MONROVIA – The President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Albert T. Chie, has accused the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, of being supportive of the opposition bloc by creating an unleveled field to the advantage of the opposition ahead of the October elections.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Sen. Chie lambasted the Ambassador during his recent visit to Grand Kru County. His outburst followed a press statement released by the Ambassador last week in which he lamented the harsh living conditions of rural Liberians and alleged that the Legislature allocated to itself over US$65 million in 2022 for salaries and operations to feather their own nest while hospitals and county service centers withered on the vine.
Sen. Chie argued that Ambassador would have ascertained facts about the monies that lawmakers receive by visiting the projects being carried out by all lawmakers throughout the country.
“What do we do with the money we get? We build clinics, we buy drugs, we build schools, we build guest houses, etc., that’s what legislators all over the country do with their money,” he said.
The Grand Kru Senator also argued that the Ambassador’s recent statement is a strategy employed by him to strengthen the opposition in this election year.
“He’s fond of spreading falsehood because this is an election year so that the opposition would be strengthened. He’s lying because of his support to a field that shouldn’t be level because this is a political year. How can you be spreading falsehood on the government? This is why Washington has recalled him because he’s interfering with the politics of our country. He’s a foreigner and he must stick to his position,” Sen. Chie said.
Sen. Chie further reacted to local news in the county that the Superintendent snubbed the Ambassador when he visited the county during his nationwide tour. According to Sen. Chie, the Superintendent was not informed of the Ambassador’s visit, neither was the Superintendent informed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ambassador’s visit to the county.
Chie: “It was the Ambassador that snubbed the Superintendent because he entered our county Nicodemusly. That Ambassador, it has been alleged that he’s an opposition supporter. How can you come to a county without informing the Superintendent?”
During a recent interview with BBC’s Esau Williams, the Ambassador was pressed regarding the suspicion that his recent criticism could be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the Weah-led administration, particularly with the upcoming October elections. But Amb. McCarthy maintained that corruption in Liberia dates 200 years back and it is not the making of any one political party or one administration.
“The problem of corruption in Liberia goes back 200 years. It is absolutely pervasive and there has to be a decision by the people of Liberia that corruption is not going to be our way of doing business anymore. Until they make that decision as a population, they will not be able to climb out of the rankings of world poverty that keep them down in the bottom 10,” said the U.S. Ambassador.
In his statement, the U.S. Ambassador who recently concluded a three-week county tour, stated that destitute citizens residing in the leeward counties of Liberia are being neglected by the government’s elite officials.
He stated in the press statement: “On the trip, I was startled and deeply troubled to encounter multiple county hospitals that received not one penny of what they were promised in the 2022 budget. Hospitals on which lives depend, where outbreaks are prevented and suffering is alleviated, did not receive any portion of the US$100,000 or more appropriated by the legislature for them to operate.
“Lest you think this is the work of one political party, that notion was quickly dispelled by Liberians I talked to. The blocking of resources is so complete that it must be institutional: and the lack of any alarm being raised indicates a syndicate involving players at the legislature, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”
When asked by the BBC about his use of strong language as a diplomat in Liberia, which may not be typical of other European countries, Ambassador McCarthy pointed out that Liberia has vibrant media and a strong historical connection with the United States. As a result, the United States feels a special responsibility towards Liberia, leading it to become the largest donor country to Liberia.
He said the Liberian government understands that his statement is part of the frank and open relationship the two countries share.