The leadership of the widows of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has apologized to President George Weah for the wild cat protest stage at the Star Base located on Bushrod Island outside Monrovia in demand of their benefits.
Recently, several widows of the AFL staged a protest against the government of Liberia in demand of the benefits for their loved ones killed in the service. Assistant Veteran Affairs Bureau Director, Ophelia Hinneh flanked by Mary Allison, Musu Kermue, and Oretha Tweh of the AFL widows all were part of the protest.
They went further accusing the Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Finda Bundo, of being behind the failure of the government to settle them. Addressing a joint press conference held in Monrovia, the leadership of the AFL Widows apologized to President George Weah and Finda Bundo for the embarrassment caused as a result of their protest.
The Vice Chairperson for Operations of the widows, Oretha Tweh, said the differences among the widows have been resolved and they are now speaking with one voice.
According to him, they shall never take the streets in demand for the government to address the issue of the benefits of the widows.
For her part, the Vice Chairperson for Administration, Musu karmue, who described Finda Bundo as their daughter appealed to her to put the past behind her and open a new page in their advocacy.
She appealed to President George Weah to forgive them for the manner in which they have championed the cause of widows in recent days because it was due to pressure from their colleagues.
In remarks, Chairperson of the AFL widows, Mary Allison, who described the widows as CDC women, appealed to the Liberian leader to have mercy on his women.
She assured the Liberian government that the widows will never take to the street in demand of any benefit but rather seek advice from Finda Bundo on the way forward in the advocacy.
Madam Allison thanked the Director General of the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs, Edwin Goodridge, for taking the initiative for bringing peace among the leadership of the AFL widows.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs through its Assistant Director General for Women and Children, Ophelia Hinneh, also appealed to the President and the Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol for forgiveness of the AFL widows.
She assured the widows that the bureau will always work with the relevant authorities in seeking their welfare in accordance with the mandate for which it was established.
The apology of the AFL widows followed a mediation among the divided leaderships by the management team at the National Bureau of Veteran Affairs.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
