Urey’s Farm
Some friends and I went to Benoni Urey’s farm this weekend. Urey was the corrupt head of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs under Charles Taylor. He is a part owner of Lone Star Communications, and a Coalition for International Justice report has accused him of continuing to help manage Taylor’s financial interests in this company. The report calls Urey the “main person on the ground” for Taylor.
Urey’s farm is about an hour outside Monrovia on the road to Kakata. The farm has ostriches (above), crocodiles, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses, turkeys, quails, cows, and unicorns. The farm also has a fancy Lebanese-run restaurant. For $5 a security guard will show you around the farm. If you eat at the restaurant the tour is free.
You didn’t take a picture of the unicorns?!?!?!
IF HE WAS SO CORRUPT U SHUDNT HAVE GONE TO HIS FARM U FUCKING IDIOT!
Dear anonymous,
You make a very legitimate point. And brownie points for making it in such a diplomatic and friendly way!
We all thought about whether we should be spending money at a restaurant owned by a man who stole so much money from the Liberian people. In the end, though, it is difficult to try not to frequent any company that doesn’t have clean hands. The war lasted for 14 years–most people got their hands dirty, it’s simply a matter of degree. For example, I regret having a Lonestar sim card for my phone because it seems clear that Taylor or his friends are still somehow profitting from Lonestar. And I spent so much money buying Lonestar scratch cards that a good chunk of money may have been going to them. But at this farm I spent maybe $5 on a bowl of hummus and $2 on a Club beer. I don’t think my patronage helped him that much.
-Shelby
I am close family friend of the Urey family. Benoni is an amazing, generous family man. Business is business, but if you mean anything to him, we will do anything to help you. His heart is warm.