Africa-Press – Liberia. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Varney Sirleaf, has said that marketers in Liberia have remained peaceful despite the difficult economic conditions in the country.
Sirleaf expressed the government’s gratitude for the patience and sacrifices that the marketers, who are predominantly women, are making to ensure that Liberians continue to enjoy peace.
The Minister spoke last Thursday when he served as guest speaker at the 24th annual convention of the Liberian Marketing Association (LMA) held in Sanniquellie, Nimba County.
The convention came following a serious internal leadership crisis that engulfed the association for about 2 years. It was attended by marketers’ superintendents and other officials of the association from the fifteen counties, under the theme: “In love and unity, LMA will develop Successfully.”
Minister Sirleaf told the delegates that because of peace and unity, he is of the belief that the LMA will make progress.
He emphasized that without peace, there can be no development for any organization or nation.
“We need peace to develop LMA and hold together. With unity, we can also develop our nation where LMA resides. If we can hold together as one family we all can succeed no matter what comes our way.
The Minister said that he was pleased to realize that the leadership was forward. Let us work together to move Liberia forward. This organization can make our country become better.
He asked the members of the marketing association to rise up to a place of transformation.
“I am calling on the members of the Association to rise up from tables to shops and stores. A better Liberia will ensure a better LMA which is in line with the country’s development agenda,” he stated.
He said during the administration of President George M. Weah, the LMA has witnessed the construction of several modern market structures across the country.
“The President’s goals remain improving the lives of Liberians particularly the marketers with improving livelihood. Let peace reigns today in the LMA and let us go back to where we come.,”
He said that the President was pleased with the commitment of the market people toward the sustenance of the peace.
“The President has asked me to congratulate you for your successful holding of elections. He has asked me to thank the leadership of the LMA for sustaining the peace. Your recent crisis for which you have been able to manage is something that the President is highly impressed about. He has also told me that the road that he is paving linking Liberia to Logatou will greatly enhance cross border trade. If the road is going to enhance cross border trade you shall not be spectators of this economy as the President has promised,” he said.
According to him the road project will help to improve the lives of market people within the country.
He said that the government was working with the LMA to ensure that through the ministry of Commerce to find a means to transport their produce from neighboring countries.
However, he called on the marketers to demonstrate responsibility to ensure that whatever opportunity provided them can be sustained.
“You will have to make sure to become responsible to pay your taxes. You cannot always get services for free. We want the LMA to be accountable to show that resources generated are spent for the purpose intended.
The Minister further urged the marketers to ensure that the girls are educated.
“The President has told me that you make sure that you send your girls children to school. He said when the girls are educated Liberia will surely develop.
Also speaking, the President of the LMA, Elizabeth F. Sambollah outlined numerous achievements made during the period. She mentioned the construction and renovations of market structures have been undertaken.
According to her, partners have also been instrumental in helping to build additional markets.
“As you all know that when I took over there was no vehicle to ensure the smooth function of our works. But today we have vehicles and tricycles to ensure transportation. We have also bought lands and have worked to barricade all of the market’s sites to reduce criminal activities. Everything that we met was down and we have tried to revamp. We have also introduced an insurance scheme to solve the health problems and have improved the salaries of our workers,” she narrated.
Meanwhile, the LMA President explained that garbage collection still remains a serious challenge for the Association.
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