CDC-USA Congratulates Liberians On Its 168th Year Anniversary

On the auspicious and momentous occasion of the 168th Year Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Liberia, Africa‟s oldest republic, the Congress for Democratic Change-United States of America (CDC-USA) extends on behalf of our Political Leader, Ambassador Senator George Manneh Weah, the Chairman, Nathaniel McGill, the Leader of the Revolutionary Youth League, Honorable Jefferson Koijee, the National Executive Committee, and the general membership of our Party, the single largest political Party in Liberia, our congratulations and best wishes for continued preservation of our nation-state.

Our country, Liberia, has truly traversed a storied and rugged path. As Africa‟s first, and for a long time, one of the only three independent nations on the African continent, our country stood in the vanguard of the struggle to end colonialism and imperialism while advancing the independence movement. The overbearing power and influence of the imperialists meant that Liberia played a role even at the peril of her independence and statehood.

The gallantry and determination of the leaders of Liberia proved impregnable and surpassed the menace of those whose determination was to keep the people of Africa suppressed. So, to this end, we of the CDC-USA are proud of our accomplishments as a nation and people. But, the success of Liberia does not extend anywhere beyond this. As, a nation, we have failed and continue to fail. Today, 168 years after the founding of our country, we stand out in some of the worst statistical categories in the measure of the quality of life. The doctor to population ratio in Liberia is an embarrassing 1 doctor to 1000 persons, the worst in the entire world. We “boast” a staggering 61 % illiteracy rate. Our mothers are dying in childbirth and our babies are perishing at birth. Our maternal mortality rank is 202 out of 208 countries and our infant mortality rank is 177 out of 184 nations. Needless, we mention the lack of access to water and sanitation for the most of our people.

Indeed, in today‟s Liberia and the Liberia we have known for our life time, abject poverty, a non-existent health care system, a „messed up‟ educational system, limited access to jobs, seemingly impassable roads, high infant mortality rate, dismal neo-natal and maternal care, rape, gender violence and a culture of impunity for corrupt officials of government have become a standard rather than an aberration or anomaly. No wonder, why so many of our citizens lost their lives and continue to lose their lives in wake of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD in Liberia. We also set similar very low standards in governance and corruption indicators in all the major international indices. With all of this, the Unity Party led government continues to struggle in setting its priorities. Our People, we know, deserve better.

CONGRESS FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE - USA

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL

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Motto: One Nation, One People, One Destiny!

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The failings and disengagement have reached epic proportions that even people in certain parts of

Liberia who would generally use the Independence Day celebration to temporarily sooth themselves

by participating in the usually bogus ceremony have rejected this year‟s celebration. Our people have

seen enough and no amount of pandering can sway their resolve to send a clear message that enough is

enough. We of the Congress for Democratic Change stand with the people of Sinoe and the many

forgotten counties, cities and communities in Liberia. No level of political trickery, machination and

hypocrisy can conceal the attempt to pacify and mislead the people. Enough of this! What is even

more troubling is that the President will lead a delegation of hundreds of officials of government

outside of Monrovia to “celebrate” and cut the ribbon to the doors of the “$300,000.00 Project”.

Such,

we are convinced, is a clear intent to deceive and redirect the national discourse about the misuse and

abuse of the nation‟s wealth by a tiny fraction of privileged Liberians. That a nation which has seen

168 years will marshal its force to celebrate the dedication of a “guest house, a CCTV facility and the

construction of concrete fencing” is ludicrous and indicative of the shallowness of the thoughts of the

people elected to lead our nation. This is why, today, we commend the youths and citizens of Sinoe

County in their united stance to expose this scheme.

On this day, we call on the citizenry of Liberia to not just direct their attention on the cheerless

performance of the Unity Party led government but to rather look to the future and the alternative we

offer as a Party. Our Party assures the people of Liberia of our unflinching commitment to the

equitable distribution of the wealth of our land, to the prioritization of the education of our youths and

women, the health of our people, the improvement of the infrastructure of our country, the

maintenance of the rule of law and the creation of equal opportunities for all. As a grassroot

movement, we see it not as a choice but an obligation.

Happy 26th and our 26 is on you!

MUYAH! MUYAH! CDC MUYAH!!!

Issued by CDC-USA‟s National Secretariat

Isaac Saye-Lakpoh Zawolo

Natio nal Secretary General