We’ve no political alignment

-MRU Parliament
The speaker of the Liberian Chapter of the Mano River Youth Parliament, Melvin Sarh, says the parliament has no alignment with politicians in the country.

Mr. Sarhsays the MRU is a youth organization that is focused on empowering young people and as well as involvement in other developmental programs. He says the mandate of the MRU Parliament is to work along borders and with bordering countries, saying “We are there to protect the various borders of the MRU countries; we are to erase the mindset in the public about young people that they are violent; we are also there to empower young people through projects development and other necessary initiatives across the country.”

Speaker Sarh spoke over the weekend at program marking the certification of 26 newly elected parliamentarians of the MRU LiberianChapter in Monrovia. The program brought together several civil society organizations, student representatives, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia, representatives of various NGOs and government institutions.

“We need to reach out to young people to help them develop their communities, especially those that are not in school, and those that lack basic skills in the society.” He observed that unemployment and illiterate among young people are too high, adding these are things that the MRU is considering doing for the young people of this country.

According to him, the history of the parliament can prove that the body has never supported any politician here, “because that is not our work to pledge support to political parties or individuals like other organizations in this country.

Speaker Sarhadded that during the 2014 special senatorial election, many organizations supported candidates of their choice but the MRU Parliament did not go that route noting, “Our main focus is to build up the minds of young people across this country for the benefit of our people.”

He says the Parliament looks forward to working with the Government of Liberia and governments across the subregion to ensure peace is sustained.

By Lewis S. Teh-Edited by Jonathan Browne