Remarks by Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the New Embassy Compound Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, January 17, 2012

Remarks by Amb. Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the New Embassy Compound Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, January 17, 2012 ^Featured

Written by US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 15:48
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US Ambassador to Liberia, Madam Linda Thomas-Greenfield, making remarks at the opening ceremony

Madam President, let me again congratulate you on your inauguration to serve a second term as President of the Republic of Liberia. I am delighted that you have joined us for this historic moment, this historic day that reaffirms the strong relationship between our two countries.

Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia,
The Honorable Rodney Evans, Managing Director for the Bureau of Overseas Building Operations,
Officials of the Government of Liberia,
Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps,
Friends and colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Madam President, let me again congratulate you on your inauguration to serve a second term as President of the Republic of Liberia. I am delighted that you have joined us for this historic moment, this historic day that reaffirms the strong relationship between our two countries. Thank you also to all our invited guests for joining us. It is a great pleasure to see you all.

Yesterday Secretary Hillary Clinton joined us with a large delegation for a brief ribbon cutting ceremony, to meet and greet embassy employees, and for a tour of the facility.   She was here Madam President for you to highlight our support for your government and people at your inauguration but I would add this building is the physical manifestation of that support.

I would like to recognize Rodney Evans from the office of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), who is with us at this historic event. I’m also happy to see so many distinguished visitors who have traveled to Liberia for President Sirleaf’s inaugural activities yesterday.

Today, we are gathered here to raise our flag and to dedicate this magnificent building and compound. We are leaving behind our old Embassy at 111 United Nations Drive, our home for over 80 years. Since 1862, when the United States officially recognized Liberia, we have developed a relationship unlike that with any other country in Africa. The people of the United States and Liberia are bound by kinship, history, culture, and friendship.   When some of our forefathers, were searching for a place where they might find freedom and liberty, they found themselves on the shores of West Africa, and were welcomed to this place that would become Liberia. Home to 16 ethnic groups now united as one. Today we value and celebrate the bonds between our two countries.

Departing the old Embassy compound is a bitter sweet moment for all of us, particularly for the Liberian employees who worked at the old location for decades. For me, the embassy brings back fond memories. In 1978, I was working on a doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin and received a grant to come to Liberia to do research. My experience as a young student in Liberia altered the course of my career path, in particular, and my life in general, and brought me to this place and this time in the history of Liberia.

And for many of our local staff, the old Embassy brings memories of life’s joys and sorrows. Together, employees experienced professional and personal growth and some setbacks. Americans and Liberians who worked at the Embassy forged lasting friendships and more, in many cases. Last year, five single American personnel met their soul mates here and got married. Six American children were conceived in Mamba Point in the past two years when we made the decision that Liberia was safe to bring our children back.
The emotional impact is much deeper for our Liberian employees who have worked at the old Embassy for many more years. Let me recognize two employees, who were recognized by Secretary Clinton yesterday, who have served with the embassy for more than 20 years. Mr. Isaac Jefferson Monjou, Financial Assistant, worked at the Embassy for 29 years and Mr. Adama Konateh, Truck Driver, for 26 year.

The sad fact is that the sorrow experienced by all Liberians was also part of the Embassy experience. Before 2003, due to the protracted internal conflict, the U.S. Embassy in Liberia was evacuated nine times over a 15-year period. During this period, it was the most evacuated U.S. embassy in the world. I’m happy things have changed and I think Yemen has now replaced Liberia at the top of the list. Together we must pledge to say never again to violence. So many Liberians came to me during the elections and afterwards to thank me and the U.S. government for the support we rendered during the election. Many came to me to plead that they did not want to run again. This plea guided our actions during the most difficult periods over the past few months.

Since 2006, we have witnessed Liberia making strides in security, good governance, economic growth, health and education. Our activities at the Embassy increased by leaps and bounds and the size of our Embassy staff more than doubled. Improved security opened doors for Peace Corps Volunteers and for Foreign Service Officers with families to return to Liberia. We now have 12 children at the Embassy and five attend the American International School of Liberia.

This progress inspires us to do more. Let me reiterate, the United States of America is committed to working with the Government of Liberia to prevent the tragic upheavals that destroyed the fabric of Liberian families and society. We stand with the Liberian people to build on the achievements the country has made in the past six years. Our goal is to help Liberia succeed.

