District# 12 youth debate dual citizenship, land right

Hundreds of youth from several communities in Monterrado County electoral district #12 end one-day debate on dual citizenship and land right for non-Negroes as proposed by President George Manneh Weah.

The opportunity for citizens of the district to give their views on the propositions was organized by District#12 Representative Dr. George Beyan Sambah. President Weah put forth the propositions in his Annual Message delivered to the 54th Liberian Legislature at the Capitol Building in January.

Some participants at the debate held in the Gardnersville Town Hall express delight that their Representative organized the forum to hear from the youth, who made up 70 percent of the country’s population to give their individual inputs on the critical national issues.

Liberians’ reactions are mixed to the President’s suggestions with some being in support, while others think the population is not economically and socially conscientized enough to accommodate dual citizenship, especially people of non-African descent owning land here.

The participants, who represent youth groups from various communities in the district, are similarly divided on the propositions. Some argue that granting non-Africans citizenship would fast track the country’s development agenda.

On the question of land rights, they overwhelmingly agreed that non-Negroes should be granted right to landownership, but with specific limitations to avoid them acquiring more lands than ordinary or economically less advantaged citizens.

At the close of the debate, some youth representatives, including Jimmy Washington, Charles Diggs, Olivia Thompson, and Sarah Nah express gratitude to Representative Sambah for providing the space wherein views of the young people are solicited on the two crucial national issues.

They urge their leaders to ensure that their opinions as expressed during the debate are highlighted during formal deliberations by the 54th Legislature clothed with the authority to enact laws for the betterment of the citizenry.

Grand Kru County Representative Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Kofa, recently introduced two bills in the House, supporting President Weah’s calls for dual citizenship and landownership rights for non-Africans in Liberia.

By Emmanuel Mondaye-Editing by Jonathan Browne