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Liberian ambassador to U.K. declares 2010 'Year Of Action'
Posted February 24, 2010
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It was a festive Saturday evening when guests began arriving at a Valentine’s Day Party held under the auspices of the Union of Liberian Organisations in the UK (ULO-UK) in Thornton Heath, Surrey, UK. Many had received SMS and E-mail messages inviting couples as well as single men and women to attend. Such an occasion with overtones of romantic exchanges is seldom celebrated amongst Liberians. One could only deduce that, with the present air of charitable fundraising in aid of Liberians at home, such an invitation was worthy of the semblance of charity. Indeed the invitation had contained requests for contributions of 5 and 10 pound sterling towards a school partnered in Liberia by ULO-UK. No sooner had invitees consisting of men who brought bottles and women who prepared and took along food assembled, exchanged greetings and hugs with their hosts, Dr. and Mrs. S. Vaanii Freeman and other acquaintances who had travelled from cities across the UK that the popular Liberian beverage of club beer with sumptuous dishes of fufu and hot pepper soup, jollof rice and fried chicken lined the buffet table under the watchful gazes of eager taste buds ready to have a munch. In Remarks, the Liberian Ambassador accredited to the Court of St. James, His Excellency Wesley Momo Johnson thanked Dr. And Mrs. Freeman for the invitation extended his embassy. He declared that the year 2010 should be envisaged as a year of action and implementation amongst Liberians in the Diaspora. No stranger to programs organised within the Liberian community, he said, “we (Liberians) have been talking too much too long. This is the time to act. All we need is to put our resources together and we can do a lot. Whatever idea you have, however stupid it may seem, bring it on board. We will know the difference once it is expressed”, Ambassador Johnson emphasized. Unaccompanied by a partner but flanked by officials from the Liberian Embassy, Ambassador Johnson urged those in attendance to work together for the future of their beloved country. Quoting a line from the National Anthem of Liberia, in union strong success is sure, the Liberian envoy stressed, if you try to do it alone, chances are you may succeed but it may take a longer time. Speaking through a barrage of greetings and exchanges of embrace by other guests arriving and constant interruptions from single males wanting to make their presence felt by some single ladies in attendance, Ambassador Johnson emphasized that “Liberians have been sleeping just too long. Liberians need to wake up from their slumber and do what they can for their country and people. Fourteen years of civil war in a small country like Liberia and you can see the resilience on the faces of the people. They do not want hand outs. They want you to help them. Teach them to fish and they will fish for themselves. When will we realise there are thousands and thousands of Liberians at home needing our help”, Ambassador Johnson questioned. Through constant hails of “please be quiet!” and the local Liberian call for silence of “my people your please keep quiet men!” coming from other guests paying close attention to the Ambassador’s remarks, Ambassador Johnson reflected that the very first time he met with the Union of Liberian Organisations in the UK’s committee on education he assured them that, if they donated one pencil to a student in any county in Liberia, it will always be remembered that it ( the donation)came from Liberians residing abroad”. Making it known that every time he attends a gathering organised by the Liberian Community he sees the same faces, the Liberian Ambassador reiterated that the embassy in London is always opened to Liberians and friends of Liberia. “There should be no excuse for anyone. The embassy is opened for meetings or conferences and anyone seeking consultation with any official of the embassy, we will make ourselves available”, he concluded. |
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Speaking earlier, Mrs. Jehunita Freeman thanked those in attendance for responding positively to her invitation. She said the education committee of ULOK-UK visited Monrovia in December, 2009 and donated a consignment of materials used for primary schools to the N.V.Massaquoi Elementary School in the Borough of West Point. Mrs. Freeman said donations and proceeds from the sale of drinks and auction at the party would go towards the purchase of more materials for the school. She said the consignment which included a barrel and a box containing exercise books, pencils and all types of primary school materials found in a basic primary school, was initially intended for the C.D.B.King Elementary school in central Monrovia but after visiting and meeting with the teachers, the committee concluded that there would have been other schools in dire need of the materials than the C.D.B.King Elementary School. Mrs. Freeman, a former educator at the LAMCO International School in Buchanan, Bassa County, said it was then that her committee set out to find such a school with the N.V. Massaquoi Elementary School been identified. She informed her guests that ULO-UK has partnered with the school and intends to restore it to a modern primary school. She said the reconstruction of Liberia depends on all Liberians. “The present need in Liberia cannot be met by the government of Liberia alone. No matter what the government does, the need is so overwhelming. We know our own resources and we know what we have. It is incumbent of us as Liberians who benefitted from the country that we continue to work together to help our country”. An alumnus with bachelors in Education from the Cuttington University College in Suakoko, Bong County, Mrs. Freeman said the Liberian Community in Britain had been asked to nominate a school in Liberia which would benefit from the donations but all the nominations provided were mainly names of privately owned schools aside from the C.D.B.King Elementary School. Mrs. Freeman reported that in order to prevent the misuse of the donated materials, she informed the staff of the school that the donation was not a one-off project. She warned that every Liberian residing in the UK is a part of the project and are therefore cloth with the authority to monitor and acquaint themselves with the usage of the materials when visiting the country. She encouraged her fellow Liberians planning trips to Liberia to visit the school and familiarise themselves with the needs of the students. Observers viewed the messages expressed during the party as significant in reminding Liberians of their role in the reconstruction of their home. Some said such a party could be organised annually as a mains of bringing together friends and acquaintances after the previous year of tireless work to maintain their families. One guest who prefers anonymity said the purpose of such a Valentine’s Day party could be misconstrued as encouraging courtship between single and young Liberians while sowing seeds of division in happy marriages. ULO-UK has officially thanked all those who attended the Valentine’s Day party and supported the fund raising efforts of the education committee. In an e-mail to its members the organisation announced that a total of five hundred and two pounds or approximately one thousand United States dollars was raised at the party.
Source: Douglas Farngalo
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