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Posted March 17, 2006
"We Must Not Betray Their Trust"
A review of Sirleaf's landmark speech to
the US congress
By Gabriel Gworlekaju
The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, in her landmark address to
the 109th congress of the United States on Wednesday, March 15, 2006,
informed the American people and the world that the Liberian people are
counting on her government to do more than what it has done so far. She said
the patience and courage of her people are formidable but their expectations
are high and their needs are urgent, adding, "this does not mean the we want
big government, we cannot afford it".
She said the government should not attempt to do what civil society and
business can do better but her government has the obligation to quickly meet
the needs of the Liberian people. " The people of Liberia know that
government cannot save the country. Only their own strength, their
determination, their creativity, resilience and their faith can do that. But
they have the right to expect the essentials that only a government can
provide", Madam Sirleaf told the august body. The Liberian leader said her
her people have the right to a government that is honest and have respect
for santity of human life. She said they need an economic environment in
which their effort can succeed.
"The Liberian people are counting on me and my administration to create the
conditions that will guarantee the realization of their dreams. We must not
betray their trust. All the children I meet, when I ask them what they want
most, they say "I want to learn - I want to go to school - I want to go to
school". We must not betray their trust Mrs. Sirleaf said amidst huge
applause from every corner of the joint chamber of the American congress.
She said young adults who have been considered "our lost generation" do not
consider themselves lost, but instead, they too aspire to learn to serve
their families and communities. President Sirleaf said "we must not betray
their trust".
She again reiterated her commitment to satisfy the needs of women who she
referred to as her strong constituents, especially during the 2005
elections. The women, she said, tell her that they want the same chances
that men have, they want to be literate, they want their work recognized and
protection against rape, clean water that won't sicken and kill their
children, and therefore, "We must not betray their trust".
Analysis
The huge reception and hospitality Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf enjoyed from
American lawmakers, should now send the strongest ever signal that the
government of the United States is fully supportive of Liberia's current
strides for reconstruction, peace and security. Highlights of her
speech also showed that she must have eagerly awaited the opportunity to
address the American people on the plight of her country and her
determination to succeed. She now leaves us to believe that she has deep
faith in the Liberian people as they have in her government. She fully
understands that the people's expectations are high and it is the duty of
her government, with the help of foreign partners, especially the United
States, to help. We should be happy that she is thinking about the so-called
"lost generation". She wants to see a total rehabilitation of former
combatants to make them more useful to society. It is true that even with
those who want to continue carrying arms should do so not in the destruction
of their country, but in the defense of it.
President Sirleaf has clearly shown that in a region of the world where the
rights and respect for women have continuously been ignored and abused, she
will empower the women and give them hope.
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