The National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) says its attention has been drawn to the Friday, June 10, 2021 edition of Hot Morning-Live, in which the host of the show, Patrick Eastman, accused Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, of shielding an alleged rape perpetrator, Magistrate Richard Flomo, in Bong Mines, Lower Bong County.
Eastman also claimed that Vice President Howard-Taylor provided money for the release on bill of Magistrate Flomo, whom he claimed to be a cousin to the Vice President while the rape victim goes through the trauma.
“NACSUL, being an anti-rape campaigner, took keen interest in the revelations by the local talk show host and immediately dispatched a fact-finding team in the county to independently verify the information being released in Monrovia.
“Following the fact-finding mission in Bong Mine, Lower Bong County, NACSUL realized that, from all indications, Vice President Howard-Taylor was never involved with the court proceedings, as it was far above her jurisdiction. Also, NACSUL understood that the Hot FM journalist, prior to maligning the character and hard-earned reputation of this astute stateswoman, contacted the Vice President on the allegation levied against her, and these were the exalt words or replies from the Vice President: ‘Thank u for asking me. I hope what I will say to you, you will believe it. As an advocate and female role model, I am a spokesperson for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. As a lawyer, I have and will never try to thwart the law. I hope my records of over 25 years will speak to who I am. Magistrate Flomo is an adult and a judicial officer who should be contacted on the surrounding case. I have no information and have and never will interfere in such case. It may be in the interest of good journalism to go to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court and get the facts. I am sure they will be given to you. Please do not drag me into this issue, I am not involved in anyway.’
“NACSUL believes that, with this clarification provided by this illustrious and female rights advocate, Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor should have laid the entire matter to rest, but on the contrary talk show host Eastman chose to denigrate and malign the well-respected and humble character of Vice President Howard-Taylor either for selfish motive or just to bring the honorable office of the Vice President to disrepute,” a NACSUL release, signed by its President, Amos B.S. Kanneh, noted.
In the release, NACSUL said it sees the deliberate action by the Hot FM radio talk show host to have provided falsehood to the people in Liberia and the diaspora, in an attempt to divert public opinions against the Vice President as not only an embarrassment to the journalism profession, but as well as disingenuous on his part as a media practitioner.
“For the record, NACSUL, as a national civil society organization in Liberia, has over the past decades been working with the Liberian Vice President on several fronts even before her ascendancy to the Vice Presidency, especially in advocating for the rights of people with disability, sexual and gender-based violence; as such, she cannot and will never be the one to shield an alleged rape perpetrator who is even more knowledgeable of the law of Liberia,” the release stated.
According to NACSUL, VP Howard-Taylor is a female role model not only in Liberia, but at the international level where other women on the African continent admire her works and desire to pursue the legacy of this astute female champion and gift to Liberia.
The National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) President, in the release, said instead of Liberians, especially media practitioners, maligning the character of this visionary leader, they should rather be celebrating her for her enormous achievements during her many years in the public sector, particularly at the Liberian Senate.
“As you may be aware, Madam Taylor was a well-respected Senator and a floor-fighter during her time as a Senator, where she proffered/sponsored several bills at the Liberian Senate, as those bills were passed into law without hesitation from her colleagues due to their values and positive impacts on the lives of the ordinary people.
NACSUL has called on talk show host, Patrick Eastman, to rather divert his youthful energy to promoting national development issues that will bring sense to the discourse and attract development to the country.
The group warned Eastman to desist from using his energy and platform only to besmear the well-respected, educated, competent, highly experienced and humble stateswoman, who is working daily alongside her boss, President George Manneh Weah, both in and out of Liberia to ensure improved living conditions for the Liberian people.
“Finally, the National Civil Society Union of Liberia (NACSUL) is calling on the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia not to give credence to the baseless and unfounded accusation levied against her by Patrick Eastman, which is only intended to distract her, but should continue to champion the cause of Liberians, especially the vulnerable women, people with disability, girls and children who do not have hope in the society.
“NACSUL reaffirms its commitment to the office of the Liberian Vice President in its advocacy and the fight against sexual and gender-based violence against women, girls, and children in Liberia and the world at large,” the release continued.