0:00:18 > 0:00:21SIRENS WAIL
0:00:25 > 0:00:27CHEERING
0:00:33 > 0:00:37CHANTING:
0:00:47 > 0:00:49You don't get...
0:00:49 > 0:00:56You don't get inaugurated for the first time in our country's history as a woman...
0:00:56 > 0:01:00and Africa is represented here so fully.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I think there's too many years
0:01:03 > 0:01:07of pain through...
0:01:07 > 0:01:11too many kinds of experiences. After a while, you get hardened
0:01:11 > 0:01:14and you take it all in stride,
0:01:14 > 0:01:15the good and the bad.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21I think it'll be more international today.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23And there will be more women.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25< Hey!
0:01:28 > 0:01:32'This is Star news bulletin with me, Comfort Whitfield.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37'Today, thousands of Liberians crowded the streets of Monrovia
0:01:37 > 0:01:41'to get a glimpse of the country's new president elect,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45'the so-called Iron Lady, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49'Sirleaf will be sworn into office this afternoon.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53'Africa's first elected female president
0:01:53 > 0:01:56'has vowed to turn Liberia around
0:01:56 > 0:02:00'after 14 years of civil crisis.'
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Fellow Liberians,
0:02:34 > 0:02:38the days of the imperial presidency
0:02:38 > 0:02:42of domineering and threatening chief executives are over.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:02:49 > 0:02:51I will talk to the women.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53WOMEN CHEER
0:02:53 > 0:02:55The women of Liberia...
0:02:56 > 0:02:59..the women of Africa
0:02:59 > 0:03:01and the women of the world.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03'Liberian women
0:03:03 > 0:03:05'endured injustices
0:03:05 > 0:03:08'during the years of our civil war,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11'gang-raped at will,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14'forced into domestic slavery,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16'yet it is the women
0:03:16 > 0:03:20'who laboured and advocated for peace throughout our region.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25'My administration shall endeavour to give Liberian women prominence
0:03:25 > 0:03:27'in all affairs of our country.'
0:03:27 > 0:03:31The future belongs to us, because we have taken charge of it.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Yeah! Yeah!
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Cheers. Cheers.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45Ummi always said to us, the day Ellen was born,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48this baby is going to be great.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And so, over the years, we always laughed.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56"Where is this greatness?" LAUGHTER
0:03:56 > 0:04:00And we just hope that this will be the realisation
0:04:00 > 0:04:02of those dreams and hopes.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- MAN:- Hear, hear.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27This is Star Radio news. I'm Comfort Whitfield.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29Today, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
0:04:29 > 0:04:33announced her new cabinet which, as promised in her campaign,
0:04:33 > 0:04:38will include a number of women in key positions,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41including the Minister of Commerce, the Minster of Justice
0:04:41 > 0:04:44and the Minister of Finance.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48'Women have not been, to the same extent as men,'
0:04:48 > 0:04:53party to all of the bad things of the past. They certainly were
0:04:53 > 0:04:57very strong voices against the atrocities in Liberia in the war,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59and they fought very, very hard
0:04:59 > 0:05:04to make sure that the democratic process worked this time around,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08and so this is our biggest opportunity to change Liberia.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Good afternoon.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17So we've been focusing very much on getting the basic underpinnings
0:05:17 > 0:05:20of the fiscal system back in place.
0:05:20 > 0:05:27Clearly, the Ministry of Finance, as do all of the institutions that we've inherited as a government,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29has very weak capacity.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Um...
0:05:32 > 0:05:34We have to be able
0:05:34 > 0:05:36to get payrolls out on time.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41We have to be able to start getting money into the economy,
0:05:41 > 0:05:48trying to correct all of these past lapses which we know were many, extensive.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50'I didn't tell people it would be easy
0:05:50 > 0:05:52'when I campaigned.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56'The majority of the Liberian people are forgetting the past
0:05:56 > 0:05:59'and want to put that era behind them.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01'There are still a few diehards
0:06:01 > 0:06:04'that want to keep bringing it back.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07'Our challenge and responsibility
0:06:07 > 0:06:10'is to make sure that nobody drags them back
0:06:10 > 0:06:14'into so much suffering and death and destruction.'
