| NEWS ARTICLE |
| Liberia: Ellen, Some Muslim Leaders Discuss |
| BY: The Inquirer (Monrovia)July 09, 2006 Posted to the web July 7, 2006 |
| Consultations involving stakeholders in Liberia continue today at the Executive Mansion with a meeting between President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and officials of the National Muslim Council of Liberia. President Sirleaf used the occasion to brief the Muslim religious leaders about government's initiatives and the challenges it faces in meeting those objectives. The President said government is determined to address the difficult problems facing the country through the adoption of measures that would put Liberia back on the road to national recovery. Low wages of civil servants over the years, the president said, remain an area of concern for the government. The recent 73-percent salary increment recommended in the 2006/07 national budget, the Liberian leader noted, is the beginning of long-term measures to raise the living standard of civil servants and the Liberian people. "We believe this a good beginning," the president added, "and we will stay the course." The president informed officials of the National Muslim Council of Liberia that government inherited a huge debt burden of 3.7-billion United States dollars; a situation which has made it difficult for government to acquire loans from lending institutions. Despite the drawback, President Sirleaf said, government continues to work towards meeting the basic needs of the Liberian people. Salary payment for civil servants are current under this government, the president added. The government, President Sirleaf said has also paid out salary arrears of the former transitional government of Gyude Bryant. Government is now finding other means to begin settling arrears incurred under the government of Charles Taylor, totaling 18-million dollars. The arrears, the Liberian leader noted, do not only cover salary arrears for civil servants. The government must also settle legitimate arrears owed to other government workers as well as vendors. President Sirleaf said her government has also earmarked programs in the arrears of health and education, as well as reconstruction. The Liberian leader expressed optimism that given the level of international goodwill, Liberia is on track for sustained peace and national development. The President urged the religious leaders to continue the drive toward peace and national healing through prayers, adding "no amount of international goodwill will succeed, if there is no peace in the country. The Muslim clerics thanked President Sirleaf for the invitation and described the gesture as a true manifestation of her campaign promise to consult with the people on issues of national concern. "The National Muslim Council, see your success as our success,' Sheik Kafumba Konneh told President Sirleaf. Immans from other Mosques around Monrovia and other parts of the country, who also attended the consultations, praised the President for involving all backgrounds of the society in the decision-making process of the country. They promised to work along with government in ensuring lasting peace and security in the country. |
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