24th July 2026

Statement by Her Excellency Genevieve A. Kennedy Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to the Court of St. James at the 179th Independence Anniversary & Induction Ceremony of the President and officers of ULOK – Sheffield, England

Mr President and officials of the Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULOK); Officials of Government present; Members of the Liberian Community in Sheffield; Fellow Liberians; Distinguished guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good evening and Happy 26!

I am pleased to be with you in celebration of another tremendous landmark in our country’s resounding history. Allow me to say a few words in further recognition of this day and the necessity for wholehearted cooperation to ensure the re-construction of a prosperous, fair and glorious land. The significance of our collective sojourn toward the achievement of this affluent and homogeneous society is cooperation now –this must be our most determined task. We have seen the devastation of conflicts. The absolute laying to waste resulting in the terrible destruction of the essence of our country to such a degree that the very foundation of our proud nation was laid bare, but by the grace of God, we still are standing. And today, we mark another milestone of this beloved nation. We mark 179 years of God grace upon a people identified by a nationality. A people who gladly claim this identity. So, we have now heard the clarion call to action, to come together in the interest of the country we profess to love. We now have to put into action our profession, what we say. We must now do more than just claim to love Liberia and declare ourselves Liberian. We must do more than just remember historical dates and pontificate the depth and breadth of our long and proud heritage. We must now move past empty pronouncement to truly honour and understand the weight of our past in order to achieve a better tomorrow.  proclaiming a call to action. A solemn reminder that history is not only something we inherit, but is what we are called to shape and define. It is about commitment, courage, and responsibility. It must be our commitment to work together, our courage to cooperate to achieve together and our responsibility to acknowledge and treat each other as we would want to be treated.

As we seek to participate in nation-rebuilding by fulfilling the promises outlined in Government’s ARREST Agenda for national development, we must deploy these factors if we are to contribute meaningfully to its success. From agriculture to roads, from rule of law to education, from sanitation to tourism, the underpinning factor for achieving each of these monumental accomplishments is cooperation. Liberians working together in respect for each other, with a common goal. I have been speaking in generalization, so let me be specific; the Liberian diaspora in the United Kingdom has quite a lot to offer in our nation-rebuilding. You, the educated and          experienced members of our various communities have gained expertise in strategic areas that if employed would accelerate and transport the development of Liberia by leap years. Unfortunately, there is the word – if. And this brings us back to the love of Liberia and the clarion call “with heart and hand our country cause defending, we’ll meet the foe with valor unpretentious” … We must come together! We must cooperate. We must work together. It does not mean we will not disagree; it only requires us to settle our differences peacefully. Taking solace in the fact that we are working for the common good.

So, as we commemorate 179 years of independence, let this day not pass as a ceremony of speeches and eloquence only. Let it be a day of re-commitment. Let us renew our pledge, not only to celebrate our past, but to build a prosperous future with strong foundations in quality education, economic enterprise and the rule of law among others. Let us be one people, held together not by convenience but by agreement. Let us walk toward a common destiny, honoring what was given to us by our forefathers, while also forging a new and improved future together; with faith, with courage, and with love for our beloved Liberia. Liberia must come first. Always. And for all.

 

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