The Inquirer (Monrovia)
10 March 2008
editorial
A NATION WIDE census intended to know the total number of persons living in the country so as to help the government and its partners plan activities relative to the development programs of the country, will commence through out the country.
THE EXERCISE, WHICH will be the first ever in the country since it was last conducted over two decades under the government of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe, will commence on March 21, this year.
MASSIVE CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES intended to educate the public on the significance of the exercise has already begun, with the Liberia Crusader for Peace in partnership with the media playing a lead role in further enlightening the public on the essence of the exercise.
THE LIBERIAN INSTITUTE of Statistics and Geo- Information Services (LISGIS), which is the organization responsible to conduct the exercise, has already put in place the necessary mechanisms such as mapping the entire country and dividing the country into smaller blocks, to allow the process go on without any hindrance.
ADDITIONALLY, LISGIS HAS also trained and is continuing to train enumerators that will soon be dispatched to all parts of the country so as to begin the counting process.
HOWEVER, IN THE wake of these latest developments, there is still a need to continue the efforts that would make residents to make themselves available for counting by cooperating with LISGIS during the process.
OVER THE WEEKEND, when he addressed a special cultural festival organized by the Liberia Crusader for Peace in raising the necessary awareness for the exercise, LISGIS Executive Director, Mr. Edward Liberty renewed his call for all residents to remain in their respective homes so as to enable the enumerators who will be deployed throughout the country to count them during the exercise.
MOREOVER, TO ENSURE that all residents including the children are available for counting during the exercise, the Ministry of Education over the weekend, has directed that all public and private schools across the country be closed for two weeks beginning today as a way of buttressing the efforts for residents to make themselves available for counting.
LIKE THE LISGIS BOSS, we too want to join in this clarion call for all residents to cooperate with the process by demonstrating our willingness to be counted and our preparedness to cooperate with the enumerators of LISGIS in the execution of their job so as to make the exercise a real success.
UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS census, we see some uniqueness in the up-coming census and judging from what we have seen so far, we think it would only be appropriate for all residents to give massive support to the exercise in the interest of the nation.
LET US BE reminded that the success of this exercise depends on all of us and the kind of support and cooperation we will demonstrate for the exercise when it commences. As we anticipate this "Census 2008", we should keep in mind that it is indeed important for the nation, and that any shortcoming on our part to make it a success, would have an adverse effect on the economic growth and development of the nation. This is why, we think, it is necessary and highly important for us to demonstrate our patriotism and love for the nation by working with LISGIS and all its partners to make the exercise a memorable success.
WE SHOULD KEEP in mind that the exercise is intended to set and put in place our national development agenda plans so as to undertake development programs in our various communities, as well as drawing up the priority needs in our communities among others.
WE SHOULD DO away with negative perceptions about the exercise and begin to cultivate a positive attitude towards the process to move our nation forward. Let us not forget, that failure on our part to support this exercise and demonstrate our unwillingness would undoubtedly signal our nonchalant attitude towards nation-building.
AS THE PROCESS commences soon, we call on all residents across the country to give their utmost serious massive support to the exercise, as doing this, would enhance the national development of the country by helping the government and all its partners to draw up our national development plans and implement the national development agenda of the country.
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