By Bill W. Cooper
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dewey Gray has commented on the presence of Liberians purported as officials in a diplomatic mission out of the country.
She dispelled reports that these individuals were recruited into the country’s Foreign Service and their presence at the mission is authorized.
She also revealed plans about the ongoing efforts to repatriate over 50 of them that were deployed at various Liberian Diplomatic Missions under “unclear circumstances between July 26 and July 27, 2023.”
She however expressed deep concern over the discovery of these illegal officials and emphasized that the government is taking immediate action to address the situation, which she disclosed that the repatriation is expected to begin ‘within two weeks.’
Deputy Minister Gray made the disclosure recently when she met the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon to hear matters affecting some Foreign Service officials/employees out of Liberia.
Also, the Deputy Minister and team before the senators was predicated upon a communication from Montserrado County Senator, Saah Joseph and Margibi County Senator, Nathaniel McGill to plenary for redress concerning the stranded employees.
It can be recalled that just at the heels of the transition of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Administration to the Unity Party (UP) government in late December 2023, several individuals were allegedly appointed to Foreign Service positions.
Foreign Minister, Sarah Beyslowe Nyanti, upon taking over the Ministry announced plans to retrieve all those in possession of diplomatic passport as means of identifying and varying those that were sent on Foreign Mission illegally.
In conversation with the committee, Deputy Minister Gray further indicated that some of those deployed under said unclear circumstances did not meet the benchmark criteria to serve as Foreign Service officials/employees.
She at the same time disclosed that there may be room to re-vet some for possible, proper employment where applicable, asserting, “We were invited by the Senate Foreign Committee in response to the communication from the senators and that is our position statement.”
She noted that the officers being talked about were not recruited to the Foreign Service but went to the Foreign Service and added that there were people who transported themselves to the missions something she said has never been done in the Foreign Service.
In response, Senator Dillon disclosed that preliminary findings have discovered that about 54 Foreign Service officers were deployed around the world by the past government under dubious act.
The Montserrado County Senator asserted, “Approximately 54 out of 68 of those serving in Foreign Service did not meet the criteria set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Many were not transported or deployed according to protocol; they simply wanted to leave.”
Dillon at the same time highlighted that the Finance and Foreign Affairs Ministries in accordance with legislative oversight, would initiate the repatriation of the unqualified individuals, and clarified, “We want to make it clear that we will not overstep into the Executive’s domain; we will use our oversight to ensure proper procedures are followed.”
There are established criteria for serving in Foreign Service. One cannot simply be assigned without meeting these standards. However, when you inherit a problematic situation, it needs to be addressed.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor this process and assist the Ministry in the effort to ensure justice and fair play regarding the matter pointing out, “We are also humbled to serve as Chairman of this ranking Senate Committee in service to our country and people.”
