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The Anatomy of Diaspora Anthony Kesselly
By Francis K. Zazay
The crisis and political bickering that currently prevails in many Liberian Diaspora organizations have for long time now;
appear to present patterns and unavoidable trends of conflicts. For the last four years, at least since I became involved
with the process, the focus on fighting one group over the other or planting outmaneuvering strategies against another group
keep dominating our organizational landscape in the US. From all across, this behavior is similar; dating back from
the holding of Two All Liberian National Conferences, to many county organizations and now to the power apparatus of the Union
of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA) and its Chapters, the pattern of conflicting planting rather than conflict
resolutions seems to be a glaring hallmark. As a means of understanding the catalytic factors of this unfolding disarray,
I thought to review the working pattern of a principal figure in these Diaspora groups, to see if there is a comparison and
how such pattern could presented.
While I am not in the field of science, permit me to use my little understanding of anatomy to present my case. Biologists say that the anatomical knowledge of an organism, to an extent, consists of “observations of the dissected plants and animals”. Because the appropriate comprehension of the structural phenomenal of the subject has some implications to knowing its social functions, it becomes imperative to view the behavioral pattern of the dissected animal in order to fully have an understanding of its anatomy. This is why many believe that anatomy is almost inseparable from behavioral pattern or functional anatomy. While it is true that anatomy basically refers to medicine and biology, my focus here is a presentation of the working pattern a principal figure, who is by all means “The One” who has created for himself a chapter in Diaspora Liberian history.
Since my commentary is not to slander but one intended to mend fences, it is important to begin by congratulating Mr. Anthony Kesselly and his team on the occasion of their inauguration as leaders of the other faction of ULAA. I hope that by reason of concluding the structural arrangements of their leadership, more focus would now be attended to the other faction of ULAA to ensure that the Union reflects its true meaning. By the same token, it is fair to expect that the leadership structure of the other faction of ULAA would be concluded so as to begin addressing similar expectations, as expressed above.
With that said I would begin by stating that Mr. Anthony Kesselly, like many Liberian politicians, appears to have some reservation to work with equally competing mindset and as some would call it, “qualified people” like himself. As a result he has worked on building an empire of puppets, along with very few individuals with competing competence. This scenario ensures that the few sound minded keep talking and making good suggestions, why the majority drumbeaters opposes on the signal of the “Diaspora Leader”. Because these majority followers are serving to the behest of their leader, they seldom set out for community projects, except for the occasional media flamboyance or attention-seeking gestures to play host when Liberian Government Officials are in town. This is why many chapters seldom have elections nor call general meetings. In fact I am informed that meetings are only called when its outcome is carefully and favorably predicted long ahead of the meeting. As a consequence, we now have a result of all of these maneuvering as the unpleasant testaments to what we now know that the ULAA Liberians known many years ago that spoke with one voice (no Mather travail) no longer lives. Many have no opinion on National issues in Liberia for fear that that might prevent a catch of a lucrative government position. With such interest at stake, it is fair to reason that perhaps that is one of the reasons why, the enviably and eloquent ULSU-trained Anthony Kesselly, along with his handpicked followers have nothing to say in public, nor do they make public solicitation for manpower. Have you ever seen Anthony Kesselly sending out public request soliciting the support of anyone for community work? Do you know how he selects his team? The absence of these normal recruiting norms should serve to answer that one works with Anthony Kesselly only by invitation and not necessarily by competence. If one is lucky enough for their competence to coincide with loyalty to Anthony Kesselly, then you are on board. If not, his method to ensure tranquility is to have you removed at all cost, such as what he now enjoys in ULAA, with a fatal attempt to remove Mr. James Larsah, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ULAA.
In all fairness to Mr. Kesselly, it would be in place to state that he has the requisite credentials to serve these community organizations. With his ULSU credentials, one would expect nothing less than success for Kesselly. This is why it should behoove me to ask as to why are there so much troubles in ULAA, in spite of the “good” work of Mr. Anthony Kesselly. How is it that this distinguish gentleman, who has served ULAA in the highest capacity of Board Chairman for more than SEVEN YEARS, continue to see such troubles unfold before him? Could the many noises we hear around here today in ULAA be a tribute to his service? If indeed Mr. Kesselly has done well by supervising ULAA while serving on the Board, where does the logic of the many he help raised lies when Kesselly seeks to “rule” a divided ULAA then a united one! I carefully chose the word “many” because I know there are many in that Kessellydom, who are silent, not out of respect for the Good-Looking-Kesselly, but out of “political” necessity, because they too, have suffered the political venoms of Anthony Kesselly. As to why he continues to rule in spite of the above mentions, why shouldn’t he? He has his army of drumbeaters he has spent years raising, who are ever prepared to say “power to the people”. Only time will tell if another Kerkura Kpoto, along with an unknown dictator is not in the making!
Congratulations, Anthony!
The author, Mr. Francis Zazay is an accountant and income tax practitioner in Minnesota. He has many years of community service experience both in Liberia and in the Us. He currently resides in Minnesota and can be reached at fzazay@aol.com.
