The Head of the Liberian Association in Belgium, Kingston Washington, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Charles B. Blake Sr., Head of the Diaspora Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The visit formed part of an ongoing working relationship between the Diaspora community and the Government of Liberia.
Welcoming the delegation to Liberia, Mr. Blake provided an overview of the functions of the Diaspora Office, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between Liberians abroad and the government.
He highlighted the critical role the Diaspora community can play in addressing challenges such as the shipment of a large stockpile of medical equipment currently held in the United States, which is earmarked for Liberia’s health sector.
According to Mr. Blake, while there are substantial donations within the Diaspora, the major obstacles are the costs associated with shipping and customs clearance.
In response, Mr. Washington expressed the Diaspora community’s unwavering support for Liberia and acknowledged the difficulties they face in shipping donations to the country.
He called on the government to revisit the Dual Citizenship Act, stressing that such a measure would foster broader collaboration, increase investment, and strengthen ties between Liberia and its citizens abroad.
Mr. Blake assured the delegation that their concerns regarding dual citizenship and voting rights would be communicated to the appropriate authorities for further consideration.
The delegation also proposed that the Diaspora community could seek sponsorship to underwrite the costs associated with enabling Liberians abroad to vote, should they be granted such right.
They noted that other African countries have successfully implemented such measures, and Liberia should explore similar opportunities.
The delegation expressed their gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, for the smooth and efficient process of obtaining Liberian passports abroad.
They emphasized that this has greatly improved access for Liberians living overseas.
In closing, Mr. Blake thanked the delegation for their visit and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with the Diaspora community to advance the nation’s development agenda.
