RIVER GEE HITS SILVER JUBILEE -Citizens World Over in Earth-Shattering Celebrations

MONROVIA – The spirit of iconic political godfather Nathaniel Williams otherwise popularly known as “Jay-Klay” of River Gee County and many other sons of the soil, who fought fiercely and died in the cause of the motherland, must have been awoke this month, hovering over the evergreen-forested canopy of the land which they so passionately loved. By this time in March 2000 – 25 years ago – the living bodies of River Gee legends were on shoulder high of their people, drowned in whiskies of joy for the heroic feat they had won, the liberation from Grand Gedeh county, ending years of social, economic and political isolation the county they suffered for largely being situated far from and neglected by the capital cities of bordering counties – Zwedru in Grand Gedeh, Greenville in Sinoe and Harper in Maryland. All over the globe, where they reside, River Geeians are celebrating, reflecting on how they made it to freedom, and how it is now all faring after a score and five years. The Analyst reports.   

Celebrations have been all over the world amongst offsprings of River Gee County, located in the far east of Liberia, a province that seceded politically from Grand Gedeh County 16 March 2000 during the administration of former President Charles G. Taylor.

As sons and daughters of the county celebrate, beginning the D-Day of March 16, they are reportedly doing so, not forgetting to invoke the spirits of their audacious fighters who were in the forefront of their “liberation struggle” – legendary “Jay Klay” and others, most of them not at live to see their county, their brainchild, clocking 25 years.

Posting on his social media page, the Superintendent of the county, in an apparently exhilarating mood wrote: “Elders of River Gee presented kola nuts to the local authorities and the American citizens of River Gee County in Fish Town, River Gee County, during the County’s 25th Anniversary festivities.”

To cap off the event, he continued, “a state-of-the-art library built by the River Gee County Association in the Americas (RIGCAA) was dedicated today in Fish Town, River Gee County.”

He noted that in retrospection on the history of the county, “we pay tribute to the visionary pioneers who defied norms and gave their lives to form River Gee as a county. We feel a deep responsibility to celebrate their efforts joyfully, having experienced 25 years of acknowledgment and receiving essential resources and assistance in comparison to other counties in Liberia.”

There was a silver Jubilee Anniversary Homecoming Celebration that kicked off on the 13th and concluded on the 16th of the month, to be held in Fish Town, River Gee County.

Superintendent Mike T. Swengbe had a town hall meeting with the citizens of the county, including a delegation from River Gee Citizens Association in America (RIGCAA).

He told the elders: “As we all know, we are here to celebrate our Independence Day, and you play a very important role of making us strong. Today, we are 25 years old. We are asking you to continue your hard work, to keep us together. Anytime you see any of us going astray, don’t be afraid; call us and talk to us, it is your responsibility. You are our fathers and our mothers.”

Continuing the promised to let the whole world to know that River Gee will prevail, and the only time the county will failed is “unless our fathers remain that way and separate us; but as long we know that you are with us, River Gee will grow every day”.

Mr. Swengbe stressed that one of the reasons why citizens from diverse background were at the celebration was to show everyone how important the occasion is. “Our brothers and sisters and your children from the United States decided to come and on behalf of the people River Gee, I would like to say thank you to our guests from the diaspora. I hail you for sacrificing.”

He praised Mr. Aloysius Benjamin, President of the River Gee Association in the America, for being a strong man, making things work for the county.

“We call him the rock,” Superintendent Swengbe said. “Nobody can change anything, but to unite our brothers and sisters in the United States.”

“And again, on behalf of your brothers, sisters, and your fathers and mothers, everybody, we would like to say thank you for taking the responsibility as president of RIGCAA to bring your delegation into the county during its natal day celebration.”

Also speaking at the town hall meeting was Mr. Aloysius Benjamin, President of the River Gee Association in the America, who expressed delight being home along with the delegation of diasporic River Geeans.

“We are very happy to be here today. River Gee County is our county, is our home,” he said. “We who are from all the way America are here because we love River Gee County.”

He introduced other members of the delegation that include Aloysius Sealord Benjamin, Mrs. Alice Welley Wilson Mulbah former president of RIGCAA, Isaac Chellepo Toee, former president of RIGCAA.

RIGCAA means River Gee County Association in the Americas.

Other members of the US delegation included: Alice Mulbah from Georgia, Atlanta; Isaac from Maryland, America; Queenetta Nah Shaway, Behwar, Maryland County, who is married to a man from Tienpo, a Gospel musician, Ezetha Nyenpan, California, America, Albert Toe Pah, Maryland, USA and Board member of RIGCAA. Others are Elizabeth Juday, from Maryland, USA and former queen of RIGCAA, Mawon Elizabeth Toe Barclay, from New Jessy, the former Treasurer of RIGCAA, Ester Tarwo, from Texas, USA.