“We did not expect that bag of rice would cost US$35; we did not expect that prices would be as high as they are; we did not expect the transport fares would soar as they are; we did not expect that we would sew clothes at high prices,” declared Rev. Joseph L. Karlon, Senior Pastor of the Congregation of God Ministries located in Point Four, New Kru Town.

In a sermon perforated with strong words of courage and counsel to Christians and Liberians alike to remain steadfast and committed to God, Rev. Karlon said the present state of affairs in the country relative to the high cost of living was unprecedented, and rallied Liberians, especially Christians to stand firm, get close to God because “it is going to get tougher.”

Preaching from the Old Testament Book of 2 Kings 7:10-30, on the theme “When the going get tough, the tough gets going,” the Pentecostal prelate in rather a Pentecostal preaching style said it was unbelievable that those who used to afford daily, cannot afford again, and that prices have hit a record high.

According to him, as a result of the level of hardship existing in the country, people are abandoning their respective responsibilities. “Men are abandoning their homes why children have gone astray,” he declared.

But in the wake of the troubling situation, Pastor Karlon encouraged his congregation and Liberians at large to establish a fortress of hope and get closer to God.

By getting closer to God, he said means that Liberians should increase their praying time, fasting and do things that are right in the sight of God. He likened the present state of affairs in the country to a similar situation that befell biblical Samaria when things went helter-skelter, people hardly found food to eat and when others resorted to cannibalism for survival.

“In her inaugural address, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared that papa would come, but what we are seeing it is a contrary,” he declared as his congregation stirred in approbation.

He acknowledged the increment of civil servants’ salary by the government, but pointed out “The increment does not commensurate with the cost of living at stake.” He warned that things are going to get tougher than they are, and called on Liberians to prepare to face whatever situation.

Commenting on the ongoing rampant killing across city and other parts of the country, Rev. Karlon told the congregation of over 200 worshipers that such act is wrong and unacceptable. “The killing is too much. This is very wrong and ugly.”

Though eschewed blaming the government for the situation, he however said, “The Government has not established why this is happening. Maybe those who doing it are on their own, or that someone is sending them, but the government needs to act,” Rev. Karlon told his congregation.

Liberia, like countries of the world is experiencing a very new dimension of high prices for food and other widely used products, such as gasoline attributed to food shortage and low oil production. But the Liberian government has been fighting tool to nail to put things under control, and even called on Liberians to return to soil to produce their own food.

LDDA Gets Belgium Blessing - Officials To Get Business Visas

Belgium government has reportedly made an extraordinary offer to members of the Liberian Diamond Dealers Association (LDDA), accepting to issue one-year visas to Liberian diamond dealers to buttress their determination to transact between Brussels and Monrovia.

Brussels is reportedly awaiting the roster of the names of Liberian diamond dealers for the prompt issuance of the renewable ordinary visas.

The intention of the Belgium government to help the LDDA was revealed by Mr. A. Kpandel Fayiah, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy when he spoke recently at the induction ceremony of the first corps of officers LDDA. The program was held at the Royal Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia.

Minister Fayiah, who is also the focus point for Kimberley Process in Liberia, said the LDDA only needs to submit its rosters of members to his office for onward submission to the Belgium government.

According to Minister Fayiah, the Belgium government made the offer through its Foreign Minister as a means of helping to expose Liberia diamond dealers.

“On  the issue of the visa, during our visit to India , the  Foreign Minister of  Belgium said if we give them the listing of our diamond dealers , then  they  will  issue them visa for  one year. So that is for you (LDDA) to give us (mine officials) your listing and we will send your names to Belgium for the visas”, he said.

Minister Fayiah, a Liberian geologist, was responding to the new LDDA president induction statement when he said, “We shall advocate for foreign embassies accredited near Monrovia to see reasons to issue any necessary traveling documents to our bonifide members”.

In the statement read by Assistant Secretary General George Quaweay, the new president said most embassies accredited near Monrovia were reneging on issuing visas to members of the diamond dealers.

According to him, the refusal of embassies to issue visas pose impediments in their way of traveling out of Liberia to transact diamond business, because as he said, “We want to compete with other dealers on the world markets “.

Deputy Minister Fayiah told the gathering that Liberia has been invited to attend and participate in an international diamond exhibition scheduled to take place in the United States.

Apparently to ensure Liberia’s participation in the exhibition, he said the Liberian government through the Lands, Mines and Energy Ministry was working out modalities to have Liberian diamond dealers represented in the US.

He told the   well attended audience that Liberia as a nation and people has  come a long way apparently in suffering and  now has  been  recognized.

Minister Fayiah joined Liberia’s chief diamond appraiser, Mr. Corvah Baysah, among others to assure LDDA members of government readiness to work with them in making the mineral sector peaceful, productive and rewarding.

The Executive Director of the National Investment Commission (NIC) graced the   induction ceremonies officiated by Mr. T. Negbalee Warner, Head of the Secretariat of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (LEITI).

Those installed are Mr.  Mustapha Tounkara, President; Mr. Noah H. Pardmore vice  President for Administration; Mr. Isiaka Bakue Konneh Vice President for Operations and  Mr. Senes Kamara, Secretary General.

Others are George Quaweay Sr, Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Amando Tounkara as Treasurer, and Geoffrey I.N. Daniel as Chaplains, among others.

LDDA members are Liberians and residents possessing valid license to buy and export diamonds in the country. As a non-for profit organ, the LDDA wants to partnership with the Liberian government, the civil society groups, the private sector, and Liberia’s development partners.

LDDA, which  is governed by  board of directors and management headed  by Mustapha Tounkara, is  aimed  at  becoming  part of  transparency initiative that reflects the  realities of  Global market in the mineral .