Published: October 3, 2024
Monrovia– Christopher Hays Onanuga, Liberia’s Ambassador for Tourism, has announced plans to transform the Palm Grove Cemetery, commonly known as Center Street Graveyard, into a national memorial site. In a recent interview via WhatsApp, Onanuga expressed concern about the current state of the cemetery, where many graves are damaged and some bodies are reportedly missing.
Onanuga stressed the need for citizens to consider relocating the remains of their loved ones, as the site is slated for redevelopment as part of efforts to boost Liberia’s tourism sector. “People should be concerned right now about how to remove their loved ones’ remains from there,” he said.
“Look, I think people should be worried right now about how to go to Center Street Graveyard and remove their loved ones’ remains because we are going to turn the entire Palm Grove Cemetery, commonly known as Center Street Graveyard, into a memorial site or a national memorial,” Onanuga emphasized during the interview.
Located near downtown Monrovia, Palm Grove Cemetery holds historical significance, having served as the national cemetery during the Tolbert administration. It became a focal point for Decoration Day, a tradition that continued even after former President William R. Tolbert Jr. was murdered in a 1980 coup and buried there. Over the years, the cemetery has faced numerous challenges, including threats of closure due to its deteriorating condition and reports of unsafe burials.
In 1982, municipal authorities raised concerns about the cemetery being used as a waste dump and requested permission to relocate it. Despite these issues, the cemetery remains in its original location, with the current administration under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai now looking to revitalize the site.
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration had also proposed relocating the cemetery, but the decision was stalled by the Senate, largely due to the intervention of Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor. In 2016, the cemetery faced potential demolition by a Special Presidential Task Force, but this was halted following Madam Taylor’s appeal to the Senate, citing the cemetery’s importance as the final resting place for both distinguished citizens and ordinary individuals.
Discussion about this post