Liberian Group Makes Donation to Haiti Earthquake Victims

Thursday, 25th March 2010

Monrovia, Liberia - Cash in the amount of L$25,000 and US$200, collected by a group from Maryland County, was today presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onforwarding to the people of Haiti, in the wake of the devastating earthquake which hit that island country in January.

The money had been collected and donated by a group called “Friends of Haiti,” led by Madam Cora Doryen, a nurse, as the group’s way of identifying with the suffering people of Haiti. She said the members, recognizing the magnitude of Haiti’s loss, wanted to do their part to help, and had sold T-shirts to raise funds, and some high schools had also contributed.

The gift was presented to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on February 28th, when she visited Maryland County to attend the inauguration of the first President of the William V. S. Tubman University, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell, and the dedication of the school. The President used the occasion of her visit to the southeast to meet with citizens of the county. They included traditional chiefs and elders; women’s, civic and youth groups; shipwreck victims; and the Friends of Haiti.

Presenting the money to the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Ambassador Sylvester Grigsby, on behalf of President Sirleaf, were two officials of the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs: Hon. Varney Sirleaf, Assistant Minister of Administration/Logistics, and Hon, Harry Sando, Comptroller. They expressed gratitude to the group and hoped other Liberians would see the need to do the same. Mr. Sirleaf said he had witnessed the passion the members of the group, who are also very poor but who wanted to help the people of Haiti in whatever small way they could.

Receiving the gift, Minister Grigsby recounted the historical ties between Haiti and Liberia – with Haiti as the oldest black republic in the world, and Liberia as the oldest black republic in Africa. He gave assurances that the funds would be presented to the Liberian Embassy in the United States of America for quick delivery to the people of Haiti.

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