THE UNITED BASSA ASSOCIATION (UBA)
OF WASHINGTON D.C. METRO OF MARYLAND and VIRGINIA

INAUGURAL SPEECH

Delivered by:

H. S. Bobby Gborgar Joe

Mr. Joseph Sinyan, National President of UNIBOA, The Honorable Joseph M.N. Gbadyu, The Venerable Rev. Dr. Edwin J. Lloyd, Madam. Guest Speaker, Mr. Installing Officer, Heads of Chapters of UNIBOA from other States, Other Dignitaries, Friends, Heads and Members of other Sister Organizations, Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of our dedicated officers we want to thank you for accepting our invitation to our program and we hope you will enjoy our small hospitalities.

Back in the days when I was just a little boy and I had to turn my back on my world behind in the village to go to school in Lower Buchanan because there was (still is) no school in our area, my late father, Elder JoeKpoeh, and my Mother, Madam Lumkol Joekpoeh, were escorting me to the dusty motor road to leave everything and everyone behind that I knew to go this strange place, I had the strange feeling feelings that nothing was going to be the same in my life. Since that day, nothing has been the same. I have learned a new language, a new culture and a new writing system. That was the first time I ever rode a motor vehicle. A real moter car. Even if I went back to the village I would have been considered of honor because I sat in a motor vehicle. I must admit that the excitement was choking. On that journey I made a promise in response to my Father’s statement that education is no use to anyone if your education does not benefit another human being. This notion was based on the premise that our society is a communal community. This means we take care of one another. Under our system of government if a stranger comes to the village the entire village will help make his farm and help build his house. Essentially, making sure that that person and his family become self-sufficient. Just like we see the Korean and other nationalities do here today in America.

The question I want to ask is, “What are you prepared to sacrifice for your people?”

UNIBOA stands for those noble goals of helping our people who may not be as fortunate as some of us are. We want to make a difference in our people’s lives. They need nothing less than helping them back on their feet after this devastating and revolutionary war. I call it revolutionary war because this war is supposed to bring about new change in our way of thinking in our land. The disrespect we showed each other during the war was in part due to the long history of separate but unequal societies. While some of our citizens were sending their children to study abroad there was no primary school for the local people. Yet, the people who received no benefit from the government were harshly dealt with to pay taxes. One has to see some of the methods tax collectors used to collect taxes in our village to understand what I am talking about. . It is nothing short of torture. Sometimes, they hang the man’s one foot up until he cried and begged for mercy. And finally, he would have to give his earthly belongings to pay up; or better still they used that “kpe-kpe baju” (stick) around their “crazy bone.” You have to see it to imagine the psychological and social impact on our people. It would be hard to imagine the impact and pain this caused in the villages. , “What are you prepared to sacrifice for your people?”

And just as people are returning to their land and begin to pick up the pieces we once again are seeing the ugly head of oppression and humiliation in Grand Bassa County, especially in the Districts #3, #4, and #5...

According to recent stories coming from the county, the Liberia Agricultural Company, (LAC), had hired some militias of its own and these militias have begun the uprooting of our people from their land. They have burnt down villages in the area. And furthermore, The people”s cassava and other food crops have been burnt in order to force them out. According to Human Rights Groups, LAC had also ordered streams, creeks and other drinkable water sources poisoned and have they placed all the young men in containers thereby forcing them to suffocate.

How long do we have to endure this sort of inhumane treatment before the National Government intervene? How much more suffering can our people tolerate just to be on their own land? The question is, “What are you prepared to sacrifice for your people?” We demand LAC hut this inhumane action without any delay. We want our government to get to the bottom of this and hold people accountable.

Although UNIBOA is a non-profit organization and we do not engage in political activities we will however, join forces with all peace-loving Liberians and anyone who will be willing to bring relief to this situation. But again, “What are you prepared to sacrifice for your people?”

Finally, Liberia is perhaps one of the few countries in the world that is ordained by the Almighty to get a second chance at nationhood. The last war has a potential to wipe us out of the face of the map as a nation. Even though all of our infrastructures were damaged but still we struggle to recover from the ashes with our Iron Lady. We challenge her new administration to create a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The United Bassa Association strongly believes that all of our efforts in helping our people would mean nothing if they cannot enjoy justice and freedom in their land. We need to revisit all of those concessions that exclude our people. We need to put the people back on their land.

May God continue to bless Liberia and prosper the work of our hand here in America!

Thank you!