The Political Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL), Emmanuel Gonquoi, has condemned the Director of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), Sam Gaye, for wrongfully dismissing more than 300 agents, classifying him as incompetent to provide security for the President and the first family.
Gonquoi explained that he was excited about the nomination of Sam Gaye by President Joseph N. Boakai as Director of the EPS based on his profile, but it was now clear to him that a profile from a well-structured organization and environment is not enough to determine the ability of someone in a complex working environment.
“Though he might have worked in the U.S. and in the sub-region, his recent conduct of leadership in the EPS is troubling and is creating more risks for the presidency. At this point, I can only say that he is unfit to manage complex security operations around the Presidency,” the EFFL Commander observed.
“Truth be told, it’s totally wrong to outrightly terminate the services of 300 servicemen with experience in the usage of guns in the society without any transitional plan on associated risks management. Since, according to Gaye, they are trying to manage small and effective agents, they should have instead directed these 300 dismissed agents to the LDEA that is about to recruit about 2,000 agents, but not to just drop them on the flimsy charge that they were ‘wrongfully recruited’.
“Let Sam Gaye and his political masters dictating the course of his current dismissal actions know that in the game of politics: there is no permanent enemy. Your enemy of yesterday can become your loyal supporters of today depending on how you approach issues surrounding them,” Gonqoi stated.
He emphasized that the Boakai administration cannot risk the security of the state in the name of reforms that are not practical within the contemporary environment.
“President Joe Boakai has done more aimed at achieving government’s 100-day deliverables, which require proper communication, and such progress shouldn’t be beclouded by negative approaches to issues such as Gaye is needlessly doing with the EPS, and also so are few other politically unconscious officials of government.
“There is no need for rush now because we don’t have the right economic message yet for our people. Some reform messages have to be communicated and a gradual approach should be taken before full implementation. You call them CDC folks and we call them Liberians. Treat them as Liberians and allow them to see the bigger picture about the need to reform the system for effective executive protection,” he noted.
According to him, “Sam Gaye was even rude towards me the other day at the President’s house and I was like, ‘Wait, how did this fellow even get his training, and from where did he get his training?’ The EPS is already disorganized under Gaye’s leadership and it’s a huge risk for our President and his family.
“For the record, we will shortly begin exposing government officials that are creating early missteps for this new administration.
Remember, Joe Boakai is now President for all. We support governmental reforms, but let the word go forth that we will only embrace reforms that are guided by superior political logic that support the President’s message on reconciliation. To put it bluntly, Gaye’s timing of things with the EPS are just wrong.”
