Sekou Damate Conneh Centre
TIME TO COME BACK HOME

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DAMATE

"BACK HOME CAMPAIGN"


ISSUES & IDEAS


We Liberians are at a unique moment in our nation’s history. After more then a decade of war and suffering, and a new government in place under President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, our nation is still facing a number of unprecedented challenges: huge unemployment, extreme high petroleum and rice prices, no health care and a zero economy. So for DAMATE the 2005 program is till valid to challenge the same issues.


OUR NEW ECONOMY: HOW & WHAT

The keys to Liberia’s economic development and freedom of poverty include an appropriate policy environment, sound institutions, good governance, adequate investments, the availability of appropriate productive technologies, and access by the population to adequate food, health care, education, and individual rights. After a protracted civil conflict in which many paid with their lives in creating a level playing field for Freedom and Democracy, Liberia now yearns for men and women of character, resolve and integrity to lead Liberia into peace and prosperity. Guaranteeing economic growth with political stability without repression, and flexibility in government, Prosperity and Peace will come to Liberia wherein hands are joined in a spirit of complete solidarity, allegiance and responsibility to both, to the peoples of Liberia and to the international community. These goals are essential to eliminate social unrest, which could contribute to a further destabilization of the already fragile situation in Liberia.

DAMATE seeks to place his trust in the hands of the International Community by offering practices and programs of Government by Excellence and Example to support him to accomplish his “Roadmap to Peace & Prosperity”. The Liberian people seek that their governance structures will facilitate tasks which not only include appeasing and conciliating different groups, but also to committing the people to a larger frame of reference and common purposes to which they must contribute. One of the challenges is to build partnerships between the Government, the private sector, and the non-governmental organization (NGO) community in support of sustainable programs that facilitate the transition from humanitarian assistance to lasting development activities.

The next government must stand committed to manage changed attitudes, to renew social concepts, to institutionalise economic innovations, as well as to offer flexible, dynamic and creative policies. Economic strategy providing open capital transfers, technology sharing, intellectual protection of intellectual property rights, fair trade, free movement of persons and goods and free trade between Liberia and all nations in West Africa.

The fundamental economic goals are to improve the quality of our lives and to allow every Liberian citizen to benefit of economic prosperity.


PRIVATE SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES

Liberalization of the rice market.
Liberalization of coffee prices, cocoa prices.
Liberalization of the petroleum market.


Wood mills

Tropical wood is highly prized on the global market and Liberia has huge resources. When managed in a responsible way by replanting and nurturing, also local mills can process timber for export, bringing jobs and money. The urgent need for human shelter requires the manufacturing of trusses, beams, studs and columns as well as window, doorframes, sidings and other housing components.

Paper mill

To produce paper from pulpwood does not require cutting the rainforest. New techniques make it possible to use scrap wood and pulpwood for processing. Liberia has the proper climate and soil for the production of pulpwood and it doesn’t take big investments and maintenance.

Printing and publishing

With the availability of locally produced paper, it would be feasible and productive for developing a printing industry for regional use. Liberia could produce learning materials for schools and libraries, domestic and for regional markets.

Minerals and mining

The government to secure environmentally responsible mining rules and techniques, coupled with long-term economic viability, should control exploration and mining by private enterprise. Minerals of interest include, but are not limited to all active, surveyed, determined. Prospective and reserve deposits of diamond, gold, silver, petroleum, timber, clay, silica, barite, kyanite, iron ore, and other natural resources. There is increasing interest in the possibility of commercially exploitable offshore crude oil deposits along Liberia's Atlantic Coast.


AGRICULTURE

DAMATE would like to urge the International Community and The West African Rice Development Association (Warda) to assist Liberia with access to the Nerica Rice Project. Nerica - short for New Rice for Africa - combines the hardiness of traditional African strains with the productivity of Asian varieties. WARDA’s mission is to contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in Africa, through research, development and partnership activities aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of the rice sector in ways that ensure the sustainability of the farming environment.

Liberia needs a strong agricultural economy based on small producers and sustainable practices. Big parts of Liberia are essentially agrarian with potential capacities to ensure food security for their respective populations. Populations outside the cities are rural-based and derive their livelihood from agriculture and its related activities. Liberians in rural communities face special challenges finding good jobs at good wages, providing their children with a good education, finding quality affordable health care, and meeting transportation challenges. Sekou Damate Conneh will do his utmost best for farmers in rural communities to have the tools and facilities they need to be safe and prosperous.

