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ULAA
leadership
delegation meets with President Sirleaf
~ Looks forward to
Town Hall meetings with Liberians
February 18, 2007
Liberian
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf reassured Liberians in
the U.S. of her commitment to continue supporting the
search for a lasting solution to the plight of those
on Temporary Protective Status (TPS). The Liberian leader
gave the assurance on Friday, February 16, 2007, when
she held an exclusive meeting with a leadership
delegation of the Union of Liberian Associations in
the Americas, (ULAA) in Washington DC. The meeting
took place at the official residence of the Liberian
Ambassador to the United States on Fulton Street in
Washington, D.C.
ULAA’s Wettee commending President Johnson-Sirleaf for her solidarity
with the
association's effort. President Johnson-Sirleaf in an
attentive mood
President
Johnson-Sirleaf intimated that throughout her
discussions with U.S. authorities, she has maintained
that, though, Liberia welcomes all of her citizens
abroad to return home and contribute, the requisite
infrastructure is presently not ready to accommodate
an unplanned influx of hundreds of thousands of
citizens into the war-ravaged country.
On ULAA’s
role in helping improve the lives of Liberians at
home, the Liberian chief executive told the ULAA
leaders that her government is open to ideas and
suggestions, noting that there are many areas of need
in Liberia where the Diaspora organization could
contribute. She named areas of health care, education,
and community development, among others.
Earlier, ULAA
National President Emmanuel S. Wettee congratulated
the Liberian government on the successful conclusion
of the donor conference and the Private Sector
Investment Forum. The ULAA leader averred that the
impressive showing of Liberians at the Private Sector
Investment Forum was indicative of the determination
of most Liberians to return home to participate in the
reconstruction of the country.
Mr. Wettee
however, stressed that while the heightened interest
in returning home is laudable, the advent of any mass
deportation of Liberians on TPS could threaten
rebuilding efforts in Liberia. National President
Wettee said it was in cognizance of this that he was
commending the Liberian Leader for her solidarity with
those caught in the immigration quagmire and
emboldening her to continue to raise the issue in
future deliberations with officials of the U.S.
government.
The ULAA
delegation at the meeting included Mr. Anthony V.
Kesselly, Chairman of the ULAA National Board of
Directors, Mr. Isaac Saye Zawolo, Jr., National
General Secretary, Mr. Boniface Satu, President of the
Liberian Community Association of the Washington DC
Metropolitan Area, and Mr. Francis Duwana, Member of
the ULAA National Board & Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Liberian Association of
Pennsylvania.
Sitting in on
the meeting on the Liberian Government side were
Ambassador Charles A. Minor and Presidential Press
Secretary Cyrus Wleh Badio.
L-R: Liberia President Johnson-Sirleaf flanked from L to R: Messrs: Isaac
Zawolo, Francis Duwana, Chairman Anthony Kesselly,
Ambassador Charles Minor, ULAA National President
Emmanuel Wettee, and Boniface Satu
Speaking
during the discussions, Chairman Kesselly called on
the Liberian president to identify ways to make
herself more available to ordinary Liberians during
subsequent visits. He conveyed the disappointment of
Liberians relative to the lack of opportunity to more
directly engage their president in town hall
meetings.
President
Johnson-Sirleaf reiterated her commitment to meeting
Liberians directly under the auspices of ULAA as she
had earlier promised. She expressed the hope that with
collaboration between ULAA and the Liberian Embassy,
such forums could take place during future visits.
Chairman Kesselly makes a point to
President Johnson-Sirleaf relating to the President
meeting with ordinary Liberians during subsequent
visits in the US.
President Johnson-Sirleaf and Ambassador Minor listen.
ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
Isaac Saye
Zawolo, Jr.
NATIONAL
GENERAL SECRETARY
"Leadership
is Partnership"
~ ULAA Prexy Wettee
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