Archive for July, 2014

In such a time as this, Liberia needs revisiting the 'Disneyland of Highly Infected Apes'

By Wollor E. Topor

Yes! There are fascinating stories in medical research. Researching to find cures for deadly diseases like Ebola, HIV/AIDS, Marburg virus and hepatitis are remarkable and efforts, in these directions are not at all bad in and of themselves. It is good to remember this fact! Some of many health programs sponsored by the developed world are loving and sincere in their effort to serve mankind. However, for a leading United States institute like New York Blood Center to have funded the ‘Vilab II’ and left Liberia with infected apes whose future remains bleak on artificial islands, particularly at this time where Ebola virus is spinning out of control is a grave anxiety.

There are assumptions that the possible hosts of the Ebola virus include fruit bats, monkeys, and chimpanzees. These are the few hosts that are known this time. With the unprecedented manner in which the Ebola virus is active in the country, the Liberian government has started some ‘trial-and-error’ exercise to control this serious epidemic. Some of the options could generate a great deal of controversy and human rights implications. But for now, it is hoped that these strategies are cost-effective, socially desirable to yield the expected results. But one of the areas that need ‘calm’ attention is the redundant ‘Vilab II’ research facility operated by the New York Blood Center (USA) in Robertsville, 40 miles from Monrovia along the Farmington River. There are closed to 1,000 ”retired” and highly infected chimpanzees/apes that were used as experimental animals in different studies of hepatitis viruses which are now living on six man-made islands. If the Ebola virus is associated with chimps why should Liberia continue to keep those contaminated apes?

It all started as the ‘Vilab II’ in 1974 by the United States base institute called New York Blood Center at the defunct Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research. Young chimps were captured and used for the breeding program. Consequently, chimps, due to their genetic makeup are believed to be our close relatives and exhibit the same biochemical changes with the hepatitis viruses, they do not contract the clinical disease that makes tests on humans so risky. This paper is not prepared to join the 21st-century debates about animals’ rights, but what is known is that due to growing pressure from animals’ rights activists, the ‘Vilab II’ was forced to abort its research experiments using animals in the mid-2000s. This left Liberia with new “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” along with many unresolved questions such as why Liberia? How safe are those chimps to co-exist with the surrendering communities? How many Liberians were treated for hepatitis, river blindness and schistosomiasis or snail fever? These were the main thrusts of ‘Vilab II’ and the Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research, respectively?

The facts remain that the chimps’ population on these islands is rapidly increasing and remained fearful of contagion to be placed into zoos or used in breeding programs or release in the wild. On the other hand, it is expensive to keep an adult chimpanzee in captivity in a country where many people go to bed with empty bellies. Neither do the chimps have survival skills for the wild which they have not learned. It is possible that poachers could be hunting these infected apes for food. With the current health situation, why should these chimps still exist on these islands?

In addition, ‘Monkey Islands’ as they are being called by the locals, threatened the livelihoods of nearby communities. For instance, Norkon, Zangar and Wroto towns have abundant of ‘kiss meat’ (mollusk) but there is this high concentration of exceedingly contaminated chimps on these islands. In these rural villages, ‘kiss meat’ is a major income source and collection is chiefly done during the dry season. But during low tides, if there is a delay in the dole-out food for the chimps, the chimps get to low tide areas to gather crabs and ‘kiss meat’ as food. In the process, they compete with the people collecting ‘kiss meat.’ Because of fear and competition over “kiss meat,” the Norkon village has been deserted as the result of the chimps. The chimps’ population is increasing along with the rising fear of the local communities. According to Mr. Luke Boboqui, a resident of Wroto Town, ‘if chimps could swim, the people of Wroto Town will never live here like Norkon village.” Another resident, Mr. Amos Page indicated: “kiss meat and fishing is our only livelihood, but chimps trouble us.” On August 14, 2008 both Mr. Page and the Town Chief of Norkon were attacked by chimps while collecting ‘kiss meat.’ Chimps are said to be stronger than man and far more aggressive than a gorilla.

Could the disposal of the ‘Disneyland of infected apes’ in Liberia established bythe New York Blood Center reduce or eliminate the current uncontrollable spread of Ebola virus? According to the prestigious Institute of Medicine, among the factors listed for emerging infectious diseases include “microbial adaptation and change,” meaning as researchers have changed the natural biophysical properties of these apes in the context of finding treatments for human diseases, they have alternated the microbes of these chimps, thereby creating new strains of virus. In other words, no scientist can say that these exercises are not often sensitive to variations that could lead to another pathogen.

A Growing Global Crisis (Ebola Virus)

The genuine participation of the international community, particularly the Western or developed countries is needed in this fight against the Ebola virus. The world is now a global village. In spite of the West’s well established health systems, affluent lifestyles, technological advanced 21^st century, the Ebola virus could disregard these as long as vaccines and treatment for Ebola Virus are yet not developed. It is a global crisis because tourism, travel and transportation are now bringing people of the world into contact to each other. The case in point is the alleged infected “American citizen” holding a high Liberian government post at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development traveled to Nigeria as headed of Liberian delegation to ECOWAS Conference and was reported dead. For now, we may never know who all were with this “American citizen” and have bordered planes, trains and ships and have entered Western countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicted this epidemic before this sadistically outbreak of Ebola virus. Based on WHO findings it usually takes place “primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.” Meanwhile, in 2012, Doctors without Borders also known in French as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) asserted in its post, “MSF Concludes Emergency Ebola Response in Uganda” in which it indicated that it had just completed its emergency response in Uganda 2002, where there was an outbreak that infected 425 persons of which just over half died. In a turning over ceremony, MSF coordinator Olimpia de la Rosa said “We can rely on the capability of Ministry of Health staff to take over and manage Ebola cases with all safety guarantees.” MSF also restored a treatment unit in Mulago hospital, located in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. The point here is that MSF is a western institution capable of preparing the remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests” long before the outbreak. The world needy not waited for the outbreak before MSF go into Guinea to set up treatment centers.

The Way Forward

This Ebola virus outbreak throughout Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia is first-time outbreak of Ebola virus have sent shocking waves to these communities who are already experiencing broken-down health regimes along with severe food insecurity. Furthermore, these communities know relatively nothing about the disease or how it is transmitted. These socio- psychological deportments like that of the man who set the Conference Room of the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on fire; the ELWA residents protesting erection of Ebola center and an “American citizen” getting on the plane denying the fact that he had a pervious direct contact with Ebola victim, requires screening testing or quarantine for prevention, the “brabee” myth that ‘wee’ can cured Ebola are manifestations that the people were caught unaware in dealing with this serious epidemic.

Fortunately, there are always warnings in any epidemic outburst. For instance, in early 2009 it was reported that “Liberia has declared a state of emergency over a plague of caterpillars that has destroyed plants and crops and contaminated water supplies, threatening an already fragile food situation.” On June 26, 2014 Joanna M. Foster posted “Millions of Crop-Devouring Caterpillars Invade West Africa … causing many people to abandon their houses until the flood of caterpillars recedes.”Let us remember that both occurrences started from northern Liberia, where the Ebola virus is asserted to have preyed on Liberia’s first victims. What actually did the government do to put a check to the armyworms problem is yet everyone’s quest. This is only to open our eyes to this Ebola virus that has become a big national and global concern.

Fellow Liberians, at this time, there is a need to bury our skepticism on Ebola virus whether it is dirty work or some conspiracy for “medical tyranny,” may never be known. Instead, we should rally behind the government’s‘trial-and-error’ strategies. A broad societal response is highly necessary to effect prevention. Let’s stop the denial, scapegoating and stigmatization that could waste valuable time and lead to more people being infected.

Let us recognize Dr. Samuel Mutooro, a Ugandan doctor, Dr. Samuel Brisbane, a Liberian doctor, the Liberian nurse Esther Kesselly and other medical professionals who may have lost their lives as the New Heroes for their role in the new page of national history.

Assistance from the West like the EU €3.9 million to West African to help combat the Ebola virus, although late, but is appreciated. Building out capacity for affected nations to begin taking responsibility themselves in dealing with outbreaks is much more sustainable. Western partners should guide affected communities in the process, not holding our hand each time a crisis develops. The latest outbreak of Ebola across Western Africa is a test on how truly suited the WHO and international medical relief agencies are protecting the global population.

Ebola virus is believed to be transmitted to human after coming in contact with dead and living chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, and forest antelope. Therefore, the way the government of Liberia handles ‘Disneyland of Infected Apes’ should show how committed it is in its flight against the Ebola virus.

