-Wants all to operate in line with constitution
By William Selmah,wselmah@gmail.com
Just over two weeks to the planned December 30 “Weah step down” protest, former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued a statement calling on all to exercise restraint and operate within the confines of the constitution.
Mr. Boakai, political leader of the main opposition Unity Party, said it is important that the Council of Patriots (COP) and citizens who feel aggrieved exercise their rights to assemble and freely express themselves.
The government, he noted, must perform its constitutional responsibility to provide security and protection.
“Liberians have demonstrated that they are capable of conducting peaceful protests; equally, Government has proven its ability to provide security and protection for all, Boakai noted.
“It is against the foregoing that I urge all sides to exercise restraint and to work within the confines of the Constitution”, the political leader of Unity Party said in a statement released at the weekend.
The Justice Ministry recently turned down a request from the Council of Patriots (COP) to stage a STEP DOWN protest on grounds that the aim of the demonstration was unconstitutional.
One of the leaders of the December 30 Weah step down protest, Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Korlubah has told local radio that the COP will be hiring water truck to produce its own version of the pepper spray on the day of the action.
Rep. Korlubah told OK FM that they are buying hundreds of bags of pepper and producing 5, 000 batons that protesters will be carrying for “self-defense”.
The COP, which staged a mass, peaceful demonstration on June 7, 2019, had written the ministry on November 11 seeking permission to stage a protest to call on President George Weah to step down.
Regarding demonstrations by civil servants in demand of salary arrears, Bokai underscored the need for government to settle their arrears, saying they deserve dignity of their labor and the right to provide for their families.
Touching on multiple trending events in the country, the former Vice President likened Liberia unto a drifting ship on high seas headed for the danger zone without a captain.
“Civil servants, teachers and other professional groups are demanding salary arrears or they would initiate go slow action, people under the banner of the Council of Patriots have called for a STEP DOWN CAMPAIGN beginning December 30, 2019, the Liberian people and the world continue to demand full accountability and action regarding the missing L$16 billion and the US$25 million allocated for mopping up excess liquidity, Boakai noted.
He expressed regrets that the government has requested the printing of additional money in the face of structural deficiencies and governance abnormality highlighted by both the PIT and Kroll Reports, further stating that economic hardship continues to impact lives throughout the country, with banks failing their obligations to depositors and families sleeping hungry and students being thrown out of school for non-payment of tuition and fees.
He outlined some of the numerous issues the country is confronted with as the record drop in enrollment, lack of basic equipment and supplies at healthcare facilities, high inflation and the closure of several businesses and high unemployment.
Former VP Boakai expressed disappointment that while the Liberian people and partners look up to the President for answer in the face of the mounting crisis for answer, he has instead opted to use surrogates “who have resorted to inflammatory language to find scapegoats and to add fuel to the fire”.