Published: July 15, 2026
HARPER, Maryland County — Newly inducted Maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe Jr. has pledged to dredge the Harper Port, improve roads and expand access to education as the centerpiece of a development agenda he said would align with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Delivering his inaugural address in Harper, Toe said his administration would anchor its work on six priorities: agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, environmental protection and youth empowerment. He spoke before a gathering of government officials, traditional leaders, religious leaders, youth and women’s groups, development partners, and citizens from across the country.
Among his immediate commitments, the superintendent said he would work with the National Port Authority, the Maryland Legislative Caucus and the central government to dredge the Harper Port and create jobs.
“I commit to working closely with the Ministry of Local Government and all relevant government institutions to ensure that our programs and initiatives are effectively implemented for the benefit of our people. We must work for our people,” Toe said.
Agriculture, the first pillar of the ARREST Agenda, would receive significant attention, he said, through support for farmers with equipment, financing and processing facilities. Toe also raised concern about the increasing transfer of land to foreign nationals, warning that the practice threatens future generations of Marylanders.
“The biggest threat we face is the disposition of land to foreign nationals … an act which deprives future generations of the right to land ownership. We call on all citizens to stop this practice,” he said.
The superintendent pledged to improve road connectivity across the county, saying agricultural development cannot succeed without reliable roads.
In education, Toe said he would work with Tubman University to launch master’s degree programs and collaborate with the Maryland Bar Association toward establishing a law school. He also promised to improve access to secondary education in rural communities, construct the main campus of the Maryland Vocational and Technical Institute in Pleebo and expand scholarships for Maryland students.
He further outlined plans to strengthen healthcare and sanitation services in partnership with the Maryland County Health Team and Partners In Health, and to promote tourism by developing the county’s historical and cultural sites.
On environmental protection, Toe pledged to work with the national Task Force on Illegal Mining to curb illicit mining that damages forests, rivers and farmlands.
Other priorities include constructing city halls in Karlorken and Glofaken, completing the Pleebo City Hall, establishing a Maryland Women Center, expanding markets, creating opportunities for young people, supporting motorcycle and kehkeh riders, strengthening sports development and engaging Marylanders in the diaspora in county development.
The induction ceremony drew Minister of State Samuel Brown, an assistant minister for local government and decentralization identified as Pekings, local government officials, representatives of Tubman University, Partners In Health, members of the traditional council and religious leaders.
“The task of building Maryland County for our second century rests with all of us. Let us unite in purpose, work together in peace, and commit ourselves to the development of our beloved county,” Toe said.
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