MONROVIA – Both Senator Abraham Darius Dillon and Mr. Henry Costa provided conflicting information on why the scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump’s Special Assistant for Domestic Policy, Mr. Ja’Ron K. Smith, did not materialize. The meeting was scheduled for December 3, 2019.
Others that were to be present at the meeting are Emmanuel Toe, James Larsah and Martin Kollah.
FrontPageAfrica has obtained a copy of the email sent by the White House confirming the meeting. It reads:
Good Evening,
It is my pleasure to confirm a meeting between Deputy Assistant Ja’Ron Smith,
Hon. Abraham Dillion, Mr. Emmanuel Toe, Mr. James Larsah, Mr. Henry Costa, and Mr. Martin Kollah.
Your meeting will take place on December 3rd at 10:30 am in EEOB room 167.
FrontPageAfrica has not been able to verify the purpose of the meeting as both Sen. Dillon and Mr. Costa remain mum despite having been asked by FPA.
But the meeting, according to information gathered by the FPA, was called off. Details were not provided to FPA on the reasons for calling off the meeting.
When contacted to find out whether he was aware of the meeting and why it was called off, the Montserrado County Senator initially denied being in the know of any such meeting with the White House Executive. He, however, confirmed the meeting after FrontPageAfrica confronted him with a screenshot of the White House email previously confirming the meeting date and time.
Dillon: “I know there was plan by my Diaspora Committee arranging a meeting for me to meet at the White House. Did not know about other inclusions. I did not make the date because I had to return home in keeping with my original return ticket. Moreover, I had to be back home before arrival of Cllr. Brumskine’s mortal remains to Liberia on the 4th.”
Costa confirmed the meeting, but said it was deferred because the White House Executive had an urgent trip to make. Costa, however, did not disclose the new date the meeting was scheduled for.
However, sources within the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia confided to FrontPageAfrica the White House rescinded its decision to have the Liberian delegation to meet with its official after being advised by the Embassy of Mr. Costa and Sen. Dillon’s involvement with the ‘Weah Step Down’ protest which the Embassy does not want to be associated with.
The protest which is scheduled for December 30 is intended to be a massive demonstration against economic hardship, corruption and bad governance under the George Weah-led administration and calling on the President to resign.
The protest was originally slated for July – throughout the week leading to Liberia’s Independence Day (July 26). But the U.S. in Monrovia at the time kicked against the move, calling on the planners to be patriotic.
The Embassy condemned the plan by the Council of Patriots to stage mass protest which should have begun July 24, stating that though the Embassy respects the rights of people to assemble and convey their views, the intent to do so in the Independence celebration week was misplaced.
“While the U.S. Embassy supports the rights of citizens to lawfully apply to assemble or convey their views to elected officials, the intent to do so during the week of July 22 is misplaced,” a statement from the Embassy noted.
“I know there was plan by my Diaspora Committee arranging a meeting for me to meet at the White House. Did not know about other inclusions. I did not make the date because I had to return home in keeping with my original return ticket. Moreover, I had to be back home before arrival of Cllr. Brumskine’s mortal remains to Liberia on the 4th.”
– Abraham Darius Dillon, Senator, Montserrado County
The U.S. Embassy stated at the time that staging the protest during the week of the Independence celebrations would be counter to the nomenclature of the organizers and would convey lack of commitment to national development.
“As the COP press release specifically calls on the international community to join their ‘long march,’ the U.S. Embassy responds by sharing its view that, particularly from a group carrying the banner ‘Council of Patriots’ and from a group which avows that patriotism remains central to their efforts, staging such actions as they have outlined, during independence celebrations, would instead convey a lack of commitment to national development. Ideally, events surrounding upcoming national celebrations should be devoid of partisan promotion or posturing, focusing instead on working together for the common good of the Liberian people,” the Embassy stated.
The U.S. Embassy source said, the American government is concern about the constant use of inflammatory and inciteful comments made by Costa on local radio and social media.
“The American government respects and promotes free speech and expression, but we are also concerned about sustainable democracy. We believe that in fragile situations like we have here in Liberia, people who have the platform to shape public opinion must be discreet with their utterances. The American government would not support any individual or action that would derail our years of investment to Liberia recover, strengthen its democracy and development drive,” the U.S. envoy said.
During his press conference on Monday, Sen. Dillon, an executive member of the Council of Patriots, was hesitant to confirm whether or not he supports the December 30 ‘Weah Step Down’ protest.
Dillon who did not come clear on the reporters’ inquiry said, “I am an executive member of the COP and I always believe in the rights of the people to decide their happiness and their safety.”