Liberia: Legislator Seeks African-American Legislative and Development Tie
- By News Hound
- Published 06/11/2007
- Politics
- Unrated
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View all articles by News HoundLiberia: Legislator Seeks African-American Legislative and Development Tie
Monrovia
Nimba County's Representative Worlea-Saywah Dunah, has proposed closer cooperation between African legislators and their African-American counterparts, both at the levels of state and the U.S Congress.
He made the proposal, June 1, 2007, while meeting with Massachusetts State Representative Benjamin Swan-D-MA.
Rep. Swan is also a member of the International Committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), a grouping of 600 African-American state legislators from 46 states.
Rep. Dunah used the occasion to make a special presentation highlighting plans that would benefit all Liberian legislators and their constituents, with emphasis on development needs such as building community radio stations, agriculture projects, manufacturing and revising the much needed nation's shattered education sector.
Giving an example of the magnitude of Liberia's development challenges, Hon. Dunah said: "There are only four (4) medical doctors in Nimba County-(a rural Liberian political sub-division with nearly ½ million populations), non-existent residential electricity, 85% unemployment, the roads are impassable..., therefore we seek partnership with the Massachusetts Legislators for mutual benefits."
Meanwhile, Rep. Dunah has extended an invitation to Representative Swan to lead an inclusive legislative delegation to Liberia at the soonest time possible for substantive discussions relating to those pressing needs of Liberian in post-war reconstruction programs.
Accepting the invitation to lead a delegation to Liberia. Rep. Swan who recently returned from a similar trip to Vietnam said West Africa is closer to New York and it is the origin of millions of African Americans who desire to connect with their roots.
In this token, the U.S lawmaker affirmed a 2003 NBCSL resolution that was adopted at its annual conference in Houston, Texas which commits to working with Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) in engaging African leaders through the establishment of a"... strategic partnership with African immigrant and refugee communities for the purpose of leadership development, cultural exchange, civic participation, voters education and promotion of commerce."
He further called on UHRI Executive Director Torli Krua to organize a forum in the fall of 2007 to bring together African American legislators and development-minded African immigrants to draw a master plan in tackling African development priorities.
In a reciprocal fashion, Rep. Wan extended an invitation to Rep. Dunah to visit Massachusetts later in 2007 with a "wish list", during which time he would be afforded the opportunity to meet with Governor Deval Patrick, members of the Massachusetts Legislature, Massachusetts institutions of higher learning and the business community.
Governor Patrick is the only African American Governor currently in the USA.
The June 1, 2007 Meeting between the two Legislators was arranged by Torli Krua of UHRI as part of its international relations program. After the 2003 resolution with the NBCSL, UHRI established the International Relations and Pan African Coalition programs.
PACC brings African communities together to share information, expertise, resources and collaborate on joint projects such as the March 17, 2007 Pan African Community Summit that addressed health and immigration issues.
IR helps African community leaders working with their country lawmakers to connect with the national network of NBCSL members across America.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200706080035.html
Nimba County's Representative Worlea-Saywah Dunah, has proposed closer cooperation between African legislators and their African-American counterparts, both at the levels of state and the U.S Congress.
He made the proposal, June 1, 2007, while meeting with Massachusetts State Representative Benjamin Swan-D-MA.
Rep. Swan is also a member of the International Committee of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), a grouping of 600 African-American state legislators from 46 states.
Rep. Dunah used the occasion to make a special presentation highlighting plans that would benefit all Liberian legislators and their constituents, with emphasis on development needs such as building community radio stations, agriculture projects, manufacturing and revising the much needed nation's shattered education sector.
Giving an example of the magnitude of Liberia's development challenges, Hon. Dunah said: "There are only four (4) medical doctors in Nimba County-(a rural Liberian political sub-division with nearly ½ million populations), non-existent residential electricity, 85% unemployment, the roads are impassable..., therefore we seek partnership with the Massachusetts Legislators for mutual benefits."
Meanwhile, Rep. Dunah has extended an invitation to Representative Swan to lead an inclusive legislative delegation to Liberia at the soonest time possible for substantive discussions relating to those pressing needs of Liberian in post-war reconstruction programs.
Accepting the invitation to lead a delegation to Liberia. Rep. Swan who recently returned from a similar trip to Vietnam said West Africa is closer to New York and it is the origin of millions of African Americans who desire to connect with their roots.
In this token, the U.S lawmaker affirmed a 2003 NBCSL resolution that was adopted at its annual conference in Houston, Texas which commits to working with Universal Human Rights International (UHRI) in engaging African leaders through the establishment of a"... strategic partnership with African immigrant and refugee communities for the purpose of leadership development, cultural exchange, civic participation, voters education and promotion of commerce."
He further called on UHRI Executive Director Torli Krua to organize a forum in the fall of 2007 to bring together African American legislators and development-minded African immigrants to draw a master plan in tackling African development priorities.
In a reciprocal fashion, Rep. Wan extended an invitation to Rep. Dunah to visit Massachusetts later in 2007 with a "wish list", during which time he would be afforded the opportunity to meet with Governor Deval Patrick, members of the Massachusetts Legislature, Massachusetts institutions of higher learning and the business community.
Governor Patrick is the only African American Governor currently in the USA.
The June 1, 2007 Meeting between the two Legislators was arranged by Torli Krua of UHRI as part of its international relations program. After the 2003 resolution with the NBCSL, UHRI established the International Relations and Pan African Coalition programs.
PACC brings African communities together to share information, expertise, resources and collaborate on joint projects such as the March 17, 2007 Pan African Community Summit that addressed health and immigration issues.
IR helps African community leaders working with their country lawmakers to connect with the national network of NBCSL members across America.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200706080035.html
