In most societies and cultures, particularly in Africa, firstborns are regarded ‘assistant parents’, not merely because they often come about during the youthful days of the parents and they grow up almost equal to the physiques of the parents, but also or mainly because the rest of siblings as well as parents soon become dependents upon them. In other words, firstborns often fill the vacuum of the parents. This cannot be less emphasized in the case of the Sirleaf clan, which had its firstborn in an industrious, enterprising but heavily compassionate James Embreem Sirleaf. The Krus would call him ‘Jue-doe-weleh-puay’, meaning ‘ten-in-one child’, or a single child filling the gap of ten children. The Sirleafs’ jue-doe-weleh puay has fallen, leading them drowned and choked in near irrecoverable grief. But, as The Analyst reports, the family is painfully managing to ‘hoarse out’ the unfortunate news to the public.
Finally, the Sirleaf, Johnson, Cooper, Pierre and Dukuly families have mustered the courage to announce the loss of a gem of theirs, one of Liberia’s ace bankers and public administrators, James Embreem Sirleaf.
In a short statement, the families reported that the sudden death of James Ebreem Sirleaf (JES) occurred at his home on the Congo Town Back Road on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
The fallen Liberian technocrat was the first son of Liberia’s first female president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The family statement did not say the cause of death, but further said that funeral arrangements will be announced later, and urged that all tributes in honor of the late James Sirleaf be made on his Facebook page.
A visit to the home of the Sirleafs see how members of the family look visibly devastated and paralyzed by the passing of their son, uncle and father.
Former President Sirleaf, known for her strong will in the face of adversities, doesn’t seem immune to the intoxicating stupor of grief that has engulfed the family since James passed so suddenly.
Some say he did not complain of any ailment prior to his death.
Madam Sirleaf can be seen staring in vacant air and taking deep breath, trying rather fruitlessly to hold her composure as would be required of a national leader and international citizen she is.
Mr. James E. Sirleaf or “JES” as he was fondly called by family members and close friends, was a career banking and finance expert who had worked with Citibank/Citigroup Profit Center Management, Branch Operations and Credit.
He held an MBA from the University of Liverpool, Post Graduate in E-Business from the University of Westminster England, and a degree in Business Administration. He was also a partner at Monrovia Oil Trading Corporation.
According to close family members, the last five years of his life were devoted to farming, especially the breeding of animals.
He was a former banker with formidable years of business banking experience based at Citibank London, Div. Head for Corporate and Institutional Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Liberia, General Manager Corporate and Institutional Banking at formerly called FI and now called SIB Bank in Monrovia.
James was a high silhouette participant at Strasbourg, France World Forum for Democracy under the Council for Europe in October 2012, where he along with the Head of the Asia Development Bank (Japan) both delivered addresses on the impact of the World Economic and Financial Crisis in Weakening democratic institutions.
He also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross Insurance, Inc. in Monrovia, Liberia, and Consultant and Advising Director of Monrovia Oil Trading Corporation in Monrovia, Liberia.
Monrovia Oil Trading Corporation (MOTC) is historically and when possible providing fuel support services and sales of lubricants and with no illicit products to a number of major corporations in Liberia.
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