DAVID MEDIA 2012 YEAR END AWARDS

DAVID MEDIA's Chairman & CEO, Sir Dave Toh Jah

This is the time of the year when we take the time to reflect on the past and recognize individuals and institutions for their contribution to the discourses of life.

Worse Person Award

                                                                President Ellen Johnson

Almost close to a decade ago the nation, Liberia, was rhapsodized when the first female president of the country was elected, defeating a very popular and financially stable soccer icon of Liberia. Prior to her election, the continent of Africa has had a political pitch dominated by men, majority of whom presided over political, social, and economic decadence in their respective countries.

The enthusiasm for fundamental changes in Liberia was apparent. Such enthusiasm and hopeful aspirations were well founded, because the elected leader was no new comer to the politics of change. Her scholarship, work history, and unhindered quest for justice, economic equity, and the desire to create an enduring, enabling Liberian society galvanized support for her election. Many Liberians and the world at large anticipated a departure from the status quo that has kept the nation Liberia impoverished, divided, and endlessly in search of new leadership.

At present, DAVID MEDIA has determined that despite the goodwill of the international community toward Liberia, the country has made no significant inroads in the areas of infrastructural development especially in the construction of modern roads/highways that will help alleviate the hardship of majority of the country’s population.

The security apparatus of the country especially the Liberian Police Force remains paralyzed. We have thought that by now with the help of the international peace keeping force the government would have begun putting into place a competent police force that will ensure the security of the Liberian people. The country is currently under foreign occupation with no sign to put security in the hands of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

Also the issue of returning refugees or facilitating their return has not being addressed by the government under the leadership of President Sirleaf.

At this point the government has failed to provide plausible economic reasons why the Liberian dollar is not being used as the official currency and would opt to promote and use a currency that Liberia’s banking institutions are unable to control and regulate. We believe this has contributed to the flight of capital, slow pace of local development, and the harsh cost of living Liberians continue to experience.

President Sirleaf has failed to put into place an enduring legacy that will serve as road map for the country which for so long has had no functioning institutions. President Sirleaf has ultimately failed to inspire the nation despite the high confidence the Liberian people have reposed in her.

We are DAVID MEDIA are concerned that President Sirleaf is metaphorically leaving the broken doors wide open and with her departure the country is likely to be rendered vulnerable.

The ever enduring DAVID MEDIA, following meticulous and poignant analysis, names President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the Worse Person of the Year.

  

Inductees of the Hall of Shame

                                                               Dr. Amos C. Sawyer

We at DAVID MEDIA are delighted to present this award to Liberia’s former Interim Leader and former professor of political science at the University of Liberia, Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer. Over the years we have observed that Dr. Sawyer has demonstrated no genuine statesmanship but has embroiled himself in the politics of cronyism practiced in the Unity Party led government. He has had no imprints on the task of unifying, reconciling, and building viable economic institutions in the country. We at DAVID MEDIA were shockingly dismayed when Dr. Sawyer consistently complained that he deserved to be paid more than $ 15,000 (United States dollars) per month when he is aware of the revenue capacity of the country, that the country continues to reel from the vestiges of war and that standard of living in Liberia is among the least in the world. In a country where majority of the population do not have income and those employed earned on average $ 50.00 a month, Dr. Sawyer has championed his own cause. Under his watchful eyes as Good Governance Chairman, the Liberian people have experienced governance at worse. Dr. Sawyer’s impact despite his statesmanship has failed to extend beyond the Foreign Ministry where the President resides. Based on these and more DAVID MEDIA effectively inducts Professor Amos C. Sawyer in the Historic Hall of Shame.

We also present this award to Mr. James Fromoyan, former chairman of the Liberian Elections Commission. Under Mr. Fromoyan’s leadership, the Election Commission performance was dismal and has yet to recover from such malaise. DAVID MEDIA therefore inducts Mr. Fromoyan into our Historic Hall of Shame.

Person/s of the Year Award

This is one of DAVID MEDIA’s prestigious awards presented to individual/s who have played exemplary roles in our nation and the broader community. Following careful observation and analysis, DAVID MEDIA is pleased and   honored to name Counselors Tiawon Gongloe and Negbalee Warner as our Persons of the year. The two have over the year demonstrated their commitment to a forward moving country, a nation based on rule of law and merit.  They have set themselves apart as distinguished and committed to social justice and equity in Liberia while many of their country men and women tangle themselves with greed and self service. DAVID MEDIA urges these two gentlemen to continue to strive for a transparent, reconciled, and democratic nation.   

The Patriot Award

DAVID MEDIA’s patriot award is one of its most prestigious is presented to Dr. Nathaniel Gbasaygee who has left the lofty life of the United States and has selected to settle in one of the remotest areas of Liberia to help to teach. Dr. Gbasaygee will share this award with Mrs. Pearl Banks Williams, current acting President of Monrovia College. Like Dr. Gbasaygee, Mrs. Williams has returned to Liberia. She takes over the leadership of Monrovia College and Industrial High School for an interim period. Kudos to these selfless personalities.

Speak up/Shut up Segment

 

                                                                Rep. Edwin Snowe
Former House of Representative Speaker, Edwin Snowe and Senator Prince Y. Johnson-those two have spoken well in Liberia in the past year through their actions and deeds. The nation and the World at large have heard them loud and clear and the more they speak out, the more repulsive they have become. They are therefore the recipients of DAVID MEDIA’s Shut up Award.

DAVID MEDIA awards the following our Speak up Award. We urge them to continue to champion the cause of justice, fairness, equity and a society based on merits and hard work. They are as follows:

1. Counselor Jerome Verdier
2. Dr. Zumo
3. Mr. Dennis C. Jah
4. Ms. Lovetta Tugbeh
5. Mr. Mohammed Sheriff
6. Mr. J. Gedimina Flomo
7. Counselor Rodney Chesson
8. Mr. Dempster Yallah
9. Thomas Bedell

10. DAVID MEDIA also urges the Liberian musician Friday “Cell phone man” to continue to speak up using his musical voice especially spreading his message in his native language.  

Missing in Action Award goes to Samuel Kofi Woods for remaining silent on the many excesses of government.

Hollywood marriage of the Year goes to the Weah Tubman Alliance that broke up in pieces after the 2011 elections. Beside, DAVID MEDIA recommend that the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) become more democratic and allow the frank and democratic exchanges of views. The institution cannot opt for democratically changing Liberia when it has consistently failed to practice democracy in its ranks and files.  The CDC cannot wait to take political power before it begins to learn and practice democracy.    

Solemn Remembrance

                       The Late Tarty Teh

DAVID MEDIA remembers some of our fallen heroes and prays that in rest in perpetual peace. We remember our giants of the Liberian struggle, Tarty Teh, Bodiour Wisseh Siapoe, and journalist Tom Kamara. We also remember Liberia’s prolific comedian and actor; Mr. Peter Ballah famously called Flomo who departed this world few days to the New Year. We remember Dr. Mary Antoinette Sherman, former President of the University, Sister Edith Swenyonnoh Jah, and many other departed brothers and sisters.RIP!

Note: DAVID MEDIA is a consortium of media institutions in the Republic of Liberia, the United States, Europe and Canada. Its chairman and CEO is a 1986 graduate of Monrovia College on Camp Johnson, Monrovia-Liberia. He can be reached @ 215-725-2559.