U.S. Envoy holds closed door meetings in Margibi

The Ambassador of the United States to Liberia holds meetings with local leaders and stakeholders in Margibi County.

By Ramsey N. Singbeh, Jr., in Margibi

Margibi, Liberia, September 13, 2024—The United States Ambassador here, Mark Toner, is holding a series of closed-door meetings in Margibi County with local stakeholders and partners.

The meetings were held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, with the administration of Margibi, authorities of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) Peace Corps volunteers residing in Kakata.

 The New Dawn learned that before the 12th of September meetings, the Ambassador’s Protocol had informed hosts in the county that discussions would be held in camera; therefore, even the county administration did not invite the media.

Though few journalists were opportune to be at the superintendent’s offices when the Ambassador arrived and managed to post a few questions to him after his closed-door interaction with Superintendent (Attorney) Victoria Worlobah Duncan and other county officials, the rest of the media institutions in the county did not encounter him.

However, Ambassador Toner, who reportedly appeared to be in a hurry after the meeting with the county administration, responded to a few questions, saying the engagement was meant for acquaintance.

Sources within the county administration also hinted to this paper that when an advanced team from the U.S. Embassy had gone to Margibi to ensure the safety of the venues, it advised that there should be no official traditional welcoming and cultural performance for the ambassador’s arrival. However, an official said that being in the superintendent’s office made the team understand that it was prudent because it is a part of the normal protocol to welcome significant personalities to the county.

According to the information, Ambassador Toner listened to the Margibi Authorities outline major issues in the county. He spent 30 minutes in total at Superintendent Duncan’s office —10 minutes outdoors and 20 minutes indoors.

According to our investigation, following the meeting, the Ambassador also held two separate meetings with authorities of the Booker Washington Institute and the U.S. Peace Corps in Kakata.

This paper has yet to obtain the outcomes of these two other meetings.

Meanwhile, county officials who attended the meeting with Superintendent Victoria Duncan confided that the local authorities presented the Ambassador with a list of very important issues affecting the political subdivision, and they are optimistic that he will act on them.

Besides his posting as Ambassador to Liberia, Amb. Toner lived and worked in Grand Bassa County as a Peace Corps Volunteer for many years. He speaks the Bassa tribe very well.

The official confided in our reporter and said he was surprised to have heard the U.S. Envoy speak Bassa fluently. Editing by Jonathan Browne