Ebola in Liberia

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's removal won't solve the Ebola problem. Liberians fight among themselves wanting her to be removed while loved ones are dying left and right. The very next victim could very well be your relative, a close friend or neighbor. It is very surprising that so many Liberians are trying to cash out and get something in their pockets instead of eradicating this deadly virus. One thing most forget is that it is not just Ellen who looked the other way in the beginning. Most Liberians did, arguing among themselves, accusing the government for wanting to steal. Come on people, we all heard from many that Ebola was not in Liberia. The government was lying. Well educated Liberians said this too. Stop pointing fingers for once and let all Liberians do the part by being positive or shut up. And those of you who are using such a deadly virus that could wipe out Liberia or West Africa, shame on you, Shame.

Ebola

EBOLA, EBOLA, EBOLA! It has been said by most that the Ebola virus does not like soap and water. One has to come in close contact with a sick person with Ebola via sweat or other body fluids in order to be exposed to the Ebola virus. Does this include sex, kissing, hugging or just touching?

Ebola is a disease that really we (scientists) do not know. Yet it is being said that it is a very weak virus that can't really enter the human body if one knows hygiene, keeping clean with saop and water, something that is not hard for most of us and our friends to do. Using public bathrooms without washing hands, sometimes turning on the faucet, letting the water run without your fingers or hands getting wet. What about washing just one or two fingers in a restaurant after having been out there touching just about everybody and everything?

Carrier? We all are carriers in a sense that if we come into contact with Mrs. Ebola and do not practice sanitation (hygiene.)

Please do not take this as a promotion for Kaiser Memorial Cemetery, because it is not. But as an undertaker, as those of you who have dealt with us, we do not allow any above ground burials under any circumstances. The reason is tombs and graves that are above ground are a health risk for diseases. 97% of the tombs and graves in Liberia and I repeat myself are unprofessionally half-way built, not enclosed properly leaving some way for flies, bugs and other hazardous conditions for the living.

We need to educate our citizens to understand that respecting your loved one is not the big show, but a decent respectable burial location for their remains to rest in eternity.

Stop burying in tombs and graves that come above ground to impress your friends knowing you can't afford to give everlasting care.

We all love our dead and want to show it off, but my people, our dead loved us too and want us to go on until our number is called. Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene.

Aaron Hughes sentenced to life in prison for incest

Former Elko Police Capt. Aaron Hughes was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for incest. Hughes, 41, was arrested in 2008 and charged with incest and using a minor in the production of pornography after sheriff’s deputies found a video file of Hughes and a 17-year-old female relative engaging in sexual acts. 

He accepted a plea deal from the district attorney’s office in January when he admitted to incest and the prosecution dropped the pornography charge.

I'm glad that he is finally seeing justice. Life in prison is not a day too much for this sleezebag.

http://elkodaily.com/news/former-police-capt-sentenced-to-life-for-incest/article_969726ac-df77-11e2-9b43-001a4bcf887a.html

Bury not just anywhere

Dear Liberians and friends of Liberia,

Please help me understand why so many choose to bury their loved ones just anywhere. It just doesn't make sense to me to spend  thousands of dollars on a burial and bury the person in trash at an area that is used as a toilet, a shelter and for drugs.

So many are complaining since Decoration Day, March 13th of this year about not being able to find their loved ones' graves or finding them open without a body or casket in it or even finding someone else buried on top of them.Yet people are still choosing just anywhere as a burial site.

My people the high class program and grand repast is important, but the place you choose to have your mother, father, child, brother, sister, wife, husband, or dear friend is the most important. You need to be
able to find that grave many many years from now.

Liberia is very much still under development.  Many areas will be in disarray pending the future development of the country.  Don't let your love one's grave become a problem in the near future.

Stopped burying on your private property.  Your farm, yard or a piece of land that you own is a no no. Think about it.

My people look around Liberia especially Monrovia.  There are unattended graves everywhere that are being used for unbelievable activity.

Please bury your love ones at a clean maintained cemetery in a secure gave that would be around for over a hundred years.

Don"t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Your friends, the management and staff of Kaiser Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

http://kaisermemoriallawn.com

My brothers and I

Back in the day a praying lady used to always say a family that prays
together stays together. My brothers and I do not usually pray
together and live very far apart from each other. But we stay in
constant contact. We try to text each other every day, mostly to
talk about silly things. Our oldest brother H. Carey always starts
out with "how are you doing my dear little brother Tony" and ends with "I
love you very much." My brother Alex St. James' saying is "how are you
Higgins?" and ends with "take very good care of yourself." Love you. Just
thinking out loud...we do pray together.

