PHOTO: Cllr. Jamel Dehtho, LNBA VP hopeful greeting supporters
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia- A well-known lawyer, Cllr. Jamal Christopher Dehtho, who is vying for Vice President of the LNBA, has asserted that he will not be a nominal Vice President as many see the vice presidency position to be.
LNBA is the Liberian National Bar Association and the group is holding its national convention and election for a new leadership later this month in Ganta, Nimba County.
According to Cllr. Dehtho, his team along with presidential candidate, Cllr. Sillah, has the courage to move the Liberian National Bar Association forward for the next three years.
He explained if members of the Bar want to see their dream comes reality, they must vote their team adding that for too long Liberians vote incompetent people who are unable to do what they were elected for.
Cllr. Dehtho added that his team is organized, connected and effective to lead the LNBA in a way that will projects a new image not only in Liberia but internationally.
Our vision is rebranding the LNBA especially, the LNBA constitution which was established in the 1900s and does not meet current day reality with such years since the enactment of the LNBA there is no headquarters something is very shameful when it includes professional people from diverse backgrounds, Cllr. Dehtho added.
Plans and goals
Their goal is to complete the Bar headquarters situated on RIA high way within three years by lobbying with sister countries and other international partners or countries.
Accountability
He said usually, lawyers prosecute others for accounting when they as lawyer are not accountable in giving financial report at the Bar adding that the only time they hear about financial report is during the Bar convention especially when people are enjoying themselves without paying attention.
But if he is elected, within three months, they will produce financial report and conduct audit regularly.
In 2016, LNBA signed a resolution to do continue legal education ( CLE) where members of the Bar are forced to attend convention before getting credit something he claimed is wrong but he will ensure that lawyers will do their courses online from their localities instead of attending Bar convention before getting credit.
He also promised if elected to have a radio program in various local dialects in the fifteen counties and also a newspaper colum aims at educating citizens on their rights and law school students will be assign to judges, justices and law firms to have experience before entering into the practice of law.
For his part, Cllr. Sillah said the out going president Cllr. Gongloe did extremely well but his Vice President who is contesting as president for the Bar election lacks innovation, not progressive, complacent and lack providing assistance therefore he can’t head the Bar.
He this election is not about senior and junior lawyers neither continuity because continuity means negativity.
Also speaking, a polific female lawyer Cllr. Golda Bonah Elliott pledged her support and promised to vigorously campaign among her to ensure that both Dehtho and Sillah win their respective positions.
The launching program was well attended by score of lawyers, friends and a basketball team and it was climaxed with a football game at the Voker Mission football field, where the launching ceremony took place.