Diabolical and Baseless

By Lincoln G. Peters

RIVER GEE COUNTY, Liberia, October 27, 2026: The Executive Director of the River Gee Vocational and Technical Training Institute (TVET), Jerry K. Bleh, has dismissed allegations questioning the management of US$1 million reportedly allocated to the institution, describing the claims as “diabolical and baseless.”

Speaking in an interview with The NEW DAWN on Tuesday, October 27, Bleh clarified that the institution received a budgetary allocation of US$387,107 for fiscal year 2026, contrary to claims that US$1 million had been earmarked for the school.

He maintained that the institution has effectively utilized its government funding to expand vocational training, increase enrollment and improve services for students across River Gee County.

“The budget is a law, and it is an open secret available to everyone. If you check the 2026 budget, the River Gee Technical Training Institute was given US$387,107,” Bleh stated.

According to him, the institution has expanded its vocational programs to nine disciplines, including the recent introduction of hairdressing and cosmetology, while operating two campuses and providing transportation for students.

He disclosed that 202 students graduated from various technical programs in 2026, describing the achievement as evidence of the institution’s continued contribution to skills development in the county.

Bleh further explained that the government-funded institution offers tuition-free education, with students generally required to pay only registration fees and purchase uniforms. He said additional scholarships are provided to selected residents of surrounding communities, covering those expenses.

Responding directly to allegations raised by River Gee citizen and media specialist Richard Andrews Doss, Bleh said the US$1 million figure resulted from combining budgetary allocations from previous years with the institution’s 2026 allocation.

He disclosed that he had engaged Doss in discussions to clarify the figures but maintained that the allegations were based on a misunderstanding of the national budget.

“During our conversation, I realized that he took the budgets from previous years and added them to 2026, bringing about the US$1 million allegation,” Bleh explained.

He acknowledged that the institution’s cumulative allocations since it began receiving government funding could exceed US$1 million but said he did not have the exact figure.

The controversy followed concerns raised by Doss, a native of Sarbo District #3, who demanded public accountability for the reported US$1 million allocation to the vocational institution in Sweaken.

Doss alleged that despite the reported funding, there was little visible development at the institution, raising questions about whether the money had been released and properly utilized.

However, he provided no documentary evidence establishing that US$1 million had been disbursed or misappropriated.

Doss also expressed concern over a reported 50 percent reduction in the Sarbo Health Center’s budget, from US$40,000 to US$20,000, warning that the cut could worsen medicine shortages and maternal healthcare challenges.

He called on the River Gee Legislative Caucus and county administration to convene a public hearing in Sweaken before December 31, 2026, to clarify the institution’s financial position and determine whether the reported allocations had been released and expended.

Meanwhile, Bleh insists that the institution remains committed to transparency, accountability and expanding technical and vocational education opportunities for young people in River Gee County.

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