Senator Abe Darius Dillon Discuss National Issues On Bushrod Radio 98.1 FM

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:15]Okay.

[00:00:22]>> Calls. Yeah. Only TN. [music] So when you hear this very exciting [snorts] sound, you know the sound of a guitar, it tells you that this program is picking up its last segment and the lens of strictly home. And today we have the distinguished owner uh to host the chair of the board you know of directors of uh the BJO communication incorporated uh particularly he is senator Abraham Darus dealer who is the um Senate committee chair on on foreign relations foreign affairs uh he's here to sort of uh you know whole conversation with us on diversity first issue beginning with the goal set for the Senate because he is you know an official of the Liberian Senate. Senator Dylan, good morning and we say welcome sir. Good morning and thank you for the invite. Good morning to all uh listeners on BJA radio 91 98.1 and let me say good morning, good day, good afternoon to our viewers on the social media and uh I'm hearing myself very very clearly.

[00:01:52]>> That's good.

[00:01:53]>> Good signal.

[00:01:55]>> See the microphone was not >> Mhm.

[00:01:59]That's improvement.

[00:02:01]>> Mhm.

[00:02:02]>> Thank you. Thank you, Romeo. Thank you, guys.

[00:02:05]>> Yes, sir. Thank you. And as usual, you know, rest your concern. We're going to open up the lie and you going to put your concern especially responsibly because I mean, this is Liberia in the morning. I mean, we just don't take any and everything like that. So, you always our good friend. Never mind. We're going to have you the space. give you the space and uh uh on this conversation.

[00:02:28]Sir, uh how are you fairing? How how was your break by the way?

[00:02:34]>> Wow, it is break in nature [laughter] because >> actually there's a break.

[00:02:43]>> We got work to do almost every day.

[00:02:46]>> So it was something that you didn't have to go to session.

[00:02:48]>> Yes. when we on break we don't go to session on Tuesday and Thursday >> right >> but um we do a lot of >> work outside the camera >> right >> at the capital building in fact you know that during the break um we were even recalled >> you were recalled there >> and we were recalled and we had another 10 working days that's about two weeks >> right >> 10 working days exclude Saturdays >> Sunday and any within the 10 working days.

[00:03:22]>> Wow.

[00:03:23]>> So anyway, that's called to national duty by the way.

[00:03:27]>> Yeah. Sure. Sure. So right now you you have resumed as uh the Senate and it's important to note that uh you are advancing what should the public expect.

[00:03:40]Now let's let's detail specifically what your sitting going to look like. Uh I know there can be some unanticipated you know interruptions and other things but never mind uh per agenda. What should we expect by the way?

[00:03:57]>> So um the president promporary of the senate kanga law and senator Joseph Jala of uh lofa county. The junglers sponsored and submitted a bill to enact the fasttrack anti-corruption code.

[00:04:24]Uh this is something uh the judiciary committee of the senate is going to take very very seriously during this sitting >> the second quarter in the third session of the 55th legislature >> and I also submitted a bill >> mhm >> to enact the claims code the national claims code. Mhm.

[00:04:54]>> We also going to give premium to that.

[00:04:57]When we resumed um last week, the president pro tempmpary uh being the leader of the senate outline the agenda of the senate for this city. Part of which is to get the national bureau of concessions.

[00:05:15]uh that has the the statuto responsibility to ensure performance and compliance by this concession companies >> right >> and uh concession agreements to ensure compliance and performance.

[00:05:31]Let's know where the law is weak. let us know which concession company is complying and performing with their terms and agreement uh conditions of the agreements that we we signed >> and the we're going to follow up we're going to follow up on the the budget performance >> not just the paper trail >> but the practical aspect we in the um the recap budget for the [snorts and clears throat] supplement rental budget. For instance, we we provided uh uh appropriation for health workers who are volunteers to be paid and placed on the payroll. We also provided uh we made appropriations for volunteer teachers to be paid and placed on the payroll.

[00:06:29]uh uh we we provided the the the education budget of the country is about 143 million plus.

[00:06:41]We want to begin the kind of oversight from a practical perspective as to how many armchairs did you purchase, which school did you supply, which district and which county won the list, >> right?

[00:06:59]>> We provided budgetary appropriation for JFK to function under the circumstances.

[00:07:07]You notice that a $10 parisatim or a $40 mattress is not at JFK. The public understandably will ask what the law makers doing.

[00:07:20]>> Nobody ask for the 7 to9 million that goes to JFK. But that 10 paratimon that is lacking at JFK is blame on the law makers and all that kind of stuff. So, and [snorts] sometimes is is h it can be discouraging but you can understand why the people will put everything on the the law maker.

[00:07:48]because they look to us to provide that overight because if they see parasim at JFK they don't praise the law maker any longer they praise the executive but if they don't see parasitic more at JFK they blame the lawmakers >> the president was just at in the government so to speak led by the president about two weeks ago were at uh basa >> the border with >> to jointly break ground with The cervian government led by the president of sealoon to break ground for the construction of the highway >> linking full lane highway.

