The Liberian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday, March 14, 2014, held a farewell and Investiture ceremony in honor of H. E. Rev. Dr. Marie Jilo Barnett, outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Vice Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps.

Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who bestowed the honor on Ambassador Barnett said that it is with mixed emotions and feelings that she was honouring the outgoing Sierra Leonean Ambassador.

President Sirleaf expressed her congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Liberia for the invaluable services the Sierra Leonean diplomat rendered her country and Liberia.

The President also used the occasion to express her condolences to the President and People of Sierra Leone for the passing of that country’s former President, Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kaba, who died earlier in the week. President Sirleaf described the late Sierra Leonean President as a man of peace who led his country through a peaceful path. She indicated that Amb. Barnett has won a special place in the hearts of many Liberians:

“She has managed to fully carry on her diplomatic functions as well as tending to the church. She has in many ways help to take us to a new level in people to people relationship, she further said our two countries, have worked over a common process which is the focus of working on peace and stability”, the President said.

Following her remarks, the Liberian President convened a special convocation of conferral of a Liberian Distinction upon Ambassador Barnett in the Humane Order of African Redemption with the Grand of Dame Grand Commander.

In a response, the Honoree Amb. Burnett said she was overwhelmed with the way the people and culture accepted her. She said the time has come for her to leave the dancing stage for others to dance.

“It is not easy to rebuild and re-establish and renew all that was broken in other to have a suitable peace”, the outgoing Ambassador noted.

She said she could not have been able to do all of the work she did without the enabling environment that was created by the President, Government and People of Liberia.

She then named some of the achievement she made during her tenure in Liberia as her involvement with the UNHCR in collaboration with the LRRRC, establishing a peace clinic, the issuance of passports to more than 200 refugees, working with the Angie Brooks Center, ensuring unity among Sierra Leoneans who were able to organize themselves and have a leadership structure to seek after their welfare.

On a bilateral note,  Amb. Burnett continued that the Royal Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Liberia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010 for a training cooperation between border, security and eventualities.

Amb. Burnett further expressed her joy over the cordial relationship between Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs remarked, “We have come to give honor to whom honor is due and Rev. Dr. Burnett as a honoree, we salute a distinguished representative of a neighboring state, who during nearly six years of her presence served so well in cementing the good relations between the two Mano River countries. This has elevated our diplomatic tie to mutually beneficial levels. Sierra Leone and Liberia have so much common, culturally and linguistically”.

He further said Liberia and Sierra Leone both are post conflict nations and have come to amend and the Ambassador has played a vital role in that regard, and the ministry has observed it all. The Ambassador was very hospitable and it is with mixed feelings that we say goodbye to a friend of Liberia who had made an indelible contribution to Liberia and asked the ambassador to convey the Ministry’s sincere thanks and appreciation to the President of her country, H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, for allowing work here in Liberia.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Administration Honorable Una Kumba Thompson in her welcome remarks said the Ministry reflected on the Ambassador’s contribution which the Deputy Minister termed as cordial, peaceful, and political stability during the Sierra Leonean Envoy’s tenure in Liberia.