MOUNT COFFEE HYDRO SWITCHED-ON CEREMONIES

The Switch-on ceremonies (of a 22-megawatts turbine of the Hydro Plant) were “graced” by some national and an array of international big names. This fact is significant because it characterizes the rise to political power by Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf from foot-soldier to Minister of Finance of the True Whig Political Party during which she dominated the planning/finance of the OAU Conference held !979 in Liberia – the construction of the Conference Center, Hotel Africa and the Villas of the OAU Village. All of these “developments” have been and are destroyed by the impact of the nightmares of the civil war.

We note these the facts of Liberian History in an effort to remind those who were around during the civil war but may have forgotten, and educate those young people who were not, even, born, but the majority of the “new breeds” and future leaders in whose hands rests the future of our country “that those who ignore the lessons (mistakes) of History are likely to repeat them”.

The Switch-on Ceremonies, Harrisburg, Liberia
At the ceremonies, the President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, told the national/international gathering of big names and dignitaries that the Hydro plant was first constructed during the administration of the late President William V. S. Tubman is “now being rehabilitated by her administration following its (the Plant’s) destruction during the Liberian civil war”. But she, conveniently, omitted the relevant chronology of the events of the “whos, whys & wherefores, lading to her administration’s rehabilitative efforts.

For, according to the records, truly the first construction of the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant was completed in 1966 during the administration of President Tubman with . . . capacity of 30 megawatts commission from two 15-megawatts turbines. In 1974, an additional 34 megawatts was added to increase the capacity to 64 megawatts. Financing of the first phase was provided by the US Government and the second phase was financed by the World Bank.

Then In 1990, came the civil war, conceived for the removal of the government of Liberia by force of arms, planned and financed by none-other than Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, then executive CEO of the Association of Constitutional Democracy in Liberia (ACDL) who carried out the plan with insurgent agents Charles Taylor and NPFL-INFPL. They seized the Hydro Plant and looted it of all of its operating equipment, up to the point where we are today.

Now, it is indeed, unfortunate that a group of Liberian praise-singers would sing “everybody spoiled it, our Ma (Ellen) fix it”, at the switch-on ceremonies, perhaps, because most of the praise-singers were too young or were not born to know that it was their “Ma Ellen” who ordered “destroy or spoil it”, in speech delivered in Philadelphia, USA. The Executive Mansion is still idle, not renovated although US $31 million has been appropriated and approved with US $10 million paid to contractors who defaulted on the contracts.

Also making remarks at the Switch-on Ceremonies was the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, Excellency Borge Brende, who said: “President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf . . . has taken Liberia from darkness to light . . . has taken Liberia, a war-torn country, to a stable democracy . . . the projects undertaken by her (Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s) government, including the Mount Coffee . . . are important to national growth and development . . . indication of Liberia’s graduation from a war-torn country to a nation of development and progress . . .”.

We are not surprised by this commendation by the representative of the Nation that bestowed the internationally-coveted award for Peace to Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, described by Liberians, including Counselor-at-Law, Political Leader and Diplomat, Honorable Winston Tubman, as the “Mother of the Liberian civil war of death and destruction and that Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf did not and does not deserve the award”.

Of the Peace award given to Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Journalist Gibson Jeru writes the Nobel Peace Committee:

October 11, 2012

Nobel Peace Committee
Henrik Ibsens gate 51
NO-0255 Oslo, Norway
Attn: Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman

Dear Mr. Chairman:

My name is Gibson W. Jerue, a Liberian journalist of 24-year experience, an author and advocate. I presently reside in Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America.

Firstly, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to you, Mr. Chairman, and the five members of your committee, to include, Madam Kaci Kullmann Five, Deputy Chairperson; Madams Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, Berit Reiss-Andersen, and Mr. Gunnar Stålsett, all members. I must honestly say that your recognition of personalities around the world for the tireless effort they have made to make the world a better place has helped to transform the outlook of humanity. The Nobel Peace Prize is indeed a model laurel that every good man or woman craves to win. Certainly, every nation and people would be proud to see their son or daughter winning such a prestigious award, but in President Sirleaf’s case, the Liberian people are ashamed to even identify with the award given her. They do not know how to explain how she qualified for the award as there is no single evidence of criteria that qualifies one for a Nobel that Madam Sirleaf has achieved at any time of her life.

However, sir, I am petitioning your noble committee to revoke the award given to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia. She does not deserve it because she has done nothing peaceful all her life, but organizing rebellions to wreck a nation that she claimed to love. She is the tormentor-in-chief of the Liberian people, financing and directing armed groups, and paying for the drugging of child soldiers with her lifesavings. She has confessed that she lavished $10,000 on the NPFL rebel organization; although her rebel partners claimed it was $20,000. This money went to guns, ammunition and drugs for child soldiers to fight her proxy war.

By awarding her the Nobel Prize, you have knowingly or unknowingly put a slap in the faces of Liberians, both living and those whose bones were crushed by Madam Sirleaf’s paid murderers. The reasons to revoke her prize are hereto attached for your consideration.

Counting your understanding of the plight of the Liberian people, I pray you relieve the people of Liberia by striping Madam Sirleaf of that prestigious prize. Nobel belongs to the likes of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Leymah Gbowee, and other noble personalities of the world.

Yours Truly,

Gibson W. Jeru