VAI TOWN, Montserrado – With barely nineteen months to the presidential elections in Liberia, the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Public Works has encouraged a gathering of young people to employ wise judgments in electing people to national leadership positions.

Roland Giddings said during a Bush Chicken interview following an intellectual engagement with students of Tubman High School at the Chevron Monrovia Central Park on Tuesday. The forum was organized by the Calvary Empowerment Team.

Giddings said young people must begin to make wise judgments that would sustain the peace and stability that the country has acquired over the last ten years.

He said the elections in 2017 would be a key to determining the future of the country.

“This will be the first time in our history since the civil crisis to see a smooth transition of national leadership,” he said.

According to him, a lot of gains have been achieved following the end of the civil war. He added that it was the young people that must sustain the gains acquired.

Giddings called on the young people to seek out people who are passionate about their country and its people. He said that the way to do this was to look at the records, contributions, and the impact of those seeking public office.

“We need to look for those who have done substantial things in our country, in terms of tangible contributions,” he charged the youths.

He added that the young should vote leaders who are responsible parents and religious oriented and have the mind for reconciliation.

At the same time, Giddings warned young people against electing people because they give instant gratuities like few cash.

These “dollar politics” he said have contributed to electing the wrong people to national leadership.

Samuel Duo, Calvary Empowerment Team Executive Director, Photo by Gbatemah Senah

The CET Executive Director, Samuel Duo said the students’ engagement is an ongoing program of his organization to keep young people engaged on meaningful topics.

According to him, more than 20 schools in the metropolitan Monrovia area are targeted for the first phase of the youth engagement project.

“Every week we bring 50 students from one of the selected schools and invite someone for a career development session with them and to also motivate them,” he noted.

He said that sometimes parents are invited to read to the students in a reading session.

The initiative will help expose the young people and strengthen their resolve for future responsibilities.

“This is another way of making our country better by preparing tomorrow’s leaders,” Duo said.

The students praised the organization for allowing them the opportunity to participate in the program. They believe the engagements will help them become better citizens.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah