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Barbados executive connection to Liberia

Presidents Liberia

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Barbados’ undeniable link to one African country cannot be denied. At the swearing incoming President Boakai took the time to mention that two former Liberian presidents came from Barbadian lineage.

President Joseph Boakai

In spite of its internal flaws, Liberia has punched above its weight in international relations. It has successfully discharged the responsibilities it believed history imposed on it as the oldest independent African Republic.  For the first fifty years of its founding, Liberians elected nine presidents of African American descent. The country reached even deeper into the African Diaspora in the 20th Century to elect two presidents whose families came from Barbados in the West Indies. Our people also elected a president who had roots in both Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Liberia: President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s Inaugural Address

On reading the full text of his address it was uncanny to read of similar challenges compared to some being currently experienced by Barbados, the poor state of the road system is one is that standout. 

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21 responses to “Barbados executive connection to Liberia”

  1. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    No interest here in the full article or the video.

    These introductions to uncritical histories will never consider the circumstances in the creation of this socalled ‘first Afrikan republic’

    And unless you understand those conditions it will never be possible to understand current fissures within Liberia today, Liberia’s role in the world, the dispositions of indigenous Liberians even as the empire which forged it continues to behave, even by proxy, no differently today than when this socalled first Afrikan republic was imposed.

    And we may go on!

  2. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Dispossession

  3. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    @Pachamama,can you look past the imperfections and embrace the opportunities available in Liberia for persons in the diaspora in rebuilding process?

  4. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Scatological!

    How is that done. How do you look pass what is not known about.

    Maybe like how a Bajan solar company went to Nigeria and was expelled by their local partners, even with a government to government hook up.

    We’re in Afrika all the time, have interests there. Am always minded that investors need to understand a country, all facets, before taking a leap based on sentiment.

  5. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    Maybe like how a Bajan solar company went to Nigeria and was expelled by their local partners, even with a government to government hook up.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    NIGERIA IS THE MOST EXTREME CASE AND CORRUPTED IN ALL OF AFRICA.

    I ONCE TRIED DOING BUSINESS WITH A NIGERIAN IN TIJUANA MEXICO A BORDER CITY NEXT TO SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE RECENT PANDEMIC AS A CO-DIRECTOR/PARTNER MYSELF AND A FEW AMERICANS.

    WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS IT BECAME BLATANTLY OBVIOUS HE WAS TRYING TO STEAL EVERYONES INVESTMENT IN AN ECOMMERCE VENTURE.

    WE ALL PULLED OUT AND GOT BACK OUR INVESTMENTS AFTER HE WAS PHYSICALLY THREATENED BY THE OTHERS.

    SO ONE SOLAR COMPANY WHOSE OWNER WAS MCCLEAN AND ONE OF MY FORMER CLIENTS WHEN I HAD A LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMPANY CAN NEVER BE USED AN EXCUSE BECAUSE OF BEING DUPPED BY NIGERIANS.

    I AM NOW ON THE MOTHERLAND HAVING FLOWN INTO DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA A WEEK AGO, A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS AND CONSIDERING RELOCATING FROM THE WEST.

    MY FIRST TIME IN AFRICA AND I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH MODERN CITIES, CLEAN ROADS, NO NOISE POLLUTION AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HUMBLE AND COMMUITY MINDED FROM MY OBSERVATIONS.

    A COUNTRY OF 60 MILLION PEOPLE LED BY A WOMAN PRESIDENT OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS.

  6. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    My point exactly, Bayley and Alleyne went in blindly into Nigeria while ignoring the importance of due diligence. Walter Matteson among others came to Barbados and tricked many. Yes Africa does have issues of blatant corruption but among bad is always some good.

    I just spent 3 months on the continent and like you visit often for I wanted to see the good and not only the bad that’s reported.

    Do you know one of the largest laundries in Nigeria is owned by a Bajan?

    The niece of Janet Greaves who went to QC makes a living working as a motivational speaker around West & Southeren Africa.

    Again, we can be consumed by all the dark clouds and not seek the hope in the silver lining. No different to entrepreneurs who see opportunities in challenges and problems.

    Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Steve Bezos continue to make billions by solving the problems of billions of persons.

  7. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    @Baje, I was in Liberia as guest of a person who traces their roots to Barbados. It shocks me why Bajans cannot understand the power of their currency to leverage entry into entrepreneurship in low labor cost domains.

    The opportunities I saw in Liberia where 1 Barbados dollar is 100 Liberian dollars and minimum wage is around $3USD were unbelievable. Most Bajans want to be spoon fed and are risk averse with a government pension at retirement as the ultimate goal.

    What do others such as the Chinese and Russians know that the Afro Caribbean person seem not to grasp?

  8. David Avatar
    David

    @Kammie

    It is understandable the negative perception some have of countries in Africa. The Western media has done a good hatchet job. Notwithstanding, it is always good business practice to assess the risks associated with any business opportunity. The risk appetite for you will be different for the other person.

  9. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    The opportunities I saw in Liberia where 1 Barbados dollar is 100 Liberian dollars and minimum wage is around $3USD were unbelievable. Most Bajans want to be spoon fed and are risk averse with a government pension at retirement as the ultimate goal.

    What do others such as the Chinese and Russians know that the Afro Caribbean person seem not to grasp?

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    BOSS I AM ASTOUNDED MYSELF REALLY BLOWN AWAY.

    I HAVE MET PEOPLE HERE LOCALLY IN DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA THE MOST MAJOR CITY OF 6 MILLON MAKING US$31 TO US$50 PER MONTH (NOT PER WEEK) WORKING IN BARS OR RESTURANTS 6 OR 7 DAYS A WEEK UPTO 12 HOURS OR LONGER PER DAY.

    US$1 IS 2550 SHILLINGS.

    MY 2 BEDROOM 1 BATHROOM MODERN HOUSE WHERE I PAID US$225 FOR 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE OR US$75 PER MONTH IN A GATED COMMUNITY IN AN AREA OF DAR ES SALAAM.

    TIJUANA MEXICO A SIMILAR 2 BEDTOOM 1 BATHROOM HOUSE IN A GATED COMMUNITY IS MONTHLY US$700.

    ACROSS THE BORDER IN SAN DIEGO SIMILAR STARTS FROM US$2500 PER MONTH AND UP.

    I AM HERE ON AN INITIAL 3 MONTHS VISA COSTING US$100 BECAUSE OF US PASSPORT HOLDER AND PAID FOR ON ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT.

    SIMILAR VISA FOR COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES LIKE CANADA, UK, BARBADOS, JAMAICA ETC IS US$50.

    OVER THE LAST WEEK I WENT TO SEVERAL BARS AND SHOPS MIND BLOWING PRICES.

    16 OZ SODA PEPSI, COKE ETC. US40 CENTS
    500 ML OF BEER US80 CENTS
    A FULL MEAL OF PORK, BEEF RICE ETC IS US$3 IN A SITDOWN RESTURANT
    A LARGE BOTTLE OF WATER 1.2ML IS US24 CENTS,

    I COULD GO ON AND ON,,,,,,,
    THESE PRICES ARE RETAIL.

    IN EACH RESTAURANT BEFORE THEY SERVE FOOD THEY BRING A BOWL OF WATER AND POUR WATER ON YOUR HANDS TO CLEANSE.

    I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OR HUMILITY ANYWHERE I HAVE EVER TRAVELLED TO OR LIVED.

  10. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    What do others such as the Chinese and Russians know that the Afro Caribbean person seem not to grasp?

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    WHEN I WAS ON QATAR AIRLINE LEAVING DOHA QATAR TO DAR ES SALAAM TANZANIA THE PLANE WHICH WAS HUGE AND JUST ABOUT FILLED TO CAPACITY HALF THE PASSENGERS WERE WHITE.

    THE OTHER HALF LOCAL BLACK TANZANIANS RETURNING FROM WORKING IN ARAB STATES AS MOSTLY DOMESTIC OR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

    THE FLIGHT FROM DOHA QATAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS.

