Milton Nathaniel Barnes (born 1954) is a Liberian diplomat, politician and member of the Liberian Destiny Party (LDP). In early 2022, he announced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the 2023 Liberian presidential election.[1]
Nathaniel Barnes | |
|---|---|
 Barnes in 2021 | |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 1999–2002 | |
| President | Charles Taylor |
| Preceded by | John G. Bestman |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. G. Bright |
| Liberian Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 9 September 2008 – 2010 | |
| President | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
| Preceded by | Charles A. Minor |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Sulunteh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 April 1954 (age 70) Monrovia, Liberia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Liberia Destiny Party Free Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Rider University, B.SC., Pace University, MBA |
| Website | Official website |
Early life
editBarnes was born in Monrovia, Liberia, to Roland T. and Eudora N. Barnes. He was the second of four children. Barnes spent his formative years in Harper and Monrovia.
He graduated from high school at the College of West Africa before spending a term at the University of Liberia.[2] He worked as an intern in Liberia's banking system before eventually going to the United States for college.
Barnes attended Rider University (then Rider College) in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, in 1975 where in majored in Finance and graduated in 1978 with a B.Sc. degree. In 1979, Barnes graduated with an MBA in Finance and Banking from Pace University in New York City.[3]
Political career
editIn September 1999, Barnes was appointed to the position of Minister of Finance, Republic of Liberia. In that capacity, he became the chief architect of Liberia's fiscal program and oversaw and implemented a new national tax code in consultation with the Fiscal Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund. He held this position until mid-2002.[3]
In January 2004, Barnes founded a new political party, the Liberia Destiny Party (LDP).[4] Running as the LDP presidential candidate in the 2005 Liberian presidential general election, Barnes placed 12th out of 22 candidates, receiving 1.0% of the vote.[5] He eventually supported Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who would become the first democratically elected female president of an African nation, during the subsequent runoff election.[3][6][7]
From May 2006 to 2008, Barnes was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations from the Republic of Liberia.[8]
Barnes served as Ambassador from the Republic of Liberia to the Republic of Cuba from 2006 -2008 while also serving as Ambassador to the United Nations. He was instrumental in re-establishing and solidifying diplomatic relations with Cuba.[1]
In 2008, President Johnson Sirleaf named Ambassador Milton Nathaniel Barnes as Liberia's new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America. He served in this capacity until 2010.[3]
In December 2010, Barnes expressed interest in contesting the presidency again in the 2011 election.[9] In July 2011, he explained the LDP would not be contesting the presidency.[10]
By May 2014, the National Elections Commission filed a petition to decertify the LDP.[11] Instead of challenging his party's decertification, Barnes joined the Free Democratic Party, a constituent party of the National Democratic Coalition, by October 2015.[12]
In January 2022, Barnes announced his intention to contest the upcoming 2023 Liberian presidential election as an independent candidate on a platform of "Reconciliation, Positive Change, Self-Reliance, and the Emergence of a New Breed of Liberian Leaders who exhibit the key qualities of Character, Competence and Courage."[1][13]
Honors
editIn May 2009, Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, president of Rider University, conferred on Barnes an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree.[6]
Personal life
editBarnes is married to Dawn Cooper Barnes, a daughter of Henry Nehemiah Cooper, M.D. (1927–1984) and Izetta Cooper, co-founders of the former Cooper Clinic in Monrovia. The two grew up in the same Monrovia community where Barnes' mother was a teacher at Dawn's elementary school and Dawn's father was the Barnes' family doctor.[14] Dawn Barnes has written, directed and produced the films: Cry of the Pepperbird: A Story of Liberia (2000), The Spiritual Nature of African Dance (2001) and Children of Gold (2002). She also produced a Liberian television comedy series entitled WE ON IT! (2001–2003).[15] The couple have six children.[14]
In 2010, Barnes founded consulting firm Aurora Solutions, Inc.[1] Since 2010, he has also served regularly as a lecturer at the Graduate Schools of the University of Liberia and African Methodist Episcopal University.[1]
He enjoys abstract painting. In 2020, his artistic creations were published in Left Brain Right Brain: Thoughts and Musings of a Servant (ISBN 978-0993571039).[16]
References
edit
- ^ a b c d e Garblah, Othello B. (18 January 2022). "Liberia: Nathaniel Barnes to Contest 2023". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Candidates for President in Election 2005". TLC Africa. Archived from the original on October 12, 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c d "Ambassador Barnes Goes to U.S. As Liberia's New Ambassador, Replaces Ambassador Minor". www.mofa.gov.lr. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "What if". The New Dawn Liberia. April 11, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Elections in Liberia, African Elections Database.
- ^ a b "American University Confers Honorary Doctorate Degree on Ambassador Barnes". www.mofa.gov.lr. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "GNN Weekly Profile: The Man Milton Nathaniel Barnes, His Quest For Liberia – Global News Network". Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Former Permanent Representatives of Libera to the United Nations". Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
- ^ Sguazzin, Antony (December 14, 2010). "Liberian Ambassador to United Nations to Run for Presidency in October". Bloomberg News. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Liberia: Open Statement to the Liberian People from Ambassador M. Nathaniel Barnes". AllAfrica. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Wesee, Ben P. (May 26, 2014). "Liberia: De-Certificated Parties Challenge NEC". The New Dawn Liberia. AllAfrica. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Teh, Lewis S. (October 6, 2015). "Nat Gets NDC Membership". The New Dawn Liberia. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ Release, Press (February 4, 2022). "Liberia: Call for Amb. Milton Nathaniel Barnes to Contest the 2023 Presidential Elections as an Independent Candidate". www.liberianobserver.com. The Liberian Observer. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ a b Scott, Gail (18 November 2010). "Indefatigable Dawn". Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Indefatigable Dawn – Western Africa Magazine". westernafricamagazine.org. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "LEFT BRAIN, RIGHT BRAIN: Diplomat & Civil Servant, Nathaniel Barnes offers Thought-Provoking Musings on Liberia's Perennial Problems". FrontPageAfrica. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
