
April 28, 2014: The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, the Honorable Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has challenged Liberians in the Diaspora to be patriotic and speak positively of their beloved country. He said it is sad that some Liberians denigrate their own country and focus on only on negative vices in Liberia. Hon. Boakai said there are many positive developments in the country, and that the majority of citizens are good people who are working diligently to improve the conditions in Liberia.
Vice President Boakai was speaking recently in Chicago, Illinois (in mid-western United States of America), when he addressed officials and a cross-section of Liberian citizens. Honorable Boakai called on Liberian citizens everywhere to take pride in their motherland and stop “bad-mouthing” their country.
He observed that the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration has led a laudable reconstruction campaign that is rebuilding Liberia’s damaged infrastructure and repositioning Liberia within the comity of nations. The Vice President opined that when Liberians, especially those in the diaspora, speak so negatively of their country (of birth) based on misinformation and fallacies, they scare away investors and retard Liberia’s progress.
He urged Liberians everywhere to show more love for their country and support initiatives to transform not just the physical infrastructure of Liberia, but also the minds and hearts of our people. He reminded Liberians that there is no place like home and that only Liberians can develop Liberia.
Welcoming the Vice President earlier, the President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Mr. Gaye Sleh, commended the Government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, but called for great effort in fighting corruption. He also appealed for the presidential intervention to release Grand Gedeans presently facing trial. Mr. Sleh also asked for government’s support for the dual-citizenship campaign in Liberia.
Speaking earlier, Liberia’s Ambassador accredited near Washington, D.C., H.E. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, welcomed the Vice President on behalf of Liberians in the Americas. He lauded the Leadership of ULAA for working with the Embassy in promoting the interest of Liberia and Liberians. He encouraged Liberians in the United States to continue being good emissaries for their country.