By Francis K. Zazay
The crisis and political bickering that currently prevails in many Liberian Diaspora organizations have for long time now;
appear to present patterns and unavoidable trends of conflicts. For the last four years, at least since I became involved
with the process, the focus on fighting one group over the other or planting outmaneuvering strategies against another group
keep dominating our organizational landscape in the US. From all across, this behavior is similar; dating back from
the holding of Two All Liberian National Conferences, to many county organizations and now to the power apparatus of the Union
of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA) and its Chapters, the pattern of conflicting planting rather than conflict
resolutions seems to be a glaring hallmark. As a means of understanding the catalytic factors of this unfolding disarray,
I thought to review the working pattern of a principal figure in these Diaspora groups, to see if there is a comparison and
how such pattern could presented. While I am not in the field of science, permit me to use my little understanding of anatomy to present my case. Biologists say that the anatomical knowledge of an organism, to an extent, consists of “observations of the dissected plants and animals”. Because the appropriate comprehension of the structural phenomenal of the subject has some implications to knowing its social functions, it becomes imperative to view the behavioral pattern of the dissected animal in order to fully have an understanding of its anatomy. This is why many believe that anatomy is almost inseparable from behavioral pattern or functional anatomy. While it is true that anatomy basically refers to medicine and biology, my focus here is a presentation of the working pattern a principal figure, who is by all means “The One” who has created for himself a chapter in Diaspora Liberian history.
Since my commentary is not to slander but one intended to mend fences, it is important to begin by congratulating Mr. Anthony Kesselly and his team on the occasion of their inauguration as leaders of the other faction of ULAA. I hope that by reason of concluding the structural arrangements of their leadership, more focus would now be attended to the other faction of ULAA to ensure that the Union reflects its true meaning. By the same token, it is fair to expect that the leadership structure of the other faction of ULAA would be concluded so as to begin addressing similar expectations, as expressed above.
With that said I would begin by stating that Mr. Anthony Kesselly, like many Liberian politicians, appears to have some reservation to work with equally competing mindset and as some would call it, “qualified people” like himself. As a result he has worked on building an empire of puppets, along with very few individuals with competing competence. This scenario ensures that the few sound minded keep talking and making good suggestions, why the majority drumbeaters opposes on the signal of the “Diaspora Leader”. Because these majority followers are serving to the behest of their leader, they seldom set out for community projects, except for the occasional media flamboyance or attention-seeking gestures to play host when Liberian Government Officials are in town. This is why many chapters seldom have elections nor call general meetings. In fact I am informed that meetings are only called when its outcome is carefully and favorably predicted long ahead of the meeting. As a consequence, we now have a result of all of these maneuvering as the unpleasant testaments to what we now know that the ULAA Liberians known many years ago that spoke with one voice (no Mather travail) no longer lives. Many have no opinion on National issues in Liberia for fear that that might prevent a catch of a lucrative government position. With such interest at stake, it is fair to reason that perhaps that is one of the reasons why, the enviably and eloquent ULSU-trained Anthony Kesselly, along with his handpicked followers have nothing to say in public, nor do they make public solicitation for manpower. Have you ever seen Anthony Kesselly sending out public request soliciting the support of anyone for community work? Do you know how he selects his team? The absence of these normal recruiting norms should serve to answer that one works with Anthony Kesselly only by invitation and not necessarily by competence. If one is lucky enough for their competence to coincide with loyalty to Anthony Kesselly, then you are on board. If not, his method to ensure tranquility is to have you removed at all cost, such as what he now enjoys in ULAA, with a fatal attempt to remove Mr. James Larsah, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ULAA.
In all fairness to Mr. Kesselly, it would be in place to state that he has the requisite credentials to serve these community organizations. With his ULSU credentials, one would expect nothing less than success for Kesselly. This is why it should behoove me to ask as to why are there so much troubles in ULAA, in spite of the “good” work of Mr. Anthony Kesselly. How is it that this distinguish gentleman, who has served ULAA in the highest capacity of Board Chairman for more than SEVEN YEARS, continue to see such troubles unfold before him? Could the many noises we hear around here today in ULAA be a tribute to his service? If indeed Mr. Kesselly has done well by supervising ULAA while serving on the Board, where does the logic of the many he help raised lies when Kesselly seeks to “rule” a divided ULAA then a united one! I carefully chose the word “many” because I know there are many in that Kessellydom, who are silent, not out of respect for the Good-Looking-Kesselly, but out of “political” necessity, because they too, have suffered the political venoms of Anthony Kesselly. As to why he continues to rule in spite of the above mentions, why shouldn’t he? He has his army of drumbeaters he has spent years raising, who are ever prepared to say “power to the people”. Only time will tell if another Kerkura Kpoto, along with an unknown dictator is not in the making!
Congratulations, Anthony!
The author, Mr. Francis Zazay is an accountant and income tax practitioner in Minnesota. He has many years of community service experience both in Liberia and in the Us. He currently resides in Minnesota and can be reached at fzazay@aol.com.
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