3 Presidential Candidates Square Up In ULAND Election

Residents of Fargo had the opportunity to hear from three individuals vying for the top spot in the
United Liberian Association in North Dakota (ULAND). The debate was held in the Champion’s Temple in South Fargo on September 20, 2014.

L-R: Presidential candidates Saywala Kennedy, Aaron Dinukar and Benjamin Boway

It was Saywala Kennedy, Aaron Dinukar and Benjamin Boway who are appealing to fellow Liberians to grant them their votes, each claiming the better man to lead the Liberian community to a vibrant height. The debate was well attended and the Special Election Commissioners, headed by George Massaquoi were on hand to police the process.

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Saywala Kennedy is an Accountant with the International standard Industries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountant Management from the Cuttington University. He hails from Lofa County, but has chosen team members from diverse background.

On his team, Mr. Kennedy was able to bring on board Miss Burnice Wuo for the position of Vice President, Derick Gleah for Secretary General, Wynn Brown for Assistant Secretary and Marvin Korpue for Financial Secretary

According to the manifesto of the campaign committee for the Saywala Kennedy for President, the team espouses the setting up of development and education programs, agriculture and religious committees, as well as strengthen other committees which are already standing committees as enshrined in the ULAND constitution.

“When we are able to do these things we would have solved the problems not only of our neighbors, but the problems of the Liberian Community (Unity, Peace, Transparency, Accountability, Accessibility and Social Justices) and Fargo North Dakota at large; please join us,” says Saywala during the debate quoting from his platform.

Observers say Mr. Kennedy’s main task is the convince residence that although he has just moved into the FargoMoorhead area about seven months ago he can make the difference. Many residents believe he is new to the community. “He is just coming, why he cannot wait for at least one year,” a registered voter said on condition of anonymity.

But Kennedy says it is not about who is new and who is old, “We are all Liberians and the improvement of the community is more important,” he said at his campaign momentum meeting last night. He is the current chairman of the FargoMoorhead Steering Committee on Fight against Ebola

Aaron Dinukar has only form a team of himself and his vice presidential candidate. Massa Massaquoi is articulate and one of the few Liberian women who moved in the FargoMoorhead area and right away engaged in the revamping of the community.

Mr. Dinukar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Liberia. He is currently an assistant supervisor at the Integrity Windows and Doors, where he is said to have recommended at least five Liberians who are currently working with the company.

“I am a family man, I have one wife and my wife has never known a mate,” Aaron told the audience during the debate. “But my administration will do one little thing at a time for us to move forward,” he added.

According to Mr. Dinukar, the establishment of intimate relationships with other Liberian organizations, the creation of support structure in times of joy or needs, identification of projects that will lead to self-sustainability, daycare and community hall are some the immediate projects that his administration would undertake.

His platform is heralding unity: “The objective of the information dissemination plan is to identify and organize the activities to be performed in order to promote unity and keep Liberian informed,” he noted.

Aaron says he wants to pay attention to bereavement and other issues that matter to the people, but creating a system to make the people know what is happening in their community is key.

Some residents say although Aaron Dinukar has stay nearly two years in the community most people are yet to know his thoughts. One old man told our editor, “He never visited me since he came. We don’t even know him.”

Many agree is he has participated in some meetings of the community, but that he is yet to make impact in the community regarding visitation. But one person argued, “Everybody is busy, he took part in the Ebola march and sang for us.”

Benjamin Boway is the third candidate to beseech the Liberian community to give him a chance to get the top spot of the ULAND. He was former secretary of community. Mr. Boway is known for his sports activities in the community. He is referred to in some quarters as the "one man army."

Although he has no platform and he was the only candidate who appeared at the debate with parts of the shirt tail out and part in his pants, Mr. Boway says he is the best of the three to get the top job. Mr. Boway his family lives at Mapleton, but works in Willinston, about six hours drive away from Fargo.

He told the audience of his work in the community, “Probably I have done a lot for the community; probably I have raised funds for the community; probably I will be the best person to run the community and I will work with anybody who wins,” as he rested his elbows on the podium while responding to a question during the debate.

He said he will focus on uniting the community more because he believes the community is divided. Many agreed that the Liberian community is fragile and unity is key to urgently move the community forward. A lady described Ben as "right person" to be the President.

Ben has to convince residents who believe that he is part of the problem that made the community dormant. “He was secretary general, not one day we saw meeting minutes,” one Board member said.

Mr. Boway relies on his Grand Gedean numbers to poll the votes. However, the population dynamics of FargoMoorhead has dramatically changed and the Grand Gedeans are no longer the largest group. He would have to cast his net on the other side of the political divide to woo voters.