Liberia: Presidential Aide Sekou Kalasco Tells Fellow Muslims that President Weah Has Taken “A Giant Step” towards Their Demand for Public Eid Holiday

Monrovia – Sekou Kalasco Damaro, the Special Aide to President George Weah is calling on Muslims in the country to appreciate the Liberian leader for excluding all Muslims working in the government from their normal working activities on the closure of the month of Ramadan something he said can lead to the declaration of Islamic Holiday in the country.

The issue of having an Islamic holiday in Liberia has been on the lips of many Muslims in the country.  

But speaking at the opening of the Ali Sylla Intellectual Forum in Peace Island, Jacob Town over the weekend, the Special Aide to President Weah called on Muslims in the country to appreciate the President for what he termed as a “giant step” taking toward the creation of a Muslim’s Holiday.

“As a President, who got control over the Executive Branch of government and said on the day of Ramadan no Muslims should come to work. That by extension is a holiday,” Mr. Damaro said.

Despite Muslims in the public sector was given a stay-home for Eid Mubarak, other Muslims who are working in the private sector were forced to go to work or warrant dismissal from their jobs if they are absence.

The Special Aide to Pres. Weah added that since the President has started with the public offices it is now the time for Muslims in the country to peacefully request to their Legislators to enact a law creating a Muslim Holiday as a National Holiday.

“The lawmakers are the direct representation of the people. If we believe that we want this day to be a holiday in Liberia, what are some of the first things we support to take into consideration?” he asked.

Damaro added: “We need to reach out to our lawmakers in a very peaceful manner and tell them we want you to build on what the President has started and give us the opportunity to have a National Holiday. For now, the president has taken the first giant step and that giant step we as Muslims must appreciate it. We must appreciate it because it was not happening in Liberia before.”

At the same time, Kalasco called on young people in the country to take advantage of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) program to be able to enhance their living condition.

According to him, everyone cannot work in government  -adding that the issue of employment has been a serious challenge to the Liberian government after the prolonged civil war.   

“The government has been the highest employer since after the war. The government is struggling when it comes to employment, that problem is not coming from the Weah regime it started a long time. Take advantage of the TVET program. You can be a professional carpenter, a professional mechanic, or even a plumber,” he said.

Kalasco added: “If we as young people open ourselves, I believe that excluding working in the office when we explore another means like the TVET program that is created to empower young people, we can make maximum use of that.”