Africa-Press – Liberia. The newly elected President of the Caldwell Visionaries for Restoration and Development (CAVIRD) John Adolphus Woods has said the Township of Caldwell today is marked by “everybody doing their own thing and lawlessness and indiscipline just everywhere”.
According to Mr. Woods, in the churches, mosques, schools, communities and just everywhere, no one seems to care and everybody is doing their own thing.
‘‘Ghettoes and illicit drugs businesses are visible in the communities and people are not bothered. My friends, it saddens me so much to see how residents of Caldwell prefer to call the young ones Zogos than to stand up in the fight to prevent them from becoming Zogos,’’ Mr. Woods asserted.
Delivering his inaugural address at program marking the installation of the new corps of officers of CAVIRD on Saturday, September 13, 2025 in the auditorium of St. Maria Goretti High School, Upper Caldwell, Township of Caldwell, the new President of CAVIRD pointed out, ‘‘Can you see my fellow Caldwellers, that our township is lacking in public infrastructures? There is no town hall or event hall? No place for sports and recreation? No public library or laboratory? Yet, I hear some folks advocating for city status. We need to be serious!’’
‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, our theme for today mobilizing the residents of Caldwell to transform and develop the township was carefully chosen and is timely, considering the time and reality. Our theme recognizes that our township can build on the strength and resilience of its residents with togetherness, we can unravel the negatives and infrastructure gaps and create positive change and development. We need to develop the mindset of community pride. By doing so, we will take ownership of our township and make it a better place,’’ he stated.
‘‘Our theme calls for collective and intentional action. We need to collaborate and support one another to achieve great things. To mobilize the residents of Caldwell for action, we must know that every resident has a unique skill or talent that could contribute to the development of Caldwell. In our strive to mobilize the residents of Caldwell to transform and develop Caldwell, we must consider sustainability. Let’s focus on sustainable initiatives that benefit our township in the long run,’’ he told the audience.
President Woods mentioned that the call to action is now and it requires the proactive role of the office of the commissioner of Caldwell to institute good governance in the discharge of his local government responsibilities.
This, he noted, will include, but not limited to getting residents to participate in planning and decision-making processes, sharing of ideas and information and encouraging a strong support for one another.
He continued, ‘‘To my colleagues in CAVIRD, we need to rise up and play our active role in helping to mobilize the residents to transform and develop Caldwell. We will support the office of the commissioner and at the same time, we will not relent in speaking truth to power. To the residents of Caldwell, I want you to demand for the right things to be done in Caldwell, but please do it with respect.’’
He said there is no more time to sit on the fence, stressing ‘‘we need to send the message in the diaspora and everywhere residents of Caldwell can be found that there is a call to action to transform and develop the township of Caldwell.’’
Mr. Woods reminded his colleagues and the audience that together they can transform and develop the township into a thriving vibrant place.
‘‘Let’s work hand in hand, support each other and make a positive impact,’’ he added
Earlier in his speech, Mr. Woods historicized that in 1839 Caldwell was among the first four townships listed as an original settlement in the 1839 constitution of the commonwealth of Liberia.
He said Caldwell was named after Elijah B. Caldwell who came from New Jersey, United States of America and played a key role in the establishment of the nation Liberia.
‘‘Research informed us that the township of Caldwell was established in 1825. If my calculation is right, from 1825 to 2025 is 200 years, meaning Caldwell is 200 years as current,’’ he uttered.
‘‘During the pre-war period, residents of Caldwell lived in a communal way. There was related and unrelated individuals who lived together, sharing resources like food, living space and child-rearing responsibilities, often based on shared social values or religious beliefs.’’
‘‘The collective living culture that was practiced by the residents prior to the civil war significantly contributed towards the discipline of the young ones, in every aspects of life, for instance, a child was easily disciplined by a neighbor for wrong doing and that neighbor was thanked by the parents. What is the situation today? It was a deterrent to unruly or uncultured behavior.’’
Woods noted that the township of Caldwell was deeply rooted in the value of respect for elders, friends and professional people like teachers, health workers and religious leaders. Mr. Woods averred that the population was low to the extent that almost everyone knew one another.
‘‘Back then, in Caldwell, there existed a very strong and effective township’s leadership and on the agenda of township meetings, were key discussions on the orderliness of the township, encouragement of positive families, ethical and moral behavior, good sanitation and development of schools and clinics,’’ he recalled.
The President of CAVIRD said the memory of pre-war Township of Caldwell is still strong in the minds of many of us who grew up in Caldwell and is believed to be the reason they all assembled at the installation program.
Among other things, he paid honor to the fallen fathers and mothers who dedicated their lives to impacting in them values for education, love, togetherness, respect and development.
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