EJS Expresses Sorrow Over Former COS’ Demise -Says Grigsby’s Greatest Strength in Unqualified Loyalty

MONROVIA – Tears for the unassuming public servant, fallen Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Minister Sylvester Grigsby, shall long inundate the public space for a time to come, given his nonpartisan and nationalist character widely acknowledged across the aisle, demonstrated while serving in a horde of private and private positions in the country. Fully and fluently can any Liberian narrate and attest to this fact more than former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a longtime friend and confidant, who paraded the fallen statesman into various prominent high level government positions. While awaiting the state funeral of her demised COS to deliver a full tribute, former President Sirleaf has released a short, but grief-adorned statement in honor of a man she made Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as The Analyst reports.    

Understandably stunned and speechless, as is characteristic of any close acquaintance in such similar unexpected situation, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had but a few words in rapid reaction to the fall of her former Chief of Staff (COS).

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs under two presidents – Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—Ambassador Grigsby was on August 9 announced dead barely two months from his 75th birthday, triggering shocks across the country.

In her initial response, Madam Sirleaf said, “Sylvester Grigsby was a resolute Public Servant, totally dedicated to ensuring that goals were achieved within established rules.

“He was assertive and efficient, with admirable modesty. His greatest talent was to maintain relationships and loyalty among many of different persuasions – politically, culturally, spiritually and socially.”

The former president who, during her regime made the late Grigsby Superintendent of Sinoe County, Minister of State for Presidential Affiars and Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs up to the end of her term in 2018, said in her brief statement, “I will give my Tribute during the memorial service.”

She added: “My sympathy goes to his family, public and private but more importantly to his best friend and colleague, President Joseph Nyema Boakai. May his soul and the souls of all those gone before him rest in eternal peace.”