Generally, Liberia is endowed with minerals, water resources and abundant land but the agricultural sector is practically undeveloped. The use of rudimentary tools and inputs, low-yielding varieties and the absence of improved processing and preservation units characterize the sector. Cassava is widely grown and consumed. Per capita consumption is estimated to be over 40 kg per person per year. It is consumed in various forms (gari, boiled roots, fufu etc.) with fish and meat as well as variety of vegetables. Research report indicates that the leaves contain about 17% protein and constitute a valuable dietary component. The creation of a sustainable rural economy will provide a self-reliant base for development in the region. Among other things, small-scale non-farming activities such as food processing and preservation hold a great potential for generating productive employment and income in rural areas. This would invariably stimulate increases in agricultural production and ensure national food security. The rationale for this project is to simultaneously meet the basic needs of Liberia’s ex-combatants, refugees and internal displaced people, as well as the host communities and to provide opportunities to reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance. For further information see DAMATE PEACE FOUNDATION.

Food processing

Liberia can become a food exporting country because of its fertile soil and available products: -papaya, mango, avocado, rubber, cola nut, cocoa, tobacco, sugar cane & palm oil. Investments especially in proper agriculture storage space (and processing facilities) enables local farmers to preserve already produced food much longer and keep it longer fresh for domestic use and transportation for export consumption to the global market.

Sugar refineries

Sugar cane grows abundantly in Liberia, with or without farmers to cultivate it. With refineries throughout the counties farmers can provide sugar cane for processing. Besides sugar and syrup, medical alcohol and beverages can be produced for domestic and export consumption.

Soap and detergents

Oil palm grows abundantly in Liberia. Properly cultivated oil palm provides a constant supply of oil for food consumption and also for soap and detergent industries.

Rubber

Rubber production remains one of the major foreign exchange earners for the Government and Firestone runs the world’s largest rubber estate —90,000 acres with 11 million high-yielding trees at Harbel and Cavalla. Rubber production growth has reached a plateau. The rubber sector could begin an irreversible decline in years ahead. The gestation period for rubber trees is five to six years; considerable parts of the three main plantations are coming to the end of their productive life, and no significant replanting is under way. Rubber requires a longer-term approach and it remains a less easy target for “at source” off-budget expenditures. The spread of the Lofa war has also affected rubber production, especially around Bomi. Re-plant has to start immediately to secure middle term revenues.


FISHING

The Liberian waters have a coastline and continental shelves, which permit substantial artisanal fishing activities. The coastal waters are rich in exploitable fish species. The artisanal fishery sub-sector contributes about 50% of the annual fish production in parts of the sub-region. Paramount among the constraints faced by Artisanal fishers, fishmongers and processors are the lack of adequate training, fishing gear and processing facilities. FAO has been providing some limited support to the sub-region in this regard and will be requested for supporting a program in Liberia. The artisanal-fishing sub-sector can be highly profitable and could employ a sizeable number of the coastal population. It can also be a major source of animal protein for much of the population. New activities can serve as linkages along the continuum from humanitarian assistance to integration of refugees, IDPs and excombatants and ultimately to rehabilitation and economic recovery. This stimulation-project should provide training and establish improved drying and smoking methods as well as provide essential fishing gears to about 130 artisanal fishers, 60 fishmongers and processors. Selected artisanal fishing groups, including women fishmongers and processors can be organized to establish communal ownership of, and collective responsibility for the inputs provided by the project. This approach is expected to ensure sustainability of respective fishing groups.


MARITIME & CORPORATE REGISTRY

Liberia has the second largest maritime fleet in the world. In April 2002, Liberia’s gross tonnage stood at 54,545,000 (29,191,000 net). There are to date 1,715 vessels registered under its flag of convenience (open registry). As a result from competition of other offshore registries and lobbying from several NGOs, several ship owners are considering their flag of choice. We have to stop this development and polish our name.


CIVIL RIGHTS

Under DAMATE's leadership Liberia will make great progress in civil rights, but much other work remains to be done too. Sekou DAMATE is committed to protect voting rights and expand the federal jurisdiction for intolerable hate crimes. Liberia has to make significant progress in protecting the civil rights of individuals, and we must end discrimination and ensure fair and equal treatment of everyone regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

In the short run, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and other UN agencies must help our Government resettle refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), reintegrate child soldiers, reconcile war-related crimes, reduce ethnic tensions, and improve social indicators.


EX COMBATANTS

High priority on the agenda remains the issue of reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian society. Studies have estimated that as more than 60 percent of men and boys in Liberia are veterans. Big worrying thing is the fighters that started the war as children and are now young adults. They only know war, what will happen to them? DAMATE knows that a commitment to all our veterans, including the child-soldiers, means guaranteeing dignity and fairness for all of them and security for the whole nation. Like so many in other war troubled regions, when the dust settles will they re-socialise or revert to type and become armed robbers or maybe carry on fighting the government? All ex-fighters, from any fraction, need training and education to rediscover the values of life. To do so, they need productive employment and housing if they are joining Liberia in the reconciliation process and reconstruction of our country. Specially for this problem DAMATE established the DAMATE PEACE FOUNDATION (click here).