Dr. Wollor E. Topor is a rural development specialist, an assistant professor, former Dean of the College of Science and technology at the University of Liberia and currently completing his Master of Marine Affairs at the University of the Philippines. He can be reached through email: [email protected]

July 31, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

In such a time as this, Liberia needs revisiting the ‘Disneyland of Highly Infected Apes’

By Wollor E. Topor

A Growing Global Crisis (Ebola Virus)

The Way Forward

July 31, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Debating post independence-day issues, and Liberia’s development in the age of interconnectedness and Interdependence

Patience O. Coleman

Celebrating independence is an exciting historical moment for any country; but should not be a one-off activity. Liberia’s 167th birthday, which was observed on July 26, 2014, should continue to attract attention and reflections on some of our intractable constitutional, social, political, ecological, and economic challenges.

Although not strange for many democracies, since the armed war ceased for roughly 10 years now, there have been mixed feelings and perception that characterized Liberia’s current development trajectory, which poses long-term threat to policy-making, implementation and the path to reaching the status of a middle-income country by the year 2030.

Hence, looking into the future while seeking alternatives development channels is key to surviving these complexities. These issues should urgently claim the attention of policy, lawmakers, and the people of Liberia.

Our discussion here however does not encompass solutions to all these complex issues but intend to share some insights on key matters that are evidently and naturally taking stage on the country’s developmental agenda.

First of all, this year’s celebration was another disturbing one.

Liberia and its citizens, whom for the past few years freely celebrated in grand style, spending time with friends and family members, had to take serious precaution against the deadly EBOLA virus. At first this seemed exaggerated for some people, but the increasing reported death cases of health workers, and the danger to many families and communities have increased precaution measures.

Handling these issues is truly and seriously a matter of prayers and collective actions. In the world we live in, there are always some challenges to society such as outbreak of viruses, diseases, and natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and floods), which shows a reality of the uncertainty of our world. Yet, how fast we put these things under control is what matters the most. This is true for Liberia as it is for many other countries in the region and other parts of the world. Thanks to local and international actors currently engaged with the issues.

Albeit, the danger of this virus and the limited resources available to fight it, although visible, emphasizes public health delivery challenges. It also tells a story about the difficulties or near impossibilities for today’s ‘independent countries’ to handle their domestic problems alone. In fact, this Ebola challenge, which is affecting countries across West Africa occurs at a time when Liberians need to understand some of the impacts and significance of globalization and interdependence of our world today.

Consequently, several questions can be raised: whenever we call on the help of external sources. How far do we go in defining who they are and how do we map actors of importance? Particularly, what difference will it make if Liberians created room to understand and look deeply into the role that Diaspora Liberians can play in Liberia’s development?

Recent activity that have inspired and led me to join the discussion on the significance of Liberia’s diaspora community is the role they played in Australia and elsewhere concerning the Ebola issue. I was moved when I was invited to sign a petition asking the Australian government to extend some help to Liberia for the fight of Ebola.

Even in countries like Australia where Liberia do not have a physical presence (embassy, resident ambassador, consul, etc.), citizens are representing the interest of their country of origin, and are enthusiastic about mobilizing support for mama Liberia. This is a thoughtful and timely venture in a period when the death victims of Ebola virus are increasing.

Additionally, two groups, CASE-MRU (Campaign Against the Spread of EBOLA in the Mano River Union and Diaspora Liberians EBOLA Crisis Response Campaigns, buildup a Facebook campaign to spread the news of Ebola and seek assistance. Some diaspora Liberians are mobilizing donations among themselves so as to contribute to safety materials for health workers. Steps taken in this direction show that diaspora Liberians are not just acting to protect their immediate families and friends although important, but they know their roots and are patriotic about development at home. These individuals are comfortably holding a second passport, which by the laws of Liberia they have relinquish their citizenship, but yet they still are involved with caring for lives and development in Liberia.

Still, though dual citizenship law is a frequent demand voiced by the Diaspora as guarantee to deepening their participation in key development in Liberia, its acceptance is often a very controversial aspect of citizenship reforms. In Liberia, for example, this law has not been tolerated despite the large extent of Liberians with a second passport wishing to have the right to dual citizenship. To admit, it is understandable while this issue have longed been seen as an evil legislation in Liberia and elsewhere. Given the history of colonization, most African countries became much more concerned about who they accept and how they define citizenship.

When Zimbabwe began to take over the large farms owned by white settlers most of whom has made their homes in that country for some generation and could be considered full citizens, attack against the Mugabe government was led by the United Kingdom. Indeed, these issues add up to the need for sensitive handling of diaspora affairs. From being an issue of low political importance, it should become a high priority on the political agenda, particularly in relations to security and development aid.

Nevertheless, as our world becomes more interdependent, rigid laws on citizenship at the expense of possible alternative development measures is not the safest place to stand. During independence, most African countries took the decision that dual citizenship should not be allowed, but have changed their rules in recent years to allow it, or are in the process of considering such changes due to the benefits it brings. Indeed, things have change greatly and Liberia cannot afford to be left behind when other countries are smartly defining their rules while finding alternatives to their own development.

‘Fate changes no man unless he changes fate’ says David Sanger, Washington Correspondent for the New York Times. In Africa, Kenya is the most recent story of diaspora intervention. It has increased responsibility of reaching out to its ethnic community abroad. Angola, Burundi, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Uganda, Egypt, Eritrea, and South Africa, allow dual citizenship but only with the official permission of the government. Countries and people need each other for success with much more to achieve.

Additionally, the untapped potential in the diaspora yield several benefits for Liberia’s foreign and domestic policy options. Economically, socially, and culturally, diaspora communities can be much more useful. Businessmen among the diaspora can be entry points for exports partners for home-based entrepreneurs on the basis of viable business proposition where necessaryin bringing to Liberia the needed technology and assistances.

Some citizens in the diaspora may even want to set up aid projects at home as part of their re-bonding; but only if Liberia can facilitate this. Liberia already supports much public-private partnership, which could be improved by involving these alternative actors. Young members of the diaspora may also be willing to volunteer their time to work on social, educational, and other projects at home. If not already happening, they could be major contributor of inward remittances when their interest in development projects at home increases.

Remittances have shown to often react positively to exogenous shocks such as natural disasters, and have highlighted their strong impact on poverty reduction and stabilization. It therefore becomes increasingly important to deepen our relationship with the leaders of the diaspora communities, and to sensitize them about what is happening at home. This works as a win-win framework for both diaspora Liberians and Liberians at home. Thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for already instituting a department on diaspora affairs. However, much is needed to further deepen our engagements to promote greater development avenues.

Therefore, when the Ebola issue is fully under control, policy makers and community leaders need to study the below recommendations:

What is needed in Liberia is complex but practical. It is a clear indication that Liberia’s success is dependent upon the decisions we make as Liberians. Although lawmakers and other government officials have key roles to play in this, decision for achievement does not depend solely on these actors. According to Chapter 1 Article 1 of the 1986 constitution of Liberia, ‘all power is inherent in the people’. Particularly, given that migration of Liberian citizens was driven by opportunity and economic hardship with the civil conflict playing major role, the right of return of these citizens (whether they have acquire another citizenship for survivor and progress) is definitely a human rights issue. It is predicated upon civil society, communities, family members and friends to mobilize support so that they have legal support from their motherland to become legitimate citizens. This could gradually be open further to include other alternative actors with prospect to contribute to development in Liberia. Whether we loose more of our citizens to other countries by constitutional denial or whether we decide to move beyond the current deadlock is all our decision.
Granting dual citizenship should therefore be a matter of evidence rather than sentiments. Gathering evidences for law or policy making is the proper thing to do and this has become clearer for Liberia. In Liberia several evidences can be drawn. While Liberia prohibits dual citizenship on paper— in many cases the rules are not rigidly enforced. Citizen can acquire another citizenship without facing adverse consequences in practice. This is not that the law is intentionally weak on this issue but it has naturally becomes flexible due to the need to respect and support brotherhood. If we do not move beyond sentiments to introduce new laws based on these undisputed evidences, Liberia is bound to loose great minds and resources in the age of increase migration and globalization. In the long run, Liberia will continue to experience perpetual resource drain and most of its talented citizens move and remain in rich countries. We need to start treating our overseas talent as a ‘resource bank’ on which Liberia might draw in the future, when economic opportunities improve.
In conclusion, if we are concerned about uniting for development, Liberia should amend its laws to allow dual nationality by adopting transitional provisions allowing those who had previously lost their nationality on acquiring another to recover it. As proclaim under Chapter II Article V of the 1986 constitutions of Liberia, ‘the Republic shall aim at strengthening national integration and unity of the people of Liberia… preserve, protect and promote Liberian culture ensuring that traditional values which are compatible with public policy and national progress are adopted and developed as an integral part of the growing needs of the Liberian society’. We need to go beyond just the ease of visa processes to much ownership mobilization in order to realize what our neighbors (Ghana, Nigeria and elsewhere) are benefiting from their citizens living and prospering abroad. Citizens from these countries go to the UK and other countries but return home united to build decent homes and contribute to development broadly. The government and people greatly support this and so it is prospering and Liberia can be better at it. May God bless us all as we fight this deadly Ebola virus and be wise to attract alternative development measures where needed.

