When peace and reunification within the Grebo Peninsula began to transparently appear, Grebo People showed it when they converged for the second time in Rocktown. And Rocktown, arguably is the oldest Grebo town on the face of Planet Earth. Among many others attending the Convention, Amb. Dew Tuan Wleh Mayson was there with his entourage. He drove from the seat of power of Maryland County – Harper City - to Rocktown. His convoy had ten vehicles including his security, friends and personal staff. From Downtown Harper to Rocktown supposed to be a thirty-minute drive. But because of the bad condition of the road, Amb. Mayson and his Convoy took one solid hour to get to Rocktown. The Ambassador's two Hummer Jeeps and other vehicles blazed the trail.
When the Ambassador got in Rocktown, the Convention was in full swing. Chiefs, town mayors, elders, women, men, children and youth were all over the place in festive mood.
The Ambassador came to Harper to attend the Catholic Bishop's ordination on the same Saturday, April 30, 2011 marking the GRebo Convention. All the chiefs, town mayors, elders, women, men, children of Grebo Peninsula and invitees from all walks of life were exchanging views on issues facing the Harper District on that day in Rocktown. As one may know, Harper District (the seat of power in Maryland) is the proverbial fire-spot in the county. This is where all the major conflicts derailing progress in the county are concentrated. So by stabilizing it, we will be stabilizing the entire County.
The Convention was slated to last for four days – Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And it did.
On Saturday, reunification gained momentum. Towns that had not come together in this fashion in the Grebo Kingdom over decades, were sitting and breaking bread together. As a pre-Annual General Convention, preparation was in the pipeline for Whole Graway (Blayjay) in June, 2011.
How did Amb. Mayson get in connection with the Grebo Convention? He was invited by the entire Grebo people to serve as Keynote Speaker.
The Ambassador came to Harper purposely to attend the ordination of the Catholic Bishop of the Cape Palmas Diocese. But he took off time from his busy schedule to address the Grebo people. His message was profound. It was centered on peace, unity and reunification of the Grebo Peninsula and everywhere on earth.
Amb. Mayson did not bite his tongue during his keynote address. He told the Grebo people that anytime, in this election year, anyone come to see them and give them money, they should not hesitate to "grab" the money. Why? Because, he says, "It is your money!”
He informed the Convention that he was making all efforts to seek the Presidency of the Republic. And the reason why he wants to lead the country is, he wants to bring relief to our poverty-stricken people. The Ambassador expressed his dissatisfaction over how Liberian people have been driven deep into poverty. He believes that this should not be the case. Because the Liberian can afford afford to make life better for its people. He appealed to the Grebo people and all Liberians to wake up from their slumber and take on nation building. He invites them to join him in making this happen in Liberia when he becomes President. He spoke extemporaneously.
The young Ambassador and a powerful speaker, sent a hard message to all Liberians on corruption. He asked everyone not to support anyone who is corrupt. He won cheers in the unfinished Rocktown Town Hall.
Where the Ambassador made his powerful speech is in a Town Hall that is unfinished. Understandably, the UNDP was building it, but decided to disconntinue. Why? No one could answer this question. However, it housed Amb. Mayson and his entourage and the Grebo Leaders. As the Ambassador spoke, one could see the beauty of the land on which he was speaking and at the same time connect all the possibilities being outlined in his speech.
Rocktown is an ideal spot for tourism. The Hall in which Amb. Mayson spoke is bounded on the east by Lake Kude; on the west by the Rock by which Rocktown is named and which holds the High Priest’s home. The Hall is bounded on the south by the Rocktown newly erected Clinic and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a scenery that glowed in the ideas and concepts of political and economic freedom that the Amb. was alluding to in his keynote address.
Amb. Mayson had the entire Rocktown on fire with his firing clichés. It seemed to those who knew him from the days of the Struggle for “Rice’ and “Rights” that he was rejuvenating the process again. But this time he wasn’t dressed in a military fatigue. He was dressed in a simple but beautiful African attire that glowed in the beauty of the sun and the happiness of the people.
Amb. Mayson spoke his native tongue – Kru – when he expressed his admiration for Rocktown and its people and the hospitality he enjoyed. He said the hospitality and friendship was great. He shall never forget it. He promised to return to Rocktown upon winning the Presidency to thank the people once more. He thanked the Grebo people, especially Bigtown and Rocktown, for being sensible enough to reunite and build peace amongst themselves. Because, he told them, that they could not afford to suffer twice. 1st, from poverty and then 2nd, from disunity. By reuniting after a 14-year civil strife, it is quite sensible to move forward into a sensible future together for the common good of all.
In the end, Amb. Mayson tipped his hat to Mr. Thomas G. Bedell and his co-workers who made reunification of the Grebo Peninsula a total reality. He encouraged them not to relent. Because unity is the last chance for all of us to survive. He promised Mr. Bedell to help in the process of peacebuilding as far as the Grebo Peninsula is concerned, even across the country. Because he believes in the unity of everybody everywhere.
On behaalf of the Grebo peopple, Paramount Chief, Hon. Huskin, thanked Amb. Mayson for accepting the invitation to serve as Keynote Speaker. He informed Amb. Mayson that history unites the Kru and Grebo people. In fact, he said that both Kru and Grebo people came to Liberia together. And he said, the Krus and Greboes also live together all along. So there’s no separation between the two peoples. As a son of the Southeast, it becomes necessary for him to come back again to visit. At that time of his next visit, everyone can then push forward with what he (Dew) wishes to do. In essence, he expressed the support of the Grebo people for all their children everywhere who seek to lead this country, even if some of those children have only made a first-time visit at home. The Honorable Paramount Chief poured libation and wished Amb. Mayson Godspeed in his endeavor.
“Dew! Dew!” Became the chant for the moment from the youth who swelled the corners and outside of the unfinished Town Hall. A request for help was presented to the Amb. He, in turn, promised to help with projects that the people identify. Besides the purchase of a bull that was slaughtered for the Dinner, the Amb. left with the promise to help the people through projects they would identify.
As the Brass Band played those old-times songs when campaigns were campaign, the Amb. danced his way through the crowd with his entourage and departed Rocktown for Harper City. He drove across the incomplete second international aero port in Liberia situated in Rocktown. He also drove by the location set for the Ivorian refugees, next to Little Wlebo and right in the belly of Rocktown.
One will know that Rocktown’s role in the process of peace, reunification and unity within the two chiefdoms is crucial and important. More than twenty towns within the two chiefdoms of the Harper District, namely, Kudemoweh & Numoweh, were represented. The next road leads to Whole Graway (Blayjay) for the Annual General Grebo Assembly.
I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and working on the ground in Liberia.
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