MONROVIA – As politicians commence strategies to take hold of the followership of the electorates with catchy moves towards the 2023 general elections, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has called on opposition politicians who are desirous of contesting the presidency to patiently wait for the end of the second term of President George Manneh Weah so as to consolidate on the gains of his first tenure”, just as she said the president has done extremely well and will do more in his second term “because the records are there to show”.
Speaking to newsmen in Gbarnga City, Bong County, yesterday, Thursday, December 29, 2022 where she has gone on a short visit, VP Howard Taylor said her call on the opposition to bide their time after the president’s second tenure was based on the quantum of work done by him that can be proven and verified across the country in various sectors, and not the usual self-glorifications of typical politicians without any facts.
VP Taylor, who will be contesting on the same ballot with the President, said moving forward, Liberians will be looking for those who have solutions to problems, not the talking type; noting that Weah since his ascendency has been concerned with developing the country.
“Though we are going to the electoral process, it is the exchange of ideas, maybe some people want to go left, others to the right while others stay where they are. But it is not the fight, it is about putting our ideas on the table to allow the electorates to see who will be able to take us from where we are today to the next level.
“Of course, I will be coming with the president to ensure he gets the second term he is looking for. On our platform we will bring our progress report; we will bring our statistics to see what we have done against what the other people are saying.
“Those who want to be president should wait until President Weah finishes his second tenure because I believe we are doing very well and will do more in the second term by the grace of God”, she said.
Justifying further why their ticket will emerge victorious in the 2023 general election, Madam Taylor told newsmen that for the past five years, the government has done a lot of amazing things, citing the dedication of the Emirates Hospital in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, which she described as a first-class health facility stocked with the latest equipment in the world; the ongoing construction of the Ganta- Zwedru Highway; the Medina-Robertsport Highway; the construction of schools, market buildings; offering of scholarships to Liberian students at home and abroad.
“A lot of things are going on and the President is interested in building this country, and that is what he has been involved in. He will do more in his second term”, VP Taylor said.
The Vice President who has been very visible in recent time deputizing the president on so many occasions and stepping up her engagement with the people, said there has been some tremendous progress made on the census project, stating that about 90 percent of the work has been completed across the country besides Montserrado and some parts of Bong County where mop up exercises are being conducted to complete the process.
She said the result of the census will be available in a few weeks and President Weah after receiving the report will speak on it during his annual address to the national legislature in January.
“Remember, the census is not about President Weah; it is about our country. It will be used for development purposes. It will tell us how many we are, the number of children, very important data about the country that can be used to make decisions for development”, she said.
Asked about her message for Liberians as they enter the year 2023, the first Female Vice President of Liberia urged the citizens to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and seek every opportunity to be united for the sole purpose of working for the development of the country.
“Patriotism first. Anything you love, protect it; ensure that it grows, it develops and that is why it is good to observe people’s activities.
“Some people have decided to be destroyers, troublemakers, noise makers, but we should be interested in developing the country because it is the only country we have.
“I want to speak to the opposition; you are Liberians. What is required is whatever support you have, come let us support the development of the country. Your opposition should not be just for book talk.
“I was an opposition lawmaker during the administration of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I raised the most money for Bong County only next to Montserrado County. So I did not just sit down and say let us spoil former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration. I worked with her and brought things for my people. So let us work together as Liberians”, she stated.
When asked what message she has for the people of Bong County, Madam Howard- Taylor said like what she has always done is to ask for peace and harmony among the people and work towards the county.
She said there was no way she could divorce herself from the county she hails; and would like to be there all the time when called upon but then she is Vice President of Liberia and not Bong county alone, and that was why over the few months she had been crisscrossing the country visiting Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu. She said, upon the resumption of the national legislature in few weeks from now, she will embark upon a tour of Southeastern Liberia.
Comments are closed.