Benoni Urey

{{short description|Americo-Liberian businessman and politician}} {{Infobox person | name = Benoni Wilfred Urey | image = Benoni Urey.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|06|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Careysburg, Liberia | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | nationality = | other_names = | citizenship = Liberia | alma_mater = Cuttington University; <br /> University of Southern California | occupation = | years_active = | employer = | organization = | known_for = Business holdings; association with Charles Taylor | height =  | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | spouse = {{marriage|Mai Bright Urey|1986}} | partner =  | children = 4, including Telia Urey | parents = Emma Urey & Daniel Webster Urey IV<ref name="cuttington.net">[http://cuttington.net/newsreleases.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191623/http://cuttington.net/newsreleases.html |date=2014-07-14 }} Cuttington University, accessed June 9, 2014</ref> | relatives = | awards = | website =  | footnotes = }} '''Benoni Wilfred Urey''' (born 22 June 1957) is an Americo-Liberian businessman and politician, who was formerly the Liberian Commissioner of Maritime Affairs. In 2014 ''The Economist'' reported that Urey was Liberia's wealthiest man.<ref name="economist">[https://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2014/01/vying-popular-vote-liberia, "'Goldfinger' and the presidency"] ''The Economist'', January 18, 2014.</ref>

== Early life and career == Urey was born on 22 June 1957 at his family home in Careysburg, Montserrado County, Liberia. His father was married to three women, his mother, Emma Boyce Urey, Martha Urey and Kpannah Urey. Two of his father's wives were Kpelle and one was Americo-Liberian. His father, Daniel Urey, was an Americo-Liberian from Careysburg. Urey’s father met two of his wives in Caresyburg and one in Bong County. Two of Urey's mothers were dominantly native women who never spoke English, while the other was a school teacher. His father was subsistence farmer. This family lived in Careysburg throughout their lives.<ref name="cuttington">[http://cuttington.net/newsreleases.html Cuttington University, "Cuttington Honors Two of her own!!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191623/http://cuttington.net/newsreleases.html |date=2014-07-14 }}, undated.</ref>

Benoni is the eighth of eleven children. He attended kindergarten and first grade at Careysburg Public School. With the aid of a scholarship from the U.S. government through the Voice of America relay station, Urey attended the American Cooperative School (A.C.S), a private American school in Monrovia, from first grade until his graduation from high school in 1976.<ref name=cuttington /> While attending A.C.S, he participated in almost every varsity sport, including basketball. His love for basketball led him and some friends to form The Uhuru Kings and Queens, a social and sports club that eventually became a first division member of Liberia Basketball Federation. Uhuru Kings still is a member of the Liberian Basketball Federation and has participated in numerous national championships over the years.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/200205220335.html] AllAfrica.com, "Liberia: In LBf League Best of Five Series Finals: Oilers, U-Kings Battle in Game I Today - As Bushrod Bulls Host Flames in Game II", 22 May 2002</ref>

After high school, Urey attended Cuttington University, in Bong County. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Science with emphasis in chemistry in 1980. At Cuttington University, Urey served as the President of The Mason Social and Athletic Club, and in his last year, President of the Senior class. Later in 2010, Urey was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) ''Honoris Causa'' from Cuttington University.<ref name=cuttington />

After university, Urey moved to Monrovia and began to work for the government, at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). He worked as a Training Officer until he was awarded a scholarship to pursue a M.A. in Public Finance and Human Resource Development and a M.Sc in Planning from the University of Southern California. He graduated from USC in 1986.<ref name="Winne.com">[http://www.winne.com/liberia/to02interv.html Winne.com "Interview with: Mr. Benoni W. Urey"], June 21, 2001.</ref>

Upon his return to Liberia in 1986, Benoni was appointed Deputy Director General for Planning and Training of the Liberia Electricity Corporation Training Center under the Presidency of the late President Samuel K. Doe. He worked at the corporation until the war broke out.<ref name=Winne.com />

In 1990, when the Liberian Civil War broke out, Urey left Liberia and traveled to Sierra Leone and lived there for eight months and later moved to Ivory Coast.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} While there, he started to work at African Development Bank as a consultant. In 1994, Urey returned to Bong County, Liberia and started to work as the Managing Director at Liberia Rubber Development Corporation.<ref name=Winne.com />

== Political career == {{Dispute about|'''inadequate references, and the unsubstantiated linking of the subject to Viktor Bout'''|date=July 2014}}

Under the Interim Government of Liberia, chaired by Wilton Sankawulo, in 1995, Urey was appointed President of Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank of Liberia.<ref name=Winne.com />

In 1996, the Council of State appointed Urey as Commissioner of Maritime Affairs. When Charles Taylor came to power after winning elections in 1997, Urey was reappointed to his position as Commissioner of Maritime. He served as Commissioner until 2003,<ref name=cuttington /> when Taylor resigned from office.

