Monrovia – In an effort to ensure that this year’s independence celebration is held peacefully and void of missteps, a vetting process for the orator of the celebration has opened in Monrovia.
Recently, the President of Liberia, George M. Weah constituted a joint committee to spearhead the July 26 celebrations.
The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection and the Monrovia City Corporation are members of the committee.
The committee’s mandate is to ensure a transparent vetting process in which an orator will emerge to serve this year’s event.
According to a member of the Committee, Assistant Minister for Children and Social Protection at the Gender Ministry, Madam Meminah Carr, the new vetting process intends to discover a new voice in the history of celebrating Liberia’s independence.
She made the statement Thursday, June 21, during a joint press Conference at the Monrovia City Corporation in Monrovia.
Minister Carr said the process, which is described as “transparent and crystal clear” is open up to the general public for young people between the ages of 15 to 35 years.
She indicated that the young people from high school to masters’ level of the required age can apply to be the national orator.
“We are accepting applications from high school to masters’ level and the application process beings June 22 to July 15 2018,” she said.
Minister Carr noted that in order to ensure that the process remains clean of biases; a panel of judges will be set up to review applications and further vet applicants, noting that finalists will be presented to the public for final vetting.
“Five (5) persons will be the finalists from the judges vetting and voting thereafter will be open to the public for three (3) days, anyone can vote for one of the five candidates in the process including market women among others”, Min. Meminah averred.
Commenting Further, another member of the committee, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee stated that the process is open up to all young people irrespective of your political affiliations.
Mayor Koijee pointed that in order to allow young people participate in the nation building of the country; they must first engagement the national leadership constructive.
“We are open to having a praise singer as a national orator but someone will see their participation as a way to build the country,” he said.
He underscored that no one should be excluded from the process due to their alignment with the ruling party.
“Let me tell you all CDCians are human beings and they are Liberians if they win the majority people vote to become the orator I will definitely be happy,” he added.
Every year, July 26 is observed as a national holiday for the celebration of Liberia’s independence. Liberia gained her independence on July 26, 1847, 171 years ago.
Orators were selected during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
This year’s event will not witness a single selection by the president rather by the Liberian people through what the committee termed as competitive process.
Story by Lisa T. Diasay, FPA Contributor