FELMAUSA 'S President Hon. Mohammed Dukuly Address Audience At well attended Inauguration Ceremony In Newark, New Jersey.

Hon. Richmond Konneh and his outgoing Team. Hon. Abe Kromah and his hard-working men and women of the FELMAUSA’s board of directors. Our exceptional and passion-filled Guest Speaker – Dr. Sirleaf. Our much appreciated Installing Officer – Hon. Kesselley. All Liberian and U.S government officials in attendance tonight.

 My respected elders. Our outstanding and supportive women organizations present. Representatives of various Liberian Organizations. My fellow Liberian Mandingos and Mandingo descends. My fellow Liberians. Distinguished platform and invited guests. Friends of Liberia. Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for coming, and thank you for honoring us tonight! Our depth of gratitude you have earned forever!

I am humbled to stand before you tonight in such a time when the future of our young men and women is extremely tenuous. In such a time when our energetic and promising young men and women remain unfortunate victims of the scorch of threatening illiteracy, this administration respectfully solicits your commitment to education in our community. In such a time when our communities are disintegrated and oddly polarized along sub-Mandingo factional lines, thereby retrogressing developmentally, I challenge you tonight just as I challenge myself to be cognizant of the inevitable need for reconciliation to combat this trend. In such a time when there is an eminent disconnect between our youth and elders, I remind you, just as I remind myself of our cultural and ethical values. In such a time when nine out of ten children in Liberia and other parts of Africa are born predisposed to poverty and poor healthcare, this leadership hereby seeks your renewed commitment to the healthcare needs of our community. In such a time when the Liberian Mandingo community and other Liberian communities wallow in abject poverty, this administration accentuates the exigency for self-initiative and collaboration as the roadmap to self-sustainability and economic independence. In such a time when the hope for better living conditions of our people remains elusive—only relegated to the whims and caprices of the survival of the fittest, women empowerment is a must, for our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, and wives are the bedrock of our society. In such a time when Liberia and other so-called Global South nations have become vulnerable victims of the collapse of the world economies, moral and ethical accountabilities, financial transparency, and economic self empowerment for our community cannot take a backseat any longer – but must be part and parcel of the way forward.

 As we gather here tonight, amid the many challenges in our various communities, we must recognize that our collective success as a people is only a function of our interdependence. In large measures, our socio-political, religious, and economic survival depends upon our positive daily interactions with others – starting from our very homes to the general public. As Liberians, the success of the Mandingo community is only as realistic and functional as the collective success of all Liberians – this we MUST NOT forget. Hence, the overall success of our beloved nation Liberia must be a direct manifestation of the clarion ability of all Liberians coming together in unison – regardless of any parochial interests or political, social, ethnic, economic, or religious differences – to engage in dialogues aimed at a communal national renewal to move Liberia forward.

As Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Dr. King also said, “We are all interwoven in one garment – a garment of one destiny” As such, we must forge ahead with an unmatched commitment and staunch resolve to not only institutionalize FELMAUSA as an organization that can be used as a vehicle to resolve disputes, or as a mere forum to encourage dialogues pertaining to the uplift of our community, our country, and indeed our continent, but also see FELMAUSA as a stage for a collective Mandingo development through the conduits of thoughtful self expression, and proliferation of wisdom and talents for every Liberian Mandingo, every Liberian, and all of Humanity.

  My fellow Liberians, distinguished guests and fellow FELMAUSANS, it is such a time that has politically stimulated and democratically reawakened Liberian Mandingoes – men and women, young and old, rich and poor, literate and illiterate, and people of all walks of life – to passionately but objectively discuss the very issues considered integral to the overall success and future of our common patrimony—the Liberian Mandingo community and the Liberian nation.

The ship has sailed. The train has left the station. There is no gainsaying that we shall no longer accommodate cynics and nay Sayers for their mere sakes as the wave of competent leaderships continues to sweep across Liberian Mandingo landscape across the globe. In this connection, I urge you to please join me in recognizing and honoring all Mandingo leaders throughout the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere represented here tonight.  We salute your courage of strength, selflessness, and resolve for an ethical leadership for the sakes of your People. Thank You!

This new thinking about leadership and responsibility has created an aura of expectancy - both for our leaders and community. In this vein, we charge you now just as we charge ourselves to selflessly lend your support to this new administration and ensure its success and that of the Liberian Mandingo Community without any fear or favor. Similarly, it is even much expected that this administration will represent honest men and women who stand for something noble and high; leaders who can be trusted in public and private – who must be averse to the wrongs, the sufferings, and the injustices of society and who are willing to accept responsibility for transforming these wrongs to rights, and be exceptional and ethical public servants. 

My fellow Liberians, let this new administration accentuate that as we progress into an-ever uncertain future, we all have an inalienable responsibility to our community, and our nation at large. In firmly upholding and successfully delivering on this responsibility, it must not be a measure of what we say, but how we say it; not what we preach, but what we practice; it is not our intellectual prowess, eloquence, or ability to argue our way through; rather, it is our wisdom to sincerely translate our education and intellectual ideas into meaningful and positive actions; it is not how much we utter, but how much audience we lend others; it is not how much we receive, but how much we are willing to give back to our community; it is not about the commonalities we share, but the differences abound that allow us to know, appreciate, respect and honor each other in a mutual coexistence; it is not about the cleavages couched in favorite relations – this camp or that camp, but it is about principles, policies, and values – those esteemed Mandingo Values; it is not about you versus me,  Gbonika versus Koniaka, Manika versus Beilaka; rather, it is about  MANDINGO PRIDE: MANDINGO UNITY, MANDINGO PROGRESS,  MANDINGO LEGACY, and PROSPERIRTY OF OUR  DEAR COUNTRY LIBERIA.

As such, we must have absolute faith in God Almighty; we must neither waver nor shrink in our loyalty to the Mandingo Community; we must work tirelessly to make this great Land of Liberty – Liberia – the provenance of our children and Mandingo posterity. Let it be here known that it is our charge that we shall never renege in our commitment to do the right thing.

Finally, as we embark upon this Honor to lead our people, we must strive to do so with passion and energy grounded in dexterity for excellence, so that no generation before us, no generation living now, and no generation yet to come, will do it any better.

May God bless FELMAUSA! May God bless Liberia! May God bless Africa! May God bless the United States of America! May God bless the world at large!