Written by J. Cyrus McGee +231886565258 / cyrusmcgee@gmail.com
Monday, 30 July 2012 00:46
As it is often said, it is good to give a man his flowers while he is alive in order to enable him smell, feel, and hold it. In fulfillment of this, the Central Bank of Liberia Staff Association (CESBA), during the weekend honored and gowned the Executive Governor of the bank, Dr. J. Mills Jones, for his remarkable leadership at the financial regulatory arm of the Liberian Government.
Presenting the certificate of honor to Governor Jones, CESBA President, Urias Slewro, said the honor was their way of appreciating Dr. Jones for the level of work done in transforming the financial sector of the country since his appointment to the position by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in2006.
He used the time to assure him of the fullest commitment of the association in working together in achieving the dreams of the CBL.
Speaking shortly after he was gowned and certificated, Governor Jones described the honor as another means of motivating him to work together with the staff of the bank in further improving the country’s economy.
He used the time to stress the need for Liberians in every sector of society to take up the responsibility in rebuilding the nation’s economy. He noted that carrying out individual projects in different places is not development, but rather for the economy to grow and be able to sustain itself, and as such, Liberians must be in the forefront of the process.
“We continue to say no country was built by foreigners, no country was built by aids, when we get that at the back of our minds, we will then begin to rethink how to look at the process of economic governance, “he told the gathering.
He called on Liberians to take the responsibility to go through the process of chatting a course as a nation and people, adding that it might not be easy, yet he also assured that Liberians have the minds to make such happens.
Governor Jones said as the nation appeals to the international community for development aids, Liberians must begin to think how the international community reached where it is; stating that it was through hard work, innovation and increasing productivity, which Liberians will have to also do.
He informed Liberians that cataloging the natural resources of the country including the diamonds and iron ores in the grounds, and trees in the forest worth nothing until they are transformed into a way that the people can benefit.
“If we must raise ourselves up we must all have to work together as a people, come up with clear national wealth, how we can distribute them so that we all as Liberians can benefit, so as to have growth, development and poverty reduction,” he warned Liberians.
The CBL Executive Governor then challenged the staff of the bank to take their task ahead seriously, and reminded them that leadership is about creating and ceasing opportunities. He however assured them that his leadership at the bank will continue to create opportunities for capacity building and make them more professional for the job market.
Also speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of CBL, Charles Sirleaf described the honor bestowed on Governor Jones by CESBA as being timely and well deserving, looking at his efforts over the years in improving the bank.
He described the CBL as the foundation to the rebuilding of the Liberian economy, making strides in reviving the financial sector of the country and praised Dr. Jones for being the driving force behind the process.
Mr. Sirleaf reaffirmed his fullest support to the efforts of Governor Jones in transforming the country’s economy and called on every staff of the bank to double their efforts in making things happen.
In the same vein, the President of the Liberia Bankers Association, Sylvia Ashimole congratulated Governor Jones on the occasion and commended him for improving the banking sector of Liberia, which he noted now allows commercial banks to freely operate without fear.
He used the time to reaffirm the commitment of commercial banks operating in the country to the rebuilding process of the Liberian economy.
Meanwhile, the program which took place at the Monrovia City Hall was attended by officials of government and heads of various commercial banks in the country.
