Liberia’s Independence day: Tragically Symbolic
The following entry is my reflection on the fire that damaged the Executive Mansion in Monrovia this past week on Independence Day. For more information about the fire visit: http://allafrica.com/stories/200607260969.html
This past Wednesday, July 26, 2006 was Liberia’s 159th Independence Day Celebration. Due to the recent transition, the democratic election of President Sirleaf, and the lighting of street lights for the first time in 15 years, it was a day received with much anticipation and excitement. The presidents of Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone attended the official ceremonies and offered their words of congratulations, support, and admiration for Liberia’s progress. Those heads of state that did not attend sent their regards from Lebanon, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Guinea, Switzerland, and the list goes on. President Sirleaf spoke of the many accomplishments, and the many hurdles left to overcome. She recognized that the goals of the recovery may not be fully achieved for many years to come, but none the less the country would begin on the journey. “Let us start” she proclaimed.
After the closing ceremony, the dignitaries and guests made their way to the reception which was going to be held at the Executive Mansion. As I arrived at the mansion and walked through toward the garden where the reception was being held, I heard someone yell “Its burning!”. Confused , I looked up at the mansion to see smoke and flames coming from the fourth floor. I , along with everyone else there, stood in disbelief. I quickly called my colleague who was inside the building and told him to leave immediately. I then stood by my friend who I had sat next to at the preceding ceremony and she and I just shook our heads thinking of the words of optimism spoken just moments earlier.
The flames were growing and the only response available for the first few minutes were fire extinguishers which had no impact. When the fire service truck did arrive, there was no ladder available, so the water was not able to reach the fourth floor. After much confusion, the arrival of two UN water trucks, and the efforts of many frantic men – much to our surprise and relief the fire was put out. I have to admit that I had my doubts as to whether or not they would be able to successfully fight the fire, given the size of the flames and seeming inadequacy of the tools at hand. But as I watched what seemed to be ineffective chaos, progress was made.
For those of you who attended Wangari Mathaai’s speech at KSG earlier this year, you may recall the story she told of the hummingbird who started putting out a forest fire by dropping drops of water from its beak. As the other animals watched, they asked the hummingbird, “What are you doing? The fire is too big for you to stop.” The humming bird simply responded, “I am doing what I can”. I don’t know – as I remember my thoughts of pessimism as I watched the fire fighting, and I think back on my past frustrations and questions of how/if a difference is being made, I wonder to what extent my vision of progress and how progress is made has become too narrow . . . . is it possible that in the quest for efficiency we actually lose time? At what point do you put strategy aside for action? Maybe through all of the many agents doing what they can – no matter how chaotic – progress is made in the development process.
As I think on the fire, I can’t help but be amazed that the seemingly impossible was accomplished simply because people refused to focus on what they didn’t have, but simply move forward with what was at hand. So in spite of it all; poverty, lack of capacity, and poor infrastructure we are left with President Sirleaf’s words “Let us start”. It is simple, and with persistence, effective.
Tags: Travel
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