PRESIDENT's STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Delivered at the
18th National Convention - 2008

Read Board Chairman's Remarks delivered at 2008 Convention


Mr. Alfred M. Dousuah, President

Officials of various Governments,
Distinguished Guests,
Friends & Supporters of UNIBOA,
The Chairman & Members of the Board of Directors,
UNIBOA Chapter Leaders,
Members of the UNIBOA General Assembly,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I greet you on behalf of the UNIBOA family and leadership. The vice president and Executive Committee join me in extending our warmest welcome and wish you a joyous and successful convention. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to the officers and members of Bassa Dorkpah-our UNIBOA Minnesota Chapter- for hosting this year’s National Convention.

The theme of this Convention is ‘Solidarity for Progress’. This is not merely a slogan; it’s what UNIBOA truly represents. We therefore urge all of our people from the Bassa counties of Montserrado, Margibi, Rivercess and Grand Bassa to renew their commitments and join Yu-Nah-Boai in its mission to unite as a team so that we can meaningfully contribute our quota to local, regional and national development. Our National Convention represents the time to reflect, celebrate, and recommit ourselves to our dear organization, our beloved people, and our country of origin. Our Annual Conventions enable us to raise enough funds for most of our projects and programs. Members of the General Assembly National Officers and Chapter Leaders Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors Patrons and Friends of UNIBOA Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am pleased to declare, with pride and confidence, that our UNION remains strong and vibrant. In spite of the many challenges and unnecessary distractions, the blissful hand of the Almighty God continues to guide our humanitarian mission. In summary, the overall affairs of the Union have been handled significantly well during the course of our one-year of leadership.

Since we took the oath of office in June 2007, this administration has worked diligently to fulfilling our humanitarian mission; and, we highly appreciate your support in this endeavor. We must continue to maintain our focus on providing charitable, educational and healthcare assistance to our disadvantaged people and distressed communities in the face of bureaucratic impediments at home and unwarranted distractions abroad.

UNIBOA has been and must remains the symbol of unity, the pillar of stability and consistency, and the source of humanitarian assistance to our people; or, as others simply put it, a role model for Liberian humanitarian organizations in the Diaspora. To preserve and strengthen our institution is our shared responsibility. This convention should be the steppingstone into that journey.

As we begin our deliberations, we must be reminded that we face complex and challenging situations. But, we should be cognizant of the fact that in unity there is strength and success. “We should be aware of the ever growing need to unite as a team, and join our people at home in their struggle towards the improvement of social and economic conditions”. We, in UNIBOA, have always taken good criticisms in stride. Since the inception of UNIBOA, we have always maintained our sense of purpose by taking constructive actions, and engaging in peaceful resolution and dialogue.

Throughout our 17 years of existence, we committed ourselves to the democratic process. The ballot box has been the acceptable means of electing our leaders. We have maintained normal, smooth and orderly transition from one administration to another. This, in essence, has enabled us to build an institution that continues to bring forth strength to withstand the challenges in the past. We must, as a matter of duty and urgency, take effective measures to safeguard these undeniable rights and principles.

We urge all chapters of this Union to continue to work closely together in the spirit of solidarity and progress. We are urging you to raise your voices and strengthen your resolve against our critics bent on destroying our fundamental values and interests. While we may not proclaim to be the brighter and brilliant minds, we certainly represent the caring and compassionate minds. Indeed, we are in the majority and on the right side. We all know that UNIBOA is a federation of the Bassa counties of Grand Bassa, Montserrado, Rivercess, and Margibi. Let us heed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”.

To our patrons, we greatly appreciate your support as we ask you to remain supportive. Your generous support of our programs and projects have helped change many lives for the better. We could not have provided the so much needed assistance without your generous contributions.

To our Chapter members, your dedication, commitment and contributions to UNIBOA are highly appreciated by everyone, especially the recipients of your assistance. We urge you to remain committed to what you believe to be right and worthy. You can rest assured that the future of UNIBOA is brighter and better. The mouths you have fed, the body you have clothed, the minds you have enlightened, the wounds you have helped healed, and the hopes you have restored are all greatly appreciated by all of our people.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENT

  1. In fostering direct engagement, we established good working relationship with the policy and decision makers at home. Our objective is to impact decisions affecting our members here and our people at home, and to establish direct working relationship. In that view, we invited Two (2) Representatives from Grand Bassa County for discussions on matters of concerns to us. Hon. Gabriel Smith honored the invitation and attended the meeting in the City of Yeadon, Pennsylvania. Hon. Byron Brown failed to attend the meeting; but, he expressed his willingness to work with UNIBOA on issues of concerns to his constituency. We will continue to work closely with our elected and community leaders for the betterment of our people.