Patience O. Coleman is a graduate from the Australian National University with Master of Public Policy degree specializing in development policy, and Master of Diplomacy as part of the Australian Awards for Africa scholarship program. She also holds a graduate certificate in Public Administration and a B.Sc in Economics. Before leaving Liberia in 2012 for studies abroad, she has been involved with development from diverse sector perspective. Overtime since 2005, she has experience working with the public sector, civil society, NGO and the private sector. From her work and engagements, she participated in several development training, workshop, and advocacy both locally and internationally, which includes but not limited to the Long walk to freedom ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles-UK in 2005, the World Council of Churches 9^th assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2006, the United States Social Forum in 2009 and 2010, and the World Social Forum held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007, and a host of other programs in other parts of Africa. She is also the founder of the Liberia’s Ambassadors for Career Development (LAMCAD Inc.), a non-governmental organizations working to build lasting careers and empower youth, women, and students everywhere. Has inspired many (young and old) by her contribution and passion for community, national, and world development.

July 31, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Continuing the mistakes and practices of the past - Part I

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor

The book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible is a collection of moral and religious teachings. Most of it has to do with practical, everyday concerns. Perhaps this is the reason elders in Africa start every discussion with a proverb. A memorable example is the dispute between former friends, Samuel K. Doe and Thomas Y. Quiwonkpa.

On November 12, 1985, Doe summered Chiefs and Elders from every parts of the country to judge the palava between he and Quiwonkpa. Before they began to judge the palava, Chief Zangba, Paramount Chief from Grand Bassa County offered the following parable as a way of introduction: “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers;” meaning if two powerful persons fight, it is the innocent people that suffer the most. The rest is history!

Proverbs reminds us that in everything we do we must honor our maker – GOD, and make him as our point of reference; and with such qualities as humility, patience, respect for the poor and ultimate love and devotion to God Almighty, we cannot fail.

Therefore, it is the right thing to do to begin this essay with the Yoruba (Nigerian) proverb that says, “If a person has made up his mind not to see the truth, nothing can wake him to it.” This is so true with historians who write history from subjective points of view. And if the point of view one espouses is directed at justifying a particular point of view, then the conclusion should not be treated as an error but rather as a misrepresentation and manipulation of facts. Moreover, to go as far to put a spin on evidence in order to make it confirm one’s preconceptions is nothing more than academic dishonesty.

It is regarding such practice, “Liberians Continuing the Mistakes and Practices of the Past” is written. I have been thinking to write on this issue for some time. But I was motivated to do so now after I re-read David Lamb’s book, The Africans (1987). The quote that caught my attention reads: “For a long time Africans poked fun at Liberia, disparaging it for adopting attitudes and importing values not in keeping with African tradition.” After I read this quote, I decided to take a closer look at some of the ‘deliberate’ practices – imposed and of our own creation as Liberians.

First, let me start with some of the practices that were imposed. I honestly feel Europeans should bear most of the blame; but Africans are not exempt. It got started with Europeans’ quest to prove God wrong that He did not create Africans in His own image. These Europeans and other colonizers disregard the proper methods of historical scholarship by not seeking the truth – instead, engage in duplicity in their treatment of historical sources. The conclusions they reached then are not due to egregious errors, ignorance or mere sloppiness - it becomes a calculated and deliberate act to distort, suppress and manipulate the facts for their benefit. The reading public lacking either the time or the expertise to probe deeply enough into the sources used, relied on the outcome put forward by those that engage in the dishonesty put forward as scholarship. Then they fed it to the rest of the world, and world got infected with these lies as empirical findings.

Because Africa was colonized by these people, Europeans and Arabs, Africans got hooked in practicing these foreign and imported values at the expense of our own. Liberia too got infected! Where I find the most damaging effect on our MIND is religion. I still believe in Karl Marx’s reference to RELIGION. According him, “Religion is the opium of the masses.” Nowhere this reference is true than among those, Europeans have bias against - the so-called underdeveloped Africa.

Based on Europeans’ IGNORANCE of other people’s culture, they used their LIMITED point of reference as SCHOLARSHIP to come up with all sorts of foolish classifications they called disciplines. Even a fool can detect that something is NOT right when EVERYTHING EUROPEAN is GOOD, and EVERYTHING about the REST OF THE PEOPLE God created in His own likeness and IMAGE are considered DAMAGE GOODS.

This belief was propagated into RELIGION.

Here how European Anthropologists classified the study of Religious practices that are different than theirs: Sacred-profane dichotomy; Ritual; Magic; Divination; ANIMISM; Fetishism, ANCESTOR WORSHIP; Shamanism, Totemism; RITE OF PASSAGE; INITATION CEREMONY; Liminality; Communitas, and Revitalization Movement. (http://en.m.wikipedia.org)

ANIMISM (from Latin animus, - j “soul life) is the religious worldview that the natural physical entities–including animals, plants, and often even inanimate objects or phenomena–possess a spiritual essence. Specifically, animism is used in the anthropology of religion as a term of the religion of some indigenous tribal peoples, especially prior to the development and/or infiltration of colonialism and organized religion. (Ibid)

Although each culture has its own different mythologies and rituals, “animism” is said to describe the most common, foundational thread of indigenous peoples’ “spiritual” or “supernatural” perspectives… (Ibid) The Arabs are not exempt! Google the Poem entitled: “MY COUSIN MOHANED” by S. Anai Kelueljan; published in Durmam Daxxel’s Military Rule, Racism and Democratisation in Mauritania: Comparisons with Sudan.

To designate ANIMISM as African religious belief and practice is RICIST. According to Professor John Mbiti, a leading scholar on African religions, many African religions share the following concept of God. These concepts are quite similar to the way God is viewed in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the three main monotheistic religions.

* God is the creator of all things

* God sustains creation

* God provides for and protects creation

* God rules over the universe

* God is all powerful (omnipotent)

* God is all-knowing (omniscient-knows

everything that happens in the world)

* God is viewed as parent (sometimes as

as a father and sometime as a mother)

* God supports justice

* Human beings cannot directly know God.

(http://exploringafrica.m..)

Since the Settlers that the love of liberty brought to Africa were fed such lies in captivity (America) that Africans in the mother land have no history, they are the only race that NEVER made any contribution to humanity. The Settlers who some Liberian history books refer to as deportees came to Africa with

these foreign values, which they in turn imposed on the rest of the people met in present day Liberia. It was this mindset that created most of the problems Liberians are faced with today. And it was in this environment I had my personal saga with so-called Christian or Civilized names that once replaced my birth (Klao and Bassa) names.

The Settlers were so much in love with the country they were deported from; they adopted the names of places, dress style, culture, and religion at the expense of the culture, religion, and institutions of their new home they came to. In the end, what follows is complete assault of the way of life of their brethren to whom they began to refer to as natives; introduced antebellum southern culture, class structure and behaviors.

Find below a partial list of the problem their behavior created:

First, let me state how I was once affected by the Settlers’ imposition of foreign culture. I refer to it as: “My Christian/Civilized Names Dilemma in Liberia.” I was born Jglay Kpa-kay. But as a child growing up in Monrovia, I became a victim of the European Christian and civilized dilemma. Myers is supposed to my father’s so-called civilized family name. Since I was my father’s junior, I became known as Anthony Myers, Jr. and later as Sam Anthony Roberts, III when my older brother wrestled the name ANTHONY from me when he relocated to Monrovia from Rivercess, Liberia. My paternal grandfather name is NYANSEOR. The name that should have been our family name, got replaced with Kwii (civilized) or so-called Christian name, and the names, Jglay Kpa-kay was reserved for use by my Klao (Kru) and Bassa relatives). This is a long story, so I will not bother you any further; you can find the details in the article I wrote in the 1996 Edition of Theperspective.org under the title: “My Dilemma with Christian or Civilized Names in Liberia.”

Next is the ethnic (tribe) group in Liberia that is referred to as KRU. The ethnic group that is called KRU does not refer themselves as KRU. If they do not refer to themselves as KRU, the question that needs to be asked is how do they refer to themselves in their language? If what they refer to themselves in their language is KRU, than KRU it is. However, if they do not refer to themselves as KRU in their ‘own’ language and instead refer to themselves as KLAO, then KLAO they should be called.

