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Written by Abraham Morris-231886294820- abrahammorrisabrahammorris@gmail.com
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Monday, 14 January 2013 07:04 |
Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Tourism at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Elizabeth Hoff, says the controversial Miss Liberia hosted by CT. Com in 2012, which prompted the president’s intervention to setup a Special Independent Investigation Committee (SIIC) has released its findings which amongst other things nullified the result of that pageant thus rendering Liberia with no queen.
According to her, the SIIC reported among others things that each contestant be compensated US$3,000.00, the vehicle intended for the winner be sold and proceed equally distributed among the eleven contestants, the government provide scholarships for the contestants to any school of their choice within the country, and appropriate counseling be provided for the contestants and parents if needed.
She also stated that the organizer of the Miss Liberia, Christopher Onanugar and his company, CT.Com be banned from ever hosting a Miss Liberia contest and for another five years for hosting any other events sponsored by the government, that there should be an audit by the GAC to reflect money received from the government for the pageant, sponsorship fees from various entities and gate intakes.
Minister Hoff further noted that all sponsors of the Miss Liberia 2012 pageant who goods and services were marketed by the eleven contestants should reward the contestants their just commission for just services rendered.
The Cultural and Tourism Minister further indicated that the committee further recommended that the Ministry of Gender and Development participate in the selection of future organizers of Miss Liberia pageant.
According to her the SIIC also recommended that Mr. Onanugar be investigated for charges of alleged abuse and molestation of the contestants reported by the contestants of the Miss Liberia 2012 beauty pageant and CT.Com through Mr. Ononugar should offered a public apology to the government, contestants and the people of Liberia for its allege poor handling of the Miss Liberia 2012 beauty pageant which according to them, exposed Liberia to local and international disrepute and left the government with no alternative but to withdraw from the Miss World beauty pageant.
Meantime, the Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Tourism pointed out that future would-be organizers of Miss Liberia events will be made to present police clearance of two staffs, a registered business license which should be 50% Liberian own, should not have been convicted of felony or any prior convictions and should also have a track record of conducting pageant and experience as presenter or organizers and should have an organization bank account that should contained 50% of cost of the event.
When contacted for comment, Mr. Ononugar said he has not seen the report and could not comment but our reporter read out some of the allegation levied against him by the SIIC and he in turn sent a text message with the names and numbers of some contestants who he claimed should be contacted as to allegation of assault and molestation charges levied against him by the committee.
Contacted for comment, JumahDorley, who represented Bomi County, stated that as to the allegation of molestation and assault by the charge against Mr. Onanugar by the committee, she was never personally molested neither was she assaulted by him or anyone during the event.
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