0:06:15 > 0:06:17CAR HORNS BLARE
0:06:18 > 0:06:21They want to see basic services restored.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Lights in our capital city.
0:06:23 > 0:06:30Water. They want jobs, to be able to send their children to school.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34The things that people everywhere almost even take for granted
0:06:34 > 0:06:37because they're so normal.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Thank you.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11OK, then. OK, thank you, Chief, thank you very much.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13OK, bye.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Bye-bye.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20(That was the President.)
0:08:20 > 0:08:23That was my President! You saw how!
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Yes, that's my chief,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29the President of Liberia.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33She's doing a very great job
0:08:33 > 0:08:35and I have to be there to help her right away.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42NEWS REPORT: 'This week, Liberia's new national chief of police,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46'Beatrice Munah Sieh, arrived in Liberia for the first time
0:08:46 > 0:08:50'since she was forced out of the country during the presidency of Charles Taylor.'
0:08:50 > 0:08:52How are you doing, gentlemen?
0:08:52 > 0:08:55'In her first bill of action,
0:08:55 > 0:08:57'President Sirleaf asked Chief Sieh
0:08:57 > 0:08:59'to begin clearing illegal market stalls
0:08:59 > 0:09:01'from the streets of Monrovia.'
0:09:19 > 0:09:21In the case of the marketeers,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23everybody's got rights.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27They have a right to sell but the motorists have a right to drive on the streets
0:09:27 > 0:09:31because they buy their licence, they pay their taxes.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35The market women have been understanding, they know their Old Ma is with them.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38We're all together right now.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41SIRENS WAIL AND CAR HORNS BLARE
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Er, market relocation.
0:09:57 > 0:10:03I think the Minister of Commerce who was chairing the task force can make a quick report on that.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08It was agreed that they would be relocated themselves,
0:10:08 > 0:10:13- on an interim basis, at the NTA yard. - Ah. What I know we'll have to do
0:10:13 > 0:10:18at the temporary sites is to put up, again temporary, shelter
0:10:18 > 0:10:19because of the rains.
0:10:19 > 0:10:26So you have to get something with sticks and zinc and whatnot to cover it.
0:10:26 > 0:10:32Going to a shelter now, you're talking about a structure, then you're talking big money.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Clearly we understand the urgency and why it's been necessary to go ahead and pay for it.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40We're trying to find a way to finance those requests
0:10:40 > 0:10:43but we have to find a way to transfer resources
0:10:43 > 0:10:44and to make the resources we have
0:10:44 > 0:10:48available for things that they have not approved.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51OK, hello. Who's in charge here?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03No, the government didn't promise anything like that.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06You're doing your part, we're doing our part.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08We can't do everything. We can't do everything.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11The government did not promise to fix nobody's table.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE
0:11:16 > 0:11:19CROWD CHANTS
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Excuse me... OTHERS TALK
0:11:32 > 0:11:34EVERYONE TALKS AT ONCE
0:11:43 > 0:11:46SHARP BLASTS ON WHISTLE
0:11:46 > 0:11:47Now...
0:12:07 > 0:12:10The issue with the marketeers is under control?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Reports are of them going back on the streets.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30OK, then, I'll see you both shortly.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Some basic numbers
0:12:59 > 0:13:05on the debt. We've talked about this 3.7 billion in outstanding debt
0:13:05 > 0:13:07for Liberia. You see it there,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10with the IMF, of course, as the largest of the creditors,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12followed by the World Bank,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16with the United States being the largest bilateral creditor.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18So that's how the debt looks.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25'Sitting here today and thinking of Liberia of only three million people
0:13:25 > 0:13:27'with a debt of some 3.7 billion,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30'it's quite mind-boggling. That debt is a drag
0:13:30 > 0:13:34'on our ability to raise new financing from our partners,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'and so it needs to be resolved.'
