From the 169th Independence Day National Orator 🇱🇷✊🏼🌹💪🏼🇱🇷
From the home of the 169th National Orator of July 26, 2016 Independence Day, my family and I graciously greet the people of Liberia and Africa!
This year’s Commemoration marks 179 years of existence as the first Black Republic on the African Continent.
Since that declaration 📜 of Independence in 1847, our country has encountered numerous challenges.
It struggled to protect this freedom and our territorial integrity, while simultaneously fighting for the liberation of the rest of the African Continent from colonial rule, imperialism, and exploitation.
One Hundred and Seventy-Nine (179) years on, Liberia remains straddled with nuisances and vices of the past in this neo-colonial era and still struggling to uphold certain democratic and social values that we espouse.
Let’s ponder on a few burning national issues for an example.
1. Over the years, constitutional violations as well as disregard for human rights and the rule of law continue on the rise.
2. Corruption, mediocrity, and sychophancy seem to be the administrative order of the day in our governance system, as opposed to virtues of integrity, dignity, merit, hard work, and honesty.
3. Our healthcare and educational systems have declined drastically, with no national innovation in science and technology thereby making us less competitive in this epoch of technological advancement and drive towards the 4th industrial revolution.
4. We are now experiencing a prolonged border crisis, the current Guinean occupation of Liberian territory in the North, a border crisis which remains unresolved, and demonstrates a semblance of French and British enchroachments on Liberian territories in the 1800s during the colonial period.
5. We are confronted by a recurrent drug trafficking crisis that is gradually turning our country into a narcotic transit hub, and a local drug circulation cartel that is harming the youth and future of our country.
6. State authority seems to be highly infiltrated and apparently influenced by the Healthcare-Medical Cartel, the Mineral Cartel, and the Drug Cartel in Liberia, thus undermining law and order.
Meanwhile, other countries are surfing faster and far ahead of Liberia on the roaring waves of social economic progress, while little or no concrete attention is accorded our development plank.
In view of these historical nuisances and contemporary vices that are hindering the progress of our country, this period calls for:
(a) Appreciating the gallant and defiant steps taken by our forefathers to establish a nation;
(b) Taking a deeper reflection of our past;
(c) Being intentional, visionary, and progeessive in excuting radical development programmes, and
(d) Serving the nation with integrity, honesty, and dignity.
As we commemorate July 26th this year, let us nly then can we cope with the accelerating pace of human development that is obtaining globally, while figuring out how Liberia will be placed.
Finally, a big congratulations to Compatriot Dr. Herbert Brewer on being selected as this year’s National Orator!
Celebrate well; Enjoy well well; Stay safe; and, Don’t worry, there is #No_Ebola in Liberia, but please observe the usual and regularly public health measures.
