Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is reassuring Liberians in the U.S. of her commitment to continue supporting the search for a lasting solution to the plight of those on the Temporary Protective Status (TPS).

The Liberian Leader gave the assurance on Friday, February 16, 2007 when she held an exclusive meeting with a leadership delegation of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) in Washington DC. The meeting took place at the official residence of the Liberian Ambassador to the United States on Fulton Street in Washington, D.C.

President Johnson-Sirleaf intimated that throughout her discussions with U.S. authorities, she has maintained that though Liberia welcomes all of her citizens abroad to return home and contribute, the requisite infrastructure is presently not ready to accommodate an unplanned influx of hundreds of thousands of citizens into the war-ravaged country.

On ULAA’s role in helping improve the lives of Liberians at home, the Liberian Chief Executive told the ULAA leaders that her Government is open to ideas and suggestions from ULAA, noting that there are many areas of need in Liberia where the Diaspora Organization could contribute. She named areas of health care, education, and community development, among others.

Earlier, in opening the discussion, ULAA National President Emmanuel S. Wettee congratulated the Liberian Government on the successful conclusion of the Donor Conference and the Private Sector Investment Forum.

The ULAA Leader averred that the impressive showing of Liberians at the Private Sector Investment Forum was indicative of the determination of most Liberians to return home to participate in the reconstruction of the country. Mr. Wettee however stressed that, while the heightened interest in returning home is laudable, the advent of any mass deportation of Liberians on TPS could threaten  rebuilding efforts in Liberia. National President Wettee said it was in cognizance of this that he was commending the Liberian Leader for her solidarity with those caught in the immigration quagmire and emboldening her to continue to raise the issue in future deliberations with officials of the U.S. Government.

The ULAA delegation at the meeting included Mr. Anthony V. Kesselly, Chairman of the ULAA National Board of Directors, Mr. Isaac Saye Zawolo, Jr., National General Secretary, Mr. Boniface Satu, President of the Liberian Community Association of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, and Mr. Francis Duwana, Member of the ULAA National Board & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Liberian Association of Pennsylvania. Sitting in on the meeting on the Liberian Government side were Ambassador Charles A. Minor and Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Wleh Badio.

Speaking during the discussions, Chairman Kesselly called on the Liberian President to identify ways to make herself more available to ordinary Liberians during subsequent visits. He conveyed the disappointment of Liberians relative to the lack of opportunity to more directly engage their President in town hall meetings. Responding promptly, President Johnson-Sirleaf reiterated her commitment to meeting Liberians directly under the auspices of ULAA as she had earlier promised. She expressed the hope that, with collaboration between ULAA and the Liberian Embassy, such forums could be planned to take place during future visits.