Monrovia, Liberia - The Cabinet last Friday supported progress being made on two of the most significant issues for the future development of Liberia beyond 2011: Local Governance and Decentralization, and the development of a new National Vision.

In its first decision, the Cabinet endorsed the working plans of the Governance Commission to introduce major reforms that will decentralize the Government by moving more political power out of Monrovia and into the hands of local communities within the 15 political sub-divisions.

The decision, taken during its regular meeting in the Cabinet Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 27, is an example of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's strong commitment to local governance and decentralization as the means of bringing rapid development to the country and empowering all Liberians, according to Dr. Momo Rogers, Director-General of the Cabinet.

Dr. Rogers said the President reminded the Cabinet that the constitutional principle that guides her Administration is that "all power is in the hands of the Liberian people."

The Cabinet told the Governance Commission, chaired by Dr. Amos Sawyer, that although the implementation of its mandate is a long-term work and in its early stages, the Government is committed to working closely with the Commission to analyze issues and options that will move things forward in achieving the ultimate goal of decentralization.

In the second decision, the Cabinet endorsed the development of a new national vision for Liberia, tentatively named "Liberia Rising 2030," to replace the present "Lift Liberia" theme associated with the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) that has driven the efforts of the Government, but is scheduled to end in June 2011.

Planning and Economic Affairs Minister Amara Konneh, who designed the National Visioning plan in collaboration with the Governance Commission, said Liberia Rising 2030 will build on the successful completion of Lift Liberia and define the vision for what Liberia should be in 2030.

In his presentation, Minister Konneh noted that Liberia Rising is underpinned by the drive for national unity, and Liberians from all over the country and all walks of life will be engaged and listened to in the development of the new vision.

Minister Konneh also emphasized that Liberia Rising will set challenging but achievable targets for the Government to deliver on, with the focus on making Liberia a middle-income country by the year 2030.