Beware The Grandstanding: Vote Yes for Dual Citizenship and Other Hot-Button National Issues

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

Like the Liberian capital, Monrovia, that needs a complete overhaul or relocation because of decadence, over-crowdedness and health and safety concerns, the archaic Liberian constitution also needs to be overhauled because it is flawed and not serving the Liberian people well.

While it is true that the original 1847 constitution gives overwhelming power to the president, the 1984 constitution also gave unprecedented powers to the legislative and judicial branches of government. That power and privilege makes it extremely difficult to challenge an incompetent or dictatorial president and members of the other branch of government without one risking prosecution or even death.

The amended 1984 constitution is super-flawed from day one when it was introduced to the Liberian people by the dreaded military/civilian government of Samuel Kanyon Doe, who did all he could at the time to protect his selfish political interests as he went on to macro manage a constitutional commission that needed independence to do its job.

At the end of the day, however, the final work resembled the original 1847 constitution, which enslaved a cross section of the population, rehashed the nation’s painful past, enhanced Mr. Doe’s presidential aspirations, and took the nation into a nosedive.

Worse of it all, burning national issues such as decentralization and a decentralized government with limited presidential powers, recognizing, respecting and giving local governments voting rights to elect local leaders such as mayors, superintendents, county commissioners, paramount, clan and town chiefs, and the right to collect and keep their own tax monies they can use in their own regions, voting rights and granting dual citizenship to Liberians in the Diaspora, and citizenship for non-Negroid were left out.

So flawed, the current constitution grants a 10-year term to Senators, and a 7-year term to members of the House of Representatives making the current Liberian constitution reckless and insane to be taken seriously.

Not surprisingly, the same issues that were not addressed over two decades ago with the hopes that they will suddenly go away are still with us today, as Liberians at home and abroad continued to pressure lawmakers to amend the constitution to reflect modern day realities and the realities of their own lives.

One particular issue that was or is being debated in the Liberian legislature and in political circles abroad is the dual citizenship issue; with most Liberians raising their hands high in support of it while a vocal minority claimed to be in opposition for reasons even they cannot understand.

The dual citizenship debate is an emotional issue that involves a person’s relationship with his/her place of birth, their families, and their connection to a country they always called home even as they live elsewhere to earn a living for themselves and their respective families. It is a personal issue that involves a person’s desire to voluntarily (or involuntarily for political/medical reasons, etc) leave their birth country to seek opportunities unavailable in their country of birth that eventually benefits the individual and his/her family.

So if Liberians are unable to prosper in their own country because of their government’s inability to provide them opportunities for personal growth, would it not be in the interest of the Liberian government to warmly embrace those Liberians that wants to give back through dual citizenship and the other benefits that comes with it?

Let it be known that most Liberians are not compelled to be Liberian citizens. As such, individual Liberian could have easily kept their citizenship in their adopted country and completely divorce themselves from their country of birth without looking back.

However, Liberians who painfully leave their birth country for opportunities abroad have not forgotten their native country and the countless relatives, friends, schools, place of worships and the cherished and loving neighborhoods that influenced their upbringing, always transmitting remittances to those relatives and other institutions that helped them to become what they are today.

That desire to live elsewhere and still be connected to one’s country through financial and emotional contributions, and a willingness to continue to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development should have been a positive sign that signals patriotism that is embraced wholeheartedly by the nation’s political leaders.

Unfortunately, the political leaders failed miserably to provide a vision and a road map that develops the country, provide opportunities for its citizens, and put forth a plan that improves the basic standard of living of the Liberian people.

This is not the time to grandstand and shout patriotism at every turn when broken and hungry souls, with nowhere to turn stare painfully at broken infrastructure, while uninspiring government officials, also with no vision and a single plan to move the country forward obstruct every available avenue that could possibly ease the suffering in all of Liberia.

Sadly, these are the same individuals who hangs around Monrovia and elsewhere daily waiting for the eventual phone call/announcement from the President of Liberia for that elusive government job. Are these people not capable of creating jobs in the private sector?

This is the same regressive tactics that has since killed progress, development, and the call to grant Non-Negroid citizenship of Liberia, while those that are opposed to the bill are fast sending their girlfriends, wives and children to live in foreign countries eventually becoming citizens of those countries.

How can Liberian politicians not approve these bills at this critical time when Liberia seriously need infrastructure development and financial assistance from everybody, everywhere to move the country from point a to point b?

How can the nation’s politicians continue to allow Non-Negroid to live in Liberia but don’t want them to be citizens of Liberia; but are allowed to do lucrative business in Liberia, have children by Liberian women only to leave Liberia, take their children with them, or leave their children behind with no financial support for the children and the mother?

Do we respect those Liberian women and their emotional health and well-being when their children are taken from them by a father who never brings them back?

After the Non-Negroid leave Liberia with their wealth, are we aware of the fact that they often end up investing their money in other countries that welcomes them with open arms? Why continue to talk development through our lips when we (as broke as some of us are) continue to drive away those who could help in the development process?

We all know that the Liberian government has never made any effort in tracking down those Non-Negroid men who also leave their children behind in Liberia with no financial support for the poor and helpless Liberian woman. How can we reconcile the emotional destruction and injustice that comes with this reckless and inhumane act against a Liberian woman and her child who is also a Liberian citizen?

Are these individuals just going to oppose this bill and other bills without looking at the other painful issues that affects the Liberian nation, its people, and especially Liberian women in particular?

It is true that the idea of Non-Negroid becoming citizens of Liberia (which I wholeheartedly support) is not even at the center of any national debate right now. However, I do not support the senseless policies that disallow dual citizenship and out of country voting for Liberian citizens living abroad, either.

With most Liberians traveling out of the country these days in record numbers to seek opportunities in foreign countries, and Liberian professionals and non-professionals fast becoming citizens of their adopted countries, either for the love of that country or for the opportunities the country has to offer, are enough reasons for lawmakers in Monrovia to do the right thing and not grandstand to prolong this issue.

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