My brothers and sisters: Thank you for coming. I care that a public servant must put the interests of the people first – always serving the cause of the people rather than the cause of self. I care that here in Montserrado, homes get flooded when it rains, and families have to endure long nights without sleep. I care that the lack of roads, bridges and other basic essentials which make life better have pushed rural Montserrado farther from urban Montserrado. I care that our environment is changing, that erosion is rapidly wiping out historically important places and communities, and that we need affordable housing and better sanitation. I care that in all these areas the Montserrado County Development Fund will benefit the people of Montserrado and prioritize their well-being and welfare. I care that our mothers, brothers, and sisters who sell in markets have not just a better marketplace but also access to daycare, playgrounds, and a safe environment where their children and grandchildren can learn and play. My brothers and sisters, I care that our homes and our communities should be safer places, where streets are better lit and our women and children can feel secure. I care that many of our children in Montserrado are haunted by the dangerous effects of teenage pregnancy, crime, and drug abuse. I care that our youth, like other young people around the World, will not only have a chance to play and be healthy in body, but will also go to community centers with high-speed internet and computers where they can sharpen their minds and expand their horizons. I care that we must solve the overcrowding of our prisons. We must develop programs of rehabilitation that will provide second chances especially for our young offenders. Serving time ought not to necessarily consign anyone to a life of crime. And I care that when citizens serve their country, when they retire, their country must repay them with special care and attention, and treat them with the respect, recognition, and the dignity they deserve. With the help of friends, I have tried to address some of these needs – To truly impact the lives of our people for a better tomorrow, doing projects that impact real people in real communities. My brothers and sisters, I have tried to act more than I speak; to praise more than to criticize; to build up and not tear down. My brothers and sisters, I have tried to show that any position of privilege can, and should be used to improve the living conditions of our people, knowing that caring for others does not only change lives but makes oneself better. And it gives hope – hope that is tangible; hope through change that you can see, hope you can feel; hope that speaks through actions and less through words On Monday, I heard the people of Montserrado County loud and clear; through their petition, they told me about their lives, and hope for a better tomorrow. And so, with the abiding faith in the Almighty, and a belief which is deeply-rooted in the will of our people for progress, today, I Robert Alvin Sirleaf announce my candidacy for Senator of Montserrado County. And we will go on this journey as an Independent candidate. I will strive to reach across our differences in age, gender, religion and political parties because we should not be divided by these. I will listen to them, listen to their dreams, their hopes, their aspirations and together we will Think Forward to make those a reality Rural and urban Montserrado are not separated by age, gender, religion or political views. We are separated by opportunity. By Thinking Forward and working together over the next 9 years, I know we can continue to close the opportunity gap and build a stronger County, a more prosperous County, a County we can proudly call One Montserrado. Thank you, and God bless you.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:55:38 +0000
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