The United Sarpo Association in the Americas (USAA) opened its Liberia field office in the J.J.Y Community in Gardnersville Township, Electoral District 13, Montserrado County.
The office is intended to serve as a liaison through which USAA will carry on projects in the Sarpo communities in Liberia as well as collaborate with its parent body, the Sarpo Apoliebo Development Organization (SADO) in Liberia.
The ceremony was attended by the 6 section heads of the Sarpo tribe in Sinoe and Grand Gedeh Counties.
Speaking during the dedicatory ceremony, Mrs. Frances Clarke-Myers, President of USAA, said her administration has 3 pillars: education, health and agriculture for the people of the Sarpo land.
She said, “Among many things, education (academic or vocation) is the surest way to get one out of poverty while so doing, we need to be healthy (healthcare) to be able to move about. We need food (agriculture) to have the strength move around because empty bag or belly cannot stand,” the USAA president pointed out.
Clarke-Myers, called for unity among Sarpo people both in the Americas and at home (Liberia) ”Let us put our differences aside because, USAA was founded during the course of the Liberian civil mainly to help Sarpo people wherever they were at the time and now whether it is in Sinoe, Grand Gedeh or Montserrado,” Counties she noted.
She told her kinsmen that the USAA will provide financial support to Sarpo citizens seeking educational advancement, thereby admonishing would-be applicants to take advantage and prepared themselves for a better tomorrow.
In a short statement as well, Bilibokree City Mayor, Mary Dorbor-Menjay, thanked USAA for its numerous assistance to the Sarpo Community over the years. “Taking steps to help our children in their education is a positive development for our community,” Mayor Dorbor-Menjay said thankfully. She called for unity among the Sarpo Community, noting, “Instead of being divided which shall augur well for all of us. We are ione people and we should stand together.
For his part, George Garteh, Jr., President of the Sarpo Apoliebo Development Organization (SADO), USAA’s parent body in Liberia expressed gratitude to their offspring for opening Liberia’s field office which is in the interest of their people.
He then informed the USAA delegation that a parcel of land for the construction headquarters has been purchased in Johnsonville and the ground breaking ceremony is expected any moment.
Garteh, also urged the USAA’s leadership to make sure to unite the Sarpo people in the Americas by reaching out and stated that the name Sarpo is unique for which from now on has being recognized by the Liberian Government as the 17 tribe of the Republic.
He said this was done during the formal launching of the ongoing bicentennial celebration program early this year at Providence Island in Monrovia.
“A Sarpolean has served in nearly all of the top positions within the republic besides the presidency but from Veep post down the line there was Sarpo man or woman. But the need to unite cannot be over-emphasized which are appealing to those sitting on the fence because of policy differences to ground arm and come back home,” the SADO’s president noted.