Tribute to my late double cousin Sophie Laraine Minor

This is a tribute to my late double cousin Sophie Laraine Minor. If I were asked to summarize your life all I would say is you were the number one family person. You loved your family and wanted only the best for them. I will miss your being my medical advocate. It is so sad to know that I will never talk to you again. You fought the battle and can't say you lost Cous, well done, you are with our Lord. I hope to meet you again. I remember when I was diagnosed with cancer, you gave me so much encouragement and told me what to eat and what not to do. You even called me on your breaks at work to see how I was doing and whether I was eating the right things. Thank you ya. Although I thought you were playing Aunty Dolly or my mom's role, it was all good. Cous, with all you were going through, you still found time to be there for your friends and especially your family. Our days in Paynesville at John and Dolly Minor's house and on Paynes Avenue at William and Alice Cisco's house; those were the days. We would have Bassa Dumpboy at your house and the cook at my parents' house would cook a mess like how Aunt Dolly and my mom would have called it. We got a kick out of it, your Monrovia College days, but most of all how you always looked forward to being someone. Sophie you did it. Even with the war and all the bad things that happened to our Country, you kept going. Now you are going away, gone ahead of us, leaving so many hearts torn apart. Your name is all over Monrovia and Paynesville, both Liberia and the United States.

Sorry for the times we disagreed although I can't remember you and me ever disrespecting each other. But girl you sometimes pushed my buttons. Rest my loving darling cousin. The Liberian saying.....say hi to Aunty Dolly, Uncle John, Cleo, Celestine, Dolly, Buster, my brother Charles, my mother aunt, Alice, Dad, Uncle William, sisters Darlene and Marilyn and brother Tyren. May you all continue to rest with our Lord.

Goodbye cous, sleep well. We all have another angel to watch over us. Sophie, O Sophie, thanks for being my friend. Thank you yah. Rest in forever peace. Like how you ended our conversation LOVE YOU COUS. DIDO.

ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY MADAM ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY MADAM ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
TO THE 67TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2012

Mr. President;
Mr. Secretary-General;
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Heads of Delegations;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I congratulate you, Mr. President, and the people of Serbia, on your election as President of the 67th Session of the General Assembly. I assure you of Liberia's fullest cooperation and support as you carry out the responsibilities entrusted to you in steering the affairs of this Session.
I wish also to pay tribute to your eminent predecessor, His Excellency Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of the State of Qatar, for his capable stewardship of the affairs of the 66th Session and the many bold initiatives undertaken in the interest of world peace during his tenure.

My highest commendation goes to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who continues to demonstrate sound leadership in the face of new and complicated challenges.  He has begun his second term with renewed vigor and a clear articulation of the priorities which encapsulate the major concerns of the international community.

Mr. President:

The selection of the theme for this Session, which calls for the "Settlement of disputes by peaceful means," could not have been more appropriate.  When we review the state of the world, we see an international landscape checkered by armed conflict, economic crises and environmental degradation. For those who have had the painful experience of conflict, including my own country, Liberia, this year's theme becomes very pertinent.

The cost of conflict in lives and infrastructural destruction makes us doubly appreciative of the value of preventive action to avert conflict.  The need for conflict prevention takes on added urgency, because most conflicts are internal, engendered by marginalization, inequity and injustice.  It becomes imperative, therefore, to identify and remove those triggers of conflict before they explode.
Our Government's efforts to achieve the twin objectives of conflict prevention and peace consolidation are being reinforced through our engagement with the peace-keeping and peace-building architecture of the United Nations.  In an environment of peace, we have prioritized actions aimed at re-establishing the rule of law by building the capacity of our institutions and processes for delivery of justice and security.  We have formulated a roadmap for national reconciliation to ensure that peace is sustainable.

Our development partners, including the UN and its Specialized Agencies, have remained faithful to our national agenda.  They have supported our priority programs for women’s empowerment, increased agricultural productivity and food security, roads and infrastructure and jobs creation.  All of the UN Agencies must be capacitated to provide the support to government programs in these areas. It is particularly critical for the new gender entity, UN Women, which is the youngest among them and whose viability must be assured.

We have made strong strides in gender equality, but much more must be done for girls' education and women’s empowerment.  Tremendous progress has been made in health care delivery.  We are particularly pleased by the recent UNICEF report showing a sharp reduction in the level of child mortality.  However, there are still many challenges to overcome before we can assure universal access to health care.

Mr. President:

Many developing countries, like Liberia, have structured their economies around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While some countries have made considerable progress in reaching some of these Goals, many others will be unable to achieve them by 2015.  There is an emerging consensus that efforts must be accelerated to achieve maximum progress in the achievement of the MDGs over the next three years.

