U.S. Envoy ends duty here

United StatesAmbassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac,has underscored the need to strengthen Liberia’s weak justice system to enable the country move forward.

Addressing a press conference Thursday, 3rd December at the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia in what are her departing comments as she ends her tour of duties here in the next two weeks, Ambassador Malac said for the past years she has been in Liberia, she observed the justice system is very weak.

Speaking on corruption, the U.S. Envoy said corruption is an issue that people raise in many different ways and it is a major issue that the government cannot fight alone.
According to her, it requires the help of all Liberians to combat corruption because the practice is everywhere in Liberia and every citizen should play a role in the fight, while emphasizing the need for the government to improve its prosecuting arm.

“By saying that someone is corrupt”, she said,“You need to haveenough evidence against the person.” On the issue of security she said the United States Government has been working with various agencies in the security sector of Liberia and they are gradually responding tothe capacity building to take full responsibility of the security of the State.

She however stressed the need for the police to get out of Monrovia so citizens in other parts of the county can feel the presence of the police too. When asked to give her view on the next President of Liberia, Ambassador Malacsaid the United States of America does not have anything to do with who wins election here and does do not encourage or favor a specific candidate for the presidency of Liberia, but is willing to work with whoever wins the election.

The ambassador said she enjoys her stay in Liberia and was sad to leave the country, but promised to forever rememberLiberiawhereever she goesto take up her next assignment, adding that the next U.S. Ambassador coming to Liberia will also enjoy his or her stay in the country like she (Malac) did. 

Ambassador Malac is the second U.S. female envoy under the Obama Administration to serve in Liberia after African-American Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Madam Greenfield is currently Assistant Secretary of State for Africa at the U.S. State Department.

By Bridgett Milton-Edited by Jonathan Browne