[00:08:27]>> Mhm.

[00:08:28]>> From our >> mhm >> to basa to link with cereal and you know entering full lane >> right >> morning road.

[00:08:38]The praise was for the executives.

[00:08:42]If a road is constructed, the praise goes to the executives.

[00:08:47]The law makers won't get any credit.

[00:08:49]Now, it's not about credit by trying to open eyes here. We ratify the financing agreement to do that role.

[00:09:01]>> Mhm. Had we not voted to ratify that concession financing agreement, there would be no full role from Bal going to okay. So all I'm trying to say the people are right when they blame us for everything.

[00:09:24]We gave the national the Labra National Police over $24 million in the current budget.

[00:09:34]156 million for salary and administration.

[00:09:37]>> The rest of the money for logistics and operations and other stuff. If you don't if you see a policeman with no handcuffs, the public say the law must reduce the salary so we can buy the handcuffs.

[00:09:54]We give h like I just said education ministry and the the education sector. Okay. So we took [snorts] the University of Liberia budget from 33 million to 43 million and above in the current budget.

[00:10:15]The same problem still exist at the University of Liberia.

[00:10:20]If there is no chair at the University of Liberia, nobody asked for what they doing with 43 million because the University of Labor running on 16 million.

[00:10:32]Then the president we administration took it to H about 24 million.

[00:10:38]Then President Ba came and think and we took it to 34 million. Now it is 43 million. But the problem still existed when the students feel that something [snorts] is not right there that requires funding.

[00:10:55]It is because the law maker salary must be reduced.

[00:11:00]Uh the same with almost all of the sectors.

[00:11:06][snorts] So the reason the people will hold us accountable is because you can give an entity budgetary support and appropriation and you don't follow the tracking on performance.

[00:11:20]>> That's reasonable enough.

[00:11:22]>> So I can understand why the public would beat us. [clears throat] >> There are there are reasonable people in the public in majority they know the function of the legislators of the legislature. What the legislator said that key function overight to hold public entities accountable. You give your child you pay child school fee for second grade.

[00:11:48]The following academic year you don't have your child for card nothing and your child say he or she pass then you get paid school fee. You get problem.

[00:11:59]>> You got to see the report card.

[00:12:01][clears throat] You got to know that and then the child in school want change school the child in just one school in second grade and the parent pay the school fee the following year the child said they left just school they won't go to Romeo toa school but they will be going in the third grade the next academic year then they see parent change the child >> from the from the from the John Stewart school without seeing the child performance report and carry that child to Rome school in the third grade.

[00:12:39]>> Yeah.

[00:12:41]Then when a child do all that thing and they can't show proof of the education they say they acquire then you start blaming the child. But the parent who is responsible the guardian who agree to be changing that child school or agree to be giving the child school fe without seeing proving that the child was making passing grades. So that seeing the grave card is oversight that the legislature needs to improve on. So it's about ramping up your oversight which is titly you know a function of the legislature a function of ME. You talk about going beyond the paper trail and [snorts] following the budget where where it goes and how the function what are the practical steps you want to do beyond just reviewing the papers that we brought to you by the executive the agencies. We're coming to I'm a member of the committee of education.

[00:13:35]We're coming to the other side. We're going to these courts. We got to monet ourselves.

[00:13:43]>> Yes. I'm a member of the labor committee of the Senate. We come in as a labor committee. We come to do sit visitation to see what treatment our people are being met at these various or concession areas.

[00:14:01]what the students are doing fairing, what kind of quality to match the increase in this budgetary appropriations every year because the national budget book is over 500 page document.

[00:14:20]Most of the people including most of the media >> will open that book. How much for the legisle for the year? all the legislator in a B.

[00:14:32]H the I didn't come here in defense of the legislature where we are not doing right or what we're not doing properly.

[00:14:40]I didn't come here to defend us.

[00:14:42]>> We must first check ourselves to give us the courage and the standing to check other people.

[00:14:47]>> But when you take a budget of 1.2 2 billion with a branch of government having 53 million or 64 million out of 1.2 two billion budget and said the whole budget is [laughter] the legislature and one and three voted there something is wrong with our understanding and the reason why it seem to be wrong with our understanding collective understanding is because and I will charge you guys on this one because the people who control the microphone every day and control the opinion somehow of the people >> are not properly informing and educating the people. You understand? We have serious work to do.

[00:15:36]And and I'm I'm thankful I'm also a member of the Senate Committee on Health.

[00:15:43]The health budget has increased as well.

[00:15:48]>> H the budget as it is cannot solve all of the problems.

[00:15:53]But if you had $10 last year as your budget and this year you get $20 that $10 added on something must move something must improve or you know increase to show proof of an additional $10. So senator that suggests that the Senate is selfcorrecting.

[00:16:18]uh you already have as function oversight and uh you want to be quite mocupless about oversight.

