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Al-Jerome's Blog- My Trip to Liberia
FIRST DAY OF ARRIVAL
IT was a tiring six and half hours cross atlantic journey that ended with the SM Brussells flight 257 landing at 4 : 31 pm Gmt. The sun was up with a splice of some patchy clouds . The Roberts International Airport (RIA) was built during World War II by the governmemnt of the United States to help it and allied forces refuel their fighter jets and keep their supply chain opened.
The RIA deputy Managing Director Penny Bestman boasts of an improved an efficient security screening process as well as some brand new equipment that makes the RIA different from the way the late Liberian dictator Charles Taylor left it when he was forced into exile. The airport staff worked briskly and professionally although it was hot because the airconditioners were turned off due to power problems.
"The RIA still operates a single runway and a single communications tower but with the meager resources we have done our best to attract international support and flights....Mr Bestman noted.
The RIA/Monrovia highway is now paved with the first in a series of coal tar to refurbish the road in tact. The highway is no longer a ghost road. Newly constructed buildings line the highway. Some of the multi thousand dollars homes, I was told, are owned by past and present government officials who make less than 100 dollars (US) a day...how they constructed these homes with the little they make would be another topic for discussion.
We drove through the Tubman Boulevard and saw many Liberians busy gearing up for the july 26 celebrations. The streets were filled with motorcyles locally know as ( penpen) and the liberian flags fluffed high from several cars as the Liberian National team the Lone Star was battling the national side of neighboring Guine at the samuel kanyon Doe sports complex. Before I forget, the Joe Bar road in sinkor is now played ! President Ellen Sirleafwas in Gbarnga dedicating some projects and familiarizing herself with problems of the locals.
I head for Sanniquellie, saturday, july 24th to attend the july independence day festivities and follow up on the works of the president......Keep tuned
PART ONE OF REPORT:
It was about 8:35 on the morning of July 24th. We drove to Sanniquellie, Nimba county in a burgundy Isuzu four wheeler belonging to the City Car Rental located on Tubman Boulevard and 20th street. Riding with me were: United Nimba Citzens Council (UNICCO's) Board Chairman,Thomas Grupee and Liberians For Ellen (LIFE's) Executive, Adofus Jacobs. The City Car Rental assigned Driver, (name withheld) was an approachable caramel skinned middle age fellow. He was a staunch partisan of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). For professional reasons, the driver painstakingly tried to keep out of the political discussions that dominated the ride.
At the paynesville redlight we stopped to get some sneakers for Mr. Grupee. In a couple of seconds a police officer appeared by the driver side of the truck. His navy blue uniform was faded but wrinkleless. He basked with confidence as he asked the driver to move the car to a safer spot. The politeness of the officer immediately caught my attention. He firstly said hi to the driver and then calmly proceeded with quoting the traffic code he was in violation of by parking where he was and then cautioned him to move further down or risked getting a ticket. Wow ! that was very unheard of ,atleast one that I have never seen or read about. Police professionalism at the finest ; for a minute, I thought I was in America but then I was quickly and rudely awakened by a knock on the window by a teenager selling cold water.
I could not erase from my mind that simple act of professionalism exhibited by the police officer through out the 6hours and 30 mins journey to nimba county. I was so used to seeing or reading about police extortions and brutality in my life time. Something changed in our Police Force and that change I saw through the attitude of the police officer at the redlight in paynesville. Are there policer officers who would have behaved completely otherwise ? Yes ! I safely concluded because the local dailies and radio stations many times carry stories of police misbehavoiurs. Don't misunderstand me for a second, those police officers who misbehave must be dealt with according to law. But then, even the greates democracy in the world (USA) cannot boast of a police force without some bad ones. For the moment, I decided to give the Liberia National Police some props atleast for that short, simple and impressive act of the police officer. Remember the saying " you never get a second chance to make your first impreesion ? " This police officer did good the first time for Liberia National Police.
From the redlight to Sanniquellie, my eyes were wide opened and head swinging from left to right trying catch every action on the highway. The road was relatively good compared to 2006 when I last visited the country. there were some potholes here and there. new buildings lined the highway but not as many and complex as the ones that are on the Roberts International Highway. I saw people washing clothes and bathing in creeks and streams along the roadside. Farmers sold their produce along the highway too and ofcourse, the several palm wine gallons could not go unoticed. I was eager to get a gulp of some fresh 'from God to Man' liquid but was hastily reminded by the driver to be very careful as many vendors were in the bad business of diluting the natural wine with water and sugar to make more money. This diehard CDCian was very concerned about me from the time he found out that I was the 'al-jerome of the most talked about "Issues in the Press" ' At one point during the ride, he broke silence by asking if I was back to continue the program ? I told him no and he disappointingly asked "so when are you coming back, man we miss that program ?" I told him very soon.
We arrived in Ganta about 1:45 p.m. and could see that the july 26 festivities had started. The main street was jam packed with pedestrians and cars. The Liberian flag fluffed from almost every car and loud music was heard from every shop or store along the road. The mood was was indeed festive..Deatils in part II of my report.
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