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Mano River Resources Provide Modern School For Weasua Community After 53 Years
Aug 1, 2008
by Global News Network / Contributor

Mr.Smithson, CEO Mano River Resources Diamond Division
Residents of the diamond rich town of Weasua in Gbarpolu County, Northwestern Liberia were on Wednesday of this week overwhelmed when a brand new school valued at over ,000.00 United States Dollars constructed by the Mano River Resources Incorporated with the support of the residents of the area who made available their labor.

During this colorful occasion, which was gracefully witnessed by both officials of the County and the company saw hundreds of residents joyously lauding the countless efforts of Mano Rover Resources Incorporated for providing their area with a school which they is the first time in the history of the County.

The Superintendent of the County, Madam Gertrude Lamin who appeared happy throughout the program, praised the management of the Company for coming to the aide of her county, especially in the diamond rich town of Weasua, adding, “I am overwhelmed for the level of support given my County by your Management; constructing a school for the first time in our history, since 1955. We are indeed grateful”, the Gbarpolu Superintendent in a jolly mood told officials of the company during the program.

Superintendent Lamin in her joyous mood further lauded the efforts of the youths of the area for given their fullest support to the company during the construction of the school, and also praised the chiefs and elders of the area for encouraging their children to help during the process of the country, adding, “If our youths were not cooperative, this project would have been successful”, the Gbarpolu Superintendent stressed.

Mano River Resources Incorporated and its subsidiary, the Stellar Diamond Limited, according to the Country Superintendent, Madam Gertrude Larmine, ”This Company is drastically helping to reduce high rate of illiteracy and unemployment ,” the head of the County in her remarks noted.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Mano River Diamond Division, Mr. Karl Smithson who also appeared excited, praised the residents, particularly the youths of the area and the elders for the level of support received during the construction of the 8-class room, a bath house and a kitchen.

Beaming with glaring smile, Mr. Smithson pledged his Company’s support in any project the community may wish to undertake, and disclosed that the now completed school building would afford hundreds of students in the area to return to their learning process.

The CEO of the Mano River Resource Diamond Division expressed happiness for his company to be the first in the history of the county to bring sound education to the youths of the county.

Speaking to reporters during the dedication of the school, Mr. Smithson said his company, which he said is in the business of mineral exploration is very hopeful of success during its tour of exploration in the area.
Mr. Smithson speaking further, averred that since the commencement of operations in the area by his company, eight years ago it has spent over Eight Million United States Dollars on the exploration exercise without been successful, but however said he is of the conviction that one day success will be made.

He said despite the slow pace in the exploration process his company will be committed in supplementing their developmental projects.
Several prominent citizens of the area, including chiefs, elders, representatives of the Ministries of Land, Mines and Energy and Education lauded the services of the company in the area.

The District Education Officer (DEO), Boimah QWuaye Toweh, for his part, assured parents, residents and school going children and would be pupils in the area that in the next academic year 2008/2009, the school will increase its academic level from elementary to both Junior and Senior school in order to help accommodate those in dare need of education.

The Gbarpolu District Education Officer also during the program officially informed parents and residents of the of government’s undaunted commitment to providing education to every sector of the country, and made available several dozens of book bags, copy books and pencils to the school for students.

“We need education in this country now then we need war, we need education now then we need storey buildings.

The most important tools in the process of reconstruction is education”, the Gbarpolu DEC in his remarks told the gathering.

Prior to the Liberian civil war, this area was the busiest diamond mining community as thousands of people from far and near trooped there for employment and the successful earning of a great wealth for the survival of their dependents.

The area got destroyed as a result of the civil war; militias of various factions in the Liberian civil war illicitly carry out mining in the area which gave rise to successive governments losing the needy revenue.

During the dedication of the school, residents in separate remarks lauded the efforts of the Company for coming to the aide of their area, “We are indeed grateful to the management of the Mano River Resources Incorporated for making our area once more livelily; the dedication of this new school worth millions of thanks to you and your other partners,” an elderly woman in remark said.

Nearly everyone who was at the program expressed excitement for the construction of the school, which they said is the first of its kind since 1955.

Members of the Gbarpolu Legislature Caucus who were expected to attend the program were absent due to what one of the officials described as “their busy schedule at the Capitol for the Budget Hearings”.

According to our sources, since Mano River Resources Incorporated opened its door few years ago has significantly improved the lives of the people of the County through the provision of job opportunities which is in line with the Liberian Government Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

In a related development, some residents of the county who spoke to reporters during the program called on the Liberian Government to provide security protection to foreign investors who honestly venturing to provide jobs opportunity to the thousands of unemployed Liberians.

Mr.Smithson, CEO Mano River Resources Diamond Division

Madam Gertrude Lamin, Superintendent of Gbarpolu Speaking to reporters

The View of the newly constructed school building

About the Author:
Global News Network, Inc. (GNN), a local Liberian news agency, and is managed by a Liberian Journalist J. Cholo Brooks. Mr. Brooks served the BBC African Service as its Monrovia Correspondent for over a decade, he is a Senior Staff writer for The Liberian Times (www.theliberiantimes.com). He has been a member of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) since 1972. He is also one of the Contact Persons for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a US based Rights Organization. GNN Contact: Phone: +2316461010/+2315885625

Global News Network may be contacted at jcholobrooks@theliberiantimes..