IPNEWS – Monrovia: The humanitarian gestures of the former Honorary Consul General of India to Liberia, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, have again proven themselves worthy of praises. This time the commendations are coming from the official spokes house of the Liberian Government.
At its regular weekly press engagement every Thursday, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) rained praises on the former Indian Honorary Consul General, who is commonly known in Liberia as “Jeety”.
Opening the press engagement, the Deputy Information Minister for Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Jarlawah Tonpo, told the listening audience: “I also want to inform you that the government wishes to commend Jeety — Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva — for his humanitarian gestures towards the national prison facilities in Monrovia commonly known as South Beach.”
Tonpo further stated that Mr. Jeety, as an individual businessman, is currently carrying out a technical works for the restoration of pipe-borne water supply to every habitable building within the compound of the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP) or South Beach.
“Beside the running water project, Jeety is also providing daily meal for old folks and disadvantaged youths. This is welcoming information and news. So, we must appreciate Mr. Jeety for his humanitarian initiatives,” Mr. Tonpo stressed.
The MICAT is the latest Liberian Government’s agency to publically commend Mr. Jeety’s initiatives.
In May 2020, former Foreign Minister Milton Gbehzohngar Findley praised Mr. Jeety for the launch and sustenance of his public feeding initiative, which primarily targets the less-privileged segment of the Liberian population.
Deputy Information Minister for Press and Pubic Affairs, Mr. Jarlawah Tonpo
Foreign Minister Findley recalled that over the years, former Consul General Jeety had been overly instrumental in ensuring that the Republic of India extended concrete bilateral support to the people of Liberia through several donations, including the number of buses provided the Government of Liberia through the National Transit Authority to enable easy access to public transportation across the country. “Moreover, his investment corporation, Jeety Trading Corporation, has led a number of quick interventions through the provision of essential materials to the public since the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19),” Min. Findley said.
The Minister hoped that such public feeding initiative will go a long way in meeting the daily nutritional needs of underprivileged Liberians.
Minister Findley also expressed hope that other friendly partners would emulate the good example of Mr. Jeety, by reaching out to those in need.
Also in May 2021, the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bestowed one of the country’s highest honors on Mr. Jeety, for his “active” and immense contributions towards humanity and the socio-economic development of Liberia.
The Indian businessman was honored as a Knight Grand Master of Humane Order of African Redemption at a cocktail reception held in his honor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
In the citation read by the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia, at the reception, Ambassador Jervis Witherspoon, the government recounted that ‘Jeety’ left his law school studies and embarked on new ventures, leading to business opportunities in Liberia and elsewhere in the world.
The citation states that from 1995 to 1999, Mr. Jeety, as President of the Association of Indian Community in Liberia, infused new dynamism into business and cultural exchange between Liberian and Indian residents.
Following his appointment by the Government of India as Honorary Consul General to Liberia in 1998, he “effectively” performed his consular duties by “concretizing the socio-economic and cultural ties between Liberia and India”.
The citation indicates that following his ascendancy, ‘Jeety’ also rose to become Dean of the Consular Corps in Liberia.
“During your tenure as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of India, cooperation and the exchange between the two countries attained new heights. You made strides in enhancing socio-economic and development ties” the citation maintains. You received wide acclamation for your humanitarian activities not only in Liberia but also in other African and western countries including many awards from media institutions and other organizations who also recognized your philanthropic deeds towards Liberians and other nationalities”.
Jeety is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Jeety Trading Corporation (JTC), the leading importer of building and household hardware materials-and scores of other businesses in the country.
