GBARNGA — Bong County Senator Prince Moye has responded to recent allegations made by former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, accusing her of failing to bring meaningful development to her home county and misusing her position for personal gain.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Addressing journalists in Gbarnga Saturday, Senator Moye responded to Taylor’s previous criticisms of his leadership and provided a counter-narrative on her own record.
Taylor, in an interview with Super Bongese, a local radio station in Bong County, had questioned Moye’s leadership, alleging that he had not done enough for Bong County despite his prominent position. In response, Moye did not hold back, accusing Taylor of neglecting the very people who helped elevate her to power.
Moye specifically referred to Taylor’s alleged attempts to name local landmarks after her family members, such as the Sanoyea public school, which she purportedly sought to name in honor of her grandfather. “Let her deny that she didn’t place her grandfather’s name on the Sanoyea public school,” Moye said, questioning Taylor’s commitment to meaningful development in the county.
He also highlighted her attempt to name a street in Gbarnga after former President Charles Taylor, noting that no substantial work had been done on the road.
Further criticizing Taylor’s alleged disconnect from the county, Moye said, “Let her deny that she doesn’t have a sleeping place of her own or even a farm to help others.” He suggested that, despite her 27 years in national leadership, Taylor had not invested in her own county, opting instead to rent a home rather than build in Bong County. “She didn’t care to build a hut in her own village,” he stated.
Moye also touched on the issue of government resources used during Taylor’s time as Vice President. “The government of Liberia paid $125,000 annually for a building she resided in for six years,” Moye said, accusing Taylor of living in luxury without contributing to the county that gave her prominence.
In addition to these accusations, Moye directly addressed another serious allegation that Taylor had failed to give residents of Bong County the opportunity to serve in the CDC government. “She denied Bong residents jobs for fear of them gaining power,” Moye claimed.
According to him, Taylor sent jobs meant for Bong County citizens to people from outside the county, ensuring that locals were left out of key positions of influence.
Moye also criticized Taylor for neglecting vital infrastructural projects during her tenure as Vice President, including the Bong County Technical College, the Superintendent’s compound, and the Presidential Palace. He pointed out that despite serving in the government, Taylor failed to prioritize these projects. In contrast, Moye highlighted that the Unity Party (UP) administration had made significant strides in just two years.
“The UP government has completed the Superintendent residence, and the construction of the Presidential Palace will soon begin,” Moye said, underscoring the rapid progress made by the current administration in a short period.
Moye further responded to Taylor’s recent remarks about the equitable distribution of development funds across districts. While Taylor had argued that every district deserved its fair share, Moye questioned her credibility on the matter. “Leadership is not about holding big positions; it’s about what you do for your people when you’re in those positions,” he said, emphasizing that Taylor’s tenure in office failed to deliver tangible benefits to the people of Bong County.
Moye also dismissed Taylor’s claims regarding her philanthropic efforts, particularly her Jewel Starfish Foundation, which she has said supports girls’ education. “The foundation is just on paper. We can’t see it. There’s no office in Bong,” he remarked, calling her claims misleading.
