Liberian President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday pleaded with the United States government through a visiting United States Congressional delegation in the country to prioritize the infrastructure needs of the war-torn nation. President Sirleaf told reporters shortly after a close door meeting with the congressional delegation headed by Congressman, G.K. Betterfield of North Carolina, that what Liberia considers the most important areas of needs right now from the United States government is for the US to assist with the infrastructures needs of the country. “What we consider the most important areas that we will like for the US support, is in our areas of infrastructures that affect the seaport; electricity and the airport,” President Sirleaf said at a news conference held with members of the delegation.

The Liberian leader added, “Unless we have those systems (The seaport, airport and electricity) functioning, the entire economy can not function as we want it.” Responding to the concern raised on Liberia’s infrastructure needs by the President, a member of the visiting five-man congressional delegation, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of the State of Texas in the United States, acknowledged the fact that President Sirleaf laid down what she termed, “three crucial elements” of need to Liberia during their meeting with her, which she also named as the seaport, electricity and the airport.

Congresswoman Lee said the visiting delegation consists of a representation or a cross section of congressmen that have the responsibility for the fulfillment of meeting these three elements.
“Our commitment is from our respective cities; to go back and to generate dollars and interest in investment in the areas of energy. I hope that a team will be coming from the United States very soon and we have extended an invitation to the President (Sirleaf) to speak to some of these leaders,” she added. The US congress woman said when they return home, they would be raising the issue of public funds with their various districts and constituencies for assistance to the Liberian seaport and airport.

Already, the delegation has toured the facilities of the Liberia seaport or the Freeport of Liberia, which is considered to be the gateway to the Liberian economy. They inspected the damaged pier and acquainted themselves with the infrastructure needs of the port. Last week, when she visited here, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that her government would provide assistance to rehabilitate the country’s sea and airports. Also when he addressed the press, Congressman Butterfield said in spite of the challenges facing the United States it would not lost sight of its overall obligation to the rest of the world especially the continent of Africa.

Congressman G.K. Butterfield of the state of North Carolina say although the United States has so many challenges facing it, it will not sit and allow is self to lost sight of its obligation to the rest of the world. “We are determined and have every intention of strengthening the relationship with Africa. I am optimistic about our future and we are going to work together to create a new policy; a stronger African policy that will include this great country of Liberia,” he said. Congressman Butterfield, who is Vice Chairman of the Energy and Environment Sub-Committee of the US Congress, said the United States has had a long standing relationship with Africa and as such, it will not abandon the relationship.

The US lawmaker, who addressed reporters here today, shortly after he and members of his delegation met and held talks with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and officials of her government, said the United States is planning for the future and want to take the nation (United States) in what he termed as ‘new direction.” “We have plans to do that. It’s going to be difficult but strong leadership with integrity, we are able to do it,” he added. He said the United States is facing a physical crisis with its deficits and debts un-precedentally high coupled with the fact that it’s fighting two wars including the global war on terror; discussions on issues of energy policy; health care reform and immigration policies, but in spite of all these, it would not lost sight of its obligation to the world.

He said current United States President Barrack Obama, has his roots in Africa and he has a perspective of the continent like any other President that the United States have ever had. Dwelling on the US, Liberia ties, Congressman Butterfield described Liberia as an emerging market with so many human and natural resources that the inter world or the rest of the world can benefit from but noted that this has to go with what he called,  ‘reciprocal relationship.’  “We are not just here just to benefit from the natural resources of Liberia, but we are here to share with you in partnership so that we can invest in this country,” he added. Earlier, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who welcomed the delegation’s visit to the country commended the government and people of the United States for the support to the country over the last several years. She said the people feel the United States is its best partners in the post war reconstruction process of the nation. Other members of the delegation included Sheila Jackson of the District of Texas, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, Wm Lacy Clay of Missouri’s First District and Congress man Steve Cohen of Memphian.