Published: October 27, 2025
KAKATA, Margibi County — The 80th anniversary celebration of the United Nations in Kakata took an uneasy turn Friday when Margibi County Superintendent Ojay Morris delivered a nearly 30-minute speech, keeping President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, UN officials, and diplomats waiting and prompting murmurs of disapproval among guests.
The event, held on the grounds of Booker Washington Institute under the theme “One Liberia, One UN, One Family: 80 Years of Partnership and Progress,” drew hundreds of dignitaries, including President Boakai, UN Resident Coordinator Christine N. Umutoni, and several heads of UN agencies.
Morris, expected to give a brief welcome remark, instead gave a drawn-out address that appeared to test the patience of attendees. The President, by contrast, spoke for just over ten minutes, delivering a concise message emphasizing unity, collaboration, and sustainable development.
Throughout Morris’ remarks, visible discomfort spread among dignitaries as some exchanged glances or whispered quietly. The event’s master of ceremonies, veteran journalist Eva Flomo of ECOWAS Radio, had earlier urged speakers to limit their time to five minutes, a guideline the superintendent ignored.
Observers later criticized Morris’ extended remarks as a breach of protocol and a display of poor timing, particularly when compared to President Boakai’s disciplined delivery. “When the President himself spoke for just over ten minutes, no local official should have gone beyond that,” one participant said.
The incident has since sparked discussion about public speaking etiquette and professionalism in government, with many Liberians calling it a reminder that effective leadership often requires brevity and respect for time. Despite the awkward moment, the celebration underscored eight decades of partnership between Liberia and the United Nations, though for many, it also offered an unintended lesson in restraint and protocol.
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