[00:16:26]My thing is you could just just get overwhelmed. you know you have to go for sitting you have to do other legislative functions and now I know the oversight is part of function but it takes you from your space going out you know looking for the evidence of change reflective of the budget is not enough distraction >> no no we are uh the the three functions that everybody know from [laughter] [snorts] 12 college. The three functions cinal functions of a law maker is representation of his people law making and over uh we don't do law making every day >> right >> we don't do law making every day we don't pass any law we debate issues committee reports communications on the floor we don't pass laws every day we do representation somehow every Because once you in our office you are representing but the the the core of the three in my view is oversight. Once oversight is robust and effective the people will feel the impact of the budget. It may not change the story completely and immediately but they every year they will feel something anytime the budget.

[00:17:52]How can we come from a country that ran on an $80 million budget?

[00:17:59]And we reach to a place where we have a $1.2 billion budget and the the the you can't you don't have an exciting >> change the excitement for the change.

[00:18:18][clears throat] You can't see or feel it.

[00:18:20]>> Does that mean no change at all? I'm not saying that. But if you come if a whole government ran on $8 [clears throat] million government ran on $60 million took it to 80 million. Ellen Johnson met 80 million and in your first year she took it to 120 million and then the second 10 years she took it to 300 plus million and then she left it at 500 plus million. Then Charles came and took it to 700 million or there about now we have come to and we've taken it to 1.2 two billion h maybe I may be wrong maybe open the lounge somebody need to say something to excite us [snorts] about the the stic growth or incremental growth in our budget >> almost now back to this function of oversight uh how do you balance this in a way that it doesn't raise undue suspicion from the executive that you trying to and you you pursuing a path of distrust >> on the executive.

[00:19:32]>> No, you know the thing is that just doing work is not about trust or distrust.

[00:19:39]>> When you are assigned functions by law, you are responsibilities by law.

[00:19:49]Don't borrow about who like you or not.

[00:19:53]>> You know, looking for who will like you.

[00:19:56]Eh, who will clap for you or who will get angry at you? Want make sure that we get to our work. But Senator, it it distracts. It actually distracts. Right.

[00:20:06]You pick up, you picked up on the labor sector, for example.

[00:20:10]>> Yes.

[00:20:11]>> And you really brought to spotlight, you put on the microscope uh the function of the ministry, >> you know, for national good. And it was miscontored by whom?

[00:20:26]>> H and it even became tribal sentimental.

[00:20:30]>> So it were me by whom?

[00:20:33]>> Well uh we hurt sectors who hurt people.

[00:20:36]>> No forget about forget about who? Excuse me. But who actually make school to fight the people who are fighting for?

[00:20:47][laughter] >> Okay. So here is it right. these people in executive as much as this seems to be good is your function we need to fight for the change you know >> but say you target five ministries >> uh from from from the labor you know from the personnel uh to you know projects and everything else >> and you have upr five different upcrafts on different lanes that's that's sufficient you know discourage ing factor though.

[00:21:22]>> So let's take for instance, let's come back to the labor issue.

[00:21:27]>> Mhm.

[00:21:29]>> Let me repeat. Those who know me, they know me. I am no coward.

[00:21:37]>> I don't go for trivia issues.

[00:21:41]>> Also my job, I'm a very joy person. or on a job.

[00:21:49]>> On my job, I got no friend.

[00:21:54]Because if I allow friendship to impair my courage and my judgment, that person who benefiting from the impairment of my courage and trust and will and to do my work, that person name does not get money. It is my name.

[00:22:14]>> Okay.

[00:22:16]The president nominates Romeo Toba to go to any position in government. It requires Senate confirmation. All the people that led Romeo Toba they wear t-shirt they kept placing when they want Romeo should be confirmed at that point don't ask Romeo question on whether he capable whether he competent whether he knows what he going to do there. Don't ask Romeo. You hear the people whing what I want proof and he lying. He talking too much. But when you confront Romeo and Romeo doing a job, they can't say we don't want you and be in Romeo. They can say but they confront you. So [laughter] the thing is do your job.

[00:23:08]Your conscience should guard you with the help of God.

[00:23:12]Do your job. So h >> So you're moved by this.

[00:23:18]>> No, I'm the least bad when I'm doing my job and I hear noise behind. I'm the least bad. My father always used to tell me people will say things about you. The thing that will bother you if they think they saying is negative >> but true.

[00:23:35]>> Mhm.

[00:23:36]>> It is say negative things about you but it's not true. It is on them who plotted it. who conceded it and to put a negative thing on you. Don't be battle with it.

[00:23:50]>> Even though in our politics anything fly somebody can just say something general everybody wrong with it without trying to you know verify that one can live for it but my p said when people say negative or put negative thing on you and it's true it should bother you so you can correct it to positive. So I'm learning I'm saying this to say in fact the Senate we are waiting for the outcome of an audit being conducted by the GSC on the whole work permit process how it starts where it ends and how is it beneficial to the country I cannot be senator what I'm in our office today while I'm there up to 2029 but why I'm still I cannot be senator and be satisfied that I'm passing conceptual agreements that are creating provision for jobs and then I'm in the same government where we giving work permit to non Liberian for those same jobs who are we creating the job for who are we pro creating the avenues to get job for are we passing these concessions and So we have over 10 to 15,000 work permit out there Josh.