For some reasons, it was customary for another tribe to refer to their neighbor by name it perceives the other tribe to be called in their language. Even cousins of the Klao, the Bassa to whom they call Manee (Dry the water), refer to their cousins – Klao as Glor. Klao Legend has it that the Bassa people were too plenty (many) until they dried the river that was in their path.

Let’s see how the KRU name got started.

In most history books about Liberia, either written by Liberians or Liberianists, it is said that Cape Mesurado (Montserrado) was inhabited by the Dei, Bassa, Gola, and Vai; and to some, the Mandingo ethnic group. This is far from the truth. Prior to the arrival of the Alligator and Augusta, the groups whose members are commonly referred to as KROO or KROOMEN were also active in the activities of the area. As a matter of fact, the Klaos (so-called Kru), Bassas and the Grebos who are of the same linguistic group, were living in this area. Some of them were involved in the land exchange that took place between Dr. Eli Ayres (MD) and Captain Robert F. Stockton (also referred to as Lieutenant). As a matter of historical fact, the Bassa, Klao (Kru), and Grebo lived in permanent settlements along the coast. The Klao people, in particular, worked as seamen on European ships. They were so successful that the name Kru became synonymous with sailor among the traders and shipowners. (Gershoni, Black Colonialism – 1985: 4)

There is evidence that these three ethnic groups, Klao (Kru), Bassa and Grebo worked with European traders as far as 1793. They were employed as crews (laborers) on these European ships. It is believed that the name KROO or KRU derived from the word CREW. (Coombs, The Black Experience in America –1993:26).

The name Kru derived from the word, Crew; the correct name of the ethnic group in Liberia known as Kru is – Klao (also spelled as Krao).

Several members of the Klao ethnic groups were educated by missionary institutions. Prior to the establishment of the Republic of Liberia, you will find in African history books written by Europeans about the long standing relationship the Klaos had with European traders. However, some of the conflicts that the natives had with the Liberian authorities resulted into wars; the last of which took place in 1912. The direct consequence of these conflicts led a sizeable number of the natives, particularly, Klao (Kru) and Bassa to relocate to Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and even Liverpool, England.

My Interpretation

There is this call and response phrase that the Kwa linguistic groups from southeastern Liberia are found of using when in a social or political gathering; it goes like this: “Bartee O Bartee.” Most Liberians do not know the original, including this writer. Having been told stories about wars between Klaos (Krus) and the Settlers, I tried finding out the meaning of “Bartee O Bartee”. After trying for many years without success to find meaning, I assumed the statement, “Bartee O Bartee” means - “Ba Tain, oh Ba Tain.” To me, “Ba Tain, oh Ba Tain” is a war cry by the Klao Warriors to unite, resist the enemies (the government’s aggression). “Ba Tain, oh Ba Tain” is followed by “Klao yen Ba

Tain, Klo kon yen ne keatea. It is translated as: “Let’s stay, let’s stay, Klao people let’s stay; land owners do not run and abandon their land.”

I came to this conclusion because of the uprisings between the Settlers’ government and the Klaos. And the logical thing to do to rally their base is to resort to the war cry - “Ba Tain oh Ba Tain, Klao yen Ba Tain, Klo kon yen ne keatea” (Let’s stay, let’s stay, Klao people let’s stay; land owners do not run and abandon their land). Find below a list of the wars.

The Settlers and Southeasterners’ Wars

1856: war with the Grebo and the Klao peoples, leading to the last American African colony, Republic of Maryland joining Liberia. It was annexed into Liberia as Maryland County in 1857 (During Presidency of Benson: 1856-64).

1864: uprisings of inland and coastal tribes (During Presidency of Benson: 1856-64).

1875-76: war in Cape Palmas (During Presidency of Payne - II: 1876-78).

1886: an uprising took place (During the Presidency of Johnson).

Mid 1880s until late 1890s: some tribes stay at war with the Settlers (During the Presidency of Coleman: 1896-1900).

1893: Grebo tribe attacked settlement of Harper (During the Presidency of Cheeseman).

1900: a bloody battle with the Settles (During the Presidency of Coleman).

1915: rebellion of the Klao people (During the Presidency of Howard).

1912-20: internal wars (During the Presidency of Howard).

Let it be stated here that most of these wars had to do with the Liberian authorities’ acquisition of the indigenous people’s land; their condescending attitude and inhumane practices toward the natives (renamed their towns, seized their land) and DID NOT recognize them as citizens in the land of their birth.

These series of wars were the direct results of the Southeasterners’ opposition to the imposition of taxes and custom duties, forceful land acquisition, forceful resettlement, etc., by the Americo-Liberian government that had no direct benefit to the locals.

Since I was not satisfied with my version of “Bartee O Bartee”, I wrote my friend (who I have never met in person) Tawily Jayblee Hiah aka Sylomun Weah, a

Culture Historian for help. Weah is a Liberian historian; he lives in The Netherlands. Weah is well versed in the Dutch language; one of the languages in which Pre/Liberian History is written.

Find below Weah’s response to my inquiry:

Sylomun Weah August 21, 2013

Hello Mr. Nyanseor,

Sorry for the late response. It is an honour to receive a communication from you.

You are a great mind, staying true and doing justice to our roots. The forefathers smile upon you. Your blogs are famous and quoted by many. Hats off to you!

Weah’s Explanation Regarding the Phase “Bartee O, Bartee”:

With regards to the word “Bartee” and the phrase ” Bartee O, Bartee, this is exactly how we say it in Kplebo.

I came across some information, which could help to throw some light on said matter.

“Bartee O Bartee”, The Mystical Phrase.

Possible Origins

During the earlier part of the twentieth century under the presidency of Arthur Barclay in 1906, a dispute had to be settled in Sinoe.

There was a clan chief named Bartee who had an orator, or speaker, of the same name. Whether this was his son or relative there is no certainty.

However, as noted concerning the relationship of clan chiefs and their speakers, it would not be a total surprise to see a clan chief having his son as orator or representing him because he is always the successor.

It has been stated by many historians and Americo-Liberians alike that before the 1932 resurgence of the Kru militarism, no people in Liberia created more problems or were more troublesome than the Krus of Sinoe, especially those of Matroe chiefdom.

As a matter of fact, no superintendent, president, or any elected official had attempted to cross the Sinoe River to mediate any dispute or engage in any confrontation, except one: Grisby, who never made it back to the mainland.

The story of Bartee became prominent when President Arthur Barclay convened a conference between the various clans and the Liberian government on the brutal treatment of the natives of Sinoe.

Clan Chief Bartee and his orator had been known to be the more vocal of the district. Therefore, he was always called upon because of his “big mouth” to call the conference to order whenever there was a commotion.

The presiding officer would say, “Bartee O Bartee.” This meant he wanted order. In return, the assembly would respond, “Bartee.”

This meant that they were to be attentive. Today the word Bartee signifies a conference or to call to order among most people of Liberia, especially the Klaos (Krus).

My explanation was solely based on the assumption that as Klao (Kru) people, we do not back down from anybody, especially when we are at war to defend our rights and dignity. And as a people, we are taught from an early age to stand and fight for our rights and beliefs no matter the circumstances. In a war situation, this is what I thought they would do, stay and fight and not run away. But having read the vision provided by this young brother, historian Sylomun Weah, I accept his version to be true. For the short time I have known him, I find his research to be very credible. Therefore, his explanation about “Bartee O Bartee” is the one we should go by.

Liberia Maintaining Colonial Practices in Post-Colonial Africa

For example, why should President sign land deeds? The law that gave the President of Liberia the power and authority to sign land deeds is outright wrong and outdated. Have any of you thought of the reason why there is a Land Commissioner, yet, the President is responsible to sign and approve land deeds? I believe this practice is unique to Liberia. This practice started with the Settlers (Americo Liberians) from the very beginning of the republic. This practice got started by imperialist and colonial powers; it was a scheme

designed to take over the native populations’ land by fraudulent means. This was done to Native Americans in North America. When the Settlers came to the Green Coast (now Liberia) they brought this practice along, which is practice today by the Sirleaf administration.

How this fraudulent land grab got started? Based on the history of the Settlers (Americo Liberians) from the cotton plantations of antebellum south of America, Blacks were property of slave masters; therefore were not allowed to own land. So went the great scheme was hashed by Thomas Buchanan and associates to have them remove from the United States; the first thing they thought of was to replicate the system of land ownership in the antebellum south.

Since the Settlers became the new masters, they developed a system patterned after that which they left behind in North America; illegally took control of everything in their new found land. Land which is considered or serves as the engine of economic activity became their number target. The new masters enacted laws that gave exclusive power and authority to the President. That’s how the President of Liberia has to sign every land deed in the country; no land is sold without his/her signature.

