By: Jonathan O. Grigsby, Snr
Liberia-For some times now, there has been so much clamor (noise) surrounding the usage of the Presidential VIP Lodge at Liberia’s only International Airport, the Roberts International Airport (RIA), situated in Smell – No – Taste, (Unification Town) Margibi County, 37 miles (60km) from Monrovia, the country’s capital.
The [noises of] concerns are coming solely from supporters, affiliates and high-ranking officials of the immediate past [government led by] former President George Mannah Weah, who was the standard bearer leader of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) which of recent, some of the constituting political parties have withdrawn.
As Liberians, we all know how RIA, when it comes to VIP Lodge, was and there is no need for me to historicize this. The VIP Lodge used over the years by Presidents of Liberia including many international guests , I can emphatically say; it was not up to standard.
But frankly speaking, it was what we had then, so we were forced to use it. As it is often said, “Such a time, such a Condition” or other way around, “Monkey Jammed and ate Pepper ”. So, we were operating with what we had.
However, before going forward with this article, let me take my precious time to extend my biggest thanks and appreciation to Former President George Mannah Weah, whose administration constructed and commissioned the first Presidential VIP Lodge, which I believed, is up to standard, though I have not visited other Presidential VIP Lodges in other countries.
The Presidential VIP Lodge at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) from the outlook with the various compartments including furniture dignifies the presidency, whenever a President of Liberia enters the Lodge, leaves or returns to the country.
But, from the loud noises about the Presidential VIP Lodge at the RIA recently, it interests me to write this article:” Who to Vs Who not to Use the Presidential VIP Lodge”, My Little Thoughts.
Let us get something clear here. Firstly, the building is named “Presidential VIP Lounge”. So, the name of that building tells us that it is to be used by a sitting President of Liberia and his/her special guests, which include other presidents from various countries, international diplomats, international guests from the entertainment and the sporting sectors, royal families, like Kings or Queens as well as celebrities.
In that Presidential VIP Lounge at the airport, there is a mini-office with the flag of Liberia and the emblem of the Executive Mansion, that is, the Seal of Liberia and a chair where the president will sit, while awaiting his time of departure or to retire when he/she returns to the country before heading to Monrovia.
Also, there, is a conference hall where the President and guests can meet to hold discussions, if they are making a stopover at the RIA to continue their flights to other destinations.
Besides, the Presidential VIP Lounge is not under the supervision of the management of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) but, rather, it is managed by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. And anything that has to do with the Ministry of State for presidential Affairs focuses on a sitting President and not Former presidents.
For instance, in the office of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in Liberia, there is a special seat for the President with the Liberian Flag and Seal on both sides. That seat is only for the president to sit in; whenever he visits the Minister of State’s office no one is absolutely allowed to sit in that “chair”.
On the flip side of: “Who to Vs Who not to use the Presidential VIP Lodge”, if former President George Mannah Weah must use the Presidential VP Lodge as his followers are demanding, where will he sit, if he enters the Lodge on his way out of the county?
Will he sit in the mini – office of the sitting President where the Flag of Liberia and Seal is positioned? Will he be placed in the waiting room or in the conference room? While there, what kind of service or services will be provided to him and by whom?
If former President Weah is to use the Presidential VIP Lodge at RIA and is to be served, it will be staffers of the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs who are managing the Lodge, as their functions are directly for the sitting President and not former Presidents.
I think what former President Weah’s followers are demanding for, when it was the right thing, and then, former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf too should be demanding to have access to that Presidential VIP Lodge.
Now, let me conclude this article with this. Whenever an individual becomes a former President around the world, automatically he/she is distanced from the presidency actively.
What that individual will continue to enjoy is his or her incentives as former President, including respect, honor and recognition, but the immunities as sitting president are no longer theirs.
That person cannot ride a vehicle with the country’s flag and Seal or cannot speak from the podium with the country’s Seal, any more.
This is what happened to a former American President. “A driver of Barack Obama was driving him and when they got to the traffic light, the red light turned on and the driver stopped, within moment, Obama asked the driver why he stopped the vehicle. He responded, “Chief, the traffic light is on.”
Then it clicks to Obama’s mind that he is no longer President of the United States of America.
A hint to the wise, my thought is quite sufficient………
About the Writer
Jonathan O. Grigsby, S.nr. a Liberian Journalist, currently employed with the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) and have worked at the entity for more than ten years.
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