SECURITY, LAW & ORDER

DAMATE is also focused on fostering security guarantees between the Mano River states, and between Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, creating a comprehensive program for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and restructuring and re-training the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the national police. However, it is unclear that any current Liberian military commander is up to the task of guiding the transformation of the AFL or the police. To no one's surprise, the justice system still is largely broken down, and the new Government will have its hands full in addressing this problem. Arbitrary detention, extortion by authorities, bribery, and human rights abuse are commonplace. All other progress depends on the Government of Liberia respecting the human rights and dignity of its citizens. We too believe that the UN Office in Liberia (UNOL) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) could work with the Justice Ministry while donors work with the Liberian Bar Association, non-government organizations (NGOs), and others to institutionalize the new political mindset. Liberia's Human Rights Commission must be reformed, strengthened and made more autonomous in line with recommendations from UNOL and the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR).

Few things are more fundamental to Liberians than their personal safety, and the safety of their family. The government has to provide resources to help creating Neighbourhood Watch groups. To make our communities safer, we need to make sure that those who leave prison do not go back to a life of crime. Sekou Damate Conneh would strengthen community supports for former offenders, so that people who are ready to follow the law are more likely to do so. DAMATE developed a plan to make sure that first responders have the training, protective gear and emergency response equipment they need to protect us. DAMATE will vigorously enforce gun-safety laws. We need tough, consistent laws to get drunk drivers out from behind the wheel and off our streets. A strict, national standard for drunk driving makes good sense and will save lives.


WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Issues affecting women's rights affect every family in Liberia, but these concerns receive far less attention than they deserve. I am dedicated to the fight for gender equality in Liberia and especially focused on women's health issues and those issues affecting women in the workplace. DAMATE makes this fundamental promise to women: The freedom of choice is yours alone. DAMATE will continue to fight for women's right to have government choose and appoint judges who will uphold women's constitutional rights. DAMATE will support women's rights to choose and to care for their family, to safeguarding equal opportunity for female business owners. They want to see a country where women should be able to go as far as their talents can take them - whatever choices they make.


DRUGS

Liberia must become a leader in fighting drug abuse, addiction and drug trafficking. Countries in Europe and elsewhere are turning away from failed policies. They are treating addiction as a medical problem and are seeing significant reductions in crime and violence -- with fewer young people becoming involved with addictive drugs in the first place. Addiction is a medical and moral problem that should be treated by professionals, not dumped on the criminal justice system.


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & THE INTERNET

Of critical concern is the digital divide. There have been some small successes in technology in the past decade, many have been left behind and still lack the tools to fully embrace the digital economy. The forces of technology and globalisation are revolutionizing every aspect of life in the western world. We live in a high-tech world where Nelson Mandela can go online from Johannesburg for a global chat with Barck Obama in Washington DC on yahoo.com or Skype. Foreign government officials can visit Monrovia if the country is connected to the Internet by phone or satellite. The question remains how we are going to maximize this technological revolution, for our economy, and our nation." DAMATE wishes to ensure that in the future all of our citizens can take advantage of new technologies by supporting legislation that will provide assistance to small businesses, which need resources and assistance to compete effectively.


WATER MANAGEMENT

Access to water is a fundamental human right and need. It must not be controlled by private industries and sold only to those who can afford it. Clean, healthy water is a right for all. Water is not an “externality”, or a sewer for pollution. It is the sustainer of all life. Disregard of water is disregard of life. We owe it to future generations to leave them the gift of clean water. Too many people die each year, mostly children, from water born diseases.


DEPARTMENT OF PEACE

Inspired by US Congressman DENNIS KUCHINICH, candidate for President 2010, DAMATE introduces a new department for Liberia:

THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE.

Citizens across Liberia are invited to establish a Department of Peace, seeking nothing less than the transformation of our society, to make non-violence an organizing principle, to make war archaic through creating a paradigm shift in our society for human development for economic and political justice and for violence control. Violence control will be to support and respect disarmament, treaties, peaceful coexistence and peaceful consensus building. Economic and political justice will examine and enhance resource distribution, human and economic rights and strengthen democratic values. The Department of Peace would not only address violence in the country but also in the home, spousal abuse, child abuse, gangs, police-community relations conflicts and work with individuals and groups to achieve changes in attitudes. This will help with the discovery of new selves and new paths toward peaceful consensus.

The Department of Peace will also address human development and the unique concerns of women and children. It will envision and seek to implement plans for peace education, not simply as a course of study, but as a template for all pursuits of knowledge within formal educational settings.

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