I am honored, and humbled, to have been selected by the Secretary-General as one of the co-Chairs of his High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.  We are mindful of the difficulty of this responsibility, which requires us to propose a framework that builds upon, but goes beyond, the MDGs in the establishment of goals that are ambitious, but achievable.  We know that the results of our work must reflect a broad political consensus of the public and private sectors and civil society as well. We know that defined goals should enable all people in all countries to be freed from the shackles of poverty through development that is sustainable.

Liberia remains fully committed to the ideals and purposes of the United Nations, and believes that the Organization should continue to occupy the center of global governance, by leading efforts to meet our collective challenges to peace, security and development. To meet this objective, the inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council reform need to come to an early and logical conclusion. My Government is encouraged that an increasing number of Member States support the enlargement of the Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, which would ensure a fairer and more equitable participation reflective of the world’s demography. In this regard, Liberia supports the African Common Position, based upon the “Ezulwini Consensus” as adopted by the African Union. [Applauds]

In the same vein, we must ensure that the General Assembly is revitalized to fully assume all the responsibilities entrusted to it in the Charter.  After all, it remains the most representative body of the United Nations. 

Mr. President;
Distinguished Delegates:

The high-level Diplomatic Conference on International Trade in Conventional Weapons, which ended recently in New York, sought to develop the highest possible international standards for trade in conventional weapons. However, strong national positions on this sensitive global issue prevented an agreement on a binding Arms Trade Treaty. Yet, nations of good will and nations which have experienced devastation from illicit trading and diversions of conventional weapons must continue strong advocacy, taking into account the full range of differences and disagreements. We would thereby encourage bilateral consensus-building ahead of new rounds of negotiations. At the same time, we are convinced that the final draft Arms Trade Treaty text, though imperfect and inconclusive, contains essential ingredients upon which future negotiations can succeed.
Mr. President:

We express our deep condolence for the death of the U. S. Ambassador and staff, as well as Libyan nationals, in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. All nations should be concerned about the spreading of violence in reaction to a film which demonstrates an unacceptable insensitivity to an Islamic faith.  Even in such circumstances, we must all be mindful that democracy requires freedom – freedom of ideas, freedom of association, freedom of religion and, more importantly, freedom of expression. This often results in statements and actions that may offend.  Tolerance, and not violence, is an appropriate response to prevent further violence. Liberia is a clear example that, were it not for our tolerance to the new-found freedom of expression, our country would be back in chaos.
While the majority of our countries are consolidating economic and social gains underpinned by democratic processes, regrettably some parts of our sub-region are still dogged by serious challenges that risk undermining the peace and progress of the entire region.  We in Liberia, like many other countries in the region and the world at large, were particularly appalled by the unconstitutional unraveling, of democratic governments in Mali and Guinea Bissau in the early part of this year; and unequivocally condemned these attempts to seize power through unconstitutional means. Accordingly, Liberia endorses the decisions of ECOWAS aimed at the full restoration of constitutional order in both countries in the shortest possible time.  Liberia enjoins the world community, particularly the Security Council, to buttress efforts of ECOWAS in restoring peace in our region, most especially in Mali.

As Chair of the four-nation Mano River Union comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and La Cote D'Ivoire, Liberia has committed itself never to allow an inch of its territory to be used to destabilize its neighbors.  It is in this context that we categorically condemn all attempts to undermine the peace and democratic gains in La Cote D'Ivoire and are working closely with the Ivorian authorities and UN peacekeeping outfits in both Liberia and La Cote D'Ivoire to protect and consolidate the peace in our two countries. We call on all countries in our region to work in concert so that individuals intent on destabilizing some parts of our region are treated as enemies in all parts of our region.

Mr. President:

We are all part of a rapidly changing world in which the forces of globalization cannot be reversed. Our farming systems have to adjust to unusual weather conditions, our habitats have to relocate from traditional safe areas, our societies have to find responses to the distractions of the demonstration effect. Developing countries, like my own, must make globalization work if we are to achieve our growth targets and lift our people out of poverty.  This means more commitment and effort on our part to create an environment that ensures economic growth based on mutuality of benefits and responsibilities.

Liberia, from its founding, is a complex nation, and the cleavages that led to decades of war still run deep. Our experience clearly shows that success has its pitfalls. Displaced citizens returning from refugee camps in the sub-region, and deportees from around the world swell the ranks of the desperate unemployed, thereby intensifying our vulnerability. Communities long deprived of basic services demand instant attention to their individual needs, thereby straining our capacity. Civil servants lacking a decent living wage for two decades rightfully clamor for more, thereby undermining the budgetary processes.

