At Liberia’s 1st VP Debate:
Candidates say VP not errand boy, vow not to legalize Gay rights
By our Staff Writer
Liberia’s constitution does not relegate the role of the Vice President to a mere messenger or errand boy of the president, seven of the VP candidates in the October 10, 2017 elections have said.
The seven VP candidates, who made the assertion recently at Liberia’s first ever Vice Presidential debate, are Harrison Karnwea, LP, Isaac Flowers, VOLT, Samuel Reeves, MOVEE, Wonderr Freeman, Independent, John Partor, Independent, John Bleah, Independent and Richmond Yarkpah, DJP.
They all spoke of the need for the next Vice President to be vibrant and a team player, making constructive recommendations to the president in order to move Liberia forward citing Article 51 of the constitution.
Article 51 says “There shall be a Vice-President who shall assist the President in the discharge of his functions. The Vice-President shall be elected on the same political ticket and shall serve the same term as the President. The Vice-President shall be President of the Senate and preside over its deliberations without the right to vote, except in the case of a tie vote. He shall attend meetings of the cabinet and other governmental meetings and shall perform such functions as the President shall delegate or deem appropriate; provided that no powers specifically vested in the President by the provisions of this Constitution shall be delegated to the Vice-President”‘ .
The VP debate was hosted in Kakata, outside Monrovia by a local Consortium comprising the Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI) and Public Trust Media Group (PTMG) under their DUCOR DEBATES series.
Speaking at the well-attended forum held at a local high school and witnessed by several African Union, US and EU international elections observers, the seven VP
candidates all agreed to resist pressure from Western donor countries to legalize Gay rights/same sex marriage in Liberia.
Stressing that the practice is against Liberian and African culture, the VP candidates vowed to reject any Western donor aid/assistance under condition that Liberia institutionalizes this practice in the country.
However, the VP candidates differed over the issue of what the best way to come to terms with Liberia’s war past—whether to pursue retributive justice or restorative justice.
For LP’s Harrison Karnwea, he said he is against war crimes court, stressing that path of restorative justice and reconciliation is what Liberia needs today. But Independents Wonderr Freeman, John Bleah, Independent, Richmond Yarkpah, DJP, John Partor and Samuel Reeves believe reconciliation cannot be achieved without justice to end the culture of impunity.
If elected, all seven of them promised to improve the lives of Liberians, revamp the health and education systems, etc.
Below are highlights of other aspects of each of the VP candidates’ presentations:
HARRISON KARNWE, LP: Until recently Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), he boasts of how he has over the years brought reform to the Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and other institutions he has headed. He claims to have created employment and rescued failed rubber plantations including the Sinoe Rubber Corporation, while hailing himself as a “man of integrity”.
JOHN BLEAH, INDEPENDENT: One of several Christian clerics in the presidential race, he says he has worked in the educational system for over 30 years. And he says his ticket will prioritize national reconciliation, peacebuilding, national healing and make Liberia self-sufficient in food production through mechanize farming.
WONDERR FREEMAN: An international trade investment lawyer with a financial crimes investigation background, he says the Liberian economy can be revamped by cutting lavage spending and robustly fighting corruption. If elected, he
promises that his government will “put corrupt officials in jail,” confiscate their properties and give youths skills training.
SAMUEL REEVES, MOVEE: Another Christian cleric in the race, he says the upcoming October 10 election “is not about what people will do when elected, but what they have done to continue” after the polls. “Poverty is not our destiny,” he tells the audience and says the thrust of his party’s policy is economic development, health care and take Liberians out of poverty. He also boasts of bringing massive development to the Providence Baptist Church he has headed for over a decade, claiming that the church runs one of Liberia’s largest microfinance projects called LEAD and said the church’s budget now runs into millions of US dollars.
ISAAC FLOWERS, VOLT: An Agriculturist by profession, he said his vice presidency be spent mainly in the towns and villages of Liberia to boost agriculture through mechanized farming “so that money can be put in people’s pockets” and lift Liberia out of poverty. Having worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and the UN FAO, he claims to have a deeper insight into the problems faced by ordinary Liberians and he has gone with most villages throughout the country. “Liberians are not lazy people but they were never helped by their government in the past,” he adds.
JOHN PATOR, INDEPENDENT: Yet another Christian cleric in this year’s presidential race, he says “Liberia’s problem is more spiritual rather than physical or political.” According to him, Liberia lacks the fear of God and if elected, his government will bring back Liberia to the church. He also vows that his ticket will put an end to conflict of interest and restore Liberia’s lost identity. A major plank in his ticket’s platform is using technology to improve security, including the introduction of lie detector, he says.
RICHMOND YARKPAH, DJP: An IT professional turned politician, he says Liberia has over the years experienced a serious justice deficit. Justice is the centerpiece of his party’s platform. He promises voters to ensure the fullest respect of justice and the rule of law. He cites economic, social and political justice. The fight against corruption will be intensified and all those caught in the practice will be prosecuted without fear or favour. Those who committed atrocities during Liberia’s civil war will be prosecuted, he also promises and vows to end impunity.