KEEPING THE LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT HONEST

IS THIS THE FUTURE YOU HAVE FOR OUR CHILDREN? THE LIBERIA BUREAU OF MARITIME AFFAIRS HAVING THE AUTHORITY TO BORROW BEYOND ITS MEANS THROUGHT DEFICIT SPENDING. THE AUTHORITY HAVING REVENUE OF $10 MILLION CAN BORROW $15 MILLION TO MEET ITS EXPENDITURE. THAT’S THE KIND OF EXPENDITURE THAT EXPLAINS INDEBTING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LIBERIA FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! STOP PUTTING LIBERIA FUTURE IN DEBTS THAT OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHIDREN MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PAY OFF.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA

Written by Abraham Hoff

Chief Community Organizer of LEAD Liberia

H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

LEAD Liberia believes that the Maritime Authority Act is a regulatory set-up for indebting our beloved country (Liberia), plundering our natural resources and promoting financial irresponsibility in Liberia—with that being said, we are calling upon the President of Liberia, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to veto the Maritime Authority Act because it is not in the national interest of our beloved country (Liberia).

According to Frontpageafrica.com, this week Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to sign a revised version of the Liberian Maritime Authority Act which brought in a storm of criticism and international rebuke within the past 10 days for it sweeping grant of powers, mainly dubious, to an unelected body. LEAD Liberia believes it is absurd to give the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of the Authority immunity from prosecution or lawsuits under this Act in the performance and execution of their duties as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners and in carrying out any other governmental functions proscribed under the Liberian Maritime Laws and Regulations, provided the actions of said officers and employees are not determined to be negligent or criminal in nature. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

This generation has decided to give the status quo a “generation retirement check. We need a government that leads with trust and integrity thereby siding with the Liberian people. The people have had enough of the same old--fake politicians who are doing nothing positive but stealing taxpayer money from government’s coffers, taking bribe, committing fraud and engaging in waste and corrupt activities, while depleting the country natural resources. The people have had enough of the status quo who have not done an effective job of understanding what our natural resources are [whether they are renewable or not]. The people have had enough of the status quo because they lack fresh ideas and the torch must be passed to the next generation. If not us WHO? If not now WENT?

The status quo said all is well in Liberia; however, as we travel across Liberia we know that all isn't well because parents are struggling to fee their children--not talking about sending them to school--the youth like me-who have to struggle and make it against all odds are struggling to make end meats, not talking about gaining high school education and/or higher education. Today, we don’t have to take a survey to know that all is not well across Liberia. In fact, my story today is part of the larger Liberian’s story. My story here today is pretty unlikely. My family is not part of the elite class and the well connected in Liberia.

Through the help of God and hard work in school, I got a double promotion from seventh grade to eighth grade. Unfortunately, I was unable to enroll for that semester because my uncle, Josiah did not have the financial standing to send me to school and there were no scholarships for students who do well in schools. I was required to pay my school fees before returning to school for that semester. Therefore, I did not attend school for that semester. I ended up selling boiled eggs from Rally Town Market to Water Side Market; from Mamba Point to Broad Street just to help my uncle and his wife paid for my primary education. I grew up selling plastic bags from Rally Town Market to Water Side Market just to help my uncle and his wife paid for my tuition in primary school. In addition, I carried bags of coal on my head from Rally Town Market to people houses just to earn money for other fees in school—this shouldn’t be in Liberia. My story today is part of the larger Liberian’s story.

These corrupt politicians said all is well in Liberia. Today, the Liberian people are the ones doing the lifting while their elected officials are standing on the sideline to watch ordinary Liberians build schools and pay teachers out of their own pocket. I am talking about the schools the government supposed to build and the teachers the government supposed to pay. I am talking about the same people who destroyed our beloved country because of greed and personal agenda. I am talking about the status quo who have had majority in both the Senate and the House without implanting a single appropriation bill that benefits the struggling people of Liberia. OH they have forsaken the struggling people that got them elected in the first place. But now election is around the corner and they are back with their same old promises and policies--LIFT Liberia and/or New Beginning. We have decided to give the status quo a “generation retirement check. They must pass the torch to the next generation and if Not Us WHO? If Not Now WENT?

These people are out of touch with reality, because if they were not…they who have understand the many problems ordinary Liberians are facing day by day….They who have understand the situations of the young boys and girls who are struggling by the day to earn a high school diploma and/or end meats….some are even selling boiled eggs and plastic bags on the streets to pay for fees in schools….while others are towering bags of fire coal on their heads and engaging in child labor and other immoral acts to support themselves and their families--the youth like me-who have to struggle and make it through primary and secondary schools against all odds. However, our government officials are seeking immunity from prosecution or lawsuits under the Maritime Authority Act, this shouldn’t be in Liberia.

Today, my fellow Liberians, I am calling upon you to give the status quo a “generation retirement check. Today, my fellow Liberians, I calling upon you to tell the status quo as President, Barack Obama said, “Not this year--Not this time. Today Liberians, let’s us come together and tell our so-call politicians and the status quo ‘Not this election and not in this generation. The choice is clear and the time is now, so help us God.

Thank you and May God bless the Republic of Liberia.

LEAD Organizing For Liberia

Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer

077384990 leadliberia@yahoo.com