[00:25:12]>> Mhm.

[00:25:13]>> So I know jobs are paying 1,000 per [snorts] month.

[00:25:17]>> Some paying $2,000 per month. Some paying as low as $300. $200. But let's take a bare minimum. Let's take a $200 $300 average.

[00:25:31]Imagine.

[00:25:33]Okay. So let me put it this way.

[00:25:37]I will keep repeating it until it listens to all of us because our people must must get job.

[00:25:44]I think I said it last time but let me repeat it. [snorts and laughter] Imagine we have 2,000 foreign merchand stores >> across Liberia. Just imagine it will be more or less but let's say 2,000 foreign [snorts] or even stores what are own by Liberians or not.

[00:26:12]Imagine if you employ one Liberian per >> as >> you have provided created 2,000 jobs in the public sector in the private sector.

[00:26:29]You also know that most of these stores can make run on one store. So normally they have two three. So but let's take a minimum of two per store. If you if you had two Liberians per 2,000 stones there 4,000 jobs low hanging fruit jobs we were provided. It pains me when I go to store or even supermarket or any place in this country where a non Liberian especially non-African Liberian is having work permit to do so ball work.

[00:27:07]I'm not being xenophobic.

[00:27:10]I'm protecting jobs by law for [snorts] the people that gave us the job to fight for them. That my first priority because the law, the decent work law, the decent work, it is very clear. They said unless a Liberian is not qualified and is not available.

[00:27:34]You see how you see how we did the law?

[00:27:36]That means Liberians must be given first right of refusal.

[00:27:44]First right of refusal honor the law by death in nature means for instance I renting you house the time expire or you won't sell a house and renting it in a house and you want a house the right for me to refuse first right of refuse to say even though I live in your home I rent it and you won't sell it I won't buy it that means I have refused my my Eh, that's what that right given me [snorts] by the constitution and construction the structure of the law.

[00:28:22]It says no job should be given to any non-liberians unless in Liberia no Liberian is qualified and available for that job and that Liberian could be Liberian residing in Liberia or other Liberia. That is why the law goes further to say the vacancy for that job must be advertised >> on the website and on the local radio because if a Liberian is qualified for that job but living offer could see on the website and they are interested they can apply you understand the law is straight is straightforward it's not discretionary so let's let local transport ministry database.

[00:29:14]>> There are half a million cars in the commerce of Liberia. about half a million cars [snorts] that mean about 200 to 250,000 vehicles cars of whatever kind at least register by the ministry of transport take about 5 to 10,000 of those cars which is realistic to be owned >> by concessions and business entities across Liberia employ 10,000 Liberians behind those vehicles in the private sector, you have created 10,000 jobs and every one of those jobs you create, you reducing and in this country and you can go on naming the category accountants, managers, the only job in this country we have not issued work permit for from time to time. not only with this government is the lawyering profession because the law says >> you must be in Liberia to practice law in Liberia or else all these cabinets all the business entities will be applying for web permit to to bring a legal council here.

[00:30:40]So then we must be deleg,000 10,000 work permit all 5.2 million people is nothing. No, it's plenty. If you were paying a a Liberian on a job for $1,000 a month, in a whole year that Liberian will have earned $12,000.

[00:31:08][clears throat] But if you took work permit of 3,000 for the whole year for that particular job, Liberia, the government will not get 3,000 for that work permit. But if you paying a Liberian 1,000 for that job, that Liberian will pay taxes in the whole year more than 3,000 to the government. That Liberian smart enough can do business and employ another person.

[00:31:37]that Liberian can send the children to school that Liberian can help other people. Look, we got to be deliberate about providing job for our people and the jobs are available here.

[00:31:48]>> Now, what how how do you feel about uh the rate of unemployment in this country?

[00:31:53]>> I feel terrible. You think Liberians want to beg?

[00:31:57]You think begging is what Liberian there are beggars everywhere. There are very little people everywhere. the opportunity can be there. All the state >> you can understand that but the the ratio of people of people who don't want to bet but they don't have they higher than the people who got opportunity but they still don't care about taking advantage of the opportunity.

[00:32:20]>> Mhm.

[00:32:21]>> So it bothers me. It should bother any of us especially in national leadership that our people don't have jobs and we can find means and the avenue I get broke how we can get some jobs there now the reason I can take the low hanging fruit because those the low hanging fruit jobs like that they are more they are plentiful if a company is running one two three accountants [snorts] right if a company is running they want one or two lawyers >> but the Low hanging food are plentiful.

[00:32:54]>> Mhm.

[00:32:54]>> But if we giving web permit, look at the category of work permit we giving as a government. We giving it for driver giving it for bus. You go in the stores even if they don't have web to show you in the category of job they apply for they their functions in the various stores. We tell you lab can do those jobs.

[00:33:14]>> [snorts] >> But now when you have the courage to say let's do with our people then you understand people put sentiment in it.

[00:33:23]Oh he won't show up. He get it for election and he attacking our trap and and and the funny thing is I don't want to answer the funny thing when you in public office like I am in public office like I am.

