The Editor,

n Sunday, 22 November 2009 J.Yanqui Zaza wrote a commentary on what he referred to as “Liberian President Sirleaf’s Corruption Tree.” This commentary, which was published by Front Page Africa (FPA), mentioned me several times, falsely alleging that I am among the President’s “family and friends,” who are “swimming” in “corruption” in Liberia.

It is indeed commendable that today, under the enlightened leadership of Liberia’s/Africa’s first female President, Liberians can openly express themselves without fear of persecution. Before the Sirleaf era of Press freedom, FPA for several years did not establish a base in Liberia. From the safety of cyber space, it was published on line. Today, FPA is based in Monrovia, Liberia, and enjoys freedom of speech and press, probably like no other time in Liberian history. In spite of being one of the Sirleaf government’s most vocal critics, FPA continues to operate freely in the new Liberia, under the leadership of a woman, who has been my trusted friend for more than 50 years. If the owners and editors really take time to know how principled and non-materialistic President Sirleaf is they would not condone and publish nonsense like this commentary.                                                       

While it is J. Yanqui Zaqza’s right to be critical of President Sirleaf and those associated with her, he needs to appreciate his own obligation to tell the truth; and desist from peddling blatant lies, distortions, misinformation, and disinformation, in his seemingly zealous quest to justify his shameful service as the paid agent of his handlers, who are a bunch of cowards, lurking in the shadow of deception.            

When this hopelessly deceptive commentary was published, I did not see it, and could not respond in a timely manner. It was recently that a young Liberian professional living and working in the US, who must have been appalled, knowing my Christian and professional ethics, sent the article to me. Because she and many others consider me as a role model I decided to condescend and respond, to this pathological liar, J. Yanqui Zaza, a shameless, hired pen-pushing assassin of people’s hard earned character.

Before dissecting Yanqui Zaza’s tangled web of lies and deceptions, I owe it to the public to unmask him and reveal his true identity.

Yanqui Zaza is the disgraced ex-Chairman of the military People’s Redemption Council’s notorious “Reacquisition Bureau,” which forcefully snatched away the legitimately hard earned properties of several Liberians following the military coup of April 12, 1980.

Zaza and Co. were so dishonest and corrupt in the misuse of people’s confiscated properties, that the military People’s Redemption Council was constrained to prematurely dissolve the so called       Reacquisition Bureau.

J. Yanqui Zaza must remember me. No doubt that is why my name is in nearly every paragraph of his commentary. In the 1980s, I, Clavenda Bright Parker wrote to the Bureau of Reacquisition, which he headed, warning that “rat trap is not for rat alone.” By God’s wonderful grace the trap did not catch me or my sons but it certainly caught him. Zaza left Liberia quietly in the early eighties. Time and distance might be taking their toll of his sanity. 

I challenge Yanqui Zaza to produce any document from the People’s Redemption Council, thanking him for services he rendered. He was never commended; In shame and disgrace, caused by dishonesty on the part of Zaza & Co., the military government quietly signaled families whose properties were illegally taken to take ownership of their properties.

IS THIS MAN, J. YANQUI ZAZA, CLOTHED WITH ANY AUTHORITY TO FALSELY ACCUSE ANYONE OF CORRUPTION?

“HAIL  GLOBAL  REFORMER !!!”, the latest report of the World Bank  is to blame for J. Yanqui Zaza’s venom- infested commentary, written out of frustration. It is his way of trying to prove that the World Bank is wrong for referring to the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as a GLOBAL REFORMER. In his second paragraph, Zaza frowns upon “US officials” and “the World Bank” for, as he alleges, “being silent” on “Sirleaf’s business deals.” He also vents his bitterness over what he referred to as their “praising President Sirleaf’s efforts to fight corruption.” What a complete lack of patriotism. Even an idiot should appreciate this as a complement to Liberians whose country only a couple of years ago was considered a failed state.

J.Yanqui Zaza would have done himself a favor to do good, honest research before publishing blatant lies. If Zaza and his collaborators are frustrated that reputable sources such as “the World Bank”, and “US officials” are recognizing the President of Liberia, my childhood friend, as a “GLOBAL REFORMER,” I                                   have no apologies to offer him. This is nothing less than a unique tribute to the Liberian nation and people, under the leadership of a woman of substance and distinction. Truly, I am proud of my friend, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,

As for me I am a graduate of the University of Michigan in Pharmacy, I worked for three years as Assistant Chief Pharmacist, RL. Since 1964 I have not received any salary check or board fees from Government. Although for all these years I have sacrificially served the government and people of Liberia in many areas but particularly in health, and it has always been pro bono, that is, free of charge. I am one who took the admonition of the late United States President J. F. Kennedy seriously that is “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.

