Mills Jones Pulls Crowd In Southeast

Despite of mounting criticism by some members of the national legislature against the works of the Central Bank of Liberia, the Governor of the bank, Dr. Joseph Mills Jones says he is using government money to fight poverty across the country. Speaking last week in the Southeastern counties of River Gee, Grand Gedeh and Grand Kru , Dr. Jones said he has done no wrong for helping to empower Liberians through the CBL’s micro loan policy, stressing that the CBL owed no one regret for helping the people of Liberia through the CBL loan scheme which is he said is helping to buttress the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Dedicating three banking institutions separately in the three counties, Dr. Jones vehemently rebuked claims from his critics that he is using state money wrongfully for political reasons, saying that Liberia’s resources belong to every Liberian and not one group of people. Propounding further, Dr. Jones reiterated that he has no regret and owe no one apology for using government money to fight poverty in the country. He said there is a need for the country’s resources to be equitably distributed and for Liberians to be empowered.

According to him, building a middle class in the country is very important if the nation and its people are to be on par with other countries, and added that empowering Liberians should not be an issue of discussion, but rather a national obligation to moving the country economy in a positive drive for the overall advancement of the country. Dr. Jones who was interrupted on several occasions with applauses from the huge turnout by the residents of these areas said: We are working in line with the act creating the Central Bank of Liberia and this drive; we are involved with giving out micro loans to Village Saving Loan Associations, Credit Unions and Liberian businesses”.

He said the people of the country must work by creating an environment that will encourage people to work if Liberia as a country is to progress in its developmental initiative. He added that If we must fight poverty, we should go where poverty is, and that it is no secret that poverty is with the lower people especially those in the towns and villages. Speaking further, the CBL Governor said the bank under his supervision will not be deterred to carry on its statutory responsibilities and duties. In their welcomed statements, representatives of marketers in the three counties said the CBL loan scheme is greatly impacting their life positively, and used the occasion to thank Dr. jones and CBL.