Margibi: Sen. Blame Past Leaders for Underdevelopment

Bong County Senator, Franklin Siakor, is blaming Liberia’s former leaders for its underdevelopment. “This is because these people disregarded their homeland for the sake of another. Failing to take into consideration, Liberia is the oldest African Republic, except for Ethiopia that was briefly colonized.” Addressing the Farmington Youth Organization (FAYO) in the Firestone Plantation Company area last weekend, Siakor told young people to reflect on the history of Liberia and those vices that caused friction amongst the Natives on hand and the Congo’s (Americo-Liberians) on the other hand.

He said previous Liberian leaders considered majority of the natives as uncivilized, barbaric not human beings as compared to themselves. “There were always conflict among the settlers and the aborigines until the late William R. Tolbert came into the picture and he too was caught between the scissors”.

The Senator then called on the young people to remain positive in their undertakings if they want to see Liberia developing. “The manner in which the youths are getting involved in developmental activities prove that Liberia is moving on the right footing, urging them to continue with programmes and promised to work with them whenever he call upon”.

Meanwhile Farmington Youth Organization (FAYO) head, Zuannah Oldman Molley, said he was actually impressed by the high turnout of youths at the launching ceremony.

He said the aims and objectives of the youth organization is to make sure that they engage relevant government authorities, non-governmental organizations and well meaning Liberians to assist them in getting material and financial support to enhance their quest in the dissemination of information on the effects of HIV/AIDS.

Molley named teenage pregnancy, illiteracy and the advocacy against force and child labor in Firestone, and to help those of their colleagues that are school drop-outs get back to school.

The FAYO boss said the organization is historic and as such, this is the first youth body to be organized outside of Harbel, Firestone since the company started operations in Liberia in 1926. He said the organization membership included children of tappers and headmen of Firestone Company.

Margibi: MOA Ends Sensitization Workshop
By Tarnue Flomo

The Agriculture Ministry conducted a one-day sensitization workshop on the combat of the caterpillar infestation in case of re-occurrence in the future.

The seminar was intended to educate the citizenry in the county on how to combat the caterpillars. It brought together sixty-five (65) participants, including medical practitioners, women and youth groups as well as politicians.

Mr. Bisi Klah, a consultant with Agriculture Ministry told reporters that participants were taught basic information sharing/management, pest control, and chemical control and management among other basic agricultural applications.

He averred that though the caterpillars have been in the country for a very long time, but this time around, they have started destroying crops and other essential vegetations including the pollution of waters.

He said the caterpillar caused serious agricultural crises, but Agriculture Ministry was able put into place mechanisms to deal with any outbreak before external aid could be sought.

Mr. Bisi Klah, a consultant with Agriculture Ministry told reporters that participants were taught basic information sharing/management, pest control, and chemical control and management among other basic agricultural applications.

He said, “Video documentary on previous infestations that occurred in other counties, especially Bong County that was hit by caterpillars in January of 2009 was screened at the workshop.”

Consultant Klah, added that the workshop is been supported by the African Development Bank (ADB), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, while AFRICARE Liberia is the custodian of the funds.

The workshop has been extended to Grand Bassa, Sinoe and Rivercess Counties and other counties in the Southeast of the country. “We are setting up smaller units in several counties including Margibi that will work with relevant government agencies in the fight against caterpillars”.

Though, Klah could not accept the name “Army Worms” as widely kwown, however, he is calling on the people to report to the rightful agencies in case of any appearance of strange caterpillars in there area for appropriate actions to be taken. The program which started last month (January), will end in March of 2010.