LIBERIANS IN MINNESOTA TAKE STEPS TO RESTORE BOARD CHAIRMAN

LIBERIANS IN MINNESOTA TAKE STEPS TO RESTORE BOARD CHAIRMAN

Ramsey, MN (01/18/10) Members of the Liberian Community in Minnesota or the OLM have taken steps for the restoration of the OLM Board Chairman, Mr. John Tarley .

The meeting, which was held under a peaceful atmosphere, raised concerns as to why Mr. John Tarley was removed as Chairman of the Board, without due process. The group of Liberians who met on over the weekend at the Brookdale Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center expressed concern regarding the tendency of mutual and perpetual disrespect in the community that has gone out of bound and poined out that this behavior must be stop.

The many Liberians who attended the meeting said this was the first time in many years that members of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota have had a successful and peaceful meeting on such an issue.

Many speakers said although the process leading to the restructuring of the OLM was high jacked by Kerper and his leadership, they thought to let it go since many of the folks elected to the board were not involved in prior community politics that has caused so much division in the community.

Some members specifically expressed concern as to how the constitution is limited, with many grammatical errors, along with poor verbal textures that appear not to have a good representation of Liberians. "We are Bachelor degree holders, masters and PhD, why should a document such as our constitution look like this", a community member said.

Another community member, who expressed frustration about the governing structure of OLM, claimed that the constitution does not "even allow for the participation of the membership based of OLM", something he claimed is strange. Then there was the issue of financial accountability and the lack of an annual financial report for 2008 and 2009 of Kerper Dwanyen’s leadership.

According to fliers presented during the meeting, OLM appears to be receiving thousands of dollars, while little or nothing is set in motion to address the many needs of Diaspora Liberians. The presiding officers of the meeting were however quick to point out that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss the many problems of OLM and find solutions. He said the meeting was called to address the Tarley removal and advised the body to remain in that perimeter.

Following his advice, the group of concern Liberians in Minnesota resolved to summon the OLM Board of Directors to a town hall meeting to show cause why, if any, Board Chairman John Tarley was removed from office. The community members expressed fear that such action, which has the propensity to cause problem, needs to be addressed as soon as it comes up. Citing the attempted of ULAA’s Board Chairman as an example, the body resolved to set up an intervention committee to express its concerns to the board and invite it to the next town hall meeting. The presiding officers of the meeting were the Minnesota Chapter Presidents of Grand Bassa County President and the Sinoe County.

At the end of the meeting an Intervention Committee was constitutes with the mandate to lead the process of restoring the OLM Board back to his office. The committee is expected to invite members of the board of directors to a meeting. Members of the committee are Cyrus Washington Tarpeh, Harris Meh, Georgette gray, Alex Nyonty, Solomon Sipply, Rev. Willie page, Wynfred Russell, Hamilton Kaye (Co-Chairman), and Kervin Amos Gray (Chairman).