SPOTLIGHT: Seltue Karweaye, Candidate for House of Representatives Republic of Liberia

Mr. Karweaye is someone who might be described as a part of Africa's "generation next" leadership. Currently residing in Uppsala, Sweden with his wife and children, he is preparing to take for a position in the global political ring as a Candidate in the upcoming October 2011 elections in the Republic of Liberia. You see, Mr. Karweaye is currently vying for a House of Representative's seat (Montserrado District # 3) in the West African Nation of Liberia. With the 2011 elections just right around the corner, I wanted to learn a little bit more about what makes Karweaye of "generation next" believe he has what it takes. A former soccer athlete, he has garnered a diverse education, and is one of those individuals who believes that he has been seasoned with international experience, and is ready to make change happen. In his announcement to run for House of Representatives, Mr. Karweaye states; "Over the past 5 years, the National legislature failed to represent the people interests but instead represented their personal interests and the Representative of my District is no exception." So, join me for this interview with Seltue Robert Karweaye, one of Africa's young political leaders.

Mr. Karweaye was born in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. A graduate student at Uppsala University, School of Government in Sweden, he has received his Masters Degree in Development Studies from Uppsala University and is studying for his Masters in politics and international studies at Uppsala University. Mr. Karweaye received his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Political Science, from Metropolitan State University in Minnesota.

Saba, Ink: Thank you Mr. Karweaye. I have noticed a number of your links online and your proposed vision for your native land, of Liberia. Tell me a little about yourself. What qualifies you to represent Montserrado County?

Seltue Karweaye: Thanks a lot for conducting this story. As is stipulated in the constitution I am qualified to run. I am a resident for the district I intend to contest the representative's slot for. However, I had decided to adopt a wait and see attitude because constituency delimitation was still pending, I really didn't know if the district I am planning to contest in might change.

Saba, Ink: So, with your decision to formally announce your run for House of Representatives on January 24, 2011, it is apparent that you are ready to change the status quo. Any personal stories that have motivated you and made you the person that you are?

Seltue Karweaye: I came from a family of activism. My Father was a Member of the Movement of Justice in Africa and later a founding member of the Liberian People's Party (LPP) and Chairman of LPP. Members of the Liberian People Party became the first victims of Samuel Doe degree 88A. The Justice Ministry publicly requested the party's Chairman John Karweaye (My Dad) and Vice Chairman Dusty Wolokollie and Member Anthony Kesselly (the Present ULAA President) to surrender or would be arrested. They were charged with violating the decree when the LPP published a leaflet rejecting the coup accusations the government made against fellow partisans Amos Sawyer and George Kieh earlier in the month. They had signed the statement demanding the immediate and unconditional release of their colleagues. My Dad was also charged again after issuing a statement against the conduct of Doe's government in the election process. Our home was meeting ground for student leaders as well as opposition leaders in the 80's there were so passionate about growth and development. I remember my family going into hiding every time there were alleged coups. In the middle of the 90's when NPFL started the rebellion LPP was the first political party to have told President Doe to resign and avoid bloodbath. I remember my Dad face been on the headline of the Daily Observer. We dropped from Calvary Baptist School and went into hiding. The soldier came to our home and didn't meet us except his two brothers. It was the last time we heard from my two uncles. My mother was among those women that used to pray for Liberia on airfield during the brutal regime of Taylor. Like her husband she spoke against society through her activities in a peace movement called the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace and is in the movie "Pray the Devil to Hell". I am my Mother and Father Son. I am motivated by both my mother and father activities in the student movement, political party and women and peace movement.

Saba, Ink: How can you make a difference?

Seltue Karweaye: Saba, Poverty and unemployment are worse in Liberia. There is no middle class and a stable economy that provides the basis for further development. Most Liberians want to blame the President for unemployment and poverty when in fact we have three separate branches of government. Some even say we should be content with the progress when in fact we have no check and balance in Liberia as we speak. We lack a system of meaning change. We need to hold the national legislature accountable as well as the judiciary. Members of parliament sadly continue to pass laws they are ignorance of. The present Parliament passage of so many concession agreements have resulted into Plantation Economy in Liberia. The Plantation Economy is historically associated with slavery and indenture servitude. It benefits the large countries to which the raw materials, including diamond, latex, iron ore, gold, etc are exported. The raw materials are used in the manufacturing of finished goods and traded back to the host of the "Plantation Economy. These concession agreements approved by parliament have accrued little tangible benefits to Liberia in the form of good-paying wages and reasonable share of the profits to finance improvements such as electricity, roads, etc. The present parliament is very ineffective. If parliament was smart enough they could have insisted in GOL collaborate with investors to build a tire factory, a diamond cutting factory, steel factory, and crush rock factory in Liberia without abrogating any of the concessionary agreements. A research that was conducted by a friend of mine revealed that the present legislature have repeatedly increased their budget 2006-National Legislature Budget
FY 2006-2007 9, 456,230
FY 2007-2008 15615,456
FY 2008-2009 17,964,000
FY 2009-2010 19,145,624
The finding of his work also revealed that the national legislate passed less than 42 laws first year of that period. He found raw data that the average number of laws passed yearly is startlingly below par for any nation recovering from war. We want to change that. We want to hold parliament accountable as well as the other two branches of government.