[00:33:40]You do something you say you doing it for a leisure. You don't do something do nothing election time so you can win just do your job [laughter] what election or not you do something for election you do anything he do nothing election coming just do your job you can't win with the people so very shortly we will invite you know your participation by putting forth your questions and your you know inquiries or whatever just that >> yeah you need to be you shocked, you know, be so scent and so clearly what you want to say, say that and then we can let somebody else in. Now, Senator, it's just important for us to um look at what what's happening at the Guinea Liberia border. I know Mr. President said in fact we saw him sitting with uh the president of Guinea. So obviously there might have been some you know diplomatic notes some some exchanges uh at that level but as far as you know as the oversight person uh for foreign affairs what's going on there now diplomatic quiet the president hinted the country on what he wanted to hint the country on that at the uh event in Nairobi last week.

[00:35:09]He sat the sitting arrangement had him sitting right by the Ginian president, >> right?

[00:35:16]>> And he had talks on at various levels and including some conversation on the border issue.

[00:35:26]I came here the last time and I said I know that as chairman on the Senate foreign affairs committee there are diplomatic h channels being used. The president is the chief architect of the foreign policy of our country and the minister of foreign affairs is the engine to run that policy for the president and the country. We are the Senate as chair on the committee. We are the supportive arm to ensure that this thing happen. So we get regular uh classified briefing which will be immature and irresponsible to put on the microphone. The executive will speak to that. But I can tell you that the issue at the border will be resolved. Are people are people impatient comfortable spot?

[00:36:24]>> Are people impatient to see a result this morning? Yes.

[00:36:29]>> Are they right on their impatience?

[00:36:32]Understandably.

[00:36:33]Does it work that way?

[00:36:38]Maybe not. But will it be resolved? Is it being resolved?

[00:36:44]Certainly.

[00:36:45]>> I think I think such an assurance is an easing of anxiety obviously. But uh let's come to you you talk about uh the labor issue and and and you said I mean some of the people you you you've been wanting advocacy for have been some of them have been the very ones you know have issue with you and then at some point in time as Josh pointed out there there were accusations that your advocacy was was a bit pointed towards a particular tribal group and you know a reflection in in your view quote unquote a reflection of deepseated anger towards a particular travel group. Thankfully that was resolved and then recently again there is an accusation about denying someone his way is a on the basis of his travel lineage and this um accusation pointed at you as being somebody for instance who against you know tribes from big counties >> in this is the crown >> and then there is a issue with the labor >> are they not are they unsettling you because these are big counties actually.

[00:37:52]>> No, I'm not being offset. No, not at all. H >> But how do you face these accusations?

[00:37:59]>> I just told you my father's name shouldn't bother you >> and more to come the fact that you want to be on the road now, you know. Uh >> so how do you demystify if >> No, it's simple.

[00:38:12]>> Mhm.

[00:38:13]>> What does that saying that speak louder than words, right? Mhm.

[00:38:21]>> I cannot hit Nema and the people of Nema and confirm everybody that came from under this government. Eh, confirm them with my vote.

[00:38:34]>> Mhm.

[00:38:35]>> Support them with my vote in the Senate.

[00:38:40]then it can it can be hit nema people because I'm asking questions on a job for performance.

[00:38:54]So uh peace be to the address of uh Joel.

[00:38:59]I'm sure if he could speak [snorts] a last word, >> he would tell his brother Peter to stop so that his soul can rest in peace and we can do honor and you know to his memory by burying him as a so that everybody knew tough talking very very robust critical courageous to blow people in the eye and say I don't like what you So this is Josh Solo that everybody knew.

[00:39:35]>> So what's about Josh Solo and Josh?

[00:39:39]Yeah.

[00:39:39]>> Right. Did you know?

[00:39:42]So uh his brother Peter Solo took to the airways and alleged that his brother was not confirmed by me as chair on foreign affairs to serve as ambassador to Brussel and I did that because I hate Korean people.

[00:40:07]I want to thank [snorts] people from Grand Jet who told Peter Solo he's not speaking for them and he should stop.

[00:40:16]But what was interesting is that Peter Solo who accused me of hitting crime people I confirm him in the job that he's in now as head of the national.

[00:40:35]I'm not I don't know whether Peter Solo has a make but we all know Peter Solo to be a crime person from Virginia and he knows that I also put new word in the Senate to push his confirmation and I voted for him.

[00:40:57]uh the deputy director of uh at uh fire service I think there is even let him go to do his job with my support as well the head of the maritime commission from Benj I'm the co-chair on the committee maritime minister we led his confirmation hearing in an elaborate form and I voted on the record for life to serve as conventional it possible for just so situation to be hatred for a whole county and people now it needs to stop.

[00:42:04]Peter Solo is a member of this government in executive and he's battling this inflammatory tribal nonsense. [snorts] If I push the button on not only the tribal sentiment but the lie that he told not just on me but the Senate committee on foreign affairs and we put up with the president and maybe the president thinks administrative decision and oh let [snorts] forgive him but here's the thing people who understand diplomacy and foreign relations They know how the things work.