In 2000, Urey was sanctioned by the United Nations for his alleged role in arms procurement (starting in summer of 2002) and also for his alleged “ongoing ties with Charles Taylor”.<ref name="freezelist">[https://www.un.org/sc/committees/1521/pdf/1521_assets_freeze_list.pdf United Nations, January 21, 2013] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130122038/http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1521/pdf/1521_assets_freeze_list.pdf |date=November 30, 2011 }}</ref> Urey breached an earlier UN travel ban in August 2001.<ref name="UN93">[https://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Liberia2/1015e.pdf Report of the Panel of Experts pursuant to Security Council resolution 1343] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007155659/http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Liberia2/1015e.pdf |date=October 7, 2012 }}, page 93.</ref><ref name="IM">{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.im/news/2014/feb/07/financial-sanctions-liberia/ |title=Isle of Man Government - Financial Sanctions: Liberia |publisher=Gov.im |date=2014-02-07 |accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> His name was added to the US Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals list, prohibiting him from conducting business with US companies, citizens and residents, and blocking all US based assets.<ref name="USSDA">[http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/t11sdn.pdf US Treasury Department, "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810011640/http://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/t11sdn.pdf |date=2013-08-10 }}, April 9, 2014.</ref><ref name="USSDA1">[http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Documents/liberia.pdf US Treasury Department, "An overview of the Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations -- Title 31 Part 593 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720113547/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Documents/liberia.pdf |date=2014-07-20 }}, May 23, 2007.</ref> A 2005 report from the Coalition for International Justice reported that Urey helped Taylor "siphon off" funds from a shipping firm to pay for arms and was the primary contact between Taylor and Viktor Bout.<ref name="Fox">[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/firm-that-paid-obama-adviser-in-business-with-warlord-tied-official FoxNews.com, "Firm that paid Obama adviser in business with warlord-tied official"], August 11, 2012.</ref><ref name="observer">[http://www.liberianobserver.com/security/benoni-urey-de-listed-un-ban-pro-or-con-liberia Liberian Observer, "Benoni Urey De-Listed From UN Ban: Pro Or Con For Liberia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200948/http://www.liberianobserver.com/security/benoni-urey-de-listed-un-ban-pro-or-con-liberia |date=2014-07-14 }}, January 12, 2014.</ref><ref name="CIJ">{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00010642:e0bc9e66f665f2c7b2fb8a942ff328ea.pdf |title=Following Taylor's Money: A path of war and destruction |author=Douglas Farah, CIJ |date=May 2005}}</ref> The United Nations Panel of Experts concluded in their November 2013 report that "evidence indicates, however, that in approving the funds Urey was acting on the orders of Taylor."<ref name="unexp">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc11229.doc.htm |title=Letter dated 19 November 2013 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia addressed to the President of the Security Council |date=21 November 2013}}</ref> The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended in its final report that Urey be prosecuted for the commission of economic crimes during the civil war and barred from holding public office for 30 years.<ref name="TRC">[http://trcofliberia.org/resources/reports/final/volume-two_layout-1.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103012418/http://trcofliberia.org/resources/reports/final/volume-two_layout-1.pdf |date=2014-01-03 }}, Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Consolidated Final Report, June 30, 2009.</ref> During the TRC hearings, Urey was identified by witness James Paul as operating the Liberian Rubber Company and exporting "hundred of thousands of tons of rubber", the proceeds of which were never accounted for.<ref name="TRC2">[http://trcofliberia.org/transcripts/11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054858/http://trcofliberia.org/transcripts/11 |date=2016-03-04 }} TRC Hearing transcripts, Monrovia: Day 9, January 22, 2008</ref>

Urey has denied any involvement in the violence of the Liberian and Sierra Leone civil conflicts,<ref name="economist" /> maintaining that as a civilian being appointed to head the Maritime Commission, he made no war-related decisions.<ref name="unexp" /> An investigation by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia's political situation in 2013 concluded that it “did not have information suggesting that Urey was involved in activities that would destabilize Liberia and the subregion”.<ref name="unexp" /> The Panel also stated that “Urey’s business activities, and the profits gained from them, would appear to suggest that civil conflict in Liberia would have a significant negative financial impact on him”. In December 2013, Urey was de-listed from the United Nations Sanction Lists.<ref name="unexp" /> In November 2015, the US Treasury Department lifted sanctions against a number of Liberians, including Urey.<ref name="voa">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/liberia-welcomes-lifting-of-us-sanctions/3056149.html |title=Liberia Welcomes Lifting of US Sanctions |publisher=Voice of America |date=2015-11-13}}</ref> But a Liberian newspaper reported that Urey was subsequently denied a US entry visa in 2016, a claim which was denied by the All Liberian Party.<ref name="gnnlib">{{cite web |url=http://gnnliberia.com/2016/04/26/alp-clarifies-ureys-u-s-entry-visa-denial/ |title=ALP Clarifies On Urey's U.S. Entry Visa Denial |publisher=GNN Liberia |date=2016-04-26 |access-date=2016-05-02 |archive-date=2016-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507111715/http://gnnliberia.com/2016/04/26/alp-clarifies-ureys-u-s-entry-visa-denial/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2009, Urey was elected Mayor of Careysburg City by the City Council. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf endorsed the appointment by subsequently appointing him Mayor. He served as Mayor until 2012.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} President Sirleaf relieved Urey of this post when it became evident that he would not support her re-election bid in 2011, instead, supporting the Congress for Democratic Change.<ref name="unexp" />

