A Resounding Success: The 2010 SLPP North America Convention in Los Angeles
Having witnessed a very successful convention where a two month-long democratic process ushered in new leadership; where 21 of the 23 chapters present fully participated in affirming all electoral and other SLPP business discussed in a very civil and formal environment; where the constitution for the SLPP North America region (SLPPNA) was comprehensively reviewed, enthusiastically debated, amended and ratified; where 5 presidential flag-bearer aspirants vociferously condemned APC misrule and projected the best of the SLPP’s core values; where ongoing disputes were amicably arbitrated in a series of peacemaking engagements; where SLPP delegates fraternized among the pomp and splendor of Los Angeles; I find it laughable that the usual deleterious twerp is being circulated from the usual suspects. (Photo: Incumbent Chairman, Augustine Boss Fallay (left) and Incumbent Party Conference Chair, Solomon Gembeh (right) confer with the North America spokesman, Dr, P. K. Muana (center)).
ON THE GRIEVANCES: The so-called Christian Sam faction but for 6 named persons attended the convention in full force and participated in the business of the convention, discussed grievances, and were fully engaged in the entire life of the three day convention. Earlier on, the team had re-produced a list of 8 grievances (which it had circulated in various venues) centering on suspected financial practices, the removal of access to the finances of the financial secretary, perceived irregularities in the process of registering new chapters, and the disciplinary decisions regarding the SLPPNA listserv. An arbitration team of senior SLPP secretariat and leadership members and party elders convened with all sides in a presidential suite in the Crowne Plaza Hotel and listened to grievances and responses. A second early-morning meeting convened the next day followed the highly successful arbitration process started the day before. In the final analysis, the arbitration team reported the following: that there was absolutely no evidence of financial malpractices by the Boss Fallay administration as suspected and alleged (and on the contrary, per the Treasurer’s report, the administration had raised tens of thousands of dollars), and therefore the charges had zero merit; that the financial secretary had no constitutional access to SLPPNA finances although once courtesy access had been informally granted, he should have been properly notified of any removal of that access; that the registration of new chapters had not been adequately formalized to be controversy-free; and that party rules and regulations are precedent on questions of party discipline.
Senior party members called on senior representatives of both sides to continue smoothening out creases in these relationships in the best interests of the party. Those party members consented to do so.
ON THE ELECTIONS: On the question of elections, the party conference (which is the sovereign decision-making body in the SLPPNA) voted by a 95% majority to continue with the electoral process. This was after a motion was filed for either postponing the electoral process as advised by the secretariat or continuing the electoral process as advocated by the very vocal majority of 90% of party conference members. The party conference decided to continue with the electoral process under the supervision of Dr. Tamba-Gbondo-Tugbawa, Attorney Mohamed Sadu Bah, and Mrs Nyambe Miatta Smith. 21 of 23 chapters present participated in the electoral process. 2 chapters opted out of the process for reasons I cannot second-guess. The contested position of Minister without Portfolio was won by Mr. Mustapha Sheriff of the Chicago chapter with a 40 to 1 margin against Mr. Abdul Njai of the Delaware Valley chapter. Observers point out that this margin mirrors the perceived electoral split. They opine that had Christian Sam and his supporters not excluded themselves from the electoral process, the margin of victory of the duly elected SLPPNA executive members could have been the same.
THE ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere of the elections was civil, well-ordered, and dominated by friendly banter among partisans. Photographs and videos of the event are available from the Office of the elected North America Publicity Secretary, former national broadcast professional, IT and business professional, Madame Jeneba Koroma of the Georgia Chapter – jenebak@gmail.com
The accredited announcement of results from the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Tamba Gbondo-Tugbawa follows:
The official results of the 2010 SLPP-NA Party Conference and Executive elections are as follows:
A. Party Conference
- Party Conference Chair – Solomon Gembeh Sr. ( Dallas Chapter)
B. Executive Offices
- Chairman – Augustine Boss Fallay ( Northern California Chapter)
- Vice Chairman – Momodu Sheku ( Washington DC Chapter)
- Secretary General – Murtada Tunis ( Maryland Chapter)
- Assistant Secretary General – Edie P.J. Vandy ( Indiana Chapter)
- Organizing Secretary – Solomon Hindowah Sengbeh Pieh ( Dallas Chapter)
- Assistant Organizing Secretary – Abu Saccoh ( Delaware Valley Chapter)
- Treasurer – Sylvester Johnny ( Northern California Chapter)
- Financial Secretary – Alice Hawa Bangali-Kallon ( New England Chapter)
- Publicity Secretary – Jeneba Koroma (Georgia Chapter)
- Member Without Portfolio – Mustapha Sheriff ( Chicago Chapter)
- Women’s Leader – Nenebah Jalloh (Washington DC Chapter)
- Young Generation Leader – Lawrence Amara Sandy ( New England Chapter)
- Council of Elders: Mohamed Lamin Janneh ( Northern California Chapter), Rev. Titus Ngebeh ( Chicago Chapter), Henry Gegbeh ( Dallas Chapter), Helen Kuyembeh ( Arizona Chapter)
- Whip – This position is vacant
Faithfully Submitted,
Tamba Gbondo-Tugbawa, (On Behalf of the Electoral Commission), SLPPNA
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