Paynesville – As clock ticks towards the end of President Sirleaf’s tenure, the Liberian leader has called on heads of diplomatic mission to continue to promote Liberia’s agenda for transformation.
Report by Al-Varney Rogers – [email protected]
At a retreat organized for heads of the country’s diplomatic and consular missions around the world at the RLJ Kendeja Hotel, President Sirleaf called on the diplomats to use the retreat to share knowledge with members of the cabinet.
“It is important you say to them your knowledge that made that country a more develop country than ours,” she said. Tell them the country I’m in, the policy relating to this is this and tell them the incentives.”
President Sirleaf said even though she has eight months in power, subsequent government will build on policies laid out by her government and hence the input of the diplomats would always be needed.
“You are career civil servants, which means, you move from one administration to another and what we will be doing will pass on to the next administration.
“For the new administration, there will be changes, reform, new policy, and new approaches.”
“We expect that but we expect that some things will remain – certain fundamentals – and there are things we put in place anybody who succeeds me will want to build on and you will be the ones that will be part of the continuity to be able to carry these things,” Sirleaf said.
She lavished praised on the diplomats, for representing Liberia well since they were appointed.
“I was asked by one ambassador why this retreat. Why now with only a few months left in this administration.”
“Let me try to answer that question – first of all, this an opportunity to thank you all, to say to all of you who have been with us all these years, have contributed to the progress we have made, the successes we have had, I have managed to meet some of you one on one but there hasn’t been an opportunity like this to thank all of you and appreciate you and I think it is a good reason to be here,” Sirleaf said.
Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara urged the ambassadors to contribute positively for Liberia to benefit, adding that it has been an exciting experience serving the country.
“Let us seize this moment and contribute to positive outcome for the benefit of our country.”
“We thank you madam president for expressing your confidence in us to serve in your administration, especially to be your emissary abroad, the past year has been an exciting experience for me,” Minister Kamara said.
She said despite the challenges, Liberia has grown in sub-regional, regional and continental bodies.
“There have been challenges, usually linked to the scenario of competing interest, limited resources and strong resolve to deliver.”
“We continue to draw inspiration from the height which Liberia has sailed in the last decade under your very leadership.
“We have seen post conflict Liberia been chair and co-chair in regional and continental bodies and its current position as chair of ECOWAS, in addition Liberia has again assumed the position of Secretary General of Mano River Union,” Madam Kamara said.