    BEFORE THEN I TRAVELLED FROM WASHINGTON DC TO DOHA QATAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS,

    I WAS THE ONLY BLACK NOT A TANZANIAN NATIONAL.

  11. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    THERE IS AN 8 HOUR DIFFERENCE TO MIAMI FOR EXAMPLE.

    IN MIAMI IT IS AROUND 8:35PM AT NIGHT.

    IN TANZANIA IT IS 4:35AM IN THE MORNING.

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @Kammie

    Given your familiarity with the country where do you see opportunities?

  13. BAJE Avatar
    BAJE

    LET ME ADD THE TECHNOLOGY HERE IN TANZANIA CAN RIVAL ANY WESTERN COUNTRY TO DO BUSINESS OR RESIDENTIAL USE AT A FRACTION OF THE COST ABOUT 75 TO 80 PERCENT LESS THAN ON THE 2 X3 ISLAND. FOR EXAMPLE.

    THEY ARE MANY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES FOR MOBILE PHONES, SIMM CARDS, AND DATA INCLUDING 7 DAY OR 30 DAY PACKAGES.

    ALONG WITH FIBER OR WIRELESS INTERNET INSTALLATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL OR BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/tPJlL8QB4Xg

  15. Kammie Holder Avatar
    Kammie Holder

    @David, every conceivable opportunity that can allow the entrepreneurial-minded to meet the needs of customers. Hairdressing, restaurants, advisory services, power generation, sanitation, manufacturing, educational services, teaching of English, hospitality, animal husbandry, poultry and pig farming, and trainers in every conceivable service.

    Liberia is a badly broken country, however, these issues create entrepreneurial opportunities for Bajans with nuff money in savings. Due diligence is required, as with any business venture.

    Barbados is still awaiting Liberia to accept the official invitation to have diplomatic relations. My trip was memorable as I met with the new president, who told me he visited Barbados. I unknowingly met a former warlord, now a businessman wanted by the US, who led Operation Octopus on Monrovia. The discussion was insightful into why people turn to arms when governments and their institutions fail due to corruption and nepotism.

    What took the cake was having breakfast with a former US counterintelligence agent who provided much insight into the deceit of global politics and his exploits in the Caribbean. Much knowledge was gained to navigate the treacherous world, but my lips are sealed!

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Kammie

    It will take a lot a conservative Barbadian businessman to take on the kind of risk which seems to be at play in Liberia’s space.

  17. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    In Afika lies the future of mankind. By 2050 it will have the largest number of young people. The needs are great, everywhere!

    Certainly the place to be. Certainly has more potential investment oportunities than most other places.

    The indicators were seldom in doubt.

    When people think the SME scale operations there are lots of possible opportunities in most places. The micro level!

    At the macro level, an investment decisión should include a synthesis of a range of analyses.

    If for instance, one does not know that the European Unión pays the salaries of the staff of the Afrika Unión or that the Chinese gifted their headquarters, assessment errors can be made in an investment decisión.

    At the micro level there are always a range of unknowns which could make an investment less certain.

    We’ve been going to Afrika for decades. When most people had ideas about it being backward. There are few countries there not visited.

    The kinds uh happy talk some here tend to was said about Guyana recently. With the entry of a few large corporations, deflation in an irrational sentiment seems to have occured.

    Our position is essentially that at the SME scale pooling of resources to form larger business units could be better option than atomization, as a general rule.

  18. Visiting Africa is inspiring Avatar
    Visiting Africa is inspiring

    When I visited Africa I felt spiritually inspired
    Perhaps the goal should be to help Africa/Africans rather/more than making monies

  19. FEEL THE MOTHERLAND ☀🌻😌 Avatar
    FEEL THE MOTHERLAND ☀🌻😌

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Govt pushing to build bond with Senegal

    BARBADOS IS STILL hoping to establish a direct connection between the African continent and possibly find a way to manage its water resources better.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds said those will be two of the topics to be discussed between the Government and President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall.

    “This is the first time Barbados will be hosting a president from one of the French-speaking African countries. It is a very historic visit,” Symmonds said.

