Home Governance Undiplomatic! … Cyril Allen Slams US Embassy Delegation’s Walkout of Liberia’s Independence Day Celebration

Undiplomatic! … Cyril Allen Slams US Embassy Delegation’s Walkout of Liberia’s Independence Day Celebration

by News Manager

MONROVIA: The Chairman Emeritus of the former ruling National Patriot Party (NPP), Chief Cyril Allen, has reacted to United States Embassy delegation’s walkout from Liberia’s 177th Independence Day program, describing the move by the Embassy delegation as “undiplomatic.”

Chief Allen who is also former head of the former governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), stressed that the recent behavior of the U.S delegation led by Charge’ d’ Affaires, Catherine Rodriguez, is not in line with diplomatic missions.

A local daily, The New Dawn, quoted Chief Allen as saying the action of Rodriguez’s and her delegation to walk out of the Independence Day ceremony was disrespectful to the Government and people of Liberia.

According to Mr. Allen, there is a need for the U.S Embassy’s Charge’ d’ Affaires to apologize to Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, and the Liberian People.

Liberia’s 177th Independence Day Orator, Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, a Professor of Economics and Political Science at London School of Economics, in her Oratory, stated among other things: “Finally, I remain very concerned about the outsized influence of the United States in our transitional justice process. We must forge new strategic partnerships based on mutual benefit and disabuse ourselves of the notion that we have a ‘special relationship’ with America. Truth be told, this so-called ‘special relationship’ only exists in our imagination. Lest we forget, the United States was one of the last countries to recognize our independence. Lest we forget, the United States will always serve its own interest above all else. Once we accept these truths, we will appreciate that a re-imagined Liberia can never be anyone’s stepchild”. The above assertions prompted the American Embassy delegation to walk out of the Independence Day program.

The US Embassy delegation said, “Independence Day celebrations should be a time for hope, unity, and celebration. Introducing divisive rhetoric and unfounded accusations during such an event undermines its purpose. The CDA’s decision to walk was a measured response to maintain the event’s decorum and spirit.”

However, Mr. Allen indicated that Dr. Pailey, expressed concern about significant influence of the United States in Liberia’s transitional justice process and she argued that the perceived ‘special relationship’ with America is illusory and that Liberia should seek new strategic partnerships based on mutual benefit, rather than clinging to a notion of a special relationship with the United States.

Chief Allen also said that Dr. Pailey speech represents the views of her generation, emphasizing that those Liberian officials who are defending the action of the U.S Charge’ d’Affaires are afraid of being sanctioned by the American government.
“I was on sanction for the twelve unbroken years and that does not have any impact on me and I continue to live better life; unnecessary sanctions on people around the world because they (America) are one of the world’s superpowers’, he said.

Mr. Allen also mentioned that the Liberian government should have requested a copy of the orator’s speech for review before the official program.

Speaking further, Mr. Allen said he is not speaking for anyone or an institution but rather as an elderly statesman and his head doesn’t fit in the mouth of anyone or nobody is feeding him.

He demanded that the United States Embassy near Monrovia should apologize to the people of Liberia for the action of the U.S Charge’ d’Affaires. Writes Linda Gbartie

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