MONROVIA – The week started in an unfavorable and tense manner with protests staged by health workers across the country demanding the attention of the authority, especially when the President had just traveled with an array of Government officials to the United National General Assembly where he is expected to make a case for his country and people.
In the absence of President Weah, Mr. Nathaniel McGill Minister of State for Presidential Affairs is the man cutting the cards along with Vice President Jewel Howard in consultation with the President via telephone.
On Monday, it was about putting all hands on deck as the government struggled to find an answer to protesting health workers.
As an obligation, cabinet ministers and key players in the health sector were called to a meeting with the Vice President including Mr. Archibald Bernard, the President’s Legal adviser. According to eyewitness’ account, Bernard chose to mock the Vice President by reminding her about recent accidents on the Kakata, Monrovia highway, something the VP took serious exception to.
The situation became embarrassing for the President’s Legal Adviser Monday when he was being prevented by her security guards from attending a called cabinet meeting with a few senior cabinet ministers by the Vice President.
According to some staff of the Capitol and some personnel of the VP security who asked for anonymity, Mr. Bernard was prevented from entering the Vice President’s office on instruction from the VP herself for the ‘gross disrespect’ he allegedly meted against her.
The President Legal Adviser reportedly tried to mock the Vice President motorcade when she visited the Mansion where the meeting was previously scheduled to be held by reminding her about the involvement of her motorcade in a tragic motor accident that led to the deaths of innocent Liberian on the Kakata-Monrovia highway.
Distressed patients including pregnant women and baby mothers early Monday morning staged a protest at the Duport Road Health Center to claim the government’s attention to address the plight of health workers.
They set up roadblocks on the back road connecting Duport Road to the commercial hub of Redlight, disrupting the free flow of traffic.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, the protesters explained that they had gone for medical treatment and routine check-ups but were told that workers including nurses have laid down their tools in demand for salaries and arrears.
The patients said despite their condition, they are in solidarity with the health workers.
Early September, the Veep was reportedly on her way back from Gbarnga, Bong County, where she had gone to attend the Gboveh Junior and Senior High School commencement exercise. Vice President Taylor had served as the keynote speaker at the graduation program of the Dolokelen Gboveh High School in Gbarnga.
The Veep’s motorcade pilot car marked Executive Protective Service E.P.S. 78, was completely turned upside down and the yellow-colored taxi with no plate at the back but marked “BC – 1”, was completely damaged from the front when the dust settled after the crash. It is said that both cars had a head-on collision.