As Liberia moves forward into its tenth year of sustained peace, we can state with conviction that our country has turned the corner.  Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country our citizens fled, our international partners pitied and our neighbors feared.  Our stabilization efforts, over the past six years, have resulted in average annual growth of over 6 percent.
Revenue has more than quintupled; direct foreign investment of over US$16 billion mobilized; an expanded fiscal space through unprecedented debt cancellation, infrastructure reconstruction and institutional rebuilding. More importantly, we have earned our rightful place as a country of hope and opportunity.  The processes of change which have started will continue and will not stop until the country is placed on an irreversible path of sustained peace, growth and development.  Our Vision 2030, resulting from a robust nationwide consultation, is a long-term program for transformation which prioritizes youth development, infrastructure, reconciliation and capacity development.
Yet our Government is keenly aware of the challenges to be faced over the next three years. United Nations peacekeeping forces are gradually being withdrawn from Liberia. In our discussions with various UN teams coming to Liberia – the Technical Assessment Mission in March, and the Security Council delegation in May – we have emphasized the need for a responsible transition, through a gradual process, occurring over a period of 3-5 years. We also seek the alignment of transitional activities with our budget cycle, reflecting Government priorities.

We wish to express appreciation to the United Nations, which has been a very committed and effective partner.  We owe the Organization much gratitude for preserving an enabling environment for peace-building and state-building.

In closing, Mr. President, I wish to note that today, for the first time in two generations, Liberia has a second successive democratic government elected by the will of the people. Despite the distractions, local and external, our people are determined to take their destiny into their own hands, determined that our ambitious goal of making Liberia a middle-income country by the year 2030 will be achieved.

I thank you.

Still here!

Yes I'm still here. I have been very busy. I will have more to say soon. :-)

New Year's Message by H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf To the Liberian People

My Fellow Liberians:

Let us give praise and thanks to Almighty God for his manifold blessings upon us as a people and upon our beloved Liberia, now in its ninth year of peace and stability.

2011 was a momentous year for our country. Yet we proved to the world, more importantly we proved to ourselves, that we had reached the level of political maturity to hold democratic, free, fair and transparent elections in our once fractured land.

As I speak to you, my Fellow Citizens, 2012 is upon us - a New Year, a new beginning, a new Administration. The coming of a New Year is a time for reflection, of looking back on accomplishments and of things unfinished. The New Year is also a time for resolutions and looking to the future.

We are proud of the significant progress we made over the past six years: in peace and security, economic revitalization, governance and the rule of law, and in rebuilding infrastructure and providing basic services -the four pillars of our Poverty Reduction Strategy.

We endeavored, in the first term, to address issues that required our immediate attention: to restore growth, mobilize investment, repair broken infrastructure, and to put into place the necessary laws, policies, strategies and systems. We accept that we didn't do all that we wanted; we simply underestimated the scale of the tasks.

Yet, if our people will look around, and remember from whence we started, they will agree that, indeed, we've come a long way. The benefits from the work we've done in the first six years are starting to show. Our pledge is to continue along this path. Having put the fundamentals into place, we are moving forward with the socio-economic reconstruction, development and advancement of our country.

The Liberian people renewed their confidence in our team by re-electing us to a second term. We proudly accept the challenge to work harder to complete what we started but could not finish. It is a welcome responsibility that makes us more focused and strengthens our commitment and resolve to get the work done.

The first priority on our 2012 agenda will be to address the situation of our young, unemployed and uneducated youths. We are emphasizing vocational and technical training as an imperative! Our youths need jobs, but they also need to develop the skills for the jobs that are coming in our mining, agriculture and forestry and, God willing, petroleum sectors. We are confident that the benefits of our natural resources will show results by improving the lives of our people.

At the heart of our national agenda for peace is national reconciliation, which is critical for socio-economic development and progress, as well as for peace, security and stability. National reconciliation will be the catalyst for energizing our people into collective actions for the greater common good and national cohesion.

However, we want to remind every Liberian that we have a constitutional duty to protect the lives and safety of all of our people, and that no one has the right to undermine the peace and stability of the nation.

We appeal to every Liberian to be law abiding, upholding and embracing all that we have worked to achieve. We encourage our people, especially the youth, to look to the future with renewed hope and zeal.

We call upon every Liberian to co-exist in peace and security, in a spirit of reconciliation and national unity. It will require the collective effort of all Liberians to continue rebuilding our country and to ensure that peace, stability and democracy continue to prevail. It is our fervent hope that 2012 will be a year of true patriotism and reconciliation that will accentuate the positive things that unite us.

We will, over the next six years, continue to implement our long-term vision and development agenda; conclude the processes for constitutional reform; expand infrastructure to a larger number of the population; strengthen our natural resources management; and ensure that we retain an open society based upon transparency and accountability.

As a New Year dawns, we pray God's guidance in leading our nation in the direction of peace, reconciliation and development. Let me seize this opportunity to wish Liberians - at home and in the Diaspora - and residents within our borders, a joyous holiday season and a very happy and prosperous New Year.