  2. To solidify our effectiveness in Liberia, we have begun the process of incorporating UNIBOA as a non-governmental organization in the Republic of Liberia. As we speak, the revenue and incorporation fees have been submitted to the Gbaintor Law Firm in Liberia.

  3. In August 2007, UNIBOA responded to Grand Bassa County Government appeals for humanitarian aid following the Erosion Disaster. Our administration, in collaboration with our Board, held an Emergency Meeting via teleconference. We agreed in principle at that meeting to donate $3000.00 to the Erosion Disaster Relief Initiative. The sum of ($3000.00) was subsequently donated for disaster relief and transmitted to Grand Bassa County Superintendent Julia Duncan-Cassell on September 15, 2007. As a result of our goodwill and spontaneous response, UNIBOA received countless praises from all spectrums of society, including an official letter received from Supt. Duncan-Cassell expressing acknowledgement and sentiment; and explaining how the funds will be used.

  4. On November 25, 2007, the UNIBOA leadership (Executive Committee and Board of Directors) convened an Emergency Meeting by teleconference to discuss the LAC saga. As per the agreement reached from the meeting regarding strategy and plan of action, the administration, in consultation with the Board Chairman, wrote letters to ULAA, President Johnson-Sirleaf, and published a position statement on November 30th 2007. In our public statement, we wrote that, “The United Bassa Organizations in the Americas (UNIBOA) continues to observe, with utmost dissatisfaction, the chain of events unfolding between the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) and the people of Districts Number 3 and 4 in Grand Bassa County. And like other peace loving Liberians, we deeply regret the loss of lives in this fracas and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families.” In the end, we extended our thanks to Hon. Emmanuel Wette, President of ULAA, our peace loving friends and sympathizers, and others who added their voices to our fight for upholding the social and economic justice of our people during the LAC conflict. Subsequently, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf responded to the LAC situation in her Christmas Message. And, the Liberian Government wrote through ULAA acquainting us with action taken by the Government to resolve the fracas. We continue to closely observe ongoing developments concerning LAC.

  5. Our Administration also got involved in the Firestone Employees dispute on a less serious note due to the positive involvement of the Liberian Government.

  6. In the interest in unity and peace, we responded to invitation from the Unity Conference organized and hosted by the Bassa Elders on February 9, 2008 in the City of Newark, New Jersey. Also in attendance were the Rivercess Association, (represented by Mr. Johnson, Vice President) and The Bassa Choir Group (JCCA). Unfortunately, the Grand Bassa County Association refused to honor our Elders invitation. This administration is awaiting the formal communication from our Bassa Elders about the next course of action or its official recommendation.

  7. In execution of our mission of expansion, we initiated the establishment of chapters in Staten Island (New York) and Baltimore (Maryland) due to the high concentration of our people in these communities. The expansion of UNIBOA to other community of with high concentration of Bassa population remains a priority on our administrative agenda.

UNIBOA Members Friends of UNIBOA Ladies and Gentlemen:

As indicated above, this administration has made significant progress in terms of implementing our organizational platform and national agenda. You can rest assured that with your continued support and cooperation, we are preparing to advance UNIBOA to the next level through openness, effectiveness and efficiency.

Financial transparency and accountability remain an integral aspect of this administration. National Treasurer, Ernest W. Simmons, will present details on finances. We will ensure that UNIBOA maintain its undisputable status of Goodwill among humanitarian organizations.