Rumor has it that there exists a signature stamp of the late President Tubman, and after his death, those who got hold of the stamp used it to sign deeds for their fraternity brothers and sorority sisters; which we called “society people” in Liberia.

The land apportionment is one of the most abused systems that exist today in Liberia. Since the President has the exclusive power and authority, the natives’ lands were given to member of the ruling class as their farm land with no compensation to the original owners. This too, is Liberia’s Indian and Settlers’ story – the basis of the many wars between the Settlers and natives. The victims in these wars, the natives are portrayed as “war loving, savage natives versus the Pioneers”. Liberians being noted for turning serious matter into joke, referred to the word - PIONEER as: “People, In, Our, Nation, Enjoyed, Equal, Rights.”

The practice of the President signing deeds is wrong and should be abolished. The power and authority should be handed to the office of the Land Commission with straight and transparent enforcement practice.

Stay tune to Part II. It will highlight some of the mistakes and conclude with some suggestions on how Liberians can stop repeating mistakes of the past.

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut is now on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: [email protected]

July 31, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Ebola: The virus of quick death: the socio-economic implications in Liberia

By Romeo D.N. Gbartea

Introduction:

The national vision 2030 research paper emphasizes how reactive the Liberia society is structured, thereby creating a condition for underdevelopment and other negative vices. Just see how Liberians continue to die of the deadly disease Ebola simply because the county is not proactive. The Country has a fire-truck approach. When the house is on fire, the fire-truck will go on the scene to check before getting water at which point in time the situation has become unbearable.

This paper intends to provide socio-economic implications on the deadly disease, Ebola; the evolution of the disease; statistical cases, analytical factors on how the disease has spread; the cultural & customary factors; preventive mechanisms; Medical sociological implications, psychological implications and how it has affected our country; societal decision making, and the way forward.

Historical background:

There are many diseases or viruses in the World that are persistent in taking the lives of people in spite of every productive action exhibited by medical practitioners to find cure. But for Ebola it has no cure. HIV/AIDS is one of the deadly diseases that has no cure but there is preventive medicine. Today, we are fighting a disease that has its root in East Africa.

Three scholars: Siegel, Anderson and Waterman (1999-1998) stated that ebiola outbreak started in 1976, and it was named after the Ebola River in Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo and but it first emerged in Sudan and Zaire. The first outbreak of Ebola (Ebola-Sudan) infected over 284 people, with a mortality rate of 53%. A few months later, the second Ebola virus emerged from Yambuku, Zaire, Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ). EBOZ, with the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses (88%), infected 318 people. Despite the tremendous effort of experienced and dedicated researchers, Ebola’s natural reservoir was never identified. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. Fortunately, the few people who were infected with EBOR (seroconverted) never developed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The last known strain of Ebola, Ebola Cote d’Ivoire (EBO-CI) was discovered in 1994 when a female ethologist performing a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee from the Tai Forest, Cote d’Ivoire, accidentally infected herself during the necropsy.

How can the virus transmit to others?

Sometimes we forget to follow the logical pattern of sanitizing our hands, general care for our body, thereby leading us to be infected with different kinds of virus or germs. One of the typical scenarios is the development of what we considered as fresh colds. We sneezed and used our hands to cover our mouths, and don’t care to sanitize our hands before shaking hands and share the virus with someone. This is exactly the scenario with the deadly virus of ebola.

The World Health Organization said that Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and disease patients. Ebola virus disease outbreaks can devastate families and communities, but the infection can be controlled through the use of recommended protective measures in clinics and hospitals, at community gatherings, or at home.

How did the virus started in Liberia?

The spread of the virus in Liberia is the result of geographical and social interactions. The country has relationship with its neighbors in the regions through porous borders. Read the geographical relationships. Liberia is a small West African Country; it has a boundary with Guinea on the North, Sierra Leone on the west, Ivory Coast on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the South. The relationship with our neighbors is so unique that’s why Liberia is a nation-state. There is a socio-cultural and ethnic interaction with these countries. For instance, in Guinea, there is Kpelle and Lormas, similarly, these tribes are also in Liberia. Now, you have envisaged why Ebola easily penetrated the border of Liberia.

The Ministry of Health of Liberia clearly defines the origin of the disease in its March 24, 2014 press statement. The Ministry illustrated that Ebola was in neighboring towns of Guinea: Guekedou, Nzerekore, Kissidougou and Macenta. It was also reported that six (6) cases were reported of which five died: four female adults and one male child with suspected cases came from Guinea for treatment in hospitals in Foya and Zorzor districts, Lofa County. This is how the deadly hemorrhagic fever Ebola enters Liberia.

It is unfortunately to note that the disease is gaining momentum in the country killing Liberians with health care workers among the victims. The spirit of fear has grabbed most Liberian family but there are still some who are in the stage of controversy or refused to accept that the disease exists.

Let see some statistics on how our countrymen are dying from this wicked disease:

Characteristics	New	Confirmed	Probable	Suspect	Total in the country
Cases	25	84	84	81	249
Deaths	2	60	50	19	129

Source: Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, Liberia: July 23, 2014.

Ebola breaks the cultural & customary values:

Every society has a value system that is unique to them. For our society, shaking hands is a cultural or customary practice. Cultural & Customary way of life entails the day to day activities that have been done over the years. In the rural setting, the people are more homogenous in their practice while in the urban locality, our practice is heterogeneous in nature. Whenever a Liberian shows their hands for greetings and you dis-allowed it, it is a disrespect and act of unfriendliness. Sometimes this action will lead to the victim not speaking to you or there will be a palava hut discussion on why you did not speak. Whatever the case is, especially in most cases you will have to apologize for not speaking. Sometimes such a person will be considered a deviant. Now, Ebola has entered the society and violated our cultural practice of shaking hands. Perchance, this disease has introduced a new cultural scenario for the future where we will not be shaking hands easily. What we now have to do is to respect our lives and relax the cultural practice of shaking hands so as to avoid the spreading of the disease.

Societal decision making:

The decision making process in our country is extremely difficult. Everybody in the country always wants their decision to be eminent. Another classical scenario is that over the years the people have found it difficult to respect their leadership. Why is this happening? Sometimes we find a difficult for the decision making of our country because our centralized system of governance. There are cases where the societal members do not respect the scientific views of professionals. This is a society that it is difficult for the people to recognize their limitation. This is a country where everybody is a politician and technical decisions can in some cases take the outlook of politics. Decision making for the country is complex because our nature as Liberians is not to hurt our countrymen but we have to make decision that will protect the image of the nation-state.

Let me remind you that Aristotle view that by nature man is a political being, does not give anybody the sole understanding that a politician knows everything. Another situation that makes it difficult for our decision making process is that many of the young people refused to go to school well but rather see themselves as a politician. Sometimes we give credence to some of these factors for our decision making. One of the situational scenarios is that a tough talker without substantive background on some technical issues will frequently be invited to discuss socio-economic, medical and political issues on radio. This kind process impedes our decision making.

Now, when ebola evaded Liberia and the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare outline the background with suspected cases, provided preventive mechanisms, some Liberians without the medical background did not respect the views of the entity. So, you see it is unfortunate to note that decision making in our society is difficult. It is a societal problem. How do we solve it? We now need to understand that technicians’ scientific viewpoints must be respected and those with radio stations must consider inviting professionals on their stations rather than amateur. There are other factors that you may consider but the best must be productive for our country. Ebola is real and it has spread because of our poor decision to prevent it.

Medical sociological implication:

Already, some of the medical sociological implications have been addressed but specificity will be good for the essence of this research paper. Medical sociology has its background in social medicine. It can be traced in the eighteen century, precisely 1955. The main thrust of this discipline is on the organizational class structure, value system or cultural factors, ritual and function of medicine as a system of behavior, the social in sickness, scientific nature of emotionalism, work and the analysis of social organization of medical setting (Oke, 2007). It addresses sociological answers between social factors and human health. With this background of the discipline and you can relate it to our current situation with the Ebola virus.

In the case of our country, the social epidemiological issue has been identified but the social perception of acceptance is becoming difficult. Many persons will have to understand that what is prevailing in the country is Behavioral Discontinuity. It means we have social behavior disease which has created changes in behavior. It will take some time for our countrymen to understand the nature of what has happened and continue to take place. Sometimes we get headace or malaria and we go on assignment to earn living for our family thinking that we can overcome the illness but Ebola has changed our behavioral pattern or twisted the arms of our life.

