President M. Dukuly

The leadership of FELMAUSA has appointed a constitution review committee, pending the board’s approval, to effectively and efficiently review and make all necessary changes to FELMAUSA’s constitution for its smooth operations.

In a letter to the Board of Directors, the Secretary General indicated, “the executive leadership is pleased to present to you the following names, for your approval- Cllr Alvin Teage Jalloh, Ahmed Sirleaf, Francis Duwana, Edward Forson Sannoh, Varfee Sheriff and Mohammed Sheriff.” The executive leadership of FELMAUSA reposes absolute confidence in the unmatched ability of these individuals to faithfully assume and successfully deliver on the noble responsibility of producing an all inclusive constitution that will remain a true representation of the aspiration and integrity of Liberian Mandingoes.

 With the quality of individuals appointed, one can definitely be assured that the constitution will undergo immense scrutiny and/or overhauling. The presence of Cllr Alvin Teage Jalloh brings a great deal of potency to this review committee given his background in law as well as involvement with community organization and cooperate business constitutions and by-laws review.

 Honorable Francis Duwana will service as chairman of the committee and he is no stranger to all of us, as his works both in Liberia and the U.S. speak for itself. Mr. Duwana served as press secretary to the late President Doe and Assistant Director for news and public affairs at the Liberian Broadcasting Corporation. In the U.S., Mr. Duwana is currently working with the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas ULAA under the strong stewardship of Honorable Anthony Kesselly. Mr. Duwana has actively participated in most Liberian and Mandingo functions.

 As for Mr. Ahmed Sirleaf, he brings a wealth of experience to this committee from his involvement with, and contribution to, different international organizations focused on conflict resolution and other humanitarian assistance. A one time president of Minnesota Mandingo Association (MMA), Mr. Sirleaf served as one of the panelists at the just ended FELMAUSA convention where he lamented the need for the Mandingo people to accept diversity at all levels.

Mr. Edward Forson Sannoh, a one time president of the Invisible Eleven Majestic sports association has been one of the strongest advocates to the revision of the FELMAUSA constitution due to the ambiguity and omission of pertinent issues that – if not properly and immediately addressed – will continuously affect FELMAUSA and hold its success stagnant. Also currently serving as a board member of Liberia Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania (LIMAP), Mr. Sannoh remains a strong advocate of change as of his days in the twin cities of MN.

 Mr. Varfee Sheriff has also earned his stripes in the PA community, given his active participation in the first and second convention in Philly. Mr. Sheriff has always been receptive to the call of the community to perform any and all such tasks geared towards the community success.

 Mohammed Sherif also is not a stranger to all our listserv members given his constructive and active interaction with individuals, who inundate, insinuate and perpetually perceive the Mandingoes as evil people. Mr. Sheriff has been a voice of optimism for most of our speechless and vulnerable people. One can clearly remember when Mr. Sheriff started a campaign to release Sekou Damate Konneh from Guinean prison unconditionally. He led an effort to have the Liberian government retract their statement about Damate Konneh been a Guinean.

 As the attainment of progress is a process, and not an event, FELMAUSA’s current leadership believes in “Baby Steps in Motion” to its ultimate destination of success for our community and the greater Liberian society. As usual, it is with no doubt that FELMAUSA’s board will be very resourceful and diligent in response to the clarion call of this leadership to actualize and sustain the success of this noble institution – FELMAUSA.