[00:42:51]Before you send somebody to represent a country to another country, that country that you sending Romeo to, that country must consent formally by communication. You write the country said we sending Romeo to serve as ambassador to your country.

[00:43:12]Uh they call it agreement. the English version they call it agreement that country within three months or so will reply formally and say we've done check on Rome he doesn't post threat to our country he doesn't post threat to war peace he's not a terrorist he does he's not a financial fraud and blah blah blah blah blah so we agree for him to serve as ambassador of your country to our country.

[00:43:48]Uh so the initial the initial my understanding there the initial assignment that the president have for Joel was to go to Belgium to Brussels.

[00:44:05]Now what people some people don't know is that Liberia's ambassador to Brussels has two accreditation two assignment one to Brussels as a uh Belgium as a country and then because Brussels is the hub for European EU diplomacy that's a headquarter all EU countries this uh you know everything in process. So you also you are also planning potentially assigned to EU.

[00:44:44]So Brussel responded and said we will take so your designated person but EU did not respond.

[00:44:55]So he could not go to Brazil.

[00:44:57]So then we found another the president found another country. Go to Italy.

[00:45:06]Italy over a year Italy has not responded.

[00:45:12]And people who understand international relations and diplomacy at that level will understand that if you ask a country to approve the sending of a person to their country as ambassador and you follow up one two time within 3 months if that country has not formally responded it is a diplomatic no.

[00:45:36]You can't be asking it is not it is not sound [snorts] in international relations and diplomacy to be asking a country every day what they reply what they reply >> the fact that they reply it is generally known and accepted in international relations and with with this kind of stuff that if a country has not responded >> for refusal it is a it is a quiet diplomatic no >> oh wow >> and And Solo knew that. Jo knew that.

[00:46:09]And since there are other things we were doing behind the scene to get Solo to be appointed and accommodated some other place in the very government with the knowledge of Peter Solo he knows that I don't understand why he brought his brothers like that Josh wouldn't like it. Jo was leading and if he knew that anybody were playing game with him the Jo you know >> I mean he was forced out I mean >> you understand correct >> so for me I forgave Peter Solo I can understand that he's bewitched some people don't know how to you know handle or approach bereiefment he will be temporarily traumatized as the loss of his on the loss of his brother But I don't take lightly. I don't take kindly any inflammatory travel nonsense coming from anybody especially toward me or anybody else.

[00:47:15]Okay. Now we can invite your comments, your call 0771981981.

[00:47:21]Just rest assure we're not going to keep you on the line for so long. So go straight to the point. Uh there is a concern here. Uh Senator Dylan, uh someone is is is inquiring. Well, you could go for the separation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Uh splitting youth from from sports. But let's pick up this person and then you can respond. That's one of the uh >> Good morning.

[00:47:47]>> Good morning, sir. What's your name and where do you call from?

[00:47:51]>> Yeah, thank you. Thanks and let me appreciate you for the time and following me on your platform. My name is Michael.

[00:48:04]>> Yes, please go ahead.

[00:48:06]>> Yeah, I listen to your guest and then I'm interested in the government tomorrow when this happen.

[00:48:25]So, President This is how the city because we are seeing people because some politician politician I think we need everything. So what do you suggest people with this on foreign affairs that in fact they need to in fact the foreign minister so speak to the president tell Mr. or that they need to settle.

[00:49:17]Thank you and I appreciate the senator for your appearance on the media.

[00:49:20]>> Thank you. You can also call Good morning. Good morning.

[00:49:25]>> Yeah, good morning. How are you?

[00:49:26]>> I am fine. What's your name and where do you call from?

[00:49:29]>> This is me movement.

[00:49:32]>> Okay sir. I want to commend the senator in the you know senator is one of the senator we follow in the senate and for me why they are call on the show this morning talk about the private sector you know we work in private sector we not work for government but the private sector not protected by our government even the labor minister they appoint to do the welfare of the labor people because can you imagine we have ru regulation in the country people work in the country as a contractor 10 years Someone had their own hire people bring that company in the country any kind of but if you see that they will pour and send to observe some of those thing you know they will see that happen in the private sector the people pay the people cor to be paid [laughter] as so for me according on the senator the last time on the back of the labor minister we see the impact going on in the private sector. So as soon the people go back to their place so I'm not to draw the ministry back to the Senate then explain to people why Liberian are working AS CONTRACTOR 10 5 years in company. Thank you very much for your opportunity.

[00:50:53]>> You're welcome. Uh thanks uh for your input on the labor sector. Good morning.

[00:50:59]>> Good morning.

[00:51:00]>> Good morning. What's the name? Where do you call from sir?

[00:51:03]>> I'm like calling on street.

[00:51:06]>> Yeah, it was Let's hear you out.

[00:51:09]Yeah, the issue of Peter Solo. I can remember on a spoon talk I mean Jo was was accused before investor of following behavior and take amount of money from him and particular last year. So I think we we we have to give dignity to the >> George. Right. Right. Um we we cannot afford to dig out uh the critical parts of George Solo right now.