Madam President, on November 5, 2007, President Bush praised you as “a woman of courage, and giver of hope,” and recognized your accomplishment with “The Medal of Freedom” the highest civil honor that a President of the United States can bestow. And on December 10, you and Madam Leymah Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize. This well- deserved award brought pride to the nation and people of Liberia. This was a shining moment for a country that has suffered so much.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we move our operations to this state-of-the-art Embassy, let us renew our pledge to work together enhancing our efforts to build on the strong relationship between our two countries.

Madam President, from this new facility, we will continue to work with the Government of Liberia to turn on the lights, bringing electricity to Monrovia and beyond. We will help increase agricultural production and food security by introducing improved seed varieties and building farm-to-market roads. We will promote private enterprise and expand access to credit for ordinary men and women, farmers and entrepreneurs. We will partner with your government to create jobs and the environment to promote job creation. This year alone, we will spend over $75 million to assist in the rebuilding of Liberia’s private sector, because as we have seen in so many African nations, there is no assurance of lasting peace unless people have jobs, dignity, and food on the table.

We know that strengthening democracy and good governance are top priorities for the new Administration and we look forward to working with you to build the technical competence of legal professionals and strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly with respect to land.

It will be imperative to continue supporting educational excellence at all levels in order to prepare Liberian graduates for tomorrow’s workplace. Part of the effort involves the return of Peace Corps volunteers to Liberia. Currently, there are about 30 Volunteers in the country, all of them working in secondary education. On January 24, we will swear-in 15 Peace Corps Response Volunteers, bringing the total to 45. I would like to recognize Deputy Peace Corp Head Carrie Radelet who is here with us today.

Madam President, distinguished guests, let me take a moment to share a few facts about this magnificent compound. The ground where the embassy is built is known as “Greystone.” The U.S. Government, the Government of Liberia, and the University of Liberia signed a lease for 99 years. We know about the tragedies that took place here during the civil war. Thousands of Liberians came seeking refuge at “Greystone” and they were shelled by rebels, resulting in death, injuries and hardship.

In memory of those who lost their lives and got injured, the designers moved the building six meters to the West to protect the cottonwood tree in the Consular garden. The perimeter wall on the west was also moved to protect two large cottonwood trees that people took refuge under during the war. Once we move in this facility, we’ll put a plaque by the consular garden cottonwood in memory of those who lost their lives at Greystone. And Minister Chenoweth, the bats to the chagrin of our neighbors survive to protect the ecosystem.

This ground has been transformed. The horrific tragedy has given birth to what we see today. It took nearly three years from design to completion of the compound.   Madam President and I were among many dignitaries who broke ground in 2009. The ground was and remains full of solid rock providing the foundation for this building. Many of us had an opportunity to peacefully explode those rocks to make way for the construction. For months, at about six p.m., we used to hear and feel the explosions. These explosions were part of a renewal, unlike the eerie explosions of the civil war. And, by the way, we apologize to our new neighbors for the noise and dust created by the explosions. We hope you agree that the result justifies the inconvenience.

This new home of the United States Embassy at Mamba Point represents a $164 million investment in our partnership with the Liberia people. During the nearly three years of design and construction, over 1,000 Liberian workers directly contributed to the New Embassy Compound. During this period, they acquired valuable construction and management skills. The massive scope of the project and use of local products and services infused $28 million into Liberia’s economy.

The completion of the facility could not have been possible without our key partner. B.L. Harbert International, the prime contractor. It was responsible for design and construction in compliance with international building codes. The project design and construction have met the Leadership in Environmental Engineering Design criteria for sustainability, making this embassy among the most environmentally friendly in the world.   I would also like to recognize the project manager, Eric Heinrich, who was the force that made this building a reality.

In closing, let me reiterate, the completion of the new embassy compound is a symbol of the continued growth of the partnership between the American and Liberian people to make Liberia develop and prosper. The embassy will house the entire diplomatic mission (Department of State, USAID, and DOD) under one roof, enhancing coordination and increasing efficiency. More than 300 embassy employees, both American and Liberian, will work within the compound walls each day, administering more than $200 million in projects for 2012.

Together, let us continue to make great efforts toward political, social, and economic challenges in order to improve the quality of life of all Liberians. Together and united, we can accomplish so much more to create a peaceful world in which we all thrive and live in harmony.

Thank you.

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