Mills Jones in trouble

The National Executive Committee of the opposition party Movement for Economic Empowerment or MOVEE stamps its political leader, Dr. Joseph Mills Jones with indefinite suspension.

This followed reported attempt by Dr. Jones to forcibly take away a generator from the party headquarters situated opposite the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital Junction in Congo Town, which allegedly resulted to a scuffle.

The party in a communication orders first partisan Dr. Jones to stay off all MOVEE’s properties, pending an investigation by its grievance and ethics committee.

“First partisan Dr. Joseph Mills Jones is hereby suspended with immediate effect for time indefinite as Standard Bearer and Political Leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), pending conclusive investigation. In so doing, Partisan Joseph Mills Jones is hereby mandated to turn over all party properties in his possession and must avoid all premises of the party until otherwise ordered by the National Executive Committee of MOVEE or cited by the Grievance and Ethics Committee of MOVEE for the investigation in the complaint brought against him – Partisan Joseph Mills Jones by Partisan James Roberts,” the statement reads.

The party continues that within seventy-two (72) hours upon receipt of this mandate from the National Executive Committee of MOVEE, the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) must expeditiously dispose of the matter and submit findings in keeping with the By-Laws and Constitution of the Party.

According to party spokesman Robert Sammie, the image and integrity of MOVEE have seriously been assaulted by the alleged actions and behaviors of Dr. Jones.

“These acts are considered unbecoming of any official; including senior partisans of MOVEE. Such acts are punishable under the By-laws and Constitution of the Party,” he explains.

Sammie notes that in order to deal with the matter between Dr. Jones and Partisan James Roberts in a timely manner, and considering its magnitude and graveness consistent with the party’s strong commitment to the rule of law, good governance and democracy, the National Executive Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment, which is the highest decision making body in the absence of National Convention, convened on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 an emergency session to discuss this matter and complaint filed by Partisan James Roberts.

“Obviously, these are hard times for our noble party, but there is no singular guarantee for institutional building and democratization than the adherence to the rule of law and justice”, MOVEE spokesman continues, stressing that no one is above the law.

This paper has not spoken with Dr. Jones himself on these allegations that have led to the current brawl in his party.A banker-turned politician, the former Executive Governor left the Central Bank of Liberia straight into politics, hitting the ground running, declaring his intend to vie for the Presidency and subsequently organizing the Movement for Economic Empowerment, which contested the October 10, 2017 polls, but lost, receiving 12,854 votes or 0.8 percent of the total votes cast, according to final results announced by the National Elections Commission.

By Ethel A. Tweh-Editing by Jonathan Browne