By By Martin K. N. Kollie writes..
Poverty in Liberia is man-made. It’s created by greed and institutionalized thievery. Every Liberian could live a better and happier life if Liberia’s resources were/are efficiently and equitably allocated. We have so much resources, but why are we still POOR after 177 years?
Senate Pro-Temp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence’s new car (Plate # 0-8) is a Hyundai Stratia 2025, even though her convoy already has a fleet of expensive vehicles bought with public money. On the Hyundai Wallan website, Stratia 2025 is sold for at least SAR203,780.00 (US$54,314).
According to the GOL Car Import and Purchasing Policy, any vehicle’s cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of a public official should not be more than US$45K.
The home of Grand Bassa University (GBU) is Pensburry in Buchanan City. The bridge connecting Pensburry and Buchanan is in disrepair or ruins, but here’s Pro-Temp buying a new and luxurious vehicle (Hyundai Stratia 2025). Senate staffers are protesting for 5 months in arrears but she’s buying Hyundai Stratia 2025.
They often claim there is no money to invest in improving our people’s lives in Grand Bassa and other counties. According to them, there is no money for health, safe drinking water, quality education, job creation, electricity, etc. But they have money to live in luxury—at the expense of the national treasury. The money they waste and lavish every day does not come from their private companies. It’s your money (tax dollars).
These people leech on the public coffers to live their best lives while millions suffer in Liberia.
The resources are centralized among less than 2% of them, while over 95% of our people rot in poverty each year using MOL unemployment data. This is what we must disrupt and dismantle. The newest way they are stealing and justifying is to say, “ehn aay in the budget.” Who put it in the budget? You did, and not the people. The sea is encroaching on Buchanan, but Pro-Temp Nyonblee doesn’t care.
The budgetary appropriation of Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 is even far more than the appropriation budgeted for country development in Grand Bassa, Government Hospital in Buchanan, and Bassa Community College combined. Wow 😯.
Let’s prove this:
A) The Bassa People:
1) County Development Fund for Grand Bassa – US$186,000
2) Government Hospital in Buchanan – US$242,163
3) Bassa College College – US$642,022
4) Total – US$1,070,185
A)Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Pro-Temp Office):
1) Pro-Temp – US$1,419,282
Just a few lines:
1) Pro-Temp Salary – US$254,250
2) Foreign Travel and Allowances – US$31,697
3) Fuel for her Vehicles – US$59,984
4) Fuel for her house Generator – US$22,476
5) Constituency Visit – US$40,000
6) Entertainment – US$9,550
7) Stationery – US$14,799
Reference for Budget Data: Approved National Budget, 2024 Fiscal Year.
Note: Even though Pro-Temp Karnga-Lawrence receives millions annually from your money, she is still unsatisfied. She has her family members, relatives, and political allies in lucrative government positions while thousands of people in Bassa and across Liberia are unemployed. For instance, her big sister, who resides in the USA, is on the Corporate Board of ArcelorMittal while thousands of young people, including rescuers, are jobless. This is GREED on an industrial scale.
The Director of Fire Service in Grand Bassa just said the only fire 🔥 truck is damaged and they need US$1,200 to repair it. But Nyonblee doesn’t care about that.
They keep borrowing money (loans) and begging for foreign aid/grants not to invest in job creation and wealth creation for our people but to finance their luxurious lifestyles. This is what we must disrupt and dismantle.
The suffering in Liberia is artificial. It’s man-made. If we don’t fight State pillagers like Nyonblee and others, our people in Grand Bassa and other counties will remain poor until they die. Public waste is too prevalent. It has to stop now. Invest public money to improve our people’s lives and not your life.
We are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, yet we are still suffering from drought. Isn’t this a paradox? “Rescue Mother” or “Rescue Murder”?
Activist Martin K. N. Kollie writes…
Cc: U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia
European Union in Liberia
African Union
Ecowas – Cedeao
United Nations
International Monetary Fund
World Bank
Transparency International
Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL)
NAYMOTE-Liberia
Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission LACC
Liberia Council of Churches
National Muslim Council of Liberia
