Minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports
Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes
has come under sharp
criticisms from the President of the Sports Writer
Association of Liberia (SWAL)
Minister at the Ministry of Youth and
Sports Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes
June 24, 2004
Barnes has come under sharp criticisms from the President of the
Sports Writer Association of Liberia (SWAL), Mr. Isaac Yeah and
other members of the association for what they termed as her own
"personal interest".
The SWAL President on a local talk show said the minister failed to
acknowledge the memorandum of understanding signed between the
Ministry and SWAL that calls for total collaboration for the
enhancement of the sporting programs in the country.
Mr. Yeah said the Minister's recent action to take her personal
cameraman with her to DR Congo when the national soccer team went to
honor her joint African-World Cups match was a total disrespect to
the leadership of the Sports Writer Association.
He also said because of the Minister's action the public was not
informed about the inhumane treatment that the team experienced in
Congo.
The SWAL Boss further said that the Sports Minister should know that
sport Journalists have a significant role to play in Liberia joint
qualification series and as such personal interest should not be the
order of the day at the expense of the people.
He further pointed out that since the team arrived few days ago, "we
are yet to get any information as to how the team was treated, and
how the game went in that country.
Also commenting on the Minister's action were two Freelance Sport
Journalists, Michael Blamo and James Weah in separate comments and
described the Minister's action as an attempt to silence sport
journalists in the country.
Michael Blamo said the Minister would in no way discourage sport
writers from exercising their professional duty, adding, "We will
continue to informs the public as its relate to the national soccer
team." For his part, James Blamo said it was frustrating to hear
that the Sport Minister has carried her own personal cameraman on a
national assignment.
He further pointed out that the behavior of the Mrs.Barnes was a
disservice to the Liberian people who see the national team as the
only joy and pride on the international scene.
When contacted, the head of the public affair department, Mohammed
Kamara he denied the allegation against Mrs. Barnes, and said the
personal cameraman was taken on the trip with the national soccer
team was not the Minister's personal photographer but rather a
photographer of from Kings FM.
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