28 October 2009
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says her compatriots living abroad must prepare themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that gradual progress in the country is presenting. Expressing deep confidence that the country is on the right track, she warned a group of Liberians on Friday night in Stockholm, Sweden, that if Liberians are not prepared others may enjoy these opportunities.
Please prepare yourself. There will be a lot of investments, we will need skilled people. If Liberians don't take hold of these opportunities, others will, she added. The pace of development may be slow but "we are picking up," the President said during the short ceremony at Grand Hotel. President Sirleaf, who participated in last week's European Development Days in the Swedish capital, met Liberians, responded to some questions and took photos.
Africa's first-ever elected female President said several projects, to improve the country's infrastructure, are running. Road Construction is one of the directions in which her government is pointed. The President said there are other beneficial projects being implemented.
But she reminded Liberians not to forget that there are some hiccups the government must overcome. President Sirleaf named corruption as the major one. She said corruption in the country is serious and that "it is a society thing, not a government thing."
The President noted that she has identified two acute societal problems: dishonesty and indiscipline. She called on all Liberians to get involve in the fight against corruption. "We all have to fight it," she emphasized.
She said Liberia needs to adopt more preventive measures and named one of those as paying workers better salaries. Speaking about the scandal-riddled County Development Funds (CDF), President Sirleaf said the program was developed to make sure that Liberians themselves living in other parts of the country (beside Monrovia, the capital) determine what their priorities are, so that development plans are not dictated from Monrovia.
The CDF has been burdened by financial impropriety but the President assured that some counties are doing well. She shined some light on Liberia's new school year, which began in September.
"Our schools are packed," President Sirleaf described the increase in enrollment and noted that the government understands that most of the projects (road construction, restoring water and electricity, purchasing medical suppliers) running in the country will help improve the learning conditions for Liberian kids, whom, she emphasized, are the future of the country.
She also spoke about a burning issue on the minds of most Liberians living in Sweden: the appointment of a resident Liberian government representation in Sweden. President Sirleaf explained that serious efforts were made to have an office opened here, but some things did not go right. So, the government is making new plans to station someone here even it is not at the full ambassadorial nor consular level. She said the best bet now will be an honorary consul.
Mrs. Ida Johansson presented a gift to President Sirleaf on behalf of Liberians in Sweden. Many of the meeting's participants, who later spoke to Nordic Africa News, said the exchange was fruitful. One said it is always a good thing to meet with the president when she visits because it gives Liberians, who do not live in Liberia, the chance to meet her and have a talk.
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