The Shameful Conspiracy of Denial: The LAC Case

THERE YOU HAVE it: The Public Agenda has brought, as a matter of verbatim, an empirical source of its story, “Bassa Officials In LAC Pocket,” on its front page today. Sadly but understandably, LAC and Bassa officials trumpeted tears of denial and, for whatever reason, some vulnerable, if not gullible media, provided them solace. But here is it: a memo written and signed by an ex-manager of LAC detailing emoluments--in a sense, baits--with which the exploitative transnational company has apparently traditionally gagged top officials of Grand Bassa County and subjected them into subservience and conspiracy against the interest of the impoverished mass of citizens in that part of Liberia.

WITHOUT THE ADVICE of soothsayer and cartographer, one would note that Public Agenda is neither the author nor the signatory of the communication. The logo of LAC and the signature of George Quarteng-Mensah are laid bare. The Public Agenda had no say nor did it coerce LAC to dish out bounties or pension allowance for Bassa officials. The handiwork of the LAC's longtime General Manager who resigned recently as well as the wisdom or scheme of LAC, are laid bare. So, why all the crocodile tears? Why all the fluid denials? And why do some colleagues allow themselves to be coaxed for whatever reasons?

THE CULTURE OF KICKBACKS and conspiracy is real in Grand Bassa County between officials of the county and LAC. Not only is it an epitome of graft and industrial dishonesty prevalent amongst big and small companies in this country for so long, it is also the root cause for the receding underdevelopment that Liberia has been faced with from time immemorial. Big and small companies in urban and rural communities often choose to bait out the leaders of the people; leaders who willingly succumb. In the end, the companies not only become lords and gospels of the nation or the community, but also the unmerciful plunderers of resources without check by the leaders.

LAC IS CAUGHT pants down. A vital information source has leaked. We are convinced without reservation that this transnational company called LAC has pocketed top officials of Grand Bassa County by dishing out a few bags of rice and United States Dollars to the Superintendent, County Attorney , Immigration Commander, amongst others on a monthly basis. And we are convinced that these handouts represent the karfus which have cowered these county officials to the whims and caprices of LAC, accounting for the unending conspiracy of loot, pillage and abuse against the poor people of Grand Bassa county.

WE ARE NOT perturbed by the conspiracy of denials. Denying shameful acts under clear media radars is an ingrained instinct of Liberian officials. And we are not unmindful of the fact that customarily reactionary media would, in the grand conspiracy, flaunt their pages without a critical assessment of developments. On the LAC case, and other further investigations, we pledge our undying and robust commitment never to falter where the impoverished majority of Liberians are found abused, exploited and crucified. That is our sacred mission.