0:13:37 > 0:13:43Unless we do that, the risks of a re-emergence of conflict in Liberia are all too real.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Some of these debts represent bogus transactions.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Prudence on the part of the creditors is being questioned,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54that they have caused our young Liberian generation
0:13:54 > 0:13:59to inherit all this debt for things they cannot see as a result of that debt.
0:14:15 > 0:14:21NEWS REPORT: 'As part of the President's campaign to restore law and order,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24'the police raided Monrovia city graveyard
0:14:24 > 0:14:27'to move out suspected looters and drug dealers,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30'resulting in numerous arrests.'
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Hey, look.
0:15:33 > 0:15:40My greatest fear is that a small group might succeed in trying to return us to conflict.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45It will always remain a fear until we've done enough
0:15:45 > 0:15:50in responding to the needs of the population,
0:15:50 > 0:15:55rather than sitting around waiting for someone that may recruit them
0:15:55 > 0:15:57for purposes of war.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05'Former president Charles Taylor,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09'who was apprehended while trying to avoid arrest in Nigeria
0:16:09 > 0:16:11'where he was in exile,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15'will today be flown to a special court in Sierra Leone.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20'By agreement of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Taylor will be transitted through Liberia
0:16:20 > 0:16:23'en route to Sierra Leone
0:16:23 > 0:16:27'where he will stand trial for crimes in the region.'
0:16:27 > 0:16:32The longer we waited, the more difficult it would be,
0:16:32 > 0:16:37and the threat would not go away. As a matter of fact, it would intensify.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40It was a risky decision, once again,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42because we do have, um...
0:16:42 > 0:16:48some persons loyal to Mr Taylor at home, that have made threats.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51We will exhaust every avenue.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52The man is innocent
0:16:52 > 0:16:55until he is proven guilty.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58IF they prove Charles Taylor guilty,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01I will climb up on this wall and take this sign down.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Charles Taylor is innocent!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11- Are you meeting the political party leaders today?- Yes.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Would you let us know what the meeting's about?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16The state of the nation.
0:18:16 > 0:18:21And to also listen to some of their suggestions and advice
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and see how we can be more inclusive,
0:18:23 > 0:18:28see how we can have more collaboration, support and interaction.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32All right.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38..different areas of the package.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Certainly, an incentive to investment coming in
0:19:41 > 0:19:43is land ownership and development.
0:19:43 > 0:19:50Some issues that were raised - land reform. I think there's some work in that regard.
0:19:50 > 0:19:51There's no doubt about it.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Land reform in its total sense,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56we know it's a problem, you know it's a problem.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01We're trying to get it straightened out. It will take some time.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03We need to fast track...
0:20:03 > 0:20:06this part of what we are doing in Liberia
0:20:06 > 0:20:12so that we can begin to touch the lives of the people who are the grass-root people.
0:20:12 > 0:20:18The land problem, in a way, can be attributed to the war,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22to the fact that so many people were displaced.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27Unscrupulous people, in an environment of indiscipline and lawlessness,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30took land, sold it, sometimes to two or three people,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and it's going to be a very difficult task.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11>
0:21:34 > 0:21:36ALL SHOUT AT ONCE
0:22:13 > 0:22:17I want to get the finance team in here
0:22:17 > 0:22:20to find answers to, find answers to these problems.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Maybe the new team is going to sort it out.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Madam President, I would be the last one
0:22:27 > 0:22:31to say or to suggest that the Ministry of Finance is perfect
0:22:31 > 0:22:33or that it doesn't have huge problems,
0:22:33 > 0:22:38but our problems at this stage is not just the Ministry of Finance.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41People are not spending.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- The problem is in the Ministry of Finance.- There is a problem in the Ministry of Finance.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48There's been collusion. You know that.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51People are still taking money in the Ministry of Finance.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54If somebody wanted to be truthful here, they would say so.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58They are still taking money. It's both a corruption and a capacity problem.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02If you can't change the people, then I will insist you fire them,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06and we'll go to the university graduates and replace them.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10It's not a question now, are you trying to save somebody in his job.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13It's a question of saving your own job, saving MY job.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15You've got to correct that.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29CAR HORNS BLARE
