Every parent in Liberia invests in their children that they may nurture them in their old age and give them proper burial; such is a case with Elder Domah L.V. Dolo, who is illiterate and sent his son to school. He graduated, and was taking care of him, but drowned with seven others at the verge of prosperity; writes Ojuku Silver-tongue Kangar, Jr.
“I never went to school but sent my son to school to take care of me. Today l am decorating my son’s grave,” Elder Domah Dolo said, as tears rolled from his eyes. “l am very, very disappointed!”
Elder Dolo is the father of the late Akaseh Gunleseh Dolo, who was employed with WAEC and drowned with seven employees on the MV. Niko Ivanka Boat on July 17, 2021 while going to the southeastern counties to administer WAEC exams.
On Decoration Day, the families gathered at the Johnsonville Cemetery to pay homage to the eight victims who drowned while on duty.
According to them, since the demised of their relatives in 2021, government has not compensated them; as a result, they are unable to pay their rent and their children are out of school and starving.
During a memorial service held in that same year, Senate Pro Tempo, Albert Chie, Speaker Bhofal Chamber, sent Senator Steve Zargo, who represented the National Legislature, had promised the bereaved families that each family head would receive US$20,000 as a death benefit for their fallen relatives, but it has been a fiasco and the families have vowed to boycott the elections.
“Eight persons died and one survived by God’s mercy. Government has done nothing [for the families] that we know. When the incident took place, the government took the bodies to St. Moses and gave US$100,000 as professional fee to embalm the bodies,” the group, “MV Niko Ivanka WAEC and Business Victims Swing Voters’” spokesperson, Nelson E. S. Keamah said.
“They have not come to the families. The families are surviving by themselves,” Keamah added.
There have been consistent press releases, appearances on “talk shows” and written communications to the National Legislature for the victims families’ benefit, but it has been landing on deaf ears, according to the spokesperson.
As a result, the “MV Niko Ivanka WAEC and Business Victims Swing Voters” has resolved not to partake in the pending voter registration “until government can value us. We are not going to vote,” the group spokesperson said.
The Gloria Shipping Line, which owned the MV Niko Ivanka, has not identified with the victims’ families, imitating government which should have championed the matter.
The group has called on the opposition and all those who wrote WACE Exam before to join them in pressurizing the government to give their fallen relatives their benefits, or there will be several unspecified actions to compel government to act speedily.
“We will go to all our members, sympathizers in all the 15 counties. We will not take part because we are not counted [in the society],” Keamah stated. “If our bread winners, husbands, uncles, cannot be considered, even in death, than who are we to vote?”
One of the widows, Princess C. Kellen, who still mourned her dead husband, told the Hot Pepper that government is not doing well, not saying anything about made promise to them.
“Our children not getting their needs. My son is not in school. I will not be part of the election. When you say [the] truth, they look for you to kill you,” Widow Kellen said, as tears flooded her eyes. “If they don’t do something, l will take it worldwide. I am not going to let it go free because my husband was everything to me and to my children.”
Sam K. Kollie, brother of fallen Stephen Kollie, explained his ordeal: his late brother’s first job as a university graduate was with WACE, which he did not enjoy and drowned as a result of carelessness from government and the boat owner.
“He started as a cleaner until he was recognized as a university graduate and was promoted. He died in the sea,” Sam recalled his brother’s untimely death.
Senator Zargo did not respond to a phone call for comment because his phone was switched off.
