Monrovia – Residents of Buzzy Quarter Community in Monrovia have urged Liberians, particularly young people to eschew voting based on tribal and party sentiments and start voting based on issues and policies proposed by candidates.

Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr – edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

That, the residents said, will lead to the election of the right persons to lead the nation.

Buzzy Quarter Community is being occupied by people who mostly came from Lofa County to join the Armed Forces of Liberia.

Thomas Zayzay, youth chairman of the community, who spoke at the program marking the official dedication of the Buzzy Quarter Palava Hall by Dr. Mills Jones, said voters should critically examine candidates and platforms of political parties to determine who is able to move Liberia forward in terms of development and growth.

“Voting on party or tribal sentiment will not help develop Liberia,” Mr. Zayzay emphasized.

He further argued that voting on party or tribal sentiment has not addressed Liberia’s problems from time in memorial, but rather resulting to more poverty in the country, which needs to be halted.

The Buzzy Quarter youth chairman indicated that as the elections draw closer, Liberians, particularly the youth, should now begin to think critically who they should elect for better leadership.

“Let’s leave the spirit of political sentiment, let put Liberia first.”

He called on voters to be conscious in their decision-making come October 10, for whatever decision they will make on the ballot papers in selecting candidate be it positive or negative will affect the  entire country.

“Put Liberia first before the casting of your ballot paper into the ballot box”, Mr. Zayzay urged.

He called on registered voters to turnout in their numbers to vote in October, reminding citizens that their votes are their right and power.

He said no one should feel they elected a politician in past elections and that person did not perform well, so they should become discouraged, and do not want to vote, adding, “That should not stop anyone from participating in the elections process.”

Pledging their support to Dr. J. Mills Jones, standard bearer of the opposition Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) Mr. Yarkpazuo Goloi thanked Dr. Jones for his continue existence rendered to the people of Buzzy Quarter and the country at large and promised that his dream will come to past in leading Liberia to a noble heath.

“Dr. Jones, we say thank you plenty, for remembering swamp dwellers and for you sitting here today.”

“We the young people anticipate that there’s a transformation in our lives, because Dr. Jones, who is indeed the ‘poverty doctor,’ not just a poverty doctor, but he is someone, we love Liberia so dearly, and this is a time now that we vote with our conscious,” he added.

He challenges Liberians to elect the country’s next President based on track records rather than tribalism or sectionalism. 

“Dr. Jones was the only banker governor, who introduced micro-loan for  which it was our Corporate Social Responsibility and taught it wise Buzzy Quarter have its own Palava hall that will accommodate us today.

“He has no relatives in Buzzy Quarter, that’s a clear indication that he has Liberia at heart, particular the swamp dwellers, and if giving state power he will do more for us,” he said.

In response, Dr. Jones vows that a MOVEE-led government would open doors to better development, better schools, health and roads, among others.

Monrovia – The Political leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Dr. Joseph Mills Jones has urged Liberians to vote into office talented people who will better their lives instead of voting people he calls tired politicians.

Report by Edwin Genoway, Jr – edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

He acknowledged that government has made some progress but urged Liberians to make a change in leadership, saying, its time for transformation.

“Yes we have made some progress but it is time to transform, it is time for transformation, we must begin with the economy if we want to change the lives of the people and develops the country, strengthen the private sector,  boost the economy to ensure those things that needed to be done for the people are carried out, the people need better health care, good schools among others,” he noted.

He said politics in Liberia nowadays is not on a first come first serve level.

“We are not going to give our country to someone who says I was the first to jump in the race, it is not about how long you been in politics but what have you done to improve the lives of the people, a good soldier is not ranked as general because he has stayed long in the army.

“Only a soldier who performs and exhibit leadership can be ranked as general in the army, so those who are crying around here for power and preaching that they been in politics for long should find a place to hide because they have nothing to show,” he noted.

He described the elections as an excellence election that is expected to bring forth people with like minds that will develop and boost the economy of Liberia.

“This election is about excellence and it is about people who have talent, not people who we know have been given the opportunity to serve and they squandered it, the Liberian people are saying they are not going to elect people who have no talent, no more to elect tired politicians back in office, they are the old wine in new bottles and the Liberian people will make that decision,” he noted.

