in time, only when there are salaries in the office, or whenever he wants salary advancement” although William denies the assertion.
Cammue did not provide any evidence to substantiate his claims.
On education, Eldorado says his boss has sponsored 81 students at Cuttington University since 2017, over 91 sponsored students at BCTC, twenty two thousand United States Dollars ($22,000USD) for BCTC’s Nursing department accreditation, scholarship opportunities for young people in the county, among many engagements as additional involvement since 2017.
Eldorado Cammue didn’t present evidence of payment.
On lawmaking, he named the 2018 emergency health bill and the 2019 educational bill as two bills that have originated from his boss.
He also failed to display a copy of the two bills to the press for scrutiny.
Like William Dolo, many have accused the lawmaker of not fulfilling his campaign promises. Many have accused him of making “empty promises”.
In mid-2021, the lawmaker promised to sponsor twenty thousand students at the Bong County Technical College- although he has been reminded to clear his a little over 100 students’ debts in the school.
Each BCTC student pays $75 United States Dollars per semester with the Weah-Taylor’s government taking full responsibilities of all tuitions in all public tertiary institutions in Liberia; as the Liberian leader declared in 2018.