Kakata, Margibi – Members of the City Council of Isanit City, Minnesota in the United States of America have unanimously voted to establish a sister city relationship with Unification City in Mboo Statutory District, Margibi County.
The Isanit City Council Members took the decision on Tuesday, October 15, at a “Sister City Relationship and Public Safety” dialogue where the Unification City Major presented a formal resolution requesting the establishment of a sister city relationship with the American city.
According to a dispatch from the US, on next Wednesday, both cities are expected to compile and officially sign the final joint resolution to cement the sisterly city relationship.
The City Major of Unification City, Samuel Berrian and Margibi County Police Chief Superintendent, Sylvester Hina, are currently in the United States of America attending the “Sister City Relationship and Public Safety” dialogue between Isanit City, Minnesota, USA and Unification City, Margibi County, Liberia.
The two Liberian Government officers are in the United States of America at the invitation of Rev. Alexander B. Collins, a Margibian and President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Horizons Resources, and also a Planning and Zoning Commissioner of the City of Isanti, Minnesota.
The Isanit City and Unification City sister city relationship is being initiated by Rev. Alexander B. Collins, Rebecca P. Collins, and New Horizons Resource, a Minnesota nonprofit organization and is also being supported by Joseph Dorbor, Helena Dorbor, Albert Lee Peters, Edith Merab and Rudolph Merah, all residents of Isanit City.
At the same time, on October 18, Mayor Berrian and Police Chief Superintendent Sylvester Hina, according to the dispatch, will attend and participate in a Community Peacebuilding through Restorative Justice Forum to be facilitated by Dr. Dona Minter at the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute. They will also review the Institute’s Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilient Training (STAR) program for possible replication in Margibi County.
The New Horizons Resources had earlier initiated and led the establishment of two Sister City Relationships – Brooklyn Park, Minnesota-Kakata, Margibi County and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota-Voinjama, Lofa County.
“The successful establishment of these two sister city relationships through the leadership of our organization has enhanced travels and exchanges amongst all four cities involved and has allowed us to send several fire trucks, police accessories, medical supplies, and ambulances to Liberia,” Rev. Collins asserted.
Rev. Collins believes that as Liberia grapples with challenging economic times, the establishment of a sister city relationship between the City of Isanit, Minnesota and Unification City, Margibi County County will yield additional assistance and enhance cultural and municipal leadership resource exchanges between the two cities, and will strengthen Isanit City’s Community Engagement efforts to reach its Liberian population.