09/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE
PEM Political Leader, Sen. Duncan Calls on Liberians to Believe in Themselves, Protect Their Natural Resources and Unite Behind a New Economic Vision
MONROVIA, LIBERIA - August 8, 2026- The Political Leader of the Proposed People’s Economic Movement (PEM) and Senator of Sinoe County, Hon. Crayton Oldman Duncan, has declared that a government under his leadership would undertake an aggressive and comprehensive economic transformation agenda aimed at reviving Liberia’s struggling economy and fundamentally restructuring the country’s extractive sector within his first year in office, if elected President of the Republic of Liberia in 2029.
Senator Duncan made the assertion at the gathering of Partizans at PEM’s Proposed Headquarters located directly opposite the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville while outlining his vision for a Liberia in which the country’s vast natural resources are utilized as instruments for national development, economic empowerment, job creation and improved living standards for Liberians, rather than allowing the benefits of those resources to be disproportionately captured outside the country.
According to the PEM's Political Leader, Liberia possesses enormous natural wealth including iron ore, gold, diamonds, timber, fisheries and other mineral and natural resources but the central challenge has been the country's inability to translate those resources into broad-based prosperity for its citizens.
He said his administration would therefore make economic sovereignty, responsible resource governance, local participation and value addition central pillars of its national development strategy.
“ Liberians must begin to believe in Liberia and, most importantly, Liberians must begin to believe in themselves,” Senator Duncan declared. “Our natural resources are a God-given national inheritance. They must be managed in a manner that creates opportunities, dignity, jobs and prosperity for the Liberian people.”
A ONE-YEAR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND TRANSFORMATION AGENDA
Senator Duncan said if elected in 2029, his administration would immediately launch a First-Year Economic Recovery and Transformation Program designed to restore confidence in Liberia's economy, strengthen domestic production, improve public-sector efficiency and create an environment in which Liberian businesses can compete and grow.
He emphasized that the first year of his administration would not be treated as a period for political celebration, but as a period of urgent national economic reconstruction.
The PEM leader said his government would prioritize:
Strengthening Liberia's economic institutions and public financial management.
Reviewing the country's natural-resource governance framework to ensure greater national benefit.
Promoting greater Liberian participation in the extractive industry.
Encouraging domestic investment and entrepreneurship.
Creating stronger linkages between large concessionaires and Liberian-owned businesses.
Promoting local processing and value addition rather than exporting resources in their raw form.
Expanding opportunities for Liberian youth and professionals.
Supporting agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and other productive sectors.
Improving infrastructure that supports commerce, trade and production.
Fighting corruption, waste and economic leakages.
Strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, and
Creating a more predictable and investment-friendly business environment.
LIBERIA MUST NOT REMAIN A RAW-MATERIAL ECONOMY
Senator Duncan argued that Liberia can no longer afford to remain predominantly an exporter of raw natural resources while importing many of the finished products that could be produced domestically.
He said the country must move toward an economy in which Liberians participate meaningfully across the entire value chain from exploration and extraction to processing, manufacturing, transportation, services and export.
The Senator stressed that attracting foreign investment would remain important, but such investment must be structured around mutual benefit, national interest, environmental responsibility and meaningful participation by Liberians.
“We welcome responsible investors, but investment in Liberia must also mean investment in Liberians,” Duncan said. “We cannot continue to dig our wealth from the ground, ship it abroad and then borrow money to buy back finished products. We must create an economy that produces, processes and adds value.”
REFORMING THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY
Senator Duncan said the extractive sector would receive particular attention under a PEM-led government because of its strategic importance to Liberia's economic future.
He said his administration would pursue reforms designed to ensure that mining and other natural-resource activities generate stronger economic linkages, more employment opportunities, increased domestic procurement and greater opportunities for Liberian entrepreneurs.
He further pledged that communities in which natural resources are extracted must receive meaningful and measurable benefits from those resources.
According to him, resource-rich communities should not remain impoverished while valuable minerals and other resources are extracted from their land.
The PEM Political Leader said his administration would also insist on responsible environmental stewardship and stronger safeguards for communities affected by extractive activities.
LIBERIANS MUST BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES
Senator Duncan used the occasion to issue a broader call for national self-confidence, urging Liberians to reject the notion that Liberia's economic problems cannot be solved by Liberians themselves.
He said the proposed People’s Economic Movement represents more than a political organization, describing it as a revolutionary national movement intended to mobilize Liberians around a new vision of economic empowerment, national dignity and a better future.
“The People’s Economic Movement is about changing the way we think about Liberia,” Duncan said. “It is about awakening the confidence of our people and reminding every Liberian that we have the ability, the resources and the human capacity to build a prosperous country.”
He called on Liberians at home and abroad, particularly young people, professionals, entrepreneurs, farmers, workers and members of the business community, to participate actively in the national conversation about Liberia's economic future.
PROTECTING LIBERIA’S NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Senator Duncan said Liberia's natural resources must be regarded as a national trust belonging not only to the present generation but also to future generations.
He called for stronger systems to ensure that natural-resource agreements are transparent, enforceable and consistent with Liberia's long-term national interest.
He further emphasized that communities and Liberian citizens must have greater opportunities to understand, participate in and benefit from decisions concerning the exploitation of the country's natural wealth.
According to Senator Duncan, economic development must ultimately be measured by its impact on ordinary Liberians not merely by government revenue figures or foreign investment statistics.
He said a truly successful economy must translate national resources into better schools, stronger healthcare, decent jobs, reliable electricity, improved roads, affordable housing, expanded businesses and greater opportunities for young Liberians.
A CALL FOR NATIONAL UNITY AROUND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
The PEM Political Leader acknowledged that transforming Liberia's economy would require more than one individual or political party.
He said it would require a national commitment involving government, the private sector, civil society, traditional leaders, young people, women, professionals, workers and Liberians in the diaspora.
He therefore urged Liberians to begin looking beyond traditional political divisions and focus instead on the economic future of the country.
PEM: “THE PEOPLE FIRST”
Senator Duncan reiterated that the proposed People's Economic Movement is being built around a national philosophy that places the interests of Liberians at the center of governance and economic decision-making.
He said PEM's vision is to advocate for a Liberia where the country's natural resources are responsibly managed, national institutions are strengthened, citizens are empowered and economic opportunities are accessible to all.
He urged Liberians to critically examine the movement's proposed economic and governance agenda and to join what he described as a national effort to create a more prosperous, self-reliant and economically empowered Liberia.
“This is not simply about winning an election in 2029. It is about changing the direction of Liberia,” Senator Duncan stated. “It is about building a country where Liberians are not spectators in their own economy, but active participants and principal beneficiaries of their nation's wealth.”
As Liberia looks toward the 2029 presidential and general elections, Senator Duncan said the proposed PEM would continue engaging citizens across the country to explain its vision and mobilize support for what he described as a new economic and political direction for Liberia.
He concluded by calling on Liberians to believe in their own capacity, protect their national resources and embrace the responsibility of building the Liberia they want future generations to inherit.
“The future of Liberia cannot be outsourced. Liberia's destiny must be shaped by Liberians, for Liberia and for the benefit of generations yet unborn.”
The Communications/Publicity Arm
Proposed People’s Economic Movement (PEM)
Monrovia, Liberia
