For U.S.-based Liberians, pre-vote passions

The candidates — soccer stars to warlords
“The elections definitely are going to go forward on the 11^th … and the rule of law will be fully respected,” Donald Booth, the U.S. ambassador in Monrovia, told a news conference last week after a dispute was resolved that had thrown the feasibility of the elections into question. The U.S. is providing funding and observers for the polls and is a major aid donor.

“All the indications I have had are that these are going to be free and fair elections,” he said.

The presidential field is a crowded one — 22 candidates, including soccer star Weah, Harvard-educated former World Bank economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Sekou Conneh, a former rebel who helped drive Taylor into exile.

It is Weah’s rags-to-riches story that has captured the world’s attention. Now 40, Weah turned his soccer playing talent learned in the slums of Monrovia into superstardom in the stadiums of Europe. After retirement, the multi-millionaire moved to Fort Lauderdale with his American wife and children.

Despite his lack of education, in politics or otherwise, Weah’s popularity among the youth of Liberia may prove tough to beat. His main opposition comes from Johnson- Sirleaf, who represents the old political elite — she was a senior minister in the cabinet ousted by Doe in the 1980 coup.

Imromptu political debate
Staten Island’s Liberians, said to number 5,000 (thus making them the largest Liberian community in the U.S.), have been passionately discussing the merits of his candidacy, a debate fueled by a visit earlier this year from the candidate.

On a recent afternoon, a group of 15-20 men, all hailing from Liberia, talked animatedly about the upcoming election on a sidewalk in Staten Island’s Park Hill section.

“We want a good leader that has been chosen by the people,” said Shiaka Kamara, 29, who has lived here since 1997. 

Kamara was part of the group of men who came and went from the sidewalk meeting place where Robinson and another older Liberian sold candy and fish. About 50 yards down the block, a group of eight colorfully dressed women had set up shop under umbrellas and were selling bags of hot peppers and small green eggplants — items traditionally used in West African cuisine and sold in open markets there.

Kamara said that he was skeptical of Weah, fearing his presidency could become a “replica” of what happened with Samuel Doe, a once-popular leader who proved to be disastrous for the country.

A friend of Kamara’s, Lafayette Bracewell, 43, explained that although he knows Weah and grew up playing soccer with him in the streets of Monrovia, he doesn’t believe the sports star will be good for his country.

“He doesn’t have the technical know-how as a politician to become president of the nation,” said Bracewell, who has lived in the U.S. for nearly four years.

Just as Bracewell was explaining his position, another young man came walking up the sidewalk. “Five days until the world-renowned Ambassador George Weah becomes president of Liberia,” he shouted.

Dennis Weah, 29, was adamant that the presidential candidate that shares his last name is the man for the job. Bracewell and Kamara let him have his say, but they were dismissive of his opinions, in part, they say, because although Dennis Weah shared their Liberian ancestry, he was born in the U.S. and has spent relatively little time in Liberia. His good fortune in having avoided living through the years of war discounted any opinions he might have as far as Kamara or Bracewell were concerned.

Bracewell argued that with all of the problems Liberia is currently suffering from — massive unemployment, a justice system in tatters, no water, no electricity, no proper school system, a nation basically in freefall — what the country needs is a leader who has real political expertise.

“We need our country to be a nation and not a tribal country,” said Bracewell. “We need someone who can unify us, not someone who people will manipulate.”

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