The current year, 2020, was not a pleasant period at all for Liberians. As the George Manneh Weah administrations endeavor to increase its speed to connect more citizens and communities with electric power and paved roads, and put bread on the table of many, another deadly pandemic in six years struck the country. In 2014 there was the Ebola virus disease, which not only ravaged the population but grounded the then minimum economic gains to a halt. Picking up the pieces when the pandemic was beaten back, and as the new political administration was reconsolidating to overcome the devastating impact, Liberia again bumped into a pestilence of similar or more deadly fangs, COVID-19. It has claimed lives, slowed economic growth and increased hardship amongst citizens. But all was not lost. Under the dire conditions, peace reigns under the aegis of a political administration determined to subdue all odds. Moving into another year, hopes are rife again for continued progress and peace, and many are calling for unity and harmony amongst the people. One person who is strongly hopeful of better days in the coming year(s) is the Mother of the Land, First Lady Clar Decontee Weah. But she is calling for “calibrating of our egos” and unity towards genuine peace and national development, as The Analyst reports.
Liberia’s First Lady, widely credited for humanitarian works for the most unfortunate segment of the Liberian population, is calling on Liberians and foreigners within our border to “recalibrate our egos with renewed vigor and enthusiasm; self-discipline and tolerance, and forge new development goals to lift our country to higher heights and revive the economy”.
In her Yearend Message to Liberians released Tuesday, Madam Weah said while all has not been rosy for the Weah’s Administration, especially in 2020, Liberians should put past behind and forge ahead determined to surmount the challenges ahead towards sustaining the peace and spreading the development and progress.
“Fellow citizens, as we transition to the New Year 2021, I admonish us all to uphold our unity in diversity; maintain law and order, work harder together and support our government in the interest of moving Liberia forward,” the First Lady said. She added: “Keeping in mind that Liberia is all we have; and that the development and prosperity of this country rests on us as Liberians, let us all project a positive image of our country and make it more attractive, precious and pristine to the rest of the world.”
She extended “good tidings to Liberians at home and abroad, and warm felicitations from the “depth of my heart as we wrap up a truly challenging year.”
She admitted: “It is without doubt that 2020 was challenging and I want us to take time off, from an elaborate celebration to reflect on all we have.”
“Little did we know that a novel virus, covid19, would transcend beyond all global borders and bring our country along with the rest of the world down on its knees,” Madam Clar Weah further recalled. “The global pandemic, first recorded in Liberia on March 16, hit hard and set us off track; – crippling the economy, affecting every sector of the society and claiming hundreds of lives. Our deepest condolences to all who lost loved ones (globally and domestically) to the virus. May their souls rest in peace!”
She intoned that in spite of the holocaust caused by the recent global pandemic and other traumatic socio-economic challenges, “we embraced and maintained our destiny with comforting words of our national anthem: ‘we have overall prevailed!’”
She gave thanks to God Almighty for sparing the lives of Liberians and blessing upon the country, adding, “We must also deeply appreciate the government, under the administration of our President Dr. George Manneh Weah for his leadership and numerous development initiatives as he stirs the nation to prosperity during these challenging times.”
She said each citizen, regardless of political, religious or socio-economic backgrounds, deserves a depth of gratitude for their respective roles – individually and collectively – in sustaining the peace and stability the country enjoys, and in supporting national development efforts and above all upholding the nation’s democracy.
“From the bottom of my heart, as your First Lady, I say thank you for your resilience, patience and interceding prayers to God Almighty for our dear country Liberia,” she declared. “I urge everyone to remain peaceful and hopeful that with hard work and unity the new Liberia we all yearn for is certain! Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year!”
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