“Corruption is holding you down”

Ambassador Greenfield tells Cuttington’s Graduates

Suakoko- US Ambassador to Liberia, H. E. Linda Thomas Greenfield, last Sunday, June 12, 2011, blamed the underdevelopment of Liberia on corruption, which she said continues to violate Liberia’s trust and interest.
Madam Greenfield made this remark while delivering a commencement address at the 50th commencement convocation of the Cuttington University College (CUC) in Suakoko, Bong County which saw the graduation of at least 552 students.
“while most people are struggling to make ends meet to feed their children, send them to school, and provide them with health care under difficult circumstances,,” the US diplomat said, “there are misuse of public coffers; which should not be tolerated.”
In her 37 minutes speech to the assembly of graduates and other people present, Madam Greenfield acknowledged the significant progress Liberia has made in the area of Health, Academic, and other social amenities that could inspired Liberians at home and abroad to work harder.
“Schools are opening-up in urban and rural areas so that children can go to school. Hospitals are being built to provide decent health care to the public. Streets and communities are receiving lights to improve the quality of life of citizens. And infrastructure is being developed to increces the potential of foreign direct investment and the development of local entrepreneurs. All of these possibilities inspire us to work even harder,” she said.
“If I told you that there are no challenges,” she added. “I would be less honest with you. Because I very much care about Liberia, I don’t shy away from being critical, when necessary. Let me repeat what I have said on many occasions. The one problem that continues to violate your trust and interest is corruption.”
Not defending corruption in the United States, Ambassador Greenfield, acknowledged there exist corruption in the United States, which is not right in where ever it exists. But corruption in the United States does not lead to the lack of roads, schools, or keep ports not operating.
“Corruption in Liberia is holding you back,” Madam Greenfield, upon who the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, LHD was conferred, told the audience present.

Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield