Liberians facing mass deportation after march 31 ........

There is a deep sense of anxiety these days in Liberian community all around the United States. About 10,000 Liberians could face deportation come march 31, this year when a temporary protection status that allows them to stay here expires unless President Obama or Congress intervenes. The U.S. government contends Liberia is now a stable country and these migrants should return home.
Liberians have lived in the U.S. since the early 1990’s under a temporary protected status. Now that the Liberian government is showing some signs of stabilization, the U.S. government is trying to lift the temporary protected status and deport many of the 20,000 Liberians who are now living in the U.S.
I watched in complete disbelief Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform on CNN talking about how "It is time for people to go back and rebuild their country,"He said for Liberians to stay when their country is at peace would be an abuse of U.S. hospitality.
"It makes a mockery of the concept of short-term temporary humanitarian protection." he went on to say.
I would like to point out to Mr Stein however,that the State department own travel advisory is warning Americans to avoid travel to the country, because of serious security concern. so my question is, if its not safe for Americans to go there, how is it safe for thousands of Liberians with their U.S born children, who are U.S citizens to go there?



the new government in Monrovia, is doing all it can to provide basic services, to the people already there, and with some difficulty i might add, how can they be expected to cope with the thousands more who will be force to go home? Monrovia is already overcrowded, unemployment is at 80%, the education system is in shambles not to mention the health sector, there is no way this is going to work, if this plan is implemented it will be a disaster in the making. Our people understands that there is nowhere like home, we are grateful to the United states for all it has done and continue to do for our people, all we ask is a little more time, to let the government in Monrovia, firmly put their feet on the ground.
I have monitor blogs and comment online today about this very subject and it is sad that many people would post such hateful and vile comment about refugees who don't beg for government handout, but instead work hard and pay their taxes.
here i some of the comments i am seeing online......

Hey, I'm the Girl from Boston.......
Born here, Raised here, schooled here, Worked here,
Taxed here. We, can't feed the world and neither can
we allow these immigrants to change the law.
I feel like a stranger in my own country. Now, disable
and living on a shoe string fighting for surival with
no relatives just a handfull of good friends and theses
people expect me to feel bad for them by putting their
story in a newspaper. Gee, anybody interested in my life
as a true born American? Yeah, right I didn't think so.
SEND THEM ALL BACK...........

how do you figure the Midwest would benefit? Most of them are looking for handouts, not work.
Why do you think they immigrate to a big city?? Oh yes, your right on the button about boosting the local economies. Are you insane? This is why, I am being cut down on my services for the disable and elderly that have put into the system for a lifetime of hard work.
Pretty sad that this is what they got for a reward from the United States and Local Government. Now, put your money where you mouth is and you support them.

The US can no longer be the take all for the world. A this price our schools are suffering, health care is suffering, welfare, and the like. We are busting at the seems. Some of these law brakers are chanting in the streets wanting better breaks in this society while not a citizen. We need to filter these people and sent them home.

Trust me our people are not beggars, they are hard working people who just want what everybody else want, the best for their family. and its sad that people will add insult to injury, to people who have not only lost everything in the world, but must also be insulted for wanting the best for their family.

Thank you President Bush, Liberia will always be grateful to you...

Tomorrow the administration of President George W Bush will officially come to an end. What Bush’s legacy will be in the United States and the world at learge as he leaves office, is still been debated by so called political pundits .
It is true, he made some colossal mistakes at home and abroad like the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq . It is also true his relations with America's allies, especially in Europe, have been abysmal. But outside of the Middle East and Europe, Bush has been successful, especially in Asia and Africa.

For years, America has given lip service to African disease and poverty. But Bush reversed course, and today millions of Africans receive free medicine for AIDs, TB and Malaria. Half of all African food aid comes from the US. The Millenium Challenge, a very effective program in which rich countries ban together to foster economic development in poor countries, was created by Bush.
Most Americans have been hard on the President, some insulting and calling him the worst president ever, But Liberians will always be grateful to this president for he truly have been a friend of Liberia and Africa.

President Bush has been a good friend of Africa

When President Clinton had a chance to save thousands of people in Rwanda during the 90s he refused to get involve, calling it an African Problem, and because of America and the world's inaction almost a million people die in the Rwanda Genocide.
Bush on the other hand got involved in Africa like no other president before him, he demanded that the Tyrant Charles Taylor leaves office and send U.S soldiers to help stabilized the country, and in the process ending almost 2 decades of civil war that left the country in a state of total ruin.
He called Sudan's military actions in Darfur, Genocide when most African and European countries refused to call it so.

Whatever his critics in the Liberal media say, President Bush, unlike any other U.S. Presidents, change dramatically the way the United States dealt with Africa and her problems.
Farewell Mr President you were a great friend of Africa, may God bless you and your family as you end this chapter of your life and begin a new one.

Two Liberians arrested in Maryland for Black money scam....

Police in Frederick Maryland say they've arrested two Liberian citizens who tried to scam the owner of a Chinese restaurant out of $100,000.
The men allegedly told the restaurant owner that they could counterfeit $100 bills by placing them between sheets of black paper and applying a chemical.
During the investigation, police officers learned that the two men, Liberian citizens later identified as Calvin Billfrank Swen, 44, of Jamaica, N.Y., and Radcliffe Reynold Howard, 41, of Philadelphia, initially visited the restaurant to ask about buying the business, according to the police.
On a later visit, they demonstrated the black-paper trick and asked the restaurant owner to give them $100,000, saying they could turn it into $4 million which would then be split evenly between them.
After several communications with the restaurant owner, police officers conducted surveillance operations and arrested the men as they entered the business.
Both men are now awaiting appearances before the District Court Commissioner.
I mean really how stupid are these guys to think that they would have gotten away with something like this? it infuriates me when people like these two bring unnecessary bad publicity to our community, Liberians are known to be hard working law-abiding people, and for these two crooks to bring such shame and disgrace to us is unforgivable.
An old saying back home says when your eye spoils, you can't ask someone else to lent theirs to you, because they are Liberians, we the thousands of other law abiding Liberians apologize for what these fools did, there is no justification for what they did, and i hope they put behind bars for a very long time.

Liberian community mourns 7 killed in Philadelphia fire.......

Today is a sad day for us, members f the Liberian community in the United States. Today seven members of our community including a toddler, died when fire roared through a three-story home in southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday night.

Six of the victims -- three adults, a teen and two children -- were found in the townhome's basement, huddled together, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said.

A 2-year-old boy who was pulled from the burning house by firefighters was later pronounced dead at Children's Hospital, Ayers said.

The medical examiner identified one adult and three children, and said the children died of smoke inhalation, while the adult died of smoke inhalation and burns. The four were identified as Henry W. Gbokoloi, 54, of Yeadon; 8-year-old Ramere Markese Wright-Dosso, 6-year-old Mariam Iyanya Dosso, and 1-year-old Zyhire Xzavier Wright-Teah, all from the same home on Willows Ave. in Southwest Philadelphia.

A family member holds a 2008 Christmas photo of the three child victims killed in a deadly house fire in Southwest Philadelphia: Zyhire Wright-Teah, 18 months, front left; Ramere Wright-Dosso, 8, back left; and Mariam Dosso, 7, front right.

The other victims still had not been identified.

The neighborhood is home to many of the city's 15,000 Liberian immigrants. Soon after daybreak, Liberian community members began showing up to learn more about the victims.
Fire marshals have not yet released the cause of the blaze. But one survival said it started after a woman added fuel to a kerosene heater and, when it became too hot, tried to move it outside through the basement's only door.

Instability in Guinea could mean trouble for Liberia.....

The 24-year reign of Guinea's president Lansana Conte , one of Africa's longest-ruling president, ended in confusion and chaos on Tuesday as a group of soldiers seized on his death to announced a coup that was immediately challenged by government officials.
International reporters in the capital Conakry, are reporting the movement of dozens of heavily armored tanks and troops heading toward the prime minister's office inside the presidential compound, and the city center. soldiers have set up check-points along the main roads into the city center, but so far there have been no reports of them abusing any citizens.

