MONROVIA – A major controversy has erupted within the Unity Party in Bong County following President Joseph Boakai’s donation of a four-door pickup to Rev. James S. Paye, Senior Pastor of Christ Vision International Ministries.
By Selma Lomax | [email protected]
The gift, reportedly facilitated by Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris, has sparked anger among party loyalists and deepened tensions between Pastor Paye and Senator Prince Moye.
According to sources, Superintendent Norris — who reportedly took her spiritual father, Pastor Paye, to meet President Boakai — reportedly convinced the president that Paye had supported the Unity Party and was deserving of recognition.
However, this gesture has not gone down well with pro-Unity Party pastors and leaders who say Pastor Paye openly supported the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the 2023 elections.
Senator Prince Moye is said to be especially displeased with the superintendent’s actions. Moye, according to Unity Party insiders, feels betrayed, noting that many UP-aligned pastors dedicated time and resources to Boakai’s campaign while Paye, known for his close ties with former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, aligned himself with the CDC.
“This is not just about a vehicle,” a Unity Party insider said. “It’s about betrayal. Loyal partisans and pastors are being ignored, while someone who campaigned against us is being rewarded by the President.”
Superintendent Norris’s involvement has drawn further scrutiny. She is accused of using her long-standing personal relationship with President Boakai to empower individuals perceived as opponents of the Unity Party.
Some party members allege that Norris is using her position to build political alliances for a rumored 2029 representative bid, reportedly seeking to bring both Unity Party and CDC supporters under her wing.
“We see Superintendent Norris as an opposition in disguise,” one angry partisan told FrontPageAfrica. “She’s dividing the party ahead of the 2029 election, and we will petition the Executive Committee to take action.”
This is not the first time Norris has used her office to promote Pastor Paye. In a previous instance, she reportedly collaborated with him and the Success Business Center on a fencing project for the county administration building, costing over US$100,000.
Frustration continues to build among UP-aligned pastors and grassroots organizers. Many say their sacrifices during the election have gone unacknowledged, while Paye — viewed as an ally of the CDC — is being elevated.
“Pastor Paye used his pulpit to campaign for the CDC,” said one UP pastor, speaking anonymously. “Yet today, he is receiving rewards while we are sidelined.”
Amid the uproar, Pastor Paye addressed the matter on his radio station in Gbarnga, thanking President Boakai and describing their relationship as long-standing and personal. “Old man Boakai is a personal friend. I’ve known him since he was Vice President. He often visited me in Gbarnga. So, no one can fight grace,” Paye said, denying that the pickup was a political reward.
But his remarks soon turned combative, taking direct swipes at Senator Moye. Paye insinuated that someone in Bong County believes he alone has access to President Boakai — a remark widely interpreted as a jab at Moye.
The rivalry between the two dates back to 2011, when Moye launched his political career by contesting Bong County’s District Two representative seat— a move Pastor Paye reportedly opposed. Their antagonism has deepened over the years.
In what appeared to be a warning to Moye over his rumored 2029 vice presidential ambitions, Paye said, “People who fight their father can’t succeed. If you keep fighting me, you won’t achieve your goals. The only way you’ll succeed is if you apologize to me.”
He continued his criticism of Moye, saying, “Leaders are humble, not arrogant,” and accusing the senator of creating divisions among Bong County’s legislative delegation. “You’ve fought all your colleagues. Now you’re coming to fight the church.”
At the time of publication, Senator Moye had not responded to Pastor Paye’s comments. Efforts to contact Superintendent Norris were unsuccessful, as her phone rang unanswered.