Rejean Labonte, Representative of the Governance Economic Management Action Plan (GEMAP) at the National Port Authority (NPA) has resigned, this paper has reliably learnt.

It is gathered that Mr. Labonte, tendered his resignation yesterday, July 15, to his employer, Douglas G. Carey based in the United States of America, which hired him through the United States Agency  for International Development (USAID).

Sources closed to him confided in this paper that his resignation comes against the backdrop of “unpleasant developments” said to be obtaining between him and the NPA management over procedural issues.

Though this paper could not get Mr. Labonte to get the real picture of the situation that warranted his reported resignation, he is however quoted as indicating in his letter of resignation that he has “indications that the situation between him and the NPA management is building up.”

According to our source, Labonte indicated in his letter of resignation that “the NPA has been accusing him of making “undiplomatic and unrespectful comments.” But he did not say where, when and how these comments were made and what warranted them.

The source said Mr. Labonte indicated in his letter that “weighing the impact of these, I am hereby resigning my position of GEMAP IFRC assigned to the NPA.”

Also, this paper is informed that he resigned the post because of requests made to him to approve expenditures which according to the source he refused to do because “lack of funds or because of unexplained nature.”

The source indicated that he was resigning because he felt that the “animosity the NPA management” harbors for him would stir up in the wake of his not willing to approve the requests made to him.

The well-placed source quoted contents of his letter as expressing sorrow for his action to leave the position.

“I am very sorry and sore that things are ending because of this. I am the last of a line of strong individuals who were working to change the NPA to stop corruption and offer to the essential private entrepreneurs, a nation port that is propitious to entice them to invest in Liberia,” he is quoted as indicating in his letter,” the source quoted Mr. Labonte as saying.

It may recalled that the NPA has lost what analysts referred to as some best brains who could safe the institution from its current nightmare.

For example, Raymond Bruce, Sr. DMA, Emmanuel Jallah, Management Internal Control Manager, Regina Pratt, Board Member, Joseph Acqui, Board Member, Antoinette Sayeh, Board Member and Toga McIntosh Gaywea, Board Member are out of the port.

He is quoted: “I will pack my things here at my NPA office and move home where I will wait for further instructions.” It is also reported that he thought he had agreed to change the order of things at the NPA and to curtail corruption, but that seems to be a fantasy.

Before his preferment for the position at the NPA, Mr. Labonte, who came into the country in April of 2006, worked as IFRC at the Forestry Development Authority (FDA). Apparently because of his professional work at the FDA, this paper learnt that he was moved to the NPA through a GEMAP reshuffle.

Meanwhile, the NPA said it is not informed of the reported resignation of Mr. Labonte. In a mobile phone conversation, Port Manager, Mr.  George Hutchin, told this paper that management has not been told by USAID, and that as far as management is concerned, he is reporting to work.

YAI Earmarks US$500,000 For New Programs

Internationally acclaimed Liberian child rights activist Kimmie Weeks arrives in Monrovia today to head a major humanitarian mission.  Over the next six months, Weeks and his organization, Youth Action International (YAI), will launch new anti-poverty and youth empowerment projects across Liberia. 

Along with the construction of a multi-purpose school and teacher training programs, the funds will also support the creation of a center for women’s empowerment, a youth resource center, and an early childhood education initiative. Weeks will also focus on creating special programs to assist former child soldiers.

Joining Weeks in this initiative are Youth Action International partners Litworld and Humanity Unites Youth(HUB). Litworld is an American based organization which is pioneering new ideas in the teaching of reading and writing.

Working in a collaborative model alongside teachers, librarians, administrators, support staff and students, Litworld creates powerful structures and motivations for enhanced education.  

Youth Action International in partnership with LitWorld, will work to implement a series of new teacher training techniques to help teachers become more effective.

Pam Allyn, Executive Director for Litworld noted: “we are honored to have the opportunity to come visit the work of Liberia and Youth Action International on behalf of my organization, LitWorld. We support teachers in efforts to create sustainable literacy methods in schools worldwide.

Our first priority is to learn as much as we can about the important work that the Liberian government is doing and how we can further support it in any way we can. It is my privilege to come to meet the teachers, students and community members who care so deeply for the children.”

A second major visiting partner includes representatives from HUB.   Also an American based organization, HUB creates sustained projects around the world to help the poorest people break out of poverty. 

HUB is a new and rapidly growing organization that brings together millions of people online in support of creating a uniting place for people and organizations to come together and move the world from survival, to self-sustainability, to self-empowerment.

The collaboration between YAI and HUB will provide food, water, education and micro-credit loans to young people across Liberia. Speaking on arrival at Roberts International Airport, Kimmie Weeks said that he was looking forward to the next six months working in Liberia. 

He noted: “Youth Action International has a lot of ground to cover and our staff here will be working diligently to make sure that we can reach out and impact hundreds if not thousands of Liberia’s most economically marginalized people.