Fellow Liberians, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am delighted to be here tonight. What I am about to say is twofold. I will be making this remark both as outgoing president of LAWS and as Western Regional VP for the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, (ULAA).
I am pleased to point out that during my tenure as president of LAWS for the past two years, I was fortunate to have worked with a bunch of good, hardworking people who were willing to make selfless sacrifice. They gave their best toward uplifting this community organization. We went from an interim organization to a full-fledged, duly registered organization within the State of Washington as well as becoming member of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas. People who worked with me in achieving this are the ones who have stepped up to the plate to take the leadership mantle of our organization. Our president-elect Mr Collins was the secretary general, Mr Yates was and still is the vice president; Mr. Jarbah was and still is youth coordinator; Mr Kinnay was and still is the advisor; Mrs. Kinnay was and still is membership committee chairperson, etc, etc. (a little footnote: as a matter fact, I gave it up.) One of the many attributes of a good leader is to know when to say “let somebody take over from me.”
Together we achieved a lot. And there were other important things we could not complete. However it is hoped that the new corps of officers will take the organization to the next level. The sky is the limit. Thanks guys for giving me the opportunity to work with you.
My next role tonight is one of Western Regional Vice President of ULAA. Let me use this time to welcome all Liberians from our sister organization in Portland, OR. Washington, the Evergreen State is the best place in the United States of America to be. To our brothers and sisters from Portland, I have one big request to make of you: it is about time that you join ULAA, the umbrella organization. There are more benefits to be derived there from. The greatest benefit of them all is working for your fellow countrymen. This is how I see it.
The ULAA of today is not the ULAA of yesteryears - the ULAA of Duopu, Taylor, Bai Gbala, Tangaba Jangaba, et al - which served only as an advocacy or pressure group on the Liberian Government. The present Wettee ULAA is service- and results-oriented. While the Wettee administration advocates for social justice in Liberia, it also works to improving the lives of our people here in the United States and in Liberia. In other words, if the administration says to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government, “Madam President, our people need pipe-borne drinking water”, ULAA will also say, “Here is our contribution to make that happen”. That is the ULAA I am talking about. For the records, during the recent donors’ conference on Liberia held in Washington DC and attended by President Johnson-Sirleaf, the Union was fully represented. At that time we pledged the amount of five thousand dollars to the Liberian government.
Right now, the most sticky and crucial issue the present administration is tackling is the immigration issue. What is going to happen to our compatriots residing in the United States whose Temporary Protective Status (TPS) is expiring in October of this year. My understanding is that the US Immigration will send them back to Liberia. Imagine what that will mean for those families that are affected: broken homes, loss of income, no remittances to Liberia etc. This will ultimately create both physical and psychological problems for our people.
Therefore the Wettee administration is tackling the issue head-on. President Wettee is crisscrossing the United States bringing the Liberian immigration issue to the fore. Immigration has become one of the main challenges of the present ULAA administration. As I speak to you because of this hard work, US Senator Jack Reed of Rhodes Island and others have introduced on the Senate Floor: Bill S656 (Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2008). If the Bill is passed it would afford our people the opportunity to remain in the US and apply for permanent residency. We as communities in the western region need to do our part to support the work of the national ULAA leadership. We need to meet with our Senators here to give Senator Reed the support.
President Wettee will be in Sacramento, CA on May 6, 2007. I am unable to go due to work. However, those who are willing to go can meet with me after the program so that we can work out a way for you to go. We need to be there. Please join me in making this happen.
I thank you.
