Those who never left Liberia but endured the hardships, as well as those returning have similar interests. Together we are all interested in the growth and development of Liberia. However, the challenge we face is to quit seeing and speaking of things only as they are. We must discipline ourselves to see and speak out of vision and imagination.  Driving in Monrovia, for example, is not for the faint hearted, but I’ve termed it “creative chaos”.  The bikes (pem-pem) are everywhere. They are overtaking you on the left and right at the same time. They are making sharp cuts in front of you and hitting you in the rear at the same time.

The Ministries of Commerce & Industry and of Transportation as well as the National Police Department hold the answers. Carving out a piece of land and designing it as a bike driving school to teach basic rules of driving is a big first step forward. Teach them driving courtesies. Teach them defensive driving. Teach them the meaning of different traffic signs and then install the signs: stop, yield, caution, danger, men working, etc. By doing this, you show them the value of safety and the advantages of being able to get ahead in life as well as encourage them to value the lives of their passengers, as well as their own. Stress that they and their passengers are always at greater risks than those in cars.

Let’s value and articulate the roles and contributions these young bike drivers are making.  The problems of idleness, unrest, and unemployment are taken care of in the lives of these young bikers. The reduction of home invasions, armed robberies and other forms of crimes may be traced to thousands of young people having the opportunity to create their own.

Within the next five to ten years, many of these young bikers will form a part of the middle class of Liberia. These young bikers are not just our ordinary taxi, bus, and pickup drivers. These young men are go-getters, risk-takers, and fearless. They are hungry to get ahead. They will go where the gold and diamonds are. They have been empowered. They are mobile and on the go. They now possess a picture of success that is becoming clearer daily. These young bikers are empowered. With the cell phone and the bike, they are unstoppable.

These fearless sons of ours are beginning to own their own, which will make them some of the finest defenders of our liberties.

Let’s make it a part of our social responsibility to praise these young brothers of ours, for their meaningful contribution to our national economy. Let’s inspire them to seek every opportunity to learn, grow, develop, and become some of our finest law abiding citizens.

It’s only right to think and feel this way about our beloved home land, Liberia. Everything that seems impossible or difficult is indeed possible. Together we can believe that we possess what is required to turn things around in Liberia. In fact, things are already being turned around. Like I stated before, the answers to the many challenges we face lie within us. We possess what is required to help rebuild this nation from bottom up.

We must become united as a people in thinking, speaking and believing that Liberia’s problems are solvable. No matter how impossible or overwhelming our circumstances, we can overcome with our collective effort, skills, and abilities.

Thank God for the International Community and their valuable role in the restoration of Liberia. We are truly grateful for their continual presence and partnership. However, it is primarily the responsibility of Liberians to rebuild Liberia. We experienced manpower to drain in the eighties and nineties. Families fled in any and every direction. Much of our manpower drain has been transformed into manpower development. There are families who fled with four, five, six kids. Today many of these kids have become well educated and empowered. Though many of them still live in foreign lands, their hearts are being turned toward home. Doctors who are specialists are returning. Engineers are on their way. Investors are on their way.  Equipped and innovative educators are on their way. Developers are on their way. Business men and women of all sorts are on their way. And together with those who never left, and those who returned early, we will arise and conquer every impossible situation.

If we can become a unified force for rapid growth and development, then no difficulty we confront in our national path to progress will be impossible for us.  I believe we have within us as Liberians throughout the world what is required to rebuild this beautiful land of ours. There is a stirring in the hearts of Liberians everywhere for the land. Children born to Liberian parents, who have never seen Liberia, are beginning to desire to visit Liberia. Many return and fall more in love with the land than even their parents.

Every time you see a plane land, trucks enter our borders, or ships enter our ports with Liberians returning home, you are witnessing the impossible being made possible. Each Liberian present within the homeland and those returning possess the combined wisdom, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to overcome every seemingly impossible challenge. We are up to the task! This is Liberia’s moment. Together we can overcome every obstacle, conquer every challenge, and defeat every foe. With a resolved and unified spirit, our path ahead is resplendent. We are all aware of what our challenges are, but quit regurgitating the problems. Our eyes, minds, hearts, and wills can overcome the problems. We are to focus our mental gaze on solid and sustainable growth and development. We have what it takes. Each of us holds a piece of the solution to rebuilding Liberia. Every individual Liberian counts. Everyone has something to contribute. Together we are unbeatable, together we are unstoppable. Know within the deepest recesses of your heart that Liberia’s impossibilities are being made possible. Let’s have faith in our nation’s future, commanding every mountain to be removed and “nothing will be impossible for you.”