By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – The absence of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the funeral and burial of his late Chief of Staff and Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester Mondubue Grigsby, has sparked sharp criticism from opposition figures and political commentators.
Grigsby, a lifelong friend and confidant of President Boakai, was laid to rest on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in Sugar Land, Texas, following a funeral service at Faith Methodist Church in Richmond, Texas. The service drew a solemn gathering of family, friends, Liberian officials, and members of the diaspora who paid tribute to his decades of public service. Grigsby passed away on August 9, 2025, while in the United States for a medical checkup.
Despite his deep personal and professional ties to the late minister, President Boakai did not attend the ceremony, a decision that has drawn the ire of critics. Opposition CDC member Wantoe Teah Wantoe took to social media on Sunday, August 31, declaring the President’s absence inexcusable. “You must be stupid to think this is not substantive,” Wantoe wrote. “Did he attend? No. Wasn’t Grigsby his Chief of Staff and Minister of State? Yes. Wasn’t Grigsby his best friend and childhood companion? Yes. These are the facts.”
He further argued that loyalty and presence are key measures of leadership. “The issue is not where Grigsby was buried, but why his closest friend and President was not there,” Wantoe added. “Missing Grigsby’s burial is not just a personal failure. It is a public betrayal of friendship, duty, and the values the presidency should uphold.”
Wade Williams, a known critic of the Unity Party and President Boakai, also weighed in, questioning why the death of such a high-ranking official was not treated as a state matter. Writing on Facebook, Williams asked: “So President Boakai’s Minister of State for Presidential Affairs dies and is buried outside Liberia. He is not present at the funeral. Something isn’t right. Shouldn’t this have been a State Funeral?”
The contrast was further highlighted by the presence of opposition leader Alexander Cummings at the Texas service, which critics say underscored the President’s conspicuous absence.
The burial of Grigsby has not only stirred emotional reflections but also raised uncomfortable political questions about the conduct of the presidency, loyalty to close allies, and the symbolism of state representation in moments of national mourning.
For many Liberians, the death of Sylvester Grigsby remains a profound loss. But as the country reflects on his service, the debate over President Boakai’s absence at his funeral may continue to shadow his administration.
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