-VP Taylor acclaims Bong, encourages constructive jealousy
By Jerromie S. Walters
Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, a daughter of Bong County and one of the many vice presidential candidates in the recently ended presidential election, has acclaimed the people of Bong County for their support to she and President George Weah in the recent election, and encouraged the need for more of such, as demonstrated by the south-easterners.
Some Liberians and political pundits recently expressed admiration for the indescribable love the south-easterners showed President George Weah in the recent presidential election. Their love became more astonishing considering that the incumbent President George Weah accumulated more votes in all of the counties in the south-east, than the 19 other presidential candidates.
Like many other Liberians- this is the kind of affection the Vice President admire most about the recent elections, and wishes that Bong County can adopt said ideology. As she remains grateful for their support in the first round, the Vice President says she’s looking forward to more- as the essence of having the seat carries dozens of opportunities for the people of Bong County and they must do all they can to maintain it.
In a recent interview in Bong County, she tells journalists-“I have two messages, the first message is that Bong County should be like the southeast. The south-easterners actually showed that George Weah comes from the southeast, from to county to county.”
She adds, “Regardless of the negative propaganda that went into the process, the south-easterners realized that if George Weah remains the President, whatever plans or programs they have, will be handled so they voted to give their support to their son.”
With this, she says- “I want Bong County to do the same thing, it took us 170 years to derive a Vice President, and people should take their eyes of the fact that I’m sitting in this seat, it could be any son or any daughter of Bong County, but my appeal will be, let Bong County go for its own.”
“We may be looking at many things, I believe the messages coming from Nimba have been cleared, those who are running,the message to their people is what? Vote for your own, and I hope Bong County will do the same that the vice presidency will remain here, so that many more opportunities will become available.”
She continues- “We should not throw that away.” In the coming days or weeks, following the pronouncement of the schedule forthe runoff, she says she will engage with her people, in a bid to ensure the reelection of President George Weah. But as it stands, she wants them to critically analyze the opportunities that are attached to the vice presidency, especially for the county that produces it.
According to the Vice President- the difference between this year’s elections and 2017, is the fact that the people of Bong aremaking a choice to maintain the vice presidency or Bong county letting it go to another county, especially with the opportunities it carries.
The Vice President referenced “development,“ as a major disadvantage for Bong, if they fail on maintaining the country’s second highest seat. “If we lose this opportunity, we lose an opportunity for greater developmental initiatives.”
“Going to the second round, I want to ask all of you, regardless of what political party you are in, regardless of where you live, regardless of the status that you have, this is about Bong County, let’s make Bong County first and my promise to you will be the same, that I will work for the people of Bong County more than ever before.”
Meanwhile, the Vice President thanked the people of Bong County for their support to the CDC in the just ended elections, especially in the presidential race.
With over 99 percent of the total results of Tuesday, October 10, 2023- polls announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC) already- President George Weah has so far accumulated 77,184 (43.91%) votes in Bong County. He’s ahead of his major contender who has abstained 67,383 (38.33%) votes in the county.
Howbeit, the Vice President attributes the decline in the vote margin between the CDC and the UP considering the just ended elections and 2017- to what she termed as “competing priorities.”
This, she said was prompted by the fact that there were too many representative and senatorial candidates who were interested in being supported by the CDC but weren’t, even though they have the influence over the people in their own areas.
