Bravo Dr Joe Nuni! PDDA USA basically tells Paopas the nerve of them to think they can dictate who can or cannot be keynote speaker. As a matter of fact anymore of that cheek and they will not receive one red cent from them—or better still, una kerr we go coat. This was the jist of their letter and if you don’t believe me just read it below: Pujehun District Descendants Association, U.S.A., Inc. 317 Syria Court Fort Washington, MD 20744 Joe A. Nuni, M.D. Dr. Alpha Y. KaiKai John A. KaiKai President Secretary Treasurer October 15, 2014 Alhaji Brima Koroma General Secretary, PDDA Sierra Leone Freetown, Sierra Leone Dear Alhaji Koroma: On behalf of the entire membership of the Pujehun District Descendants’ Association (PDDA), U.S.A., Inc., I am writing to acknowledge receipt of an electronic copy of your press release dated October 1, 2014 and bylined at Freetown regarding our invitation to Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella to serve as our keynote speaker at our October 11, 2014 Fundraising Dinner and Dance. In your press release under reference, you have not only objected to Dr. Yumkella’s invitation but also, according to the Global Times, told the paper in an interview published in its Friday, October 10, 2014 edition that all overseas branches were subordinate to the PDDA of Sierra Leone and subject to its Constitution. You have, in effect, accused us of violating this Constitution by knowingly inviting someone who is an “aspiring candidate” for top political office in Sierra Leone. As punishment for our “crime”, you have not only dissociated the PDDA of Sierra Leone from our invitation to Dr. Yumkella but also tried to dampen public interest in our fundraising efforts this year. For its part, the Global Times has committed two unpardonable errors of its own: reporting falsely that we snubbed Dr. Yumkella, apparently after he had accepted our invitation, and, citing anonymous sources, insinuating that dissensions within our ranks were threatening the very existence of our organization. To start with, Dr. Yumkella’s possible political ambitions are not our business. Indeed, as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America we are forbidden to lobby the legislature, endorse a candidate for political office, or otherwise participate in political activity of any kind. Rather, we are organized and operate exclusively to promote education, provide relief of the poor, distressed, and underprivileged populations. We are sure that you are aware of all our activities in this regard throughout the life (23+ years uninterrupted) of the PDDA, U.S.A.,Inc. But what you may not know is the fact that our tax-exempt status also allows us to do what we can to lessen the burdens of government. In this connection, we recently contributed money to the Government of Sierra Leone, through its embassy here, to fight the Ebola virus in the country. We may never know for sure why the people, of all stripes but distinguished records, we invite agree to attend our functions. But, perhaps, none of this matters in the end. However, what must be taken cognizance of is their presence. In our considered view, this is sufficient evidence of their intention to further a cause as worthy as ours. It is not up to us to question their motives. Indeed, U.S. law does not forbid charitable organizations like ours from inviting politicians or political aspirants to their functions. The issue is not what politicians hope to achieve for themselves by accepting our invitations but rather what the charitable organizations hope to accomplish by extending these invitations in the first place—material and financial assistance in fulfilling their missions. Here, our record speaks for itself. In 2004 we invited President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to our fundraising dinner and dance that year. Though he could not come, yet President Kabbah designated the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the United States to attend in his stead. The invitation was well worth it. Like his predecessors and successors in that highly sought-after diplomatic post, Ambassador Ibrahim Kamara donated handsomely to our fundraising effort. Many others, including Dr. James Jonah, former UN Under-Secretary General, former Sierra Leone UN Ambassador and former Finance Minister; Dr. Thomas Kargbo, former Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States; Dr. S. U. M. Jah while he was a Minister in Government; Dr. Abdul O. Conteh, former Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone and also Attorney General and later Chief Justice of Belize; Ambassador John Leigh, former Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States; Ambassador Joe Pemagbi, former Sierra Leone Ambassador to the UN; the late Dr. Alfred Fawundu of the UN ; Dr. Gail Ketterwell, Professor, George Mason University who has been leading the fight to bring a Community College to Pujehun District; Mr. Steve Swaray, presently an IMF Executive and a former Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone; Mr. Bockarie Stevens, the current Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States; and the former Foreign Minister, Dr. Momodu Koroma, have attended our fundraising events without a scintilla of objection from any quarter even though the latter was an emerging political aspirant. Of course Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, former UNIDO Head and currently UN Under-Secretary General, Secretary-General’s Special Representative and CEO of Sustainable Energy for all Initiative. By popular demand of the membership of the PDDA, U.S.A., Inc., Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella was the Keynote Speaker for the second time this year. Not one of these keynote speakers or dignitaries was invited to give him a platform to make a name for himself. They were all invited because of what they could do for us, not because of what we could do for them. Given our tax-exempt status, we have always carefully refrained from participating in politics anywhere in any manner, shape or form. More to the point, partly because of Dr. Yumkella’s appearance thereat, our dinner and dance this year is the most successful on record. In addition to raising a record amount of funds, we and the people of Pujehun District stand to benefit tremendously from the delivery by PDDA, U.S.A., Inc. and one of our partner non-profit organizations of what we resolved to get and maybe more for use by the people in our homeland. For good or ill, the relationship between the PDDA of Sierra Leone which has just woken up from a 12-14 year Coma some 6-7 months ago and the PDDA, U.S.A., Inc. which has been in 23+ active and uninterrupted years of service to the people of Pujehun District is not a legal one. There is nothing in the law; American or Sierra Leonean that binds us at the hip. If such a relationship did exist and you tried to dictate to us, for example, by telling us to abide by your Constitution, the Internal Revenue Service would unceremoniously revoke our tax-exempt status, making it impossible for us to raise funds. Without a doubt, there is nothing more important to us as an organization than being able to help our people in Pujehun District. As a matter of fact, you do not tell us what to do, but we may tell you what to do. As providers of public funds raised in the United States for use in Pujehun District strictly for charitable purposes, we have a legal obligation to take effective steps to ensure that these requirements are always met in full. In the past, our two organizations have collaborated in pursuit of our common goal of improving the lives of our people. But there has never been a legal basis for this. We have consistently bent over backwards to accommodate you. Nonetheless, you are free to sabotage our efforts. As honorable men and women, we trust that under these circumstances you would not even request help from us or accept it if we offered it. For our part, we reserve the right to withhold funds from you without notice. If and when we do so, you may rest assured that we shall find other means of getting our aid to the residents of Pujehun District. Sincerely, Joe A. Nuni, M.D. President
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 11:50:10 +0000
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