[00:51:49]>> He doesn't have the opportunity.

[00:51:50]>> Right. Right. Um >> hey brother Brian Brier but we can expand.

[00:51:57]>> Yeah.

[00:51:58]>> Yeah. Good. Good morning.

[00:52:00]>> Good morning. My name is B. I'm calling from the post of specifically the people international forum.

[00:52:08]>> Interesting. Interesting. Bob, are you listening to us?

[00:52:11]>> Oh, we are listening.

[00:52:13]>> Is it Val radio or the are you listening to through radio through monitor or you listening online?

[00:52:20]>> I know I listen sometime because my my my mentor and my my so I'm following Taylor my chief.

[00:52:29]>> All right. I I I was just looking for single report from you. Go ahead. Go ahead sir.

[00:52:35]>> Uh I mean as as regular say I think that's the right thing. We got to take our own time. The president also said on on 24 that that guinea p ising they as young people we don't want to be in problem with Guinea. So professionally they can handle the situation that we want to border because the people report that they will not leave that place so professionally we can peace between that's my input.

[00:53:07]>> Yeah thank you. I think the maturity you know is is welcoming. Good morning.

[00:53:13]Good morning.

[00:53:18]for election.

[00:53:21]>> Go ahead.

[00:53:23]Thank you so much. I tell you, thank you for the cool people and one thing always get something you can get three.

[00:53:49]Thank you so much.

[00:53:55]work.

[00:53:56]>> Thank you my brother.

[00:53:57]>> Good morning sir.

[00:53:58]>> Good morning. Please female way also encouraging you to put a call you know pick up your phone and call as well.

[00:54:03]Good morning.

[00:54:05]>> Yes sir.

[00:54:07]>> Yeah.

[00:54:10]Thank you very much. But I have one question from my question go to you. I want to know what you're really doing about the why doing because we the citizen we the youth in the country we are suffering working they give up money like $50 $100 and take the people from the same job people $2,000 $3,000 in our own country nothing they say nothing for want to know.

[00:54:50]>> Thank you.

[00:54:51]>> Yeah. Thank you, brother. Uh, so we just squeeze in this one and we allow Senator Dylan to respond.

[00:54:57]>> Good morning.

[00:54:58]>> Hello.

[00:54:58]>> Good morning.

[00:55:00]>> Yeah, Mr. Don, are you coming on?

[00:55:04]>> Uh, this is I'm geographically situated in Carwell.

[00:55:10]So, Mr. The long you have a visually impaired in your office which I commended you for that and he have been blessed and left your office.

[00:55:21]I want to appeal to you that you please at least give a slot in your office to a visually impaired person at least so he can he can get his way through. Thank you very much.

[00:55:35]>> Thank you. Thank you. So let's let's pause call right now and get some responses from Senator Da. Now you you heard your people out.

[00:55:44]>> Yeah. Today session. So without going beyond 10:30.

[00:55:48]>> I have to go to the work.

[00:55:50]>> Yeah. Sure.

[00:55:51]>> Yeah. Well, I want to thank the callers.

[00:55:52]I think largely comment commenation.

[00:55:56][snorts] >> I don't remember any critical call or I just want to say thank you to the callers. the fellow who asked what we doing about the labor >> work permit issue.

[00:56:08]>> I think I to almost 20 minutes to break this down.

[00:56:12]>> Yes.

[00:56:12]>> And I said that we we are the Senate and especially the committee on labor of which I am a member. [clears throat] We are waiting for the GSC audit of the entire work permit processes and the regime so as to inform us to proceed. But meanwhile the Senate rem of this matter is not only work permit issue labor related issues. I said here earlier that the committee on labor and most of these committees especially in the Senate we're going to be practical now. We're going to be doing sightseeing inspections as member of the committee on education with Senator Natala McIll as chair.

[00:56:59]We're going to be going to some of these schools unannounced public schools unannounced. Let's see >> across the country.

[00:57:07]>> Yes. Yes. We have to do it. Let's see for ourselves what the impact the budget is making and whether the budget is actually small or being uh uh uh applied differently because every time the only thing institution or government ask for more budgetary support.

[00:57:28]>> Mhm.

[00:57:28]>> But what are you doing with it? I gave 100% but I give some credit to fire service. For instance, when we took over as a rescue government, the budget for fire service was 2 million or or 2 million. In 2024, we deliberately added additional 2 million to fire service and took them up to about 4 million with with with calculated instructions.

[00:57:55]Go recruit and train more firefighters.

[00:58:00]buy firefighting equipments and accessories to help fight fire or prevent the the spread of fire. Does that mean even if we have all the fire truck in the world and all the best firefighter, does that mean there will be no fire outbreak at all? No.

[00:58:18]You can have all the best hospitals in Liberia. People will still die when they turn to die.

