Big black Lie

-defeated Rep. Josephine Francis
Montserrado County defeated Representative Josephine Francis terms as “Big Black Lied” assertions made by a local government official of the Township of Loiusiana that she underrepresented her people and the township lacks development.

Mr. Wilton Saysay, Secretary of the Louisiana Development Council, told hundreds of visiting African Methodist Episcopal University students during an interactive forum held at the Louisiana Town Hall that he (Saysay) refused to support the re-election bid of the defeated lawmaker because she failed to allot portion of the County Development Fund (CDF) to the township.

He says even though his candidate in the 10 October elections did not win, he refused to support Madam Francis because she deliberately failed to allocate money from the CFD and to lobby with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to place the names of some of the township staffs including Township Clerk on government payroll.

Mr. Saysay continues that his disappointment in the outgoing representative comes in the wake of her alleged failure to live up to promises she allegedly made while touring several development projects undertaken by the leadership of the township, including modern schools, market and medical centers without any help from central government.

But in reaction to the allegations, Madam Francis says Mr. Saysay’s statement is not only erroneous, but a “big black lied”, as she had never promised anyone in the township to place people on government payroll and allot fund from the County Development Fund for Louisiana.

She explains that the developments referred to by Mr. Saysay are projects that came through her negotiation with several companies operating in the township that led to the signing of the Social Development Agreements.

She then made reference to her development initiatives, which include construction of modern markets in the townships of Harriburg and Cruserville, and hospital in Kon’s Town.

The former lawmaker says Louisiana had never had these developments before, adding that they came into being as her direct representation and contacts with companies operating in the area, contrary to her accuser’s claims.

By Emmanuel Mondaye-Editing by Jonathan Browne