Kerper Dwanyen has done it again: July 26 Cancellation!

By Augustus Browne

The OLM President Kerper Dwanyen has cancelled the Liberian Independence Celebration for 2009, the People’s News has learned.

An official release issued by OLM on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 read:" Bad News For Liberians In Minnesota!…July 26 Celebration Cancelled…The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota, OLM regrets to inform the public that due to a last minute cancellation by Ramada Inn/Grand Rios Hotel, this year’s celebration of Liberia’s 162nd independence scheduled for Saturday, July 25th is canceled. Upon receiving the unexpected word of the cancellation of OLM’s banquet hall reservation, the Administration made frantic efforts to secure another suitable venue but all efforts proved futile."

A phone call made to the business offices of Ramada Inn hotel proved that Mr. Kerper Dwanyen is not saying why he decided to cancel an official Liberian Independence Day celebration for the first time in twenty years.

"We are not in the business of canceling reservation on a short notice and we challenged OLM to prove that it reserved a hall and, for some reasons, we decided to drop the ball on such business agreement. No hotel does this, except that company chooses to draw itself into a waiting legal suit", a Ramada staff told our reporter.

Many Liberians the People’s News spoke to refused to accept the justification given by OLM.

Flomo Kollie of Brooklyn Park said "it is a shame that the OLM cannot observe the Liberian Independence. Mr. Kerper Dwanyen recently boasted of raising so much money yet failed to invest in the Independence Day celebration".

Mr. Chris Wisner of Brooklyn Park said he too finds it very difficult to believe the poor excuse provided by Mr. Dwanyen. He said it has been a tradition in Minnesota to appoint an Independence Day Committee in advance, adding "but I never heard of any such team this year. Mr. Dwanyen was apparently concerned that many Liberians were disappointed in his leadership and so he could not risk the chance of holding another failed July 26, as was the case last year, 2008".

ARTHUR ZAKAMA, OLM BOARD CHAIR	RICHARD PARKER, BOARD MEMBER

He continued:" There are several schools, churches, and parks around the Twin Cities for OLM to use, so I see no reason why we cannot celebrate this historic day in our community".

Robert George, a Liberian lawyer, said "it is a disgrace that this man we voted for in the cold weather would treat the community this way. Kerper Dwanyen has bullied everyone from around him and it is not surprising why no competent person is willing to work with him."

For her part, Ruth Martin, a registered nurse, said this is one of the worst things to ever happen to our community. She said with over twenty-five thousand Liberians in Minnesota, she could not believe what she read on the internet. "Kerper Dwanyen has failed us again. This is the problem with electing a rebel leader", she noted.

Several other Liberian community leaders across the Diaspora said they are saddened to hear this terrible news coming out of Minnesota, referring to the news as "a sad day for Liberians in Minnesota".

This will be the first time in the last twenty years of OLM history for the community not to observe Liberia’s Independence Day celebration.

Many observers believe that the July 26 cancellation is even more disturbing, because the OLM Board headed by Mr. Arthur Zakama has failed to show leadership on such critical issues in the community.

Mr. Zakama, one observer said: "is a two-faced character playing backroom games with the real concerns of the community. I see why people on the OLM Board as well as leaders in the Liberian community in Minnesota don’t trust him anymore."