Liberians Have Serious Problems

I had no idea that many Liberians, especially those in power, have forgotten so quickly all that have transpired from April 12, 1980 up to today. It continues to appear as though nothing worth remembering ever happened in that West African State. For some like me, we must relentlessly continue to remind our leaders of the terrible past that will haunt us for ages.

The situation in Liberia continues to give me all kinds of headache, even as Secretary of State Clinton of the United States of America is visiting the country and speaking out loudly about the same endemic problem of corruption.

What really caught my attention was that the same day Secretary Clinton arrived in Liberia, it was the same time news came flashing about Harry Greaves and the President’s brother being partners and having part-ownership in a Gold Mining Company named AmLib. I also read that the same company dished out money to Liberian Legislators who are supposed to be fighting day and night for the people who elected them in the first place.

The people of Kokoya District in Bong County are incensed and frustrated that since AmLib began prospecting for and actually mining gold in their area, no sign of a single development project has been seen. This reminds me of the Delta Region of Nigeria where oil is produced and yet, the people of the area are as poor as ever. It also reminds of the road from Bong Mines to Kakata where the money for that project was squandered by some politician of old; and, the news of impropriety reminds me of the Liberian Mining Company, a company that operated in Bomi Hills for years and left only a pile of dirt over-shadowing a camp that one day caused an avalanche, burying more than 200 Liberians in its wake. The whole thing replays in my mind and reminds me over and over again how bad the memories of those in power can instantly deteriorate.

How come I am able to remember vividly the past, yet the people in power will allow the wicked past to be wiped away from the recesses of their minds? How come our Legislators are giving each other hi-fives in the chambers of the House because some company doled out money to them? I keep thinking: Wasn't this the same rampant corruption and misuse of power that the Master Sergeant talked about on the morning of April 12, 1980?

I thought this type of hi-fives was the reason why the lives of 13 men were put to an end by a firing squad in 1980. I thought 250,000 Liberians made the ultimate sacrifice and many, many more scattered around the world because a few thought that this would clear the way for democracy, transparency, and the end of corruption. I thought “In the cause of the people, the struggle continues” was meant for the people who continue to remain destitute with no end to an impoverished life-style that has burdened them since 1847, 162 long and arduous years.

I thought history was not expected to repeat itself after 1980, 1989, 1997, 2003, and 2006. Oh yes, I thought Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf promised the Liberian people that corruption was enemy number one and that she would fight it with tooth and nail. I thought those who ran away from Liberia in 1980 and 1985, 1990 to 2000; I thought those whose lives were spared from the carnage in Liberia and were able to return to “help rebuild” the country…I thought for sure that these people would have learned the lessons of life and humbled themselves to the fact that they would do better than any other group of Liberians before them.

What continues to twist my mind is the idea that we keep committing the same error over and over again. Liberians with the opportunity to change the way our people live and to build a country that has seen no progress since 1847, continue to gobble up everything for themselves, leaving the nation and its people in the same quagmire and zero development every generation has had to endure.

I understand that in Botswana the money from every piece of gold or diamond that is extracted from the country’s soil, a portion of that money is invested in roads and hospitals and electricity and health care and schools and other infrastructures for the people of Botswana.

I also understand that Liberia is endowed with an abundance of the minerals mentioned above and many, many other natural resources. Just imagine the country’s share of every cent made from rubber being put into the construction of hospitals for Liberians. Just imagine Liberia’s share of the money made from forestry and agriculture being put into the building of roads and dams for the people of the country. Imagine for just one minute Liberia's share of the money from diamonds, gold, and iron ore being set aside for the construction of schools and colleges and universities for the future of the country. I mean, just imagine how boastful Liberians would be if for just one minute our leaders were to conjure up such a vision for our country.

If after 162 years our leaders are still waiting for outsiders to come into Liberia to tell them what is so obvious, then there is definitely something terribly wrong with us.

Sanniquellie, Liberians have problems!