CHAPTER AFFAIRS:

  1. The Rhode Island Chapters is fully operational

  2. The Texas Chapter is fully operational

  3. The Pennsylvania Chapters is fully operational

  4. The North Jersey Chapters is fully operational

  5. The South Jersey Chapters is fully operational

  6. The Minnesota Chapters is fully operational: President Solomon Reeves and other officers were elected and installed on November 17, 2007

  7. The Michigan Chapters is fully operational: President Eujay Peterson and other officers were elected and installed in September 2007

  8. The North Carolina Chapters is fully operational: The Chapter has been re-organized, and general election held on January 6, 2008. President Brucein Myers and other officers were installed on April 26, 2008

  9. The Georgia chapter remains inactive which goes back to the Joe Sinyan leadership. I am in contact with Mr. Robert Garguah to revive the chapter

  10. The Washington, DC Chapter is in limbo: Regrettably, Chapter head Trokon Smith submitted his letter of resignation to chapter members on November 30th 2007. I have since been involved in efforts to get chapter members to fill the leadership void and breathe new life in the chapter

  11. The New York chapter is in limbo: The Chapter has been struggling to survive since the last convention. President Evita Bestman blames the sad state of affairs on key members who have defected and shifted their focus on the Grand Bassa County Association

Notwithstanding, please join me in congratulating and welcoming our new leaders from North Carolina and Michigan.

As I previously reported, all is not well, which is the doing of some former UNIBOA leaders. Permit me to make references to some occurrences that that may appear to be sapping our strength of some chapters: Our New York and Washington DC chapters have fallen victims to persistent and negative propaganda and dis-information perpetrated by leaders of break-away groups, namely the Grand Bassa County Association (GBCA) and the Rivercess County Association (RCA). Other chapters of the Union have also being slighted affected; but they have resisted the propaganda campaigns waged by former UNIBOA leaders who lost power through the ballot box. We have received reports from various chapter members about being constantly bombarded with fabricated information about UNIBOA by the self-proclaimed leaders and founders of the GBCA and the RCA. Having being in the inner-decision making circle of UNIBOA, these individuals kept and have utilized our membership rosters and email addresses to target our members around the country with negative and disingenuous information about UNIBOA. Some have even contacted me, obviously by mistake, I believe.

Honorable Members of the General Assembly and Board, our people deserve better. We will overcome this smear campaign and prosper! Let me report on what is happening in our existing, active Chapters:

NATIONAL PROGRAM/PROJECTS

  1. Regrettably, the Community Center project in Lower Buchanan remains dormant due to delay by my predecessor in turning over viable information. However on a good note, in my recent communication with both Superintendent Ducan-Cassell and Mayor Zangar, I was reassured that the Land granted to UNIBOA remains preserved for UNIBOA.

  2. The Nursing Program has been fully funded, in fact over funded. The tuition for the school year 2007-2008 has been paid. Former President Sinyan overpaid the school in the amount of $1,336.00. The school and I have reached an agreement for the surplus to be forwarded to the 2008/2009 school year’s tuition. We are currently working with the school administrators on a better selection method for future students inclusive of our 4 counties. In other word, we intend to continue the program but plan to improve on the selection method and to extend the program into other healthcare professions.

  3. Preferably, following the graduation of the current students, our support for Mission of Liberia and the 3 orphanages will get funding priority in the budget. However, we would like to receive administrative and financial reports from those institutions. UNIBOA, like any funding non-profit organization should be guaranteed annual progress and financial reports from funding recipients.

  4. As pointed out in our evaluation survey to members, this administration plans to initiate major national projects in Liberia, including but not limited to the construction of one of the following: an elementary school, a clinic or library in each of our 4 counties.

  5. This administration intends to embark upon a children focused project, the ‘Education Initiative’, which is geared towards benefiting our children within our local communities in the United States.

  6. We are working with the Webmaster, Mr. James Horace, to upgrade our website to be utilized for fundraising and other forms of solicitations. Unlike in the past, we are working on identifying and mobilizing funding sources prior to initiating program implementation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Honorable body, we hereby recommend the following:

  1. We recommend that this Honorable body formulate guidelines and requirements, which shall regulate and provide criterion to be adhere to by recipient(s) of UNIBOA’s funding.

  2. We recommend that this Honorable body, through the Board of Directors, establish ‘The Community Action Committee’ charged with the responsibility of community advocacy.

  3. We recommend that this Honorable body empower the Administration to issue membership identification card to members with benefits, services and services.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is our state of the Union, which includes our plan of programs/projects for the next 2 years. We highly anticipate your unwavering participation and continuous support.

May the Mighty Creator of the Universe guide and direct the affairs of our 18th National Convention. May God bless UNIBOA, may God bless Liberia, and may God bless America!

Wish you peace, blessings and safe journeys.

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