0:23:37 > 0:23:39WHISTLE BLOWS
0:23:39 > 0:23:42CROWD CHEERS
0:23:49 > 0:23:51We again have a dilemma here.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53The problem we have as a government is,
0:23:53 > 0:23:59when we ask about setting programmes and they get delayed over things we have no control over,
0:23:59 > 0:24:01because of other procedures and processes,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03then we have a problem.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06There are many reasons why they're not moving as fast as possible,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10and the question is how fast the solutions are implemented.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Because the databases show that the country is still at war
0:24:14 > 0:24:17it is something that is an international problem.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20That's one example. In other cases, it's our own fault.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25The government is already under serious criticism.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29If we can't get these programmes going that will absorb these people,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33then we'll never be able to do this, and we'll have problems.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38We want partners to understand the difficulty we face here.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41The implementation of programmes is just too slow.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Deadly silence.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59I think we depend upon the support of some of our partners,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04but I feel that, in many instances, we gave them some of our primary commodities in return.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09We gave huge benefits to their corporations which operate here,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12so it's not one-sided.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19RADIO NEWS: 'At the Firestone plantation,
0:25:19 > 0:25:23'workers are again threatening strike action against the company
0:25:23 > 0:25:27'and some Firestone security personnel have been killed.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33'The workers are demanding the government enforce a 37.5% raise
0:25:33 > 0:25:37'promised by then-president Charles Taylor.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41'Today President Sirleaf is expected to visit the plantation
0:25:41 > 0:25:46'and announce the government's position on the wage increase.'
0:25:46 > 0:25:49Welcome to Firestone, Madam President.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Just behind the houses.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Firestone has been here since 1926.
0:26:32 > 0:26:39There is NO reason for the workers in Firestone to live in the conditions they live.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41We are NOT going to accept it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46We are not going to accept the fact that people live in houses that have no windows,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50that people live in houses where there is no schooling for them.
0:26:50 > 0:26:56Firestone has made enough money in this country to have treated the Liberian workers much better.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Our responsibility as the government
0:26:58 > 0:27:01is to make sure that the workers' rights are protected,
0:27:01 > 0:27:06that their benefits are fair, that they are treated properly,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08and this government is committed to that.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12That is the message we are taking to the workers.
0:27:30 > 0:27:36'There may be times when regional and international desires conflict.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40'I'm not a perfect person,
0:27:40 > 0:27:45'so when I have to make a political compromise, I struggle with my conscience.'
0:28:01 > 0:28:03CROWD CHEERS
0:28:07 > 0:28:09So there we...
0:28:09 > 0:28:11CROWD CHANTS
0:28:11 > 0:28:15- So we... - MORE CHANTING
0:28:18 > 0:28:20LAUGHTER
0:28:45 > 0:28:48'Nobody was willing to go and tell them the truth.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53'They just expected another president who's gonna make a promise
0:28:53 > 0:28:57'and will go back cheering, you know, exalting,
0:28:57 > 0:29:02'and nothing was gonna happen. I may face demonstrations, anger,'
0:29:02 > 0:29:05but I think in the end it's good for our country
0:29:05 > 0:29:08and it's good for the path that we've chosen.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38This one she's gonna wear.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57'I keep pushing,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00'pushing myself to do more every day.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05'I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day.'
0:30:11 > 0:30:15'Basically, I'm a very private person.
0:30:15 > 0:30:20'Unfortunately, there are many times when I wish that I could do what I cannot do any more,
0:30:20 > 0:30:24'go into a supermarket and do my own shopping.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27'There are times when I don't want to see anybody,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31'I want to read a book, watch TV, don't take any phone calls.
0:30:31 > 0:30:37'Those are the times when I wish that I could just be the old me.'
0:30:39 > 0:30:41APPLAUSE
0:30:47 > 0:30:54'Today, tension between the executive and legislative parties of government reached a new high
0:30:54 > 0:30:57'as the Speaker of the House, Edwin Snowe,
0:30:57 > 0:31:01'accused the President of bribing law makers
0:31:01 > 0:31:04'against her political opposition.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09'This has divided the legislature into factions
0:31:09 > 0:31:12'supporting and opposing the President.'
