Return to Liberia: December 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Add a comment

Feel free to comment, add info or correct me when I'm wrong. Questions are welcome. To post your comment, press "skicka kommentar". I can't figure out how to change it from swedish to english. Weird that it's in swedish anyway, all the instructions up in here are in english.

Wow! I changed it! I'm a genius!

Going to the market

Going to the market is pretty much the same as twenty years ago. Actually it's exactly the same.

Gender Ministry

New police station in the background.

The government has a new ministry, Ministry of Gender Development, which works with women rights and related issues. It's a really great thing. I was invited to one of their programs at the fairgrounds. As an honorary guest, introduced as "our guest from Europe, mr Guffson", I sat on stage behind the speakers. :-)

Atlantic Street

Ex Chinese restaurant

Used to be Games Disco, where I played in the band. Now has added second floor and palava hut.

Many remember this place

Atlantic Street. There is a big new club on the corner. They played only old Lionel Richie songs in the lounge part. Brought a few tears to my eyes. "-Hello, is it me you looking for?"

Sea Erosion

I used to train karate in this building.

Atlantic Street vs. Atlantic Ocean. Place your bets.

Erosion is causing problems. There is no longer a road from Atlantic street to the port, it's been washed away together with parts of the Fanti village. On the opposite end of the street the sea is right below the pavement (pictured above)

In Town

Police Station, refurbished and now government offices. The new policestation is located at the fairgrounds.

Vai Town

Spark Hotel, decent but costly, USD 75. I didn't stay there.

The society house.

Moore Town

In Town

Motorbike taxi is the new deal. Takes two or three passengers. I used it in Buchanan but not in Monrovia, where the drivers are called kamikaze.

In Town

Supermarket on Roberts Street. Supposedly, it will reopen. Nidal, the older brother Eldine, had left for Lebanon the same day I arrived.

Indian movie, anyone?

United Methodist Church. I went to service, and had to give a speech :-()

Everybody has a mobile phone.

Don't be depressed,

I know it seems a little gloomy from looking at the pictures, but a lot of that can be attributed to the absence of people in them; this owing to the fact I didn't get permission to be in the camp. I can really regret that, but time was short and people I spoke to didn't seem to think I would be welcome.

I think the camp is in pretty good shape considering many years of war and neglect. Most houses are used. Railroad is being rehabilitated. Buchanan Renewables ( BRE ) are shipping biomassfuel from the port, which they are rehabilitating. Rumour has it that BHP Billiton will mine the ore on the Guinea side of the border and ship it through Buchanan.

But I guess all depends if there is money to be made, as usual. People really need jobs. They are struggling there, I tell you.