By Edwin G. Wandah
The Forestry Development Authority-FDA, on Tuesday made a huge donation set of musical equipment to the Shining Star Musical Band-SSMB.
The equipment which is worth over US2, 000, is the FDA way of identifying with the group to enhance the dissemination of messages within Central Liberia and parts adjacent where the FDA operates.
Part of the enhancement will be the strengthening of the Liberian Eco-system through the preaching of messages within the Bassa language to also enable the locals within the country to understand the workings of the FDA.
The Shining Star Musical Band will also help the FDA carry out messages throughout the country to encourage Liberians and foreign nationals visiting the country see the beauty of the Liberian Tourism sector as a vibrant place to do business.
Making the donation yesterday at his FDA office yesterday, the Managing Director of FDA, C. Mike Doyen said, the FDA deems it prudent to provide the musical equipment to the Musical Group to enable them boost awareness in translating and disseminating some of what the FDA wants to send out to the ordinary people.
The Band (Shining Star), which is predominantly Bassa, won the favor of the FDA and its Boss C. Mike Doyen for its message of peace, reconciliation and unity, as well as love for country and patriotism which it had shared through music for more than decades now.
โBassa people are all over; when we launched our eco-tourism project, we taught of drawing closer to Emmanuel Sayon, a popular Liberian musician who had proven to be one of the best during our time now,โ he stated.
โHis selection today proves that we are heading somewhere positive where they will support us greatly because when we travel to other places, we hear their traditional songs and music, so in Liberia, we want our local people to hear songs sung in their dialect. The Bassa people are seen all over in Nimba, Bong, Montserrado as well as Grand Bassa and Rivercess and we hope this partnership will create a space for a free flow of the messages,โ he stated.
For his part, the DMDA and REED Plus Coordinators, Benjamin Tennesee Plewon and Saah A. David Jr. stressed the importance of the Liberian Tourism sector. In separate statements, Benjamin talked about the need for urgent attention to be given to the Liberian Forestry sector, recounting the gains the country will have if careful attention is given to the sector, while Saah A. David Jr. also mentioned the strive the country through the FDA had made over the years to have had the sector to where it is.
According to the REED Plus Coordinator, Saah A. David Jr. the Government of Norway was able to support the Eco-system which is a special project that will boost the Liberian tourism sector.
He promised that his organization will donate two boats to the FDA, adding that there is need for more efforts to be exerted in order to move the country’s tourism sector forward. โIf countries which don’t have forests are benefiting, then why can’t we? If you travel to Nimba, Cape Mount and other parts of the country, you will notice that Liberia has a rich forestry sector,โ he stated.
โFew weeks from now we will be inviting you to join us in Grand Cape Mount County, where we hope to have the first lady attending to launch our eco-tourism project. She will undoubtedly be the face of the project,โ he disclosed.
He also said that the Gola National Park has one of the most scenic and spectacular natural looks as well as Lake Peso which lies in Grand Cape Mount County.
Meanwhile, the head of the musical group, Emmanuel Sayon, alias Blazor lauded the Managing Director and staff of FDA for the gesture and promised to work alongside them aimed at spreading messages of protecting the Liberian forest. In a short performance in his native tongue Bassa, Blazor hailed FDA Boss Doyen and his entire staff, describing their kind gesture as God-sent.