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Even as we make -
0:31:17 > 0:31:19and we MUST make -
0:31:19 > 0:31:24greater effort at reconciliation and unity,
0:31:24 > 0:31:29a few have not yet brought themselves to accept the people's will
0:31:29 > 0:31:34as expressed through the October 2005 election.
0:31:34 > 0:31:35APPLAUSE
0:31:37 > 0:31:41They continue to plot and to plan and to strategise.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44We will do all that we can
0:31:44 > 0:31:49to gather the evidence to expose these distracters.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51APPLAUSE
0:31:52 > 0:31:55This president is not for reconciling this country.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58This president is all for dividing Liberia
0:31:58 > 0:32:02and we are calling on them to put a stop to it.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05They have undermined previous governments.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09They are now undermining the very government they are leading against.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13CHANT: "We want Snowe!"
0:32:13 > 0:32:18'Africa's going through a transition. Liberia's going through a transition.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21'There are charges and counter-charges
0:32:21 > 0:32:27'and that's what democracy and freedom does - it enables people to speak out.'
0:32:27 > 0:32:31But, of course, this dissent could be...dangerous.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35As a matter of fact, we've got recent intelligence
0:32:35 > 0:32:38that even put the risk at a high level,
0:32:38 > 0:32:44because of all that's going on with the tensions in the legislature.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49And we just have to protect ourselves and wait until things settle down.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51SIRENS WAIL
0:32:51 > 0:32:53'As part of the continuing struggle
0:32:53 > 0:32:57'between the executive and legislative branches,
0:32:57 > 0:33:04'the President today ordered police to crack down on demonstrations protesting against her government.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08'The leader of these demonstrations has been taken into custody
0:33:08 > 0:33:11'on the basis of no permit.'
0:33:48 > 0:33:54This man who was trying to do some agitation was picked up.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58I don't think they should keep him incarcerated.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03Like I say, we don't need to make a hero out of anybody for nothing.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05'What's the point? They should let him go.'
0:34:10 > 0:34:12OK. Thank you.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22SIRENS WAIL
0:34:42 > 0:34:46'They came in, they did the investigation.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49'I have no means to challenge it.'
0:34:50 > 0:34:56Their best guess - nobody's 100% sure - but their best guess is that it's electrical.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02'I must confess, I didn't expect
0:35:02 > 0:35:08'the kinds of problems that we now find we've inherited.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11'When problems stack up, it has a ripple effect
0:35:11 > 0:35:16'and that's why there are periods when when it rains, it pours.'
0:36:03 > 0:36:06SIREN WAILS
0:36:12 > 0:36:17'The main streets in and out of Monrovia have been blocked
0:36:17 > 0:36:20'by retired soldiers from the armed forces of Liberia.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25'These soldiers, who were forced out of work under the comprehensive peace agreement,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29'claim they have yet to receive their full back pay and pensions.'
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Thank you. Please sit down.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49Accountability and transparency is built into this
0:36:49 > 0:36:55so the people know how much money comes in, who has signatory to the account,
0:36:55 > 0:36:57and all of these things.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58OK.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34'I think I must be responsive to any group of people,
0:37:34 > 0:37:39'whether they're retired soldiers or any group that have true grievances,
0:37:39 > 0:37:44'even if they gather and there's risk to my safety. I take the risk.'
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Who is the leader?
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Hold on.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38What solution do we have in our talk with them today?
0:38:38 > 0:38:41What can we offer? What can we promise?
0:38:41 > 0:38:45What can we draw the line in the sand and say, "This will not do"?
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Well, the salary arrears, that's where you probably need to...
0:38:49 > 0:38:55say something on salary arrears, because it's the last cushion for some of them in terms of cash.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59My understanding is that those payments have been made.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Everybody received their full benefits in keeping with that agreement.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07So the only other issue that may have some justification is pension.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11- The arrears is about 5.5 million US dollars.- Oh!