In the meantime I have been in business since 1964 and have every right to be involved in any legitimate business of my choice but I challenge Yanqui Zaza, and all of his partners in distortion, and the peddling of lies, to provide an iota of proof that I was involved in assuming ownership of the International Trust Company (ITC) Bank’s successor, International Bank (IB).

It is false, and a deliberate distortion for Zaza to publish that “soon after the 2005 election, President Sirleaf…joined with her friend, Clavenda Bright Parker…and took over ITC.” Patent deception!! I was never involved in the purchase of the bank, neither am I or ever been a member of International Bank’s board, or affiliated with IB in any way.

I challenge the writer, to show any evidence that I have ever been on the Board of the National Port Authority; and “brought a company from Ghana that provides equipment for the NPA.”                                       

I also dare him to prove that I am part of a group referred to as “the major importers of rice” in Liberia. I state categorically that I have never been involved in the business of the purchase, importation, distribution, or sale of rice.

Zaza stated that I, in concert with others, “pressured the Forestry Development Agency (FDA) to overrun the results of open bids that favored a team of investors from Grand Gedeh County” only to give the concession to investors connected to his imaginary group; and also that “a group that involving Clavenda Parker, Richard Tolbert and others from Monrovia was given mining rights to extensive land in…Grand Gedeh.”

This is madness, what are you talking about?  Firstly, I never transacted any business with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA). I don’t know what FDA’s office looks like and I certainly have not called, or pressured anyone at FDA for any reason whatsoever.

I demand proof of any mining rights I have in Grand Gedeh or any group or individual I have joined to deprive the people of Grand Gedeh of their rights.

With every emphasis at my command, let me state my resentment of Zaza’s narrow-mindedness as regards his malicious insinuation that “Monrovia” people” are conspiring to deprive those from the rural areas of their possessions. This is the quality of deadly venom that poisoned the national atmosphere, and ushered in the bloody military takeover of April, 1980; and fermented over 10 years into the Liberian civil war.

Zaza’s ill inspired prophecy of doom that “President Sirleaf…and her bunch of cronies will complete their control of the economy and a return to the rule of the few Americo-Liberian families...”is totally absurd, to say the least. He is definitely not in touch with realities on the ground in Liberia. Records of the Liberian Chamber of Commerce, Liberian Business Association and those of various banks here are sufficient to debunk his false statement.    

Moreover, in this day and age, who is Zaza referring to as “Americo-Liberians?” With thousands of Liberians from indigenous and settler background currently residing in the United States as citizens and legal aliens, and  having children, who are American citizens, Zaza and his collaborators will do well to rethink their dangerous, deadly politics. When he and others return to Liberia with their American children after long stays abroad should they be called Americo-Liberians?”

On December 26, 2009, J. Yanqui Zaza published the second of his nonsensical propaganda (“Commentary”) alleging that “Sirleaf swims in corruption.” In this publication he accused me of being “a major player in banks...and now in minerals and commodity importation.”  Zaza’s rambling assertions are idiotic, to say the least. I am not involved in the importation of anything, not even pharmaceuticals, for which I was trained to handle.

I am only on the board of one bank, EcoBank and was appointed by the headquarters in Togo at least a year before President Sirleaf even ran for office. In addition Mr. Pewu Subah is the chairperson not myself. Yanqui Zaza is really out of touch if he doesn’t realize that there is a functioning Central Bank that will not allow one person to be on several bank boards.

Zaza & Co. need to be informed that there is no rice monopoly in Liberia. There are at least five importers of rice, including Lebanese nationals.

Concluding, I wish to state clearly, that I highly value and cherish my years of genuine friendship with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the President of Liberia. Our friendship has been based on mutual respect, and the appreciation of each other’s ethical values. Is there a misguided attempt to discredit me because of our long standing friendship?

Let me inform you that I was born comfortable, I’ve lived comfortably, my Lord has blest me with all of my needs and most of my wants. Why therefore in the autumn of my life would I become a scrambler for businesses? 

Now, it is my desire to continue to encourage more Liberians to get involved in business. I am convinced that the private sector is the engine of economic growth and development in Liberia; and this is why I shall continue to encourage and assist anyone who is investing in Liberia, by creating jobs and improving the lives and general wellbeing of our nation and people.