Monrovia – The National Youth Assembly of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) has threatened to lead a campaign to ensure a “popular uprising of the people” if the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government of President George Manneh Weah fails to allow the helicopter belonging to its Political Leader to land in the country.
The party and the government, through the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) have been caught in rigmarole, making claims and counter claims over the saga.
The PLP claims that its Political Leader and Vision Bearer. Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, through his company, Kwenyan and Associates, met all legal requirements and was given a permit by the LCAA for the helicopter to land in the country, but said permit was surreptitiously revoked for unknown reasons barely a day after the chopper attempted landing in the country.
The party took the matter to the Supreme Court of Liberia, and the government has denied initially issuing a permit for the helicopter to land into the country.
“LCAA notes that at no time did Kwenyan & Associates Group of Company request for landing permit to the LCAA for which, they filed a writ of Prohibition. The Group application for an Air Service License is still being reviewed by the LCAA in keeping with the Liberia Civil Aviation and relevant international Regulations and is pending the fulfillment of all the requirements”, a release issued by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) stated.
But in a statement issued in Monrovia late Monday, October 25, the National Youth Assembly of the PLP claimed that the failure of the Liberian government to allow the helicopter owned by its Political Leader to land in the country violates his constitutional rights.
The group pointed out to Articles 11, 17 and 22 of the 1986 Liberian constitutions.
Article 11(a) of the Liberian constitution states that: “all persons are born equally free and independent and have certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights, among which are the right of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of pursuing and maintaining and security of the person and of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, subject to such qualifications as provided for in this Constitution”.
Article 17 (a) notes that “all persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good to instruct their representatives, to petition the government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.”
Article 22 (a) states that: “Every person shall have the right to own property alone as well as in association with others; provided that only Liberian citizens shall have the right to own real property within the Republic”.
“The National Youth Assembly of the PLP is greatly concerned by the constant violation of these rights of its Political Leader amongst which is the right to legally acquire property. By this, we are demanding the unconditional landing of the helicopter licensed and own by the Kwenyan Groups of Companies within 72hours or there will be a popular uprising of the Liberian people against this clueless and irresponsible government in order to ensure the right to legally acquire property by any Liberian citizen is protected at all times and not only by the Weah-led government but governments to come”.
“The Government of George Weah has stepped on the tail of a scorpion and must be ready to face the consequences as we will sting where it hurts the most”.
The group indicated that “it is an open truth that President Weah continues to misuse the mandate to lead our people as he has misguided individuals who purport themselves only based on greed and personal aggrandizement”.
It added that though the party remains a responsible political establishment, the PLP will not be seen as “weaklings” in this saga.
“Our Political Leader Dr. Daniel E. Cassell did not come to bleed the National Coffers of this Country but came with his Personal hard-earned wealth to ensure that all is done to relief the suffering Masses from this ugly Nightmare of misrule and inept Government headed by an Indecisive George Weah”.
The group maintained that the public must understand that it is no crime to be wealthy, especially, when such wealth is being used to emancipate the underprivileged.
“The Aircraft purchased by Dr. Daniel E. Cassell under Kwenyan Group Companies is not money stolen from State’s Coffer, but an earnest means to draft the lives of our people in the parallel direction of having access to opportunity that has been denied them due to lack of Road Connectivity, bad governance, as our mothers in Gbokongedeh, Kanpleh, Gbogeseh Town and other places to loss their lives due to cheap illnesses”
The Youth Assembly maintained that the helicopter is not intended to be used as intimidation to the government, but it will serve as a mean to help Liberians and others who believed that Dr. Cassell should be seen as a hero and true son of this soil.
Should bring proud
The youths of the PLP added that it is a proud thing to see a single Liberian acquiring a helicopter, without stealing from the Liberian people, which has never been in the history of the country.
“It is now the time for us to put aside politics and personal interest and work for the benefits of all Liberians. The National Youth Assembly of the PLP sends out this warning that we are not jokers as we shall take the streets in protestation to ensure that this Aircraft is allowed to land freely and any other attempt to hinder the process, we will be very radical and stringent”.
“This is a mean to trample on our rights as Liberians and every Liberian should now join the PLP to protest against this act of Injustice. We will not be silent any more as our lives will mean nothing unless what is right is done. This Nation belongs to every one of us and George Weah should understand this that being President doesn’t make you a superhuman”.
Earn wealth outside government
The group reminded Liberians that Dr. Cassell earned his personal wealth outside government, unlike the wealth of the soccer legend turned politician who continues to allegedly squander all of his earnings during his footballing days, and he is now “depleting our Nation’s resources with his cronies and friends through the building of condominiums around the Country”.
“We would also like to inform the public that the Kwenyan Group of Companies is a legally registered institution that has and continues to provide job for thousands of Liberians and foreign nationals in the diaspora including our beloved country. The Aircraft (Bell 430) with the registration ZT-RJA and serial numbers 49075 was legally purchased from a renowned South African aircraft cooperation of the National airways of South Africa which a beggar in Moses Y. Kollie was aware of all the proceeding in acquiring this aircraft and he even recommended this company”.
“This con artist and petti hustler Kollie is also in the know of all the necessary documentations including international aviation requirements regarding the purchase of this aircraft. Is no more a secret that George Weah and his co-operative in Mr. Moses Y. Kollie has cluelessly, callously, and deliberately deprived Dr. Daniel E. Cassell and his company the constitutional and inalienable right of landing permit as an attempt to bared other political parties from using the airspace as a plot to cleverly continue to perpetuate themselves into power”.
Cassell’s life is paramount
The Assembly maintained that the life of its Political Leader, Dr. Cassell remains a paramount concern as there have been several attacks due to envy and mere jealousy.
The group renewed calls for the international community to intervene into the matter.
“If anything shall go wrong, we want the International Community to know that it is the plot of this President and his co-operatives to destroy lives cheaply as they continue to show zero interest in investigating ritualistic killings and mysterious disappearances of our people”.
Under Mr. Weah’s leadership, the PLP Youth Assembly stated, that Liberia continues to experience a putrefying economy that disallows the economic freedom of all Liberians living in its territorial boundaries and increasing hardship that has devastatingly engulfed the population with an unprecedented speed.
“Lastly, the National Youth Assembly of the People’s Liberation Party wants to make this unequivocally clear that we will not succumb to any form of counterproductive attitude from government against our political leader and humble servant Dr. Daniel E. Cassell”.
“We are calling on all our partisans, district structures, auxiliaries’ groups, well-wishers, and sympathizers within the length and birth of the county to join us in ensuring the government adhere to our demands. With fearlessness and determination, with meekness and assurance, with faith in the promise of tomorrow, let us march straight together, enduring supporters in the cause of a Liberia that is more peaceful, more flourishing and more just”.