Economic implication:

The living condition in the country is so difficult and naturally the resources of men are so scarce that we try to manage what we have. The price of chlorine, bucket and other essential goods prices have escalated because of its relationship with the Ebola disease. Incentives for maintenance officers will eventually increase because the only motive now is to improve our sanitation condition. For those who will not withstand the condition will have to shift their priority to purchase ticket to leave the country. Another economic case is that Arik Air, a Nigerian airline company, on July 27, 2014 suspended their flight in Liberia. You know definitely that those who are working with the company will be faced with some economic challenges. They have not projected that the airline will be closed abruptly. Some restaurant or cook shops will not accomplish their normal income because of the change in behavior. Many persons will not go these entertainment centers because they want to avoid contacts. There are many more economic situations associated with the outbreak of the virus in the country.

Psychological factor:

There is no condition of life that enters the society without affecting the human person. When there is change in behavioral pattern, it sometimes comes with psychological problem or stress developed. Our ability to cope with the change in behavior is significant for the human person. Ebola has caused an imbalanced behavior in our society which is creating psychological issue in all spectrums. Can you imagine a professional Liberian: Patrick Sawyer who was going on assignment for his country, his body has been criminated? It is so worst that many family members and Friends in the country have broken down psychologically. Just imagine what has been the psychological impact of the Ugandan Doctor, Sam Mutooro Muhumuza family. There is a complete outburst of emotional tension of Liberians especially those who lost their immediate family and relatives on ebola. Some of the families or relatives cannot believe that there is no decent burial for their dead. It is psychologically outrageous.

Another emotional situational scenario that was reported in some dailies was the Liberian man who set the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on fire because according to some respondents he blames the lack of doctors and nurses at major government hospitals to cater to his sick relative, thereby leading to the death of his family member. Let us examine another case: whenever somebody hears the news that some of their friends are leaving the country as the result of ebola virus they get so worried and imbalance. Thus, Ebola has created psychological tension for the Liberian society.

Conclusion and way forward:

The Ebola virus that continues to kill Liberians and other nationals is real and there are many implications as the result of the outbreak. The serious and most deadly implication is that it is very fast and we must understand that there will be change in the social system. All we need to do is to adapt to this change and follow the preventive measures. We need to be proactive in our decision making in the country and we must not make mockery of serious issue that has the tendency to take our life away. The scientific viewpoints of professional Liberians must be respected and taken seriously in the implementation of policy decision. We have to be non-violent in our approach. We have to accept the reality of the disease and stop creating the unnecessary fear among the people. In the real sense of the world the deadly virus Ebola has created behavioral disease due to its fast nature to kill anybody on the planet. We know in spite of its tedious challenge it is posing for existence, we will overcome it.

Romeo D.N. Gbartea a Liberian with two bachelor degrees from the University of Liberia: B.A. in Sociology, with minor in Economics, and B.A. Degree in History with minor in Anthropology. I hold a M.Sc Degree in Industrial Sociology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I started my Ph.D program in the same University in 2011/2012 but due to some economic constraints I have to recess. I have written many papers and served as the head for the society group for the national vision 2030 in Liberia. I previously worked as Decentralization program consultant at the Governance Commission of Liberia. Currently, I am the fiscal decentralization Consultant at the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning. I worked as consultant for the Environmental protection Agency in Liberia to do Mid-term Evaluation Report: “Enhancing Resilience of Vulnerable coastal Areas to Climate Change Risk in Liberia”.

July 31, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Disasters can be avoided if we obey God and do good

By Elder Siahyonkron Nyanseor

The world we live in is full of many surprises and misfortunes. Some are temporary, while others are avoidable; but most of them I believe are caused by man’s disobedience to God. It is regarding this, I am sharing my recent encounters with you.

As Griot and writer, there is something within us that compel us to tell our stories and the stories of others. You see, life too, is a story! Once you come into this world your story begins. We who tell stories do so in order to pass on our experiences so that others may learn from them. A good example is the story and the warrior told by Dr. Philip Emeagwali.

When Philip Emeagwali was ten years old, living in Africa, his father posed the following question to him:

“The story or the warrior, which is mightier?”

“The warrior!” Philip replied.”

His father shook his head in disagreement.

“The story. The story is mightier than the warrior,” his father said to him.

“How can that be?” Philip asked his father.

“The story lives on long after the warrior has died,” his father explained.

(Culled from a keynote lecture by Dr. Philip Emeagwali on February 17, 2003 - Black History Month at Arizona State University, West Phoenix, Arizona).

This is the reason in Africa Griot recites stories and writers write stories; especially, those that contained human interests.

My journey away from Lawrenceville, Georgia

I was away from home for almost one month. My travel took me to Silver Spring, Maryland to the funeral of my cousin, the late Rev. Dr. Blamo Benedict Nyentue Seekie. While in the DC Metropolitan area, I was hosted by my friend, Kcabeh Charles Walker of Woodbridge, Virginia. After the funeral, I went on to my old home town, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to visit family members, and to reconnect with an old college, Temple University.

My visit to Philadelphia was like a homecoming. I visited my cousin Martha and her husband Leroy Freeman in Willingboro, New Jersey. Also, while in Willingboro, I paid a surprise visit to my cousin Amos and Gloria Williams, who were having their children’s graduation party. The daughter graduated from high school, and the son from college. Amos’ senior brother, Samuel Williams, Jr. was in attendance with his two daughters and son, all of whom are medical doctors. Also, I met old friends and acquaintances I have not seen in years. I had a good time, and the trip was worth it!

On my return trip to Georgia, I met up with all sorts of misfortunes, some I caused, others by miscommunication. First, I mistakenly left my phone charger at my friend George Nubo’s apartment where I spent one night. Without the phone charger I was unable to make my usual phone calls to my family members and friends.

Worse of all, my trip back to Georgia was delayed for several days. The Amtrak train I was supposed to Atlanta left me due to a miscommunication between the Red Cap (attendant that assists passengers) and me. My train number was 99; the Red Cap thought I said number 17; as the result, the train left without me. The Amtrak trains coming to Atlanta the next day were all booked; I had to wait the following day. Similar thing happened to me the following day. My reservation was for train number 129; another Red Cap put my baggage on train number 97 instead of 129, I got on only to realize it was the wrong train. I had to get out at the next stop, which was the Camden, New Jersey station. I had to wait on the next train going to Washington, DC. The next train was 93, and it was not due until one hour and thirty minutes. Train 93 arrived at the station at 7:20 PM; and within 5 minutes we departed, I was praying to make my connecting bus that was due to leave the Washington, DC Union Station at 9:00 PM. When we arrived at the station, the bus has just left for Atlanta.

I called my friend Kcabeh to come get from the Union Station. He was at work so he directed me how to take the METRO (train system like MARTA in Atlanta) train to the Springfield Station, which was close to where he lives - Woodbridge, Virginia. I made it there around few minutes to midnight; then I called him to pick me up. He was about twenty minutes away from the station, but on his way to get me, he ran into heavy traffic on I – 95 North due to road construction – some lines were closed. It took him almost two hours. When we finally got to his residence, it was 2:00 AM Wednesday, July 9, 2014. At 10:00 AM, I made my reservation on OneBusExpress leaving for Decatur, Georgia, which was due to depart at 11:55 PM on Thursday, July 10, 2014 and to arrive in Georgia at 12 midnight the next day, Friday, July 11, 2014.

OneBusExpress does not stop in Virginia nor Washington, DC; the nearest location to board the bus from where I was stopping with my friend was Maryland Welcome Center off I - 95 Exit 34B. From Woodbridge, Virginia to Maryland Welcome Center is one hour and fifteen minutes. We drove to the Maryland Welcome Center at 10:30 PM; waited for the bus to arrive and depart for Georgia at 11:55 PM. The bus was delayed; it did not come on time. Having waited up to 12:20 AM, Kcabeh and another friend of his that rode with us decided we could no longer wait; we got on our way back to Woodbridge, Virginia. While on our way back, I received a call from the bus driver at 12:56 AM, informing me that the bus was about to depart, if I was still going with the bus to Georgia. You can imagine how I felt; but I was polite. I told the bus driver that in the first place they did not follow their twenty minutes call policy prior to departure, and that it was impossible for me to return from Virginia to board the bus.

By this time I was running low on funds. I did not receive credit (refund) for the bus fare I had paid. On the morning of Friday, July 11, 2014, I proceeded to search for bus to return to Atlanta. I could not find space on any of the buses going to Atlanta on Saturday (12th), Sunday (13th) and Monday (14th). I was able to get a reservation on the Mega Bus for Tuesday, July 14, 2014 that was scheduled to depart from Washington, DC Union Station at 9:00 AM.

