The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah has by Proclamation declared Friday, March 15^th, 2019 “The 210^th Birth Anniversary of the Late President Joseph Jenkins Roberts” and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.

The celebration is in recognition of the invaluable sacrifices rendered by President Joseph Jenkins Roberts, First President and Founding Father of the Republic of Liberia.
 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation further orders all Government Offices, public buildings and business houses closed during the observance.

The Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of National Legislature which was enacted at the Third Session of the Forty-Second Legislature declaring March 15^th of each year as the Birth Anniversary of the Late President Joseph Jenkins Roberts to be celebrated as a National Holiday.

The Proclamation stated that the observance of J. J. Roberts Birth Anniversary is a mark of respect and reverence to his memory and for his untiring efforts in organizing the first Government of the Republic; negotiating and concluding treaties with Foreign Powers which gave recognition to the founding of the Liberian Nation.

The Proclamation says it is befitting that such honor accorded the memory of this distinguished Statesman serves as a challenge to all Liberians to aspire to higher and noble endeavors by emulating his courage, endurance, selflessness and commitment to the principles and ideals of democracy as portrayed in his works and life as the First President of the Republic of Liberia.