    “Senegal, as you know, is the closest in a direct line from Barbados. It is important for us to continue to build these relationships for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the connectivity issue we’ve been working consistently on.

    “They have been outstanding internationally in terms of their water resource management. This is an issue that we have to tackle in Barbados and we are trying to build partnership in that regard as well,” he added.

    He was speaking at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday after the Senegalese president touched down around 6 p.m.

    Sall and his contingent were welcomed with a 21-gun salute.

    The Barbados Police Service Band

    and members of the Barbados Coast Guard were also on the tarmac to welcome the African visitors.

    Symmonds also said culture and equitable financing for smaller nations would be on the agenda.

    “Prime Minister Mia Mottley and President Macky Sall have both been very leading campaigners for the reform of the international financial architecture, trying to make sure that small island developing states . . . and developing states on the continent of Africa are better treated in the international financial community in terms of our ability to access funding for development purposes at better terms,” he said.

    Sall is scheduled to depart tomorrow. (TG)

    Source: Nation

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Govt signs deal with Senegal

    THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Barbados and Senegal will no longer be sporadic, says Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.

    She made that promise yesterday after she and Senegal President Macky Sall signed a memorandum of understanding that outlined several areas of cooperation including cultural collaborations, air travel, climate justice, food and nutritional security and equitable financing.

    “Water shortages and scarcity are major issues in both countries and by extension, it is hampering our ability to be able to attain food and nutritional security as we would like. Senegal has taken a global role with respect to combatting droughts . . . and to recognise that without that, we are not going to be able to achieve development for our people and achieve food and nutritional sovereignty, which is an ambition of both countries.

    “Similarly, we have much to learn in the area of biosciences. Barbados will be expanding its pharmaceutical industry. Senegal has been a distinguished leader in the developing world and the area of medicine and laboratory work.

    “The [Institut Pasteur de Dakar] is a global leader and we can benefit from the offers we have for collaboration between them and Best-dos Santos,” Mottley said.

    She made those comments yesterday at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St Michael following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

    Cultural heritage

    Her comments also followed a business forum where the visitors met with members of corporate Barbados and Cabinet members.

    Sall arrived in Barbados on Tuesday and is expected to depart today. His visit comes after the Government of Barbados welcomed leaders from other African nations such as President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 and President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo in 2019.

    During the briefing, Mottley spoke highly about Senegal’s rich cultural heritage and highlighted the significance of their World Festival of Black Arts. She said five local artistes are expected to visit Senegal.

    Framework

    She also spoke about the shared colonial past of the two nations, and the enormous investment in education, and healthcare and underscored the importance of establishing a direct link.

    “We today signed a memorandum of understanding on political matters which lays the framework for cooperation on all of these issues and we hope that we can sign an air services agreement in the near future as well as a double taxation agreement and bilateral investment treaty.

    “While we’ve had diplomatic relations for 48 years, we’ve had sporadic interaction at the people-to-people level. This signals the desire for us to change that fact. We don’t want that kind of sporadic relationship,” Mottley said.

    In response, Sall made similar comments about the need for a direct connection between the nations.

    “At the end of the day, we are not that far apart. It is much more convenient to travel from Dakar to Bridgetown than to some African cities. We have to promote interest between the business community,” he said.

    Global stage

    Sall also expressed his gratitude to Mottley for inviting him to Barbados and spoke about how wellrespected she was on the global stage.

    He said he was in full support of the Bridgetown Initiative, which proposes the creation of new instruments and reform of existing institutions to finance climate resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “We are fighting together to bring positive change. We are equally committed. We are making efforts but these efforts have to be supported by adaptation. We are committed to reforming global governance under the Bridgetown project. Everybody must muster the courage to do so,” he said.

    Mottley added: “If we don’t change the rules of the game we will pay three and four times to borrow and be given a fair chance if we lower the cost of debt. This is how we are going to do it, by changing the rules what other countries pay.

    “If we are paying three and four times more to borrow, it means we are losing opportunities that we can otherwise have to develop for our people,” she said.

    (TG)


    Source: Nation

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