== Business career ==

=== Lonestar Cell ===

Urey currently owns Lonestar Communication Corporation, Liberia's largest mobile phone service provider which is partnered with the MTN Group, through his PLC Investments group. Lonestar is one of the largest taxpayers in Liberia.<ref name="unexp" /> Urey has served as the Chairman of the Board since the establishment of the corporation.<ref name="Fox" /><ref name="unexp" /><ref name="FPA1">{{cite web |url=http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politic/238-off-un-ban-into-politics-what-s-next-for-benoni-urey |title=FrontPageAfrica - off UN Ban, Right into Politics? What's Next for Benoni Urey |accessdate=2014-01-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206020049/http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politic/238-off-un-ban-into-politics-what-s-next-for-benoni-urey |archivedate=2014-02-06 }} FrontPageAfrica, OFF UN BAN, RIGHT INTO POLITICS? WHAT'S NEXT FOR BENONI UREY, December 29, 2013.</ref>

=== Wulki Farms I & II ===

Urey established an agricultural farm and resort in Careysburg City, Wulki Farms I and Farmers Paradise Resort, developed on land owned by his father, Daniel Webster Urey IV. Benoni’s wife, Mai Urey, is the Managing Director of Wulki Farms and Farmers Paradise. The property includes commercial production of poultry and eggs, fish and fresh produce and guest accommodation.<ref name="wulki">[http://www.wulkifarms.com/index-3.html "About Wulki Farms"], accessed January 30, 2014.</ref>

Urey owns the sixth largest rubber plantation, Wulki Farms II, located in Konola, Margibi County.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cook|first=Nicolas|url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45195/5|format=pdf|title=Liberia : political transition and U.S. relations|oclc=1061294401}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2020}}

=== Love Media Incorporated ===

Owned solely by Urey, Love Media Incorporated was established in 2003 and comprises radio and television stations and a newspaper. These stations are based in Monrovia and Careysburg City. Shiata FM, another station owned by Urey, was established in 2005 and is based in Careysburg City. During the 2011 election campaign, Love Radio and TV stations were set on fire. Urey accused the Government of being involved in the burning of his stations because he was a financial supporter of the opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change.<ref name=unexp />

=== U-Housing Incorporated ===

U-Housing is a real estate development company owned by Urey. He began developing real estate in 1994 when he returned to Liberia. U-Housing has acquired and developed a wide range of commercial and residential properties throughout the country.<ref name=unexp />

== 2017 Presidential Elections ==

In December 2013, Urey declared his desire to run for the Presidency of Liberia in 2017, with initial speculation in Liberian media that he would do so with the Congress for Democratic Change party headed by former footballer George Weah.<ref name="economist" /><ref name=FPA1 /> Urey subsequently launched the All Liberian Party in November 2015 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.<ref name="alplaunch">[http://allafrica.com/stories/201511050666.html Front Page Africa, "Liberia: Benoni Urey Eyes Transformation in New Political Manifesto"], November 5, 2015.</ref>

== Personal life == Urey married Mai Bright Urey on 26 May 1986. They have four daughters: Danielle Ashlee Urey, Telia Urey, Jebbeh Naomi Urey and Benita Whitney Urey. He is a Christian. He was born and raised as a Presbyterian and serves as the sexton at the First Presbyterian Church of Careysburg. Urey is fluent in English and his native language, Kpelle.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} Urey also serves as “Deputy District Grand Master” of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Liberia, and Honorable Grand Patron of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star of Liberia.<ref name=cuttington />

== References == {{reflist|2}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urey, Benoni}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Liberian businesspeople Category:All Liberian Party politicians Category:Candidates for President of Liberia Category:People from Montserrado County Category:Cuttington University alumni Category:Liberian Presbyterians Category:Americo-Liberian people Category:People of Americo-Liberian descent Category:University of Southern California people Category:21st-century Liberian politicians