Saba, Ink: What makes you stand out?

Seltue Karweaye: I was born into modest means in Monrovia, Liberia. I am a grass rooter. My life depicts that through hard work, sincerity, honesty one can go places. I came to the United States on an Athletic Scholarship from the East Central Community College based in Mississsippi. I didn't just get the scholarship. It took me two years conducting research at the United States Information Service (Library), took the Test of English as Foreign Language and SAT before been eligible for Student Visa. Through hard work, I acquired AA degree in Liberal Art from ECCC and finished as the College all Time leading Soccer Goal Scorer, Won ALL State Twice, All America and Twice MVP and was ranked the 18thth leading College Soccer Players in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D1 in 2003. I acquired my Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice minor Political Science. Through self determination, I acquired a scholarship to study Development Studies at Uppsala University in 2008 and acquired a Master degree in Development and also acquired another scholarship to stay in Sweden and study in the Master Program in Politic and International Studies and finishing up the spring of 2011.

I strongly believe I can stand out base on my upbringing as a grass rooter, academic training and my vision to take Liberia from government to good governance. I will be bringing to parliament verse knowledge on issues related to policy frameworks in the public domain, social concerns, institutional transformation, organizational efficiency, health policy formulation, and a multi-faceted economic policy. These are what I intend to fight for in parliament:

1. The promotion of national unity, genuine representative democracy, social justice, and civil liberties, including freedom of association, of speech and of the press, of religion and of conscience;
2. The provision of equal access to opportunities for education, medical care, employment, and social cultural advancement;
3. The promotion of balanced economic development within the framework of the free enterprise system with special emphasis on the development of Liberian entrepreneur-ship and the encouragement of employment-generating foreign investment;
4. The encouragement of individual initiative and creativity and the protection of private and public properties;
5. The ensuring of respect for the rule of law and protection against arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and other forms of injustice;
6. The promotion of equality of the sexes, ensuring that both sexes enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and privileges without discrimination;
7. The ensuring of honesty and efficiency in public service, especially in the management of public funds and the efficient management of the economy, and adopting the merit approach to employment;
8. The promotion of free and fair elections under the principles of universal adult suffrage;
9. Respect for the promotion of our national culture;
10. The promotion of regional cooperation and African unity, non-alignment, international peace and cooperation.

Saba Ink: I know that we are a bit past the holiday season. However, Christmas is a very important time in Liberia. Any special holiday traditions that have tied you to your native land?

Seltue Karweaye: In Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, churches and homes are decorated with the three weeks before Christmas. Christmas time is the time for kids to get gift from family and friend. Everybody return to homes on Christmas Eve. Children sing Christmas carols and march down the streets shouting, "Christ is coming!". In the evening, a special service is held in the churches, which are decorated with evergreen and palm trees and lighted candles. Nativity plays are conducted and people sing hymns. Kids dress up as Christmas angels in the service and sing Christmas carols at home and dress up in native or Western attire for the church service.

The traditional Christmas feast consists of rice, meats, Jollof Rice, okra soup or stew and yam paste called fufu. Families and close friends gather at the feast and share gifts and presents. Also An oil palm decorated with bells is used as the Christmas tree in Liberia. In the morning of Christmas, they wake up with carols and share utility items such as soaps and pencils as Christmas gifts. Christmas dinner in Liberia is arranged outdoors and the traditional dishes consist of rice, beef and biscuits. Traditional Christmas games serve as afternoon pastime while the advent of Christ is celebrated in the night with fireworks.

Saba Ink: That is a beautiful memory of the Holidays and a nice way to connect with your native land. So, Mr. Karweaye, what your wish for your Nation?

Seltue Karweaye: My wish for The World and Country would truly be Peace on Earth.

Saba, Ink: Well, that is really something we can all hope for and glad to know that "peace" is part of your agenda. I thank you for your time Mr. Karweaye and wish you luck in the upcoming Liberian elections.