By Paul G. Rancy, LINA Southeastern Regional Correspondent
ZWEDRU, June 19 (LINA) – The Senior Defense Attaché at the United States Embassy in Liberia, Lieutenant Colonel Marc Saphir Tuesday paid a ‘special’ visit to Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.
Lt./Col.. Saphir and his team were received by the local administration headed by the acting Superintendent Davidson Barlee in the administration building in Zwedru.
Lt./Col. Saphir disclosed during the brief discussion that the purpose of their visit to the county is to assess the general situation and wellbeing of the men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in the county, and to orientate his deputy, Major Eric Willis.
According to him, the assessment will cover issues faced at the barracks relative to accommodation, as well as the medical and general conditions of the soldiers.
The U.S Defense attaché informed the county administration that during the visit they will also assess the security situation in the county, above all else.
He lauded the county administration for the reception accorded him and his team.
In remarks, acting Superintendent Barlee expressed delight over the visit and welcomed the team to the county.
He informed the visiting U.S team that the county administration and its security council, chiefs and their Ivorian counterparts recently held discussions centering around the porous condition of the border between Grand Gedeh and Cote d’Ivoire, and that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by all parties at the end of the discussion.
Barlee reminded the U.S Defense Attaché and his team that the porous borders are being used as illegal entry points into the county and the country as large, noting that this poses serious security threat to the people of Grand Gedeh County and Liberia in general.
Acting Superintendent Barlee presented a folder containing the MOU signed at the meeting to Captain Michael Wilson, Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion for onward submission to the Chief of Staff of the AFL.
He called on the AFL through Captain Wilson to revisit the long-standing land dispute between the AFL County Detachment and the Gap Family in Grand Gedeh County.
For his part, Captain Wilson lauded the county administration for the way and manner in which they have cooperated with the AFL in the county.
He called for the continuous support of the county administration, and assured that the MOU will be presented to the relevant authorities.
Captain Wilson pleaded with the county administration to ensure a peaceful working relationship and cooperation between the county administration and the AFL County Detachment.
The US Embassy Senior Defense Attaché was accompanied to the county by Major Eric Willis, his deputy, and Marine Attaché at the US Embassy, Captain Michael Wilson, Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion, and the Grand Gedeh County Detachment Commander, among others.
LINA PGR/TSS/PTK
