PHOTO: Dr. Lester Zomatic Tenney, UL Business College Dean branded unacceptable person at the UL
The Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration at the state-owned University of Liberia, Dr. Lester Zomatic Tenney has fallen into trouble with his peers, as the leadership of the UL Faculty Association (ULFA) at the weekend announced that teachers have agreed to “re-engage with all academic activities”.
Following a general assembly of faculty members at the weekend, ULFA announced a tough stance against one of its own in a July 21, 2023 press release, describing Dr. Tenney “Persona–non–Grata”.
Cambridge defines peersona-non-Grata as “a person who is not wanted or welcome in a particular country, because they are unacceptable…”
“Furthermore, the ULFA GA has declared the Dean of the A. Romeo Horton College of Business and Public Administration as a “Persona–non–Grata” to ULFA for his continuous insults, bully, intimidation and molestation of members of ULFA including the President of ULFA and other Executive Members of the Faculty Association,” says the ULFA press release.
Prior to becoming Dean, Dr. Tenney was Deputy head of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) appointed by President George Manneh Weah after the ruling CDC government came to power in January 2018.
The Business College Dean, Dr. Tenney has so far not reacted.
BELOW IS FULL TEXT OF THE ULFA PRESS RELEASE:
University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA)
UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA
Contact: 0775-566214/ 0776-553072
Email: ulfa2021.ul@gmail.com
July 21, 2023
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
The leadership of the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA), Inc. informs all members of the UL faculty and heads of Academic Units of the decision of the ULFA EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSEMBLY to re-engage with all Academic Activities with immediate effect while continuing other discussions.
Furthermore, the ULFA GA has declared the Dean of the A. Romeo Horton College of Business and Public Administration as a “Persona–non–Grata” to ULFA for his continuous insults, bully, intimidation and molestation of members of ULFA including the President of ULFA and other Executive Members of the Faculty Association.
It can be recalled that on June 23, 2023, ULFA General Assembly made a decision to disengage from all activities until several demands catalogued in their resolution were met. As a consequence of this decision, all ULFA members withdrew from all academic activities.
After several discussions with state actors and Executive Committee Deliberations, ULFA members were briefed of significant achievements in the negotiations such as the full implementation and enrollment of all faculty and pensioned former workers of the UL with the NASSCORP, Payments of arrears for Part-Time faculty, payment of arrears for Pensioned employees among others.
The GA has also mandated all faculty members to submit to an ULFA specialized committee through their respective chairpersons all academic credentials for verification and onward submission to the UL Authorities as a means of ensuring the full actualization of the credentials audit process at the University of Liberia.
ULFA therefore appreciates all faculties and heads of Academic Units who respectfully complied and supported the decision of the General Assembly. ULFA also recognizes the leading efforts of the Minister of State and his team to resolve the impasse on the implementation of issues raised in her June 23, 2023 resolution.
As a professional body, ULFA commits to all peaceful processes that would resolve issues of concerns to members of the University family.
END!
Signed: _____________________
Eric T. S. Patten
Secretary General – ULFA