“The election will get rid of all of the mountains, the mountains of corruption, mountains that let the people down. It is the time for those mountains to be removed from the people.”

“We need change and not continuity, you call for change but that change should not allow the same people to be in power, don’t elect people who are tired, they are tired politicians and you telling us it is a charisma, we know them they are still around here, they are the same people in different clothes, they are the old wine in new bottles, go and check their track records that have affected you, that prevents you from living a better life,” he said.

He told hundreds of supporters at program marking his (Dr. Jones) Presidential endorsement ceremony that the MOVEE led government will inspire and create hope for better lives of the Liberian people,

He was endorsed by a religious group under the umbrella Destiny Ministers for Excellence and New Creation family Worship Center, a church that hosts the group.

The head and founder of the group, head Bishop of the New Creation family Worship Center, Bishop Jeremiah Nimely described Dr. Jones as the best candidate among all the others.

Reading the endorsement statement on behalf of the group and the Church, Bishop Nimely said, “Dr. Joseph Mills Jones, after careful examination of all the Presidential aspirants, stands up as the lone Presidential aspirant that bears such credentials. Dr. Jones cares for his fellow citizens. He has indicated that Liberia is a land of possibilities where every Liberian child can live to his/her full potential,” he read.

He said Dr. Jones is a transformational leader whose handprints are clearly seen from the work he did at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) when he served as Executive Governor.

Members of the Destiny Ministers of Excellence, comprises of pastors, apostles, prophets, bishops and leaders as well as members of 150 Congregational churches of Destiny Ministers of Excellence have resolved to support and endorse the candidacy of the Political Leader and Standard Bearer of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Dr. Jones Mills Jones today.

“We are prepared, when the time comes, to galvanize more support and campaign for you Dr. Jones everywhere to win the October 10, 2017, Presidential election. We will leave no stone unturned, we stand by you, Dr. Jones, for you are the hope of Liberia,” he stated.

Bahn, Nimba County – The political leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Dr. J. Mills Jones, has ended a tour of vote-rich Nimba County, particularly to amass supporters ahead of the October elections.

Report by Edwin Genoway – edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

In a colorful ceremony in Bahn, the former Executive of the Central Bank of Liberia was hailed by the women of Nimba who had gathered from several major cities to pledge their support to him.

The women recalled Dr. Jones’ immense help to them through the loan scheme in introduced when he served the Central Bank.

They expressed confidence that he could reduce poverty when elected President.

“Truly you are our Poverty Doctor. We the women from all of the major cities and town of Nimba are convinced and pleased with your leadership.”

“We saw what you did when you were at the CBL, we believe that you can do better when you take leadership by being President,” Madam Kou, spokesperson for the women said.

Dr. Jones visited major cities and towns in the nine electoral districts in Nimba County.

The women stressed that the loan scheme introduced by Dr. Jones had a positive impact on all women across the country and such was a sign of leadership and a vision to move Liberia forward.

“Your love this country is not a joke. You have proven this when you served at the Central Bank of Liberia.”

“We saw too many poor people you helped and you are still helping them even though you not at the CBL again,” Kou said.

The gathering was also graced by many traditional leaders.

He was gowned by the women and the traditional leaders to symbolize their appreciation for his gesture towards them over the years.

Dr. Jones in a thankful mood emphasized the need for an inclusive economic growth and development.

“I have concluded that a people have decided to begin a journey for change. The time has come to build a new Liberia. The time has come to lift ourselves out of poverty.

“It is about time we Liberians look amongst ourselves for leaders with a good public record of service that made a difference in the lives of the people.”

“It is my view that if Liberia is to break away from the past of underdevelopment and business as usual, Liberians must stand up to say ‘no’ to the old order and bad politics,” he said.

Under Dr. Jones’ leadership at the CBL, Liberia became a full member of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) and a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion, an International organization.

Some politicians and pundits have criticized Dr. Jones for the policy of financial inclusion, especially the microfinance program supported by the CBL during his tenure. Jones came under attack for loan scheme which many lawmakers believed was hurting the economy and was only intended to gain political fame.