Samuel R. Watkins
The book “Liberia communication brings refreshing memory of history. Many dedicated pioneers who sacrifice to make history of communication possible are portrayed with dedication in the book as “Pioneers without reward.” These pioneers stood the test of time.They suffered, study, worked hard, shared their knowledge and freely gave wisdom in so many of their talents. They are simply thrust up to descendents and most likely lost to history, so to speak; are forgotten as soon as they die.
This book is the most recent comprehensive, true history of Liberian communication. It is not written for self, but,- to say
the book takes you on courageous adventure to save communication during the coupe and offers vivid insights into two decades of bloody wars of military and sociopolitical depression and suffering that culminated in indescribable violence and disregard for human needs
Samuel R. Watkins born in Maryland County, Liberia. His parents, the late Samuel R. B. Watkins Chief Clerk of Customs Services Republic of Liberia, and mother Catherine Mleayeneh Watkins a nurse, social worker, humanitarian and dedicated Christian worker.
His education, the College of West Africa, The University of Liberia, Northern Polytechnic Radio and Telecommunications, South Thames College London, England and RCA Institute of Radio Telecommunication Broadcasting Technology, New York United States of America. He is recipient of much recognition in his career. The Principal of the regional Mano River Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Training. He is President of the (PANAFTEL) Pan African Telecommunication Technical Commission. He served the Government of Liberia as Assistant Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Managing Director of (LTC) Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. His persistence interested in technical human resource development, he is credited for upgrading the Tubman Technical School to The Tubman College of Technology, in Maryland County, Liberia. He was elected president of the board of directors. He is also credited with establishing the first Liberia national broadcasting station, the Liberia Radio Amateur Association and he motivated interest in having radio communication technology included in the curriculum of many schools in Liberia. Including establishing personnel insurance for telecommunication.
He attended many international conferences, particularly ITU, and was called upon to serve as chairman of the African group.1980; his ingenuity sponsored the first international telecommunications conference in Monrovia. His presentation to the Monrovia conference, “Staff Training.” highlighting the international recognition and respect of experts irrespective was acclaimed.
Married and with a growing family living in Monrovia, capital city of Liberia, he is a member of the Eliza Turner AME Church. He is past Master of the Order of Masons and Deputy Grand Patron of the Order of Eastern Stars, and past Grand Master of the Order of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, Liberia and Nigeria (UBF&SMT) and has respect for family values.
FOREWORD
This book “Liberia Communication Development” is the first true record of communication in the Republic of Liberia. It satisfies the impelling desire for genuine recorded facts and information of Liberia. The author feels a most important need is now met. This volume deals with Liberia communication development, its founding and pioneering sacrifices.
It covers the Radio telecommunication in Liberia 1922 - 2006. Minimal reference is made to the period, 1822 – 1918, historical prerequisites to Liberia communication, the pivotal apex in development of Liberia communication development. Chief among details is the role played by various persons, sacrificial dedication and interest in bridging the gap of national socioeconomic integration and development, linking Liberia nationally and internationally through the medium of radio communication. Whatever the conscious or unconscious motivation for these demands may be, they are eminently legitimate and confirm the fact that Liberians are by all means capable in whatever the choice of profession. A writer stated, “There is much ignorance and racist prejudice against Liberia and its people.” There are many persons who take manifest spiteful pleasure in interpreting such unfavorable judgment, influenced by colonial delineation. The author dispels this through achievements we see in this book “Liberia communication development”
Liberia always indulged in the pleasing hope and belief that establishing Liberia released Negroes from bounds of slavery to be permitted to exercise and improve those faculties, which impact his dignity, to nourish in their heart the flame of honorable ambition, to cherish and indulge those aspiration the beneficent Creator has implanted in every human heart and evince all who despise, ridicule and oppress our race that we possess with them a common nature, susceptible of equal refinement and capable of equal advancement in all that adorns and dignifies man.
Skeptics imbued with the fright of their own inability to govern and control, indulged in psychological maneuver to convince others of their preconceived convection of Negroes inability. They conveniently ignored vast differences in socioeconomic potential between Liberia and the white powers.
