The Liberian People’s Party (LPP’s) Presidential aspirant, Tiawan Saye Gongloe, has saluted the men and women of the Liberian Army as it celebrates its 66th anniversary on Saturday, 11 February this year.
He said as he is aspiring to become the next Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), he joins his fellow compatriots in extending their warmest greetings and best wishes to the Chief of Staff, the General and Special Staff, and all gallant men and women of the Armed Forces as well as members of the para-military forces of the Republic of Liberia.
Gongloe said, “This year, as Liberians joyously commemorate the Armed Forces Day, it is incumbent on every one of us to deeply reflect on the pivotal role of our military and para-military forces in sustaining the democratic gains made, thus far as a nation.”
He continued, “We salute the AFL for playing its part in sustaining the peace in our country and helping to secure peace abroad as part of the United Nations Peace-keeping Mission.”
Gongloe pointed out how Liberians are proud of the record of the AFL in its peacekeeping duty thereby expressing their condolences to the families of members of the AFL who have lost their lives abroad and prayed for the recovery of those who have sustained injuries in making the world a peaceful place.
“Under our administration, the military will be used to play a much broader role in the implementation of our agenda for a better Liberia. In this regard, we will institute a new, transformative good governance process that will enable our military to cultivate a new orientation as a capable, reliable, accountable, congenial and trusted partner of the people in the socio-economic development of Liberia, ” Gongloe assured.
“A Gongloe administration will empower the AFL to embrace, acquire and advance themselves in multiple livable technical skills, so as to enable our hardworking serviceable and dutiful men and women work and eventually retire with dignity,” he stated.
“We strongly believe that empowering and enabling members of our military and para-military forces will further buttress their upward movement on the socio-economic ladder,” he noted.
“A Liberian People’s Party government will not relent in ensuring that our Armed Forces play a pivotal role in the holistic transformation of the country, adding, ‘To this end, we shall thoroughly train, meticulously professionalize and sufficiently equip and empower our military in all aspects of human development.’” Gongloe stressed.
Gongloe among many things cited health-sciences, agriculture, education, electricity, renewable energy, information technology, cyber security, among others, so as to enable them lead the way in creating a sweet Liberia for all Liberians by improving the socioeconomic conditions of the people.
“We shall sensitize our military in spearheading our transformative concept of mechanized farming and road construction, among others. The military will be used to combat hunger in Liberia and end the acute food insecurity that the people of Liberia are experiencing; by making it to grow not less than one hundred acres of rice farm in each of the fifteen counties of Liberia,” he envisaged.
“Hungry people cannot achieve anything and cannot live in peace with one another because hunger generates anger as it is often said that ‘A hungry man is an angry man.’”
“Additionally, the AFL will be regularly used to assist the Ministry of Public Works with the construction of farm to market roads and the maintenance of all roads in order to remove the current obstacles to freedom of movement of people and goods in most parts of Liberia, especially during the rainy season.
Freedom of movement is a fundamental right under the Liberian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Moreover, the capacity of the Armed Forces of Liberia to protect and defend the citizenry should not be limited to events of conventional hostilities. A Gongloe administration shall significantly upgrade the capacity of a thoroughly professionalized AFL to enable our service men and women assist our civilian compatriots in times of artificial and natural emergencies, such as floods, fires and storms, among others,” Gongloe continued with his promises.
“In short, the AFL under a Gongloe leadership will help in spearheading our innovative approach to nation-building. In other words, the people will experience the goodness of the army because the AFL must always be seen by the people as A FORCE FOR GOOD.