During all of this time, my host, Kcabeh provided me with the best hospitality one could ever receive in situation like mine. His warm accommodation allowed me to watch the World Cup at the home of his brother Alfred; read, reflected and to write this essay. Kcabeh is more than a good friend – he is a decent and caring human being. Not too many of them are around today! I’ll pray for God to richly bless him.

Back to my trip to Atlanta

Due to the heavy volume morning traffic in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, Kcabeh decided to for us to leave that Tuesday morning (July 14, 2014) to the Union Station for my scheduled 9:00 AM departure on the Mega Bus for Atlanta. We left his home at 5:30 AM; he drove me to the closest METRO train station to the train to the Union Station. This was a smart decision! I made all the right connections, and I arrived at the Union Station at 7:30 AM. While getting off the train with my luggage, I felt weak – almost passed out; at time a lady I referred to as my God sent Good Samaritan (Elizabeth Schrelber) came from nowhere, held my hand and offered to help me. This lady was on her way to work at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). I was so weak, she assisted me to sit on the pavement while she called for assistance. I lied down on the pavement, and in minutes all the right persons were attending to me, which included local paramedics that took me out of the station into their ambulance. Also, a fire truck was standing by.

In the ambulance, they performed on what they usually do in cases like this, which involved, taking pulse, blood pressure, monitor heart rate, etc. it was then I was told my irregular heart rate, and I had to go to the nearest hospital. By then, I was feeling much better. So I decided against going to the hospital in Washington DC to board the Mega Bus that had to depart in one hour. I had to sign a release form, witnessed by police man. I was released and headed to bus depot to board my bus to Atlanta. On my way I was praying in my heart to my LORD to make it to Atlanta with any problem. God answered my prayers, I arrived in Atlanta at 10:15 PM, July 15, 2014 – the MARTA Civic Center train station, where the Mega Bus use as its destination in Atlanta.

I kept my promise to God

In my prayers I promised God that if I got to Atlanta, I will go to the Emergency Room to seek medical attention, which I did. I called my Senior Pastor, Bill Harris that I was at the MARTA Civic Center train station off Peachtree Street. He came, and took me to the Eastside Hospital in Gwinnett County. We arrived at the hospital at 11:45 PM. We were at the hospital from 11:45 PM to 6:00 AM Wednesday when I was discharged. I received a clean bill of health. Praise the Lord!

Pastor Harris usually says, “When life gave you lemon, make lemonade”

In most cases when individuals find themselves in a situation like the one I found myself; it is the tendency for the person to get very angry and frustrated – this is the wrong way to go about these things. This brings to mind a story I heard some time ago:

A man was travelling out of the country (America) to make a presentation to a group of businessmen in China. On his way to the Hartfield/Jackson International Airport, he got caught in heavy Friday evening traffic. When he got to the airport, the plane had just taken off. He got so angry to the point that he and the airline staff got into a squabble. The airport securities had to intervene.

Afterwards, he then left the airport to drive back home; while on his way, he turned on the radio in his car; then there came a flash news bulletin that said – Plane Crash! Plane Crash! The announcer went on to say, Flight #787 (made up flight number) that just took off from the Hartfield/Jackson International Airport crashed in midair; there appeared to be no survival. This was the same flight that the gentleman who had the altercation with the airline staff was to be on. Upon hearing the news, he brought his automobile to a stop; packed it on the side of the interstate, prayed and headed back to the airport to apologize for his inappropriate behavior towards the airline staff. From there on, he promised never again to behave in such a manner.

Some times when things like this happened to us, it is God that is intervening on our behalf. Therefore, make the best of it! What appears to be a disaster for me, I used it to pray, read and reflect on the mess we find ourselves in today in this troubled world.

Now, this brings me to the main point of my essay.

The consequences of our disobedience to God

Like the children of Israel in the Bible who disobeyed God, mankind today are doing the same; creating problems for themselves by refusing in every way possible to disobey God’s Ten Commandments. Based on this observation, it is my honest belief that most of the catastrophes we have experienced; those that we are experiencing now, and others that are in the waiting are direct results of man’s refusal to obey God. It is that simple! Luke 21:31 tells us that “When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near”. There are too many disasters, tragedies and upheavals for this not to be true! Around the globe, there are wars raging; famines devastating entire countries, environmental catastrophes and natural disasters such as earthquakes, droughts and floods killing thousands of people; reducing citizens to abject poverty; and there are violent crimes on the increase in spite of man’s best efforts to address them.

What is most disheartening is the fact that religion we used to look for solutions is often a part of the problem. Today around the globe, wars and armed conflicts are started by religious sects over whose belief (interpretation or doctrine) is correct. The same can be said about the United Nations’ Security Council, and the Electorate College System in American ‘democracy’. In addition, the way powerful nations and oppressed people or religious extremists resolved conflicts, is the wrong way to resolve conflicts. Classic examples are: “Regime Change”, “Collateral Damage”, “Ethnic Cleansing”, “Terrorism”, etc. These approaches in solving the world major problems have removed God from the equation and makes mockery of what justice should be. As it tis now, these practices were put in place to perpetuate and sustain the permanent interest of a few or a group to remain in control of the world’s resources and people. This is an abomination that is in violation to God’s plan for humanity.

A fellow countryman of mine by the name of J. Rodney Chesson states the problem correctly in his article: “Why There Needs To Be Changes In The Structure Of The United Nations”; with his permission, I included it here to reinforce my point, and it reads:

The United Nations was founded during an era of colonial domination and control of Africa and other parts of the world by powers like Britain, France, and the “new world powers” like Russia and China. That is why the UN’s Security Council which is the most powerful arm of the UN controls the mission of the UN and whether or not …the UN should or will intervene in a world issue or situation in the various regions of the world. These permanent members of the security council are a limited nations that are considered the “world powers.” They are the only nations that vote and make final decisions on how the UN should function in a situation in the world. All of the other groups are selected as observers or non-permanent members and have no voting import in the final votes of the permanent members.

Today, the world deserves the presence of a Black Independent Nation as a permanent member of the Security Council. The Security Council as it is today and as it was in the past, does NOT secure and protect the interests of Black or African people. It is founded and controlled by nations with a majority of people who believed, practiced, and perpetrated the total subjugation, submission, enslavement, and disgrace of the African or Black man and woman. Hundreds of millions of Black or African people were killed because of or as a result of the wickedness perpetrated against the African or Black man or woman more than any other race of people in this entire world.

How then can these same people pretend now to be protecting the rights, interests, and equality of the African and/or Black man or woman today? How can the man or woman who kill or enslave me and my people throughout history be the same ones to be held responsible with my protection from enslavement today?

To me, that is a serious BIG JOKE!

So if the controllers and/or people of this world truly want to make me truly believe that the world leaders today truly promote a world of equality, protection and fair treatment of all peoples and nations, then there needs to be a restructuring of the UN and its Security Council. If the UN is truly an organization that speaks for all nations of the “Free World,” then it is imperative that the Black man and woman be given their fair share of representing and speaking for themselves on and in any matter that impacts the entire world. Without a Black or African nation serving on the Security Council as a prominent member, Black or African nations have NO SAY in their inherent rights to protect themselves and promote their interests in this world - Colonialism still exists!

A Hint to the Wise is Quite Sufficient!

It is quite amazing that brother Chesson and I were thinking and writing about the same issue around the same time. These are serious matters that should not be taken lightly. As merciful as God is, He should not be provoked or knowingly taken for granted as the leaders of the world are doing today by disobeying the Ten Commandments of God. The Ten Commandments is clear as to what is expected of us. It reads:

1. You shall have no other gods before (or besides) me.

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the thirds and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:2-17) — Life Application Bible - NIV

By not obeying these Ten Commandments, we engaged in ungodly practices. As a result, the world is filled with more bad news than the “good news” about God. In a 24-hour period, there is more bad news than good news on either the radio or the television; print media too, is not exempt! You can flip channels – all you want, you’ll find more bad news. Sensational news has become the way our world operates. It appears that contemporary man/woman yearns for “bad news” than good news. One reporter said, “Sensational news sells”. This is the world we live in!

All of these things are happening to mankind because of man’s refusal to obey God’s Commandments; and the result of refusing to obey His Commandments leads to committing all sorts of sins. 1 John 5:17 defined sin as “…All unrighteousness”. On the other hand, sinners are: evildoers, dishonest, unjust, wicked, unfair, and mistreats others. These practices go beyond just physical actions; they can cross over into attitudes and motives, such as what goes on in our minds, which involve our thoughts.

