The prodemocracy group, Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia (COYSBL), has described as baseless and unfounded statements emanating from the former Chairman of the defunct Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Cllr. Jerome Verdier, and former Montserrado County Representative, Rufus Neufville, in which they attempted to denigrate the character of the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Prof. Albert T. Chie. In the May 3, 2023 edition of the Independent Probe, Cllr. Verdier described Pro-Tempore Chie as a “Predator on Liberia’s Treasury”. Also, in the May 4, 2023 Edition of the News, former Representative Rufus Neufville rendered Pro-Tempore Chie as “reckless and ungrateful to the US government”.
But speaking at a news conference in Monrovia, the Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia, through its National Chairman, Jeremiah Paye, said it views Cllr. Jerome Verdier and former representative Rufus Neufville’s assertions against Pro-Temp Albert Chie as concocted lies, a fabricated account and a politically embedded outburst intended to besmear his decent character. They further rendered Cllr. Jerome Verdier and former representative Rufus Neufville as “misguided and character bankrupted figures whose assertions against Pro-Tempore Chie are unwarranted characterization of the senator, with the intent of creating a negative image about him ahead of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections. Cllr. Verdier and Rufus Neufville have begun recognized bigots and extremists who habitually make loose claims and accusations against officials of government.”
COYSBL made it unequivocally clear that Pro-Tempore Albert Chie’s response to US Ambassador McCarthy’s allegations of unjustified allotment by the Legislature are living and practical reality that no Liberian can question. “It is an incontestable fact that monies allotted in the National Budget for members of the Legislature are not for their personal enrichment, but for their upkeep and implementation of projects to the benefit of their constituents. All Liberians and residents in Liberia are aware that monies received by members of the Legislature are also used to rehabilitate roads, construct bridges, markets, town halls, clinics and schools as stated by Pro-Temp Chie. Members of the Legislature also take care of medical, educational, travel and delivery expenses of members of their constituencies and other needy Liberians. We wondered why a miscreant like Cllr. Verdier would intend to delve into gravely maligning the respectable character of a statesman in Senate Pro-Temp, Albert Chie, when he (Verdier) is dogged with a questionable lifestyle and series of lies told in recent time. Cllr. Verdier is a reprobate who lacks the moral rectitude to speak on issues of credibility and integrity. Cllr. Verdier has fast become a lousy talker who speaks on issues in the Liberian society without evidence and substance. All of Cllr. Verdier’s many allegations against the Liberian government, especially Mayor Jefferson Koijee, have not been proved with evidence,” the group said.
The CSO justified further, “It is highly illogical for Cllr. Verdier to have accused Pro-Tempore Albert Chie of being a predator of Liberia’s treasury because whatever he (Pro-tempore Chie) receives is his due allotment as Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate. Whatever Pro-Tempore Chie earns at the Senate is his legal allotment in the national budget, something befitting the office he occupies. It is unfortunate that a once revered activist in Cllr. Verdier has fast become a liar, blackmailer and surrogate of certain selfish politicians, who are bent on attaining national leadership at the expense of esteemed statesman like Pro-Tempore Albert Chie.”
Political Activist Jeremiah Paye also termed former Representative Rufus Neufville a frustrated and confused individual who is struggling to resurrect his damaged political career by attacking the character of Pro-Tempore Albert Chie. “It is mindboggling that Rufus Neufville, who betrayed the CDC and sold out to Mr. Robert Sirleaf, could attack the character of a great leader in Pro-Tempore Albert Chie. Mr. Neufville should realize that he has a damaged political record, and no amount of falsehearted advocacy at the expense of the character of respected national leaders like Pro-Tempore Chie will restore him to political limelight. Former Representative Rufus Neufville is in a state of illusion by thinking that he can get the support of the people of electoral district #8, Montserrado County, in the name of making unsubstantiated and sensational claims against officials of government. Pro-Tempore Albert Chie was never reckless and ungrateful in his response to the US Ambassador. While recognizing the US contributions towards Liberia’s socio-economic development agenda, there was nothing reckless and ungrateful in Pro-tempore Chie’s pinpointing the undiplomatic posture of Ambassador McCarthy.”
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia release concluded by warning Cllr. Jerome Verdier and former Montserrado County Representative Rufus Neufville to desist from making outlandish claims and unsubstantiated statements against the characters of officials of government, including the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert T. Chie, but rather focus on restoring their damaged moral, professional and political character.