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FELMAUSA –
Cultivating the way forward
November 21, 2009 - By
Francis Duwana
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Commentary |
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Hon.
Francis Duwana,
Philadelphia USA |
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FELMAUSA
Oh yeaaaaaa.
Oh yes, Felmausa – the Federation of Liberian
Mandingo Associations in the USA needs to
succeed, it has to succeed and must succeed. But
how?
I was fortunate to attend the just observed 2nd
Inaugural activities of the Federation. I was
impressed! And now out of my immense impression,
I am also overwhelmed, maybe, by my lacking of
understanding of why FELMAUSA-related situations
are as they currently stand.
We have a new breed of what I consider as young
and energetic leadership motivated with the
affect of positive idealism for moving the
Liberian Mandingo Community forward. The
predeceasing Administration was, and let me say
remains equally passionate about why FELMAUSA
should succeed. The general membership – the
United States based Liberian Mandingo Community
is, by indications, very elated that at long
last, an umbrella Liberian Mandingo organization
is realized. I reflect on the above as
determiners for anyone to reason that FELMAUSA’S
Compass has nowhere to point but to a direction
for success.
Notwithstanding, read the Federation’s
Constitution and, uhmmm nothing may really seem
to be achieved, if due care and diligence is not
taken. In the first place, the constitution has
no role or definition for the general membership
of the Federation. Article IV Section 2
(A) of FELMAUSA’s Constitution
establishes that the Board of Directors as
“the highest
decision-making body of FELMAUSA”.
Wow! In this diction, the Board becomes
higher than the general membership, much less to
talk about the Federation’s annual assembly of
members.
Another peculiarity can be found in
Article IV Section 2 (B) of the
Constitution which provides that
“The National
Board of Directors shall be headed by a
chairman. The chairman shall be elected during
the National Convention.”
Technically, I or anyone can argue that, in
fact, the Chairman is not a member of the Board
– he/she was actually not elected as a member of
the Board but only as its Chairman. I can refer
you to the case of the Joint Session of the
House of Representatives and House of Senate at
which the Vice President of Liberia presides.
Note that the Vice President is not a member of
the National Legislature. In the case of ULAA,
the Union of Liberian Associations in the
Americas, the Secretary of the ULAA Board of
Directors is not a member of the Board of
Directors and has no voting rights. But he
attends every Board Sessions and even takes part
in deliberations, except that he cannot vote. It
is not prudent here to second guess what could
have been the intention of the Nvasekie Konneh-led
Constitution Commission, because the
constitution has already been submitted to a
referendum and adopted by the general
membership.
In addressing the question of membership,
Article VII Section 2 (A) of
the Constitution provides:
“Full membership of this association is
open to all citizens and residents of Liberia
with present residences in the Americas…”.
If FELMAUSA is a Federation of Liberian Mandingo
Associations, then membership to the Federation
can only be proper through Chapters and not
individuals. There are very many other areas of
profound inconsistencies that I believe strongly
that FELMAUSA’s chance for accelerated progress
stands to be impeded, if these constitutional
ramifications are not scrutinized.
Even more so, my assessment at the just ended
2nd Inaugural festival of the Federation
demonstrated the challenge with which the
leadership is faced. The impressive attendance
and the caliber of persons attending the
occasion all speak to one factor – an edgy
expectation that the leadership will not renege
on a huge responsibility to deliver. To do so,
spells a disappointment that the membership may
not easily forgive and a wound that may
perpetually affect FELMAUSA.
Francis Duwana
Philadelphia
It does not matter what we do or say; It is how
we do or say things |
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