Liberians residing in the United Kingdom have presented a statement to President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf in which they have made several recommendations aimed at boosting Liberia's national reconstruction efforts.   

The statement which contains 11 points recommendations, was presented when the president recently went to London to attend the Progressive Governance Leaders summit. 

The Liberians said they felt their recommendations were relevant enough to be included in the development agenda of President Sirleaf’s administration as she leads Liberia in the reconstruction process.  

They reminded the president that the same set of recommendations were presented to her during her visit to London in 2006. But with an apparent view that their input has not been given the desired consideration, the Liberian Community asserted that they were re-submitting the recommendations as a matter of interest and concern in the issues they outlined and for the “attention and action” of the Liberian government.   

See statement in its entirety:

Statement Submitted to Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf,

President of the Republic of Liberia by the Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK) London, April 4, 2008 

Today marks one year since the current leadership of ULO-UK was installed in this same room. We have moved our community forward and have been working with our Embassy to promote the good image of Liberia and also seeking the welfare and wellbeing of Liberians here in this country. 

During your visit here on the 27 of May 2006, we presented a statement to you which contained a number of recommendations, the Liberian Community in the United Kingdom feels are relevant to be included in your development agenda as you lead Liberians in reconstruction of our country. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

1. There is a need to decentralize power from Monrovia and give local government the power to raise taxes and fund development programme on the local level.
    

2. The government should devise an action plan that will prevent religious and tribal friction.
    

3. The government should encourage the informal sector to form trade associations where they will be recognized for inclusion in the formal sector for reasons such as the GNP calculation and revenue generation.
    

4. The government should develop a framework where everyone who earns income, irrespective of the amount and the size of business, pays their due taxes.
    

5. That any one holding public office and convicted of corruption should be prevented from holding another  public office for a specified period of time  depending on the gravity of the crime in addition to serving a custodial sentence.
    

6. Develop a system of check and balance among the Ministry of Health (register of birth and death) the Bureau of Immigration and the Labor Ministry so as to differentiate between genuine Liberians and legitimate foreign residents to effectively enforce a liberalization policy.
    

7. Training curriculum in the security sector such as the army should include elements of patriotism and business education as they minimize wanton destruction of properties and indiscriminate killings.
    

8. The Ministry of education to look at the curriculum with the view of
   1. teaching one of our sixteen languages such as Kpelle (largest) or Vai (has written  script)
   2. emphasis on technical and vocational education from Jr. High Level
   3. enforce the teaching of French
       

9. The attraction of direct foreign investment should emphasize local resources, export-oriented and labor intensive policy. This will help create employment and improve the balance of payment in our trade with the rest of the world.
    

10. Examples from Uganda and other AIDS affected countries show that aggressive education mixed with de-stigmatization go a long way in reducing infection rate in the medium and long term. In order to achieve this, we urge you and senior members of your government to personally attend any initiative that will publicize the problem of HIV/AIDS so that education will be more effective.
     

11. As you meet your hosts, the British government, we want you to please take up the issue of some Liberian refugees who have immigration problems, some of whom are in detention camps.

Liberians in the European Diaspora and the United Kingdom in Particular are deeply concerned about the situation at the Buduburam Refugees Camp in Ghana. We want to use this occasion to ask your government to ensure that these Liberians’ Human Rights are respected until such time that they can be repatriated to participate in the nation’s rebuilding Process. 

Another Issue of concern is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Liberians in the United Kingdom have begun to give voluntary statements to the TRC. Every Liberians need to support the process and we are using this medium to call upon you, Madam President to take the lead in giving your statement to the TRC. That will set a very good precedent for others to follow in bringing healing and reconciliation to our common Patrimony.  

In conclusion, the community feels that it has a meaningful role to play in the development of Liberia .Through this statement; we want to avail ourselves to your good offices for this purpose. It is worth to note that the Liberian Community in the United Kingdom as it is today is composed of Liberians who came here for different reasons. There are those who came to the United Kingdom on government scholarships before the war and others who came here as refugees and have since gained qualifications in many disciplines. Consequently, have in our midst Medical Doctors, Engineers, Accountants, Economists, Lawyers, Policy, Management and Development Experts; Nurses, etc. Many of these may be willing to return home to contribute their quota to the development of the country. 

There may be others who may not be ready to return home presently but may want to play some role in attracting investments to Liberia. For example, there may be a way in which the Community, our Embassy here and the National Investment Commission could work together to attract investment to Liberia. Please note that most of us lived in different Local Authorities (Council) Areas who have their own Chambers of Commerce Offices that can be contacted for possible foreign investment. 

Madam President we are aware of your busy schedule and may not personally look into these recommendations. But we will appreciate if you refer these to a relevant agency of the government such that they are looked at for possible action by your office. 

May God continue to bless you and the People of Liberia 

Respectfully Submitted 

The Liberian Community in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK)

Source: Douglas Farngalo
RA-Correspondent in London