Meet Nathaniel Barnes 2023 Presidential Candidate -His Records, His Capacity, His Vision for Liberia

A year and half away to crucial general and presidential elections, the Liberian political space is already crowding very fast with potential candidates and their presentations regarding who they are, what they intend to do to make Liberia better and why they think they are better than the rest. While inertia has gripped the opposition community, triggering giggles within the ruling establishment, independent political forces are emerging professedly to fill the void. And one of Liberia’s successful businessmen, bureaucrats, public servants, and philanthropists—Milton Nathaniel Barnes—is stretching its arms up in self-nomination for the most covetous public service of the country, the Presidency. The Analyst takes a cursory look at the former Liberian Finance Minister.

Ambassador Milton Nathaniel Barnes was born on April 6, 1954 in Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia to the late Justice Roland T. Barnes and Mrs. Eudora Nassau Barnes. Nat is the second of their four children.

Nat, as he is best known, grew up in Harper, Maryland County and Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia.  He completed high school at the College of West Africa in 1972 and worked for a short time as a clerk at Bank of Monrovia/Citibank.

Nat traveled to the United States to pursue his college education at Rider College (now Rider University) in Lawrenceville, New Jersey earning his BSc Degree in Finance in 1978. In 1979, Barnes matriculated to Pace University in New York City where he earned an MBA in Finance and Banking.  Nat returned to Liberia shortly after completing his studies and began his professional career as a manager at INTRUSCO – Insurance Company of Africa.

With the political unrest in Liberia starting in 1980, Nat and his family relocated to the United States where he began a distinguished career as a corporate executive.  Nat spent fourteen years at Nortel Networks, Inc. beginning as a Financial Analyst in the company’s Treasury Department and moving up steadily through various functions within Finance, Marketing and Internal Audit.

In 1998, Nat felt the call to return to his native Liberia in order to serve in the re-building of the war-torn nation after the Civil War ended.  He began as a Consultant at the Ministry of Finance.  Within a year, President Charles Taylor appointed Nat as Director General of the National Social Security Corporation (NASSCORP) where he transformed the corporation into a streamlined and effective public entity.  Not surprisingly, Nat was appointed as Minister of Finance, Republic of Liberia in September 1999.

As Minister of Finance, Barnes was able to implement a new national tax code with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Fiscal Affairs Department.

In 2005, Nathaniel Barnes founded the Liberian Destiny Party (LDP), was elected Standard Bearer of the party, and ran as a presidential candidate in the 2005 General and Presidential Elections.   He placed 12th out of 22 candidates.  During the Run-Off Elections in which George Weah and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf competed, Nat became the first former candidate to support Mrs. Sirleaf rallying his fellow candidates to do the same given her international stature and experience compared to that of Mr. Weah.

In 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed Nat as Permanent Representative to the United Nations.  Barnes served for 2 years in this capacity.   In 2008, extremely pleased with his performance at the UN, President Sirleaf appointed Nat as Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America.  As Ambassador to the United States, Nat actively engaged the Liberian Diaspora creating the Liberian Diaspora Advisory Council to assist in implementing President Sirleaf’s “Lift Liberia” agenda.  Ambassador Barnes first articulated the idea that economically the Diaspora represents Liberia’s Middle Class and, politically, the Diaspora is Liberia’s 16th county.

In 2009, Barnes received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from his alma mater, Rider University.  He has travelled tirelessly across the United States as a Lecturer promoting the cause of Africa, in general, and Liberia in particular.

Back in Liberia since 2010, Nat established a private consulting firm – Aurora Solutions, Inc. He has also served regularly as a Lecturer at the Graduate Schools of the University of Liberia and African Methodist Episcopal University.  Since 2002, Nat and his wife of 42 years have operated a charitable organization – Aurora Foundation of Liberia.

Milton Nathaniel Barnes is married to Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes, university professor/administrator and professional performing artist.  Dawn is the daughter of the late, Dr. H. Nehemiah Cooper and Mrs. Izetta Roberts Cooper. Nat and Dawn are the parents of six adult children and three grandchildren.

A true “Renaissance Man,” Nat is an author and abstract painter.

Experience

Financial Analyst, Financial Manager, Controller, Senior Manager with NORTEL from July 1981 – September 1994

Director Business Development for North American Wireless from January 1995 – July 1996

Private Entrepreneur/Telecommunications Management Consultant from July 1996 to April 1998

Coordinator for International Economic Cooperation & External Debt Management at the Ministry of Finance, Republic of Liberia from April 1998 – May 1999

Director General of NASSCORP (National Social Security Corporation of Liberia) from May1999 – October 1999

Minister of Finance, Republic of Liberia from October 1999 – July 2002 with the following major achievements:

Chief architect of Liberia’s fiscal program

Oversaw and implemented a new tax code for Liberia in consultation with the Fiscal Affairs Department of the International Monetary Fund.

Conceptualized and developed a proposal for a Summit of Post-Conflict Nations in Africa where issues relevant to the peculiar and unique experiences of such countries would be analyzed with the objective of formulating a plan for post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation. He submitted proposal to global institutions through the African Development Bank for consideration.

Developed a strong management team at the Ministry and tasked, challenged and motivated more than one thousand six hundred employees to new levels of productivity and excellence.

Founder and Standard Bearer of Liberia Destiny Party (LDP) January 2004 – a national political institution focused on initiating positive economic, social, and political change in Liberia by aggressively pursuing justice, reconciliation, and the tenants of self-reliance while challenging Liberians to take their common destiny into their own hands.

Ambassador from the Republic of Liberia to the Republic of Cuba from 2006 -2008 (concurrently serving as Ambassador to the United Nations):

Instrumental in re-establishing and solidifying diplomatic relations with Cuba

Negotiated bi-lateral arrangements for the provisions of Cuban doctor to Liberia.

Scholarships for Liberian students to study in Cuba

Ambassador and Permanent Representative from the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations from May 2006 –September 2008:

Spearheaded and managed Liberian’s Foreign Policy within this specific environment.

Represented Liberia with distinction at all conferences, meetings and forums at the U.N. including the Peace Building Commission Assessment Visit to Sierra Leone.

Played a primary role in lifting of the economic sanctions against Liberia by the United Nations

Played a pivotal role in bringing Liberia back into the fold of the global community of nations after years of being classified as a lawless country.

Focal point in the drive to return Liberia to a viable member state of the U.N by participating in crucial resolutions especially those concerning the ravages of war and conflict

Successfully lobbied to have Liberia elected to the Executive Board of the UNICEF.

Established important bi-lateral diplomatic relations for Liberia with several countries including Australia, Iceland, Malta, Uruguay St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

Ambassador from the Republic of Liberia to the United States of America from September 2008 to October 2010:

Spearheaded and managed Liberia’s Foreign Policy with this Key ally

Played major role in keeping Liberia on U.S. foreign policy agenda during crucial period of Political/Presidential transition in the U.S.

Effectively engaged U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch of U.S. Government to secure aid and assistance from U.S. – Making Liberia the third largest recipient of American aid in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Played a vital role in orchestrating one -on-one visit by President Sirleaf with President Obama in the Oval Office making her the third African Head of State to be entertained at that level during the Obama administration

Hosted two massively successful Liberian Independence Day Celebrations with the themes; “Unity in Diversity—One Liberia” (2009) “Educate to Elevate” (2010)

Visited and engaged key leadership in the U.S. including President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, Congress, Corporations, Educational and Scientific Institutions focusing on Liberia’s interests.