Golden Agriculture Jubilee

Sierra Leone Ambassador Expresses Happiness For Hosting Cuttington’s Agricultural Show

A. Macaulay Sombai, macaulay.sombaifrontpageafricaonline.com {077217428}

The Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Monrovia and Abidjan, Mrs. Marie J. Barnett has expressed her delight in partnering with the Cuttington University to host the 2011 Cuttington University Agricultural Show.

She considers culture to be a significant way of bringing people together from different ethnicities and nationalities.

Said Ambassador Barnett: “….. the theme of the 2011 Agricultural Show ‘Promoting Peace through Farming’ could not have been any more appropriate considering that we are still struggling to maintain sustainable peace in the sub-region”.

Mrs. Barnett further indicated that as two Anglophone states of the four Mano River Union Countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone share common experiences and interests, which challenges both countries to establish strong collaborative linkages in their best practices.

“Not only for the achievement of sustainable food security in our countries,” she said, “but also for peace promotion such that our children would pursue their educational careers in conducive environments free of hunger and all fears that tend to divide people.”

Mrs. Barnett indicated that as her country celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it is a demonstration of their commitment in promoting peace through farming by joining hands with the College of Agriculture and Integrated Development Studies (CAIDS) of the Cuttington University.

Continued Ambassador Barnett: “Your Excellency President Sirleaf, distinguish Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberia has enjoyed over one hundred and sixty years of independence as compared to Sierra Leone’s 50^th independence on 27 April 2011 as a sovereign Republic.”

According to her, Cuttington University has about twenty Sierra Leoneans in their employ as Academic staffs--- two of whom are Deans of the Colleges of Business/Public Administration and the College of Agriculture and Integrated Development Studies.

“These two sectors, serving as a driving force for economic development, recently requested to establish a memorandum of Understanding with the Njala University in Sierra Leone through the embassy of Sierra Leone,” she emphasized.

“I am happy to report that Njala University has positively reacted to that request through my office and I will now officially hand over the documents to the Dean,” she indicated amidst applause.

Barnett says it is her hope and prayer that these two Universities will not only benefit from this relationship through collaboration and coordination of research, but also exchanges of students and faculty.

“But that Cuttington University will draw from the experience and facilities for staff capacity building offered at Njala University while Njala draws from the renewed strength and vigor of Cuttington University, especially considering the fact that the current Dean of the school of agriculture is a founding student of the Njala University,” Mrs. Barnett narrated.

The Ambassador further indicated that the cultural component of agricultural shows are designed in her country as the uniting force that binds the people together as they joyfully express their respective cultures without regards to ethnicity.

“It is my hope and prayer that the people of Bong County will, in this show, set the pace for all Liberians to co-exist peacefully with each other as the first and greatest consideration for realistic development.”

She then extended a blank invitation to all Liberians to the celebration of her country’s 50^th Independence Anniversary.

She also extended thanks and appreciation to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, under whose leadership she has had the privilege of serving in Liberia.

The agriculture show was part of the 50^th independence anniversary celebration of the Republic of Sierra Leone.