[00:58:27]But you must be prepared to prevent it or to avoid it or you know to intervene when the time comes. Your response time and intervention can save some houses from burning down completely. A fire service up to date as we want it. No. a fire service as poor as the same as we inherited under the rescue government from the CDC government. Nobody can argue that because it's visible some of the counties are having at least one fire truck now fire service uh paraded with fleet of fire fighting trucks and ambulances and other necessary uh stuff that require uh fighting fire. Should we still continue to support fire service?

[00:59:22]Yes. Fire service can now come the money you gave us, we bought XYZ, we train XYZ, we want additional then it makes sense. So that's a kind of that's a kind of oversight we want to pro uh start to to exercise go on the spot. WHY SHOULD I TAKE EDUCATION budget from 133 million to over almost 150 million and almost everything will mean the same by public perception or by reality.

[00:59:55]But how will we know unless we we go see these things?

[01:00:00]>> Why should we increase health budget and the health sector remain? If the health center the same by perception, are there things they improving but the the the the information is not being put out there you know properly and adequately for the country and the people to maybe our visitation will will handle distance and then it will also inform how we should proceed with subsequent budget for support to these institutions senator if you don't mind yesterday the social media was a watch with uh comments of you on blocking a lot of people and people are saying, "Oh, he's urging to election."

[01:00:42]>> Oh, he blocking people. [laughter] If I blog you and you like me back, [laughter] >> you know, let me get my own time more.

[01:00:54]Let me tell you something. I'm the guy don't be battle for things that I know I have control over >> and that makes you an as fan. [laughter] >> I like that aspect.

[01:01:05]Somebody came to Mr. Senator why you can't make law so that people in the house who still have time on attend when a vacancy in the senate then they want to come to the senate. I said no it doesn't make sense to me.

[01:01:20]Uh they say okay so the man is elected for 6 years in a house and in 2 years there is a vacancy in the senate occasion by whatever occurrence resignation expulsion death unfortunately there's a vacancy in the senate and our representative who only spent two years in the house and still have four years want to run to fill that vacancy in the senate >> right >> and if that repres representative wins then there will be another election to fill that vacancy for that member leaving from the house to the senate >> right >> it mean the country spending plenty of money that member of the house who say he won't be senator that he right [clears throat] >> no law should stop him >> you in the district who want that man to go to the senate so there won't be bad election in to replace him to vote to keep >> him yeah >> but you know there ANYTHING YOU MUST HAVE A JUDGE you must know it.

[01:02:23]How can I be in a desperate? I want that representative to become senator. Not because he able to be senator but because one when he win then the country got to find money to replace him and you know buy election and I get vot in my hand >> and the people's power can >> the people's power can make that somebody so you don't need law to DEP time has slipped away >> so the blocking issue you know I to paint a picture that when you have something on control and you have uh um control over anything. Don't let nothing bother you.

[01:03:06]I block your marriage now the life.

[01:03:10]Look, I'm that guy who I'm very tolerant on issues. I said the rob you said they good. We get debate pro and coin, right?

[01:03:21]I said he said you I don't have tolerance for stupidity and intellectual laziness.

[01:03:33]Why should you create profile you lack it then cing other people? Why should you have fake profile and like it just because you me for then you insult you insulting. I block you my own thing. So but yet what happened is few days my office decided that look all the thing you been doing it's time for people to know because people think everything you do is about politics and election. I can understand that. So instead of them having access to my personal page that have over 200,000 followers.

[01:04:10]I reactivated an old page I've been running from 2013 and and I ban it for years. [snorts] So I reactivated that page and then I verified it with Facebook with a blue mark so it can be official and made them administrators from my office so that they can be posting office related matters. So my page I can use it for my phone for my family issue meeting my name.

[01:04:40]So my page can be separate from the work >> your official page. Yeah. Now if you are not blocked on another page and that page is activated you will see it if I get any of you on blogging people. No block me election coming block me back.

[01:04:59]It's just simple. THERE IS OH man arrogant. No I'm not arrogant. I have control over my own sanity and peace.

[01:05:06]Simple. Right now our black people on their life because they left the issue and they doing my cause issue.

[01:05:16]>> So let's do the youth and sports thing.

[01:05:17]You sport you believe that we should split the youth from the sports.

[01:05:23]>> So there were the ministry of labor, youth and sports. We took labor from them. We still have issue with labor related issue. We move youth and sports and so we have ministry of youth. Then we have ministry of sports. sport >> then then say oh government bureaucracy too let keep it as is and we can fix it and and better okay so again as I go I want to thank you all and I be going I be reading com [laughter] >> the voice of Senator Ibraham Dyrus Dylan he's been our guest here and as far as uh I mean as far as radio bush discussion. We're trying to see how we can push in to do something even if it is not the appearance of uh the year could do something civic could do something you know because we need more of that.

[01:06:21]Thanks so much for coming today. We're going to be back here tomorrow. Uh, and this week is packed down the week. On Friday, we're going to have Senator Proin, but she's not going to be talking about politics.

[01:06:32]>> And tomorrow's Liberty Party on >> Tomorrow is Liberty Party >> and MCC people about the property issue.

[01:06:37]>> Exactly. You know, we had uh Vani