Guinean soldiers on armored vehicles patrols in the streets of Conakry

Liberians everywhere are monitoring the developments in Guinea our neighbor to the north with utmost concern. any instability in Guinea could spell serious trouble for us too. Any power struggle would be extremely dangerous, and could easily become a regional problem.
The Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her part in a statement expressed shock and great sadness at the passing of President Conte.

In her statement, she adds “On this mournful occasion, the Government and People of Liberia join me in extending to the brotherly people of Guinea heartfelt condolences for the irreparable loss sustained. Under General Conte’s administration, Guinea served as sanctuary for tens of thousands of Liberian Refugees”.

The Liberian leader hopes that during this period of national mourning and transition, the people of Guinea will continue to enjoy the blessings of peace and stability, saying “ The government and people of Liberia will always stand ready to identify with the Government and brotherly people of Guinea”.

While we all pray and hope that the situation in Guinea remains peaceful, our government must start making the necessary arrangement to bring home the thousands of our country men who sought refuge in that country during our own civil crisis. we cannot afford to let our people suffer another war when they have already been through enough already.
And the international community must do all it can to not let the situation in Guinea go out of control, Liberia will only enjoy peace when all its neighbors are at peace.

Chinese company to invest billions in Liberia.......

A Chinese company promised over the weekend to spend 2.6 billion dollars on Liberia's main iron ore mine at bong mines in the biggest investment ever made in the country's history.
Speaking over the weekend at the National Investment Commission (NIC) offices where a team of government negotiators and a high powered delegation from the China Union Company held their first meeting, NIC Chairman, Dr. Richard Tolbert described the US$2.6 billion investment project as very important to the government of Liberia.

Presenting a graphic description of the investment project, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of China Union, Mr. Yin Fuyou disclosed that his company will construct a 130MW Hydro Power Plant on the St. Paul River to supply electricity to Monrovia and other areas.

Mr. Yin who spoke through an interpreter noted that Bong Mines will be transformed with modern facilities including a residential area for employees of the company. He said the company will also create an agricultural site where rice and other crops will be planted.

China Union, according to Mr. Yin, will also build a park where livestock will be raised. He said the ore that will be extracted from the mountains of Liberia would benefit every Liberian as the company will be producing steel in the country.

Liberia honours Kufuor of Ghana..............

Liberia on Saturday honored President John Kufuor of Ghana with the country's highest national award in appreciation of his tremendous contribution in restoring peace and supporting the post-war reconstruction of the country.
At the investiture ceremony, the Liberian President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, decorated President Kufuor with the Distinction of Grand Cordon in the Most Venerable Order of the Knighthood of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia.
President Johnson-Sirleaf said the Ghanaian leader had demonstrated strong leadership and care for his neighbours and had carved for himself a special place in the hearts of Liberians for his efforts and contributions.

She said the investiture ceremony was an expression of the deep appreciation for the role he played in securing peace for Liberians, as well as a recognition of all that Ghanaians had done for Liberians during the time of its national tragedy.









She told President Kufuor, “You are deserving of the honour because you merit it. We are proud of a true African solution to an African crisis. Happy is the peace maker, for he shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

A citation accompanying the award described President Kufuor as an astute politician, a good listener and a great consensus builder.

Receiving the award, President Kufuor said he was happy and humbled by the honour but indicated that he accepted it not only for himself but also on behalf of all Ghanaians.

He said the event marked another milestone in Ghana-Liberia relations.

He noted that the Liberian people had demonstrated that a setback could be turned into the beginning of great things to happen and underlined the need for continued peace, solidarity, patience and perseverance among all the stakeholders in Liberia’s development.

At the University of Liberia where he received the honorary doctorate degree, President Kufuor said he was impressed with the effort to revive Liberia and said the restoration was testimony to the fact that out of devastation and the ashes of war, progress was still possible.

Additionally, the Council of Traditional Chiefs of Liberia also decorated the President with a gown as a mark of the appreciation of the people of Liberia for him and Ghana, and was installed as a traditional ruler by Paramount Chiefs from all the 15 Counties of the country.
President Kufuor and party have since left Liberia for home.