0:39:11 > 0:39:15- That's big money. - That's 21 to 25 months.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Like I said, Christmas is in the air. Part of the agitation is for Christmas money.
0:39:21 > 0:39:28We have to say to them the salary arrears will be retired for a three-year period
0:39:28 > 0:39:30because the government doesn't have the resources.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Thank you all. Please sit down.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45It's been a long day for you, it's been a long day for me.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26'I must listen to them in a way that says, "I want to hear you.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30' "I understand your plight." That's the Old Ma approach.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33'And it usually brings a positive reaction,
0:40:33 > 0:40:36'because I'm coming as a mother to listen to them.'
0:41:01 > 0:41:03'On the other hand, when people act out of order,
0:41:03 > 0:41:08'I can have an effective response that will keep them in order.'
0:42:22 > 0:42:23That's good.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26OK, thank you all.
0:42:59 > 0:43:05'The lights of Broad Street were today lit for the first time in over a decade.
0:43:05 > 0:43:12'While the President had praise for her administration's achievements in ten months,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15'she also expressed continued frustration
0:43:15 > 0:43:21'that many projects are impeded by Liberia's efforts at debt relief.'
0:43:23 > 0:43:27The process does not work as well as we would have liked
0:43:27 > 0:43:33- in terms of the involvement of the partners.- It's a bit of a roller coaster.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36We were very, very encouraged a couple of weeks ago
0:43:36 > 0:43:43when the bank, the World Bank, had made the decision to proceed to their board.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45We seem to have hit another road block again
0:43:45 > 0:43:49- and I think something has to give. - I must express disappointment
0:43:49 > 0:43:52and say we'll have to look at other options.
0:43:52 > 0:43:57We can't do all that we can as a country and a government to do the right things
0:43:57 > 0:44:03and then you start backtracking and you start changing. We get assurances that we're going forward.
0:44:03 > 0:44:08I wonder whether there's... true commitment here, whether this partnership is real
0:44:08 > 0:44:14or are we playing games and whether we ought to look at all of our other options.
0:44:14 > 0:44:20'We don't want to be hostage to the low geo-political games that are played.'
0:44:20 > 0:44:23We can go beyond the traditional partnership.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27We've got to find a way where we can respond to the needs of the people.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30Tomorrow we'll be announcing...
0:44:30 > 0:44:33officially, the visit of the...
0:44:33 > 0:44:36Chinese president.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40They are very serious. In fact, they represent just the tip of the iceberg,
0:44:40 > 0:44:46so I think we've got a real window of opportunity with that part of the world and we need to follow up on it.
0:44:46 > 0:44:52'There's potentially huge financing from China that we want to benefit from.'
0:44:52 > 0:44:57One of our challenges is to find creative ways to draw on Chinese assistance
0:44:57 > 0:45:02without contravening some of our other commitments to our other partners,
0:45:02 > 0:45:05powers like the United States, for example.
0:45:23 > 0:45:24MILITARY MUSIC PLAYS
0:45:37 > 0:45:42'The Liberian people came out in huge numbers.'
0:45:42 > 0:45:47They're hoping that China will... will help to accelerate our development.
0:45:47 > 0:45:53They'll be able to point to today that started it all and set us on an accelerated path.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55He's here?
0:45:57 > 0:45:59< Madam President.
0:46:01 > 0:46:05Mr President, I am pleased to welcome you in our office.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09As a matter of fact, it's our Minister of Foreign Affairs office,
0:46:09 > 0:46:14which you, which China has been very kind to fix for him.
0:46:14 > 0:46:19Mr President, I have not seen the Liberian people turn out...
0:46:19 > 0:46:23in the numbers like they turn out today.
0:46:23 > 0:46:28I think that tells you the warm feeling Liberia has for China
0:46:28 > 0:46:31and the strong relationship with our people.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34So this visit, for us, is truly historic.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37PRESIDENT SPEAKS IN CHINESE
0:46:41 > 0:46:44TRANSLATOR: To be very frank with you, Madam President,
0:46:44 > 0:46:47I was very much moved by the scene on the street.
