What Next For Liberia?

Owing people money is a painful experience. So when the international community like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund decided to waive Liberia's $4.7 Billion debt, I had to join the happy bandwagon:

I am happy that Liberia has met the criteria necessary to cancel billions of dollars from her credit record. I see no reason why some people will be upset with this gesture from the international community.

I will be more than happy if American Express wipes away the $2800 I owe them. I will be extremely elated if Target told me today that the $1500 I owe them was now waived and that I could start purchasing stuff on their credit card again.

My total debt to credit cards here in America is about $5000 and I am nervous about it. Many will say that I am crazy to be worried about such a drop in the bucket, especially when one compares my debt with the debt burden of others. In Liberia we say, you hang your hat where your hand can reach.

Now that Liberia is almost free from external debts, what will the government do? If my $5000 debt were waived today, I will be able to send something to my old aunt in Liberia who has been wondering whether I still understand what our relationship means. I will be able to at least commit myself to paying some of the tuition for my nephew who wants to attend Cuttington University. I will not attempt to charge anything on those credit cards that took that 100-pound gorilla off my back.

In Liberia's case, the first thing I will expect the government to do is to tell me and many other Liberians who contributed to a Savings Bond scheme in the early 80s that our investment generated some interest and that it was now time for us to at least benefit from the ROI. I could use that money to start a business and hire a few of those who were downsized. If I can make my old aunt and nephew happy after my debt was waived, it is only fair for the government of Liberia to bring some credibility to itself by making its citizens happy by giving back interest to huge sacrifices made in the 80s, under strange and unbearable situations.

The next thing I expect the government to do is to concentrate on improving the school system in the country. Teachers in training should not be eating farina and red oil in 2010. Students should not be sitting on dirt floors in leaking huts to get an education in 2010. Teachers' pay should be taken to them; they should not be traveling to Ganta or Zwedru or Greenville or Zorzor to receive their monthly salaries. This old way of doing things in Liberia needs to be eliminated once and for all, especially in 2010.

With Liberia's debt waived, we can fix our water system and begin to generate income; we can get electricity to most of our people for a fee and improve the general welfare of the nation. And most importantly, those roads in Liberia. This debt waiver should allow Liberia to do something serious about the road condition. The roads are terrible. Commerce will improve exponentially if Liberia gives road-building the necessary attention. This should be high on the development priority-list

To leave America or Europe to come home for good is the goal of most Liberians. There is no where like home; but man, we don't want to feel miserable because of the lack of electricity, water, schools, roads, etc. Liberians, like many others, want to move up the ladder, not remain on the first rung forever and ever.

I celebrate with those who feel strongly that canceling Liberia's external debt is a good thing for the country. It is a wake-up call for us to spend our money from our abundant resources wisely and expeditiously, and in the interest of the suffering masses.