by Lindsey MacKinnon

23 January 2006

Gbarpolu, Liberia: I arrived in Liberia in February 2005 to begin work as an Electoral Support Officer for the UNMIL Electoral Department. Soon after my arrival I was stationed in a remote, densely forested county called Gbarpolu. During Liberia’s 14 years of war, the country was a rebel territory and many of its inhabitants were forced to flee. Houses, farms and complete villages were destroyed. Although peace was declared in 2003, rebuilding has just recently started.

My first trip to the country was an eye opening experience. As we drove the distance to my area of operation I was more than a little anxious about how I would manage on roads like the one we were traveling on. The largest town in Gbarpolu County, Bopolu city, was rather small with evidence of heavy fighting throughout the community. I remember walking across roads with empty bullet shells pressed into the dirt like pebbles and looking in buildings riddled with holes and covered with rebel graffiti. It was with some apprehension that I moved into the military tent assigned to the two female electoral team members and began preparations for the election.

Work started almost immediately and we began recruiting local staff for voter registration. Liberia’s low literacy rate – a product of years of conflict and a lack of educational opportunities – complicated the process, but I was immediately impressed by the dedication staff displayed and their eagerness to work. One female staff member could not find transport to her assigned centre, so she decided to walk the distance – a journey that took her over a day.

Registration, exhibition, civic education and polling took place during the rainy season and as a result, the roads became increasingly difficult to navigate. The bridges were also in varying states of disrepair. Our military escort became more like road crew as they pulled, pushed and hoisted vehicles dangling off bridges or sunk in the mud. Frequent travel on Liberia's road network did have its benefits, which included a gradual increase in my appreciation for the country and its inhabitants. The scenery was beautiful and I got to know people in various communities. Many had suffered incredible hardship, yet remained hopeful for Liberia's future. My off-road driving skills also improved as did my tolerance for mutant sized insects.

On October 11th, elections for President Senate and House of Representative were held. Polling commenced at 8:00 a.m. and by 6:00 a.m. substantial queues had already formed at many of our centres. Election day proceeded without incident and many staff remained until the wee hours of the morning to count ballots and pack materials.

When one candidate did not receive the majority of the votes in the Presidential election a run off was declared and preparations were immediately made. It was extremely inspiring to see the seriousness with which Liberians approached both the October 11th and November 8th elections. Men and women traveled great distances in order to participate in selecting their country’s leadership. National staff laboured in difficult conditions, under tremendous stress and with little financial incentive to ensure that the 2005 elections were free, fair and transparent. Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was recently sworn in as Liberia's president and Africa's first female head of state.

It is a time of great anticipation and opportunity for the country. My hope is that the latent potential of Liberia and its people will be put to good use and that this small West African country will experience the peace and prosperity it so greatly deserves.

Lindsey MacKinnon, from Canada, is currently assigned with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).