0:46:50 > 0:46:53How did you leave it with the Chinese?
0:46:53 > 0:46:58Because somehow it seems to me that there is this...
0:46:58 > 0:47:04large...cake that you really ought to get a slice of...
0:47:04 > 0:47:08- from the Chinese.- From the Chinese. - So that's one line.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10And then there's the other line, the US.
0:47:10 > 0:47:16And you can tell the Americans that the Chinese made you this offer. LAUGHTER
0:47:17 > 0:47:23Then I think one could get the IMF to...speed it up...
0:47:23 > 0:47:27in order to liberate that money.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29So go for the jugular.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33His point is, by having such an offer in your hand,
0:47:33 > 0:47:39going to them to say, "We know we can't do this but just look at the potential.
0:47:39 > 0:47:44"You're not helping us, you're not allowing someone else to help us."
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Today I'm going to meet with President Bush.
0:48:02 > 0:48:06Just let him know how well we're doing,
0:48:06 > 0:48:09get his political blessings for...
0:48:12 > 0:48:14..for the...
0:48:14 > 0:48:16support on our debt.
0:48:16 > 0:48:21The Chinese are still way down on the totem pole
0:48:21 > 0:48:25when it comes to partnership and support for Liberia's development.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27They're... Yes, they have big plans,
0:48:27 > 0:48:31yes, they have big appetite for raw material, but...
0:48:31 > 0:48:35for us the United States' relationship is still the number one.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37They set the pace.
0:48:37 > 0:48:42When they take a step, much of the rest of the world follows, including China.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51And then I'm out of here, I'll get away from this ice.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57Madam President, thanks for coming.
0:48:57 > 0:49:00I'm thrilled to call you friend.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02And we want to help you. We really do.
0:49:02 > 0:49:07As we told you, we just needed to get this debt off our backs.
0:49:07 > 0:49:08Um...
0:49:10 > 0:49:12You were... You were...
0:49:12 > 0:49:15wondering whether or not...
0:49:15 > 0:49:18it was possible to achieve your dreams...
0:49:18 > 0:49:20and you asked for our help.
0:49:20 > 0:49:26I was impressed by your spirit and so I pledge our on-going help.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29Thank you, Madam President. Thank you very much.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34The United States currently holds
0:49:34 > 0:49:39391 million in outstanding bilateral claims on Liberia.
0:49:41 > 0:49:45We will cancel that debt - all of it -
0:49:45 > 0:49:49under the framework for highly-indebted countries.
0:50:12 > 0:50:13Sorry we're late.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18'We've started. It's a long road.
0:50:18 > 0:50:25'It was always going to be a long road. We need time to make more progress then sustain the effort
0:50:25 > 0:50:28'to make the progress we have to make in Liberia.'
0:50:40 > 0:50:42APPLAUSE
0:50:42 > 0:50:45It makes me feel like a real woman.
0:50:45 > 0:50:47I'm just kidding!
0:50:47 > 0:50:49CHEERING
0:50:59 > 0:51:01And it's been a good year...
0:51:01 > 0:51:03but a tough year.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05It has been a fruitful...
0:51:05 > 0:51:08but a challenging first year.
0:51:08 > 0:51:13Today, we can walk with pride and dignity!
0:51:16 > 0:51:17Thank you.
0:51:17 > 0:51:20BAND PLAYS
0:51:22 > 0:51:25# Liberia... #
0:51:25 > 0:51:29'All of the progress that we have made can be attributed
0:51:29 > 0:51:33'to the fact that we've got strong women leadership in the government.
0:51:33 > 0:51:39'These are all strong women that have led a process of change and renewal.'
0:51:39 > 0:51:43# Liberia... #
0:51:43 > 0:51:48'With all the problems and all the scares,'
0:51:48 > 0:51:50I remain optimistic that...
0:51:50 > 0:51:54that Liberia will rise again.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.
0:52:15 > 0:52:18E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk