The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Patrick K. Wrokpoh and C. Winnie Saywah
22 February 2008
United States President, George Walker Bush, on a short visit to Liberia yesterday raised the hopes of Liberians when he openly declared that the United States will stand with them as they strive to build Liberia.
He expressed appreciation over the new chapter that has been opened in the relationship between the two countries and commended Liberians for their courage and steadfastness; adding "with your continuous determination there is no doubt in my mind that Liberia will become the beacon of liberty for Africa and the world and you will forever uphold the Lone Star."
President Bush further raised the aspirations of Liberians when he announced that by next academic school year, his government will make available one million text books to the Liberian school system.
He said in addition to the gesture, the United States government would provide desks or seating capacities for at least 10,000 Liberian school children.
President Bush made the pronouncement yesterday at the Barclay Training Center (BTC), during his brief state visit to the country as guest of the Liberian government and people.
Speaking at a program held at the BTC, where he was taken to witness the display, talents and professionalism of the new Liberian army, which is currently being trained by United States military personnel, under the Security Sector Reform (SSR) program for Liberia, President Bush highlighted the level of work being initiated by his government and the Government of Liberia in helping Liberia recover from its ashes of war.
He said the United States government is working with Liberia to lift the debt burden of the country so as to help this West African state's children get a good education that would make them develop the skills that they will need to turn their freedom into prosperity of peace.
"With the help of UNMIL, we are working to heal the wounds of war and strengthen democracy and build the army that will be a source of security for Liberians instead of an army that will be a source of terror," he said.
President Bush said all of these years both governments have been working closely together and progress has been made in this direction; stressing that one thing he expects and supposes Liberians to have learned and should now know that it is easier to tear a country down than to rebuild it.
The United States President, who is the third sitting president of his country to visit Liberia after Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter, said he was proud to be in Liberia; stressing that there is no place that he feels more welcomed than a land where liberty and the hope of freedom reign.
Earlier, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf welcomed President Bush and delegation, which included his wife Laura W. Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
She said the visits of President Bush and his two predecessors, come at a time in the history of the country where it was at a cross road to choose between the path of progress and peace on one hand, as well as one of conflict and good governance on the other.
She however said Liberia choose a path of peace; a choice that has made it possible for the country to be a signatory of the chapter resulting to the establishment of the United Nations and its subsequent role played by the country in the struggle leading to the independence of several African states, noting that this has also renewed bilateral relationship between both countries.
She acknowledged that the key role that the United States has played and continues to play in helping to end the Liberia's civil crisis through its many financial support for the UN Peace Keeping Mission, will be ultimately replaced by the new Liberian army.
She added that Liberians understand the need for the reduction in the support of the peace keeping force in Liberia but pleaded with the US President to do everything he could to ensure that such reduction is not hastily done; because as she put it, this would affect the security of the country.
While in the country yesterday, President Bush also visited the University of Liberia at which time he renewed America's support to stand by Liberia.
"We are proud to stand with you. We are not going to tell you what we're going to do because you are probably capable and we know that African leaders can run African countries but I believe America can help," were the words of President Bush when he addressed students and educators at that UL education roundtable moderated by President Sirleaf.
Bush's visit to the UL was very short but it afforded Liberian beneficiaries of the US government's grant to showcase the level of educational improvements at their ranks and explained how appreciative they are of the funds that that government is providing to the country.
Although reporters were not given the opportunity to listen or to capture all of what was being discussed at that forum, neither were they allowed to get final remarks from President Bush as regards the statements made by the beneficiaries at the climax of the education roundtable but two of the seven beneficiaries of the US Funding For Education in Liberia Program spoke highly of the improved educational environment so far.
According to 13-year old Edna Tolbert, a six grade student of the Euphemia Barclay School in Montserrado County and a beneficiary of the Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP) implemented under the Children Assistance Program (CAP), she won the US scholarship that allows her the opportunity to attend school.
Little Edna, from whose voice one could hear the rhythm of hope, said that she now receives school supplies such as schoolbags, shoes, double uniforms and that her fees are paid without trouble to her family members.
She recounted of how she was humiliated by her school principal for untidy uniform and not having her fees paid; least to say on time neither were there shoes to present her as a neat child, thereby forcing her to early child labor.
The USAID Liberian teacher trainer, Aberdeen Gargli told of how he has used the Liberia Teacher Training Program under USAID to work with 54 teachers in six schools by holding mini-workshops to address common challenges that may arise among teachers, administrators and coach teachers in order to improve the quality of teaching and the operation of the schools.
Aberdeen's main job after undergoing training in participatory learning methods and lesson planning, is to improve the skills of other teachers in underserved rural areas and those who may have little or no formal training at all.
Others who formed part of the privileged Liberians to sit on the roundtable along with the two leaders, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and George Walker Bush to discuss educational matters included Deddeh Zaizay, an adult learner of the ALFALIT International in Liberia funded through USAID by the US President's Africa Education Initiative; Moses Kwalula, Jr., an over aged student under the USAID Accelerated Learning Program
(ALP); Gulian Morgan, a principal teaching for the Vision in Action an organization funded through USAID by the President's Africa Education Initiative; Ellen Suah, of the AGSP funded through USAID and Eric Freeman principal of the USAID Liberia Teacher Training Program (LTTP).
Major USAID investments in education averaged over US$20 million per year including assistance from the US President's Africa Education Initiative and International Education Initiative.
These assistances are increasing school enrollments and improving the quality of education through sector planning and restructuring teacher training to replenish the depleted ranks of qualified teachers and the provision of needed equipment, material and infrastructure rehabilitation.
The visit to the UL marked the last place of stops by President Bush and his entourage before departing the country.
It is recorded that the American president arrived in Liberia at exactly 9:20 a.m. on board an aircraft marked Marine 1 with a his wife Laura W. Bush and his Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County.
His visit to Liberia was part of a five-nation tour of Africa. Before his coming to Liberia, other countries visited by President Bush were Tanzania, Benin, Rwanda and Ghana.
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