Buchanan, Grand Basaa – The Office of Representative Matthew Joe, District #3, Grand Bassa County, has clarified that the he is not dead as being speculated. The lawmaker’s office staffers, in a release, said he is seeking medical treatment. Unfortunately, the release didn’t say at which medical facility he’s being treated.
According to Lawrence Chea, Resource Officer and James Smith, Chief of Office Staff, the speculations of the lawmaker’s death are “unfounded rumors being circulated by the public.” Both men further termed the rumors as “reckless.”
“We are saddened by such fake and damaging propaganda being spewed out by our detractors,” the release said.
The Bassa lawmaker’s staffers informed that on August 9, 2018, their boss wrote his colleague lawmakers, asking for sick leave.
Meanwhile, this newspaper has been told that efforts are being exerted by the House of the Representatives to have him flown abroad for advance medical treatment.
“However, we reassure the public that Hon. Joe is alive,” the release stated.
According to our reporter in the county, the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Clar M. Duncan-Weah, recently visited the home of the Representative on the Fairgrounds and wasn’t able to see him. She was told by a gentleman at his home that he couldn’t be seen at his home at the moment.
Two days after the First Lady’s stopover, speculations about his demise began to surface.
His district constituents have been worried as to whether the rumors were factual but had no means of getting clarity from any of the office staffs until they issued the release late Friday afternoon.
Several citizens have expressed happiness that their lawmaker is alive. They, however, frowned on the staffers for “harsh response.”
Alex Deso, a Buchanan resident, expressed his happiness that the lawmaker is alive and those spreading false information about his death should be arrested.
“The office of Hon. Joe needs to find the person who posted on facebook that the lawmaker has died and have him arrested,” he stated.
Andrew Sommah, another resident condemned the office staffs of the lawmaker for the harsh words used against citizens.
“No one is reckless in this county; they kept the information and citizens began concern that is why the news spread the way it went,” he added.
“Matthew Joe is our lawmaker; nobody wants him to die but let the information reach the people properly instead of insult.”
Lawmaker Joe assumed office on January 12, 2018 after defeating two-term lawmaker Gabriel Smith.