Nurturing The Mistakes of The Past

Corruption, lack of vision, and disregard for the rule of law have all haunted the nation for the last 161 years. After years of one party rule, military dictatorship, and massives killing of the people of Liberia and the destruction of the country, PhDs and highly educated sons and daughters of the soil continue to suck the life blood out of our country. The government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf continues to make mistakes. My heart boils everytime negative vibes eminate from Monrovia. Here's my gut feelings about the situation:

Liberia announced its Independence 161 years ago. For 133 of those years, 90% of the population was left in complete darkness: Lack of serious development, satisfaction with the high illiteracy rate of the masses, educating to the fullest sons and daughter of the ruling class, massive corruption, and a complete lack of vision for the country...all characterizing a way of life that was bound to collapse some day in the future.

A military coup and fourteen years of war that killed hundreds of thousands of Liberians and displaced many more, same to have had no impact on the psyche and behavior of some of the most educated and prominent citizens of the country. One would think that after what the country and its people have gone through, a new page in our history would be flipped over and the many mistakes of the past would be history.

A few months back, Mr Harry Greaves of the Liberian Petroleum Refining Company could not explain to the people of Liberia how an oil deal was finalized with Nigeria. A handshake, some arm twisting, and a lot of headwork sealed the deal. For an experienced, educated, and well known personality of Mr Greaves' caliber, such an explanation did not at all satisfy even the ice seller doing business down Waterside. The LAC deal with the Minister of Agriculture, did not sit well with the people of Grand Bassa County.

A few weeks ago the rumor was that government officials were sending huge sums of money abroad by way of Western Union. A strong statement came out to ridicule such bogus claim. That story was calmly put to rest because no fruit of such a crime was exhibited.

Some time way back, it was learned that Richard Tolbert, the head of the National Investment Commission, was being groomed to be the next president of Liberia. There is no denial that Mr Tolbert is a smart and well educated person. There is no but, if, or and that with all things considered, Richard Tolbert could be on anyone's short list for the presidency of the country. After the fiasco with BRE and a 100% duty- free incentives for a company that buys a rubber tree for $0.50, the chances that Richard Tolbert will be a president with the requisite vision for the country and the people are now very close to zero.

The government is under great stress to deliver. 85% of the people are out of work. What seems to be in the interest of the people, continues to turn out as just the same gimmick, especially so if the policy to oversee certain aspect of a transaction is deliberately ignored. Why are we continuing to repeat the same old corrupt tactics for which many lost their lives in 1980? Why can't we learn from the mistakes of our fathers?

When the president finds a transaction of this magnitude null and void, a transaction that was implemented by someone who came back to the country after almost 30 years of absence, one wonders whether the return of Mr Tolbert to Liberia was genuine or just a trip to grab and get out.

Here is something we used to say in high school, right there in Liberia: Mistakes are allowed to made, but not in every capacity. Those working for the present government of Liberia are making too many mistakes. Those of us who support the president are becoming weary of the many wolves in sheep skin. Giving one company $150 Million duty free privilege at this time in the history of Liberia is just ridiculous and mind boggling. What else is going on in the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf?

Liberians do not want another military government..a government with no inclination to the rule of law. Those who are calling for the immediate arrest and detention of government officials who err, are doing so out of pure emotion. Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor introduced us to such tactics. Those tactics did nothing for the country. We are still one of the poorest countries in the world. Let the rule of law take its course

The first semester of this governing has not gone too well. The PhDs and those with long work experience from abroad are doing more damage to the government than expected. Corruption and greed continue to hamper progress and the Liberian people are incessantly complaining. I hope the second semester will allow all participants in government to wipe the cobwebs from their eyes and to see the dire needs of the people. And that the mistakes that continue to haunt the nation will begin to dissipate once and for all.