At our Wednesday weekly International Christian Fellowship (ICF) Ministries’ Cluster Bible Studies in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Rev. Dr. William BGK Harris, taught one of our classes about - Brain Wave Frequencies, and how they affect our state of mind. These brain waves are known as Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta and Gamma; they impact us physically and mentally. Lucifer uses some of these brain waves to trick us in committing sins. For example, when we allow evil thoughts to enter our minds and stay there, eventually they can spring into action, leading us to sin. Remember, we are what we think (Proverbs 23:8).

Conclusion

For over thousands of years, human beings have experimented with different systems of governments, beginning with feudalism, mercantilism, monarchy, dictatorship, federalism, parliamentary government, socialism, communism and democracy, but we have been unable to come up with the right system to fully address and solve the problems facing mankind.

Even though, prophet Jeremiah warns us: “It is not in man who walks to direct his own step” (Jeremiah 10:23). Also, he said, “…The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 10:23). Because leaders of the world refused to live by the WORD of God, He “…Gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strive, deceit, evil-mindedness; they whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

We can pretend all we want, the Scriptures is clear about the fate that awaits those who disobey God’s Commandments. We can sin by the things we knowingly do; or we can sin by the things we do not do. And that is, we know that something is wrong but fail to speak against it because the person or the political party that does the wrong is ours or we benefit from the spoils, while the rest of society suffers. To which James 4:17 explains: “… To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him is sin”.

Finally, if we know that God required of us to do good, and because of greed and selfish reasons we neglect to do them, that failure is sin. Those who fall short of what God required of them to do are called hypocrites; because God expects more of us than our simply meeting minimum standards of behavior. The truth of the matter is the world is facing many problems today because individuals, leaders, organizations and countries refused to do and live as God intended for them to live; instead, we choose to do it on our own. It is regarding these behaviors that the God we serve instructed King David to write: “They are

corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1-3).

To punctuate my point here, I can unquestionably say, wars are being fought not only between major religions, but between sects of the same religions, who are supposed to be serving and worshipping the same God. They do so because of man’s disobedience to the Almighty. In short, God gave us dominion over the world’s abundant resources for our personal use; instead, certain segment of society divide the world into race and class; teach us to be different, and on the basis of where we attended school, i.e., Harvard, Yale, Princeton and schools that do not fall in the selected category are looked down on. Based on this distinction, we are taught how to earn six figures (money) as opposed to teaching us how to live godly and compassionately. This is an abomination to God; it must be stopped or the world will continue to head in the wrong direction. These raging wars; famines that are devastating entire countries, environmental catastrophes, natural disasters, earthquakes, droughts and floods that are killing thousands of people; reducing citizens to abject poverty; and violent crimes are clear warnings of what lies ahead of us if we do not change our behaviors and obey God’s laws and Commandments. Don’t say I did not warn you!

To God be the glory!

Elder Siahyonkron Nyanseor is the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut will soon be on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: [email protected]

July 30, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

"Toward breaking the cycle of missed opportunities in Liberia's history"

By George Klay Kieh, Jr.

This speech was delivered during the 167th Independence anniversary of the Republic of Liberia, sponsored by the Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA), held on July 26, 2014 at the Joseph Boakai Liberian Community Center, Lilburn, Georgia.

INTRODUCTION

Let me begin by expressing my thanks and appreciation to President Mulbah, the leaders and members of LAMA, our community association, for selecting me to deliver the oration marking the celebration of the 167th Independence Anniversary of our dear Liberia. I consider this a singular honor and privilege for two major reasons. First, it is a national service to our dear country. Second, the invitation came from the Mulbah Administration that has demonstrated in concrete ways what our dear Liberia could look like in terms of accountability, transparency, and the undertaking of meaningful projects that are having profound positive effects on our community here in Metropolitan Atlanta.

My dear fellow Liberians and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we assemble here tonight in our new community center to celebrate 167 years of our country’s independence, amid the current deplorable conditions of the majority of our fellow Liberians at home. For them, the celebration of our country’s independence is more of a struggle for survival than an occasion for happiness. In short, the lives of the overwhelming majority of our fellow Liberians at home hang in a precarious balance, as they live on the margins of our society. To make matters worse, our dear country is currently experiencing an outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has already led to the death of several persons. May we please rise, and observe a moment of silence for those who have fallen victim to this deadly virus, and to plea for God’s mercy as ways are found to address this emerging epidemic

Clearly, there is the need for critical refection on 167 years of our existence as a country, and the projection of an alternative pathway that will give all Liberians the cause to celebrate our country’s independence. Against this background, I invite you to reflect with me for a few minutes on the topic “TOWARD BREAKING THE CYCLE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN LIBERIA’S HISTORY.”

THE TRAVAILS OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN LIBERIA’S HISTORY

Over the past 167 years of our existence as a country, God has blessed us with abundant natural resources, including rubber, iron ore, timber, gold, diamonds, and now oil. Unfortunately, throughout our history, we have failed to create the requisite conditions that would have turned God’s blessings into human-centered development, prosperity, democracy and national unity. That is, at various critical historical junctures, we have missed opportunities. Let me map out few of these missed opportunities. First, in 1820, when our brothers and sisters, who were enslaved in the United States began to return to the Grain Coast(now Liberia), we had a great opportunity to establish a firm foundation for the building of an economically vibrant and democratic country. Regrettably, the opportunity was missed, because our brothers and sisters, who were repatriated from the United States, were victims of the slave psychology and its resulting “superior-inferior myth.” In this vein, they subjected their brothers and sisters from the various ethnic groups, who they met on the Grain Coast, to the same inhumane treatment to which they too were subjected during slavery in the United States. Consequently, this led to several needless conflicts.

Second, in 1847, when Liberia declared its independence from the American Colonization Society, which had played the role of a colonial authority, we had the opportunity for our brothers and sisters, who were repatriated from the United States and their kin, who they met on the Grain Coast, to come together and build a united democratic and prosperous Liberia for all. But, again, the opportunity was missed. For example, only those from the repatriated stock served as delegates to the independence convention. Accordingly, the constitution and national symbols such as the flag, the emblem and the motto only reflected the cultural and historical experiences of the repatriated stock. The motto reads, for instance, “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here,” clearly refusing to include the ethnic groups that had previously occupied the area. Further, the members of the various indigenous ethnic groups were denied citizenship in the new country. And this remained so until 1904, when partial citizenship was granted, and 1947, when full citizenship was granted to the members of the various indigenous stocks.

Third, in spite of the discriminatory practices the repatriates meted out to their indigenous brothers and sisters, Liberia was making considerable progress in terms of the development of local entrepreneurship. This was evidenced by the fact that there were several thriving Liberian-owned businesses in various sectors of the economy. But, by 1869, faced with competition from foreign businesses, both the Liberian government and the local business people failed to design and implement strategies that would have assisted local businesses in being more competitive. Instead, local entrepreneurship was abandoned, and the government became the major source of employment. Since then, various public officials have used their positions to engage in sundry corrupt practices, such as extortion and the receipt of bribes, as the ways of getting rich quick and without risk. In sum, politics became a “life and death struggle” in which people did, and still do all they can to secure control of the Liberian government. In turn, the faction or fraction that has control of the government at a particular historical juncture uses political power to reap personal economic benefits through the processes of plundering and pillaging the public coffers. In short, the Liberian government became, and is still like a “buffet service” in which those who control the government and their relations “eat all they can eat for free,” while the majority of Liberians look through the windows with empty stomachs.

Fourth, in 1926, the beginning of the opening of the floodgate to foreign investments, Liberia had the opportunity to establish and enforce an investment code that would have required, among other things, that foreign-based companies set up plants in Liberia to manufacture goods from the raw materials they were extracting. Unfortunately, this was never done. Hence, the various major foreign-based companies like Firestone, the Liberian Mining Company, Bong Mines and LAMCO simply used Liberia as a source for the extraction of raw materials such as latex and iron ore. In fact, in Firestone’s extended concession agreement that covers 59 additional years, there is absolutely no requirement for the company to manufacture tires and other rubber-based products in Liberia. Similarly, under the new wave of foreign investment that began in 2006, Liberia still remains a source for the extraction of raw materials.

Fifth, during the Tubman administration, which spanned 27 years, the height of the foreign investment boom, Liberia had the opportunity to build a democratic and prosperous country. But, unfortunately, this era was marked by the violation of political human rights, and the failure to make meaningful investments in education, health care, and the infrastructure, among other things. This led Robert Clower et al to characterize the socio-economic situation of this period as “growth without development.”[1]

Sixth, the emergence of the Tolbert era was greeted with great hope by the majority of Liberians. And the administration fueled these hopes by, among other things, opening up the political space, so that Liberians could exercise their constitutionally guaranteed political rights and civil liberties, and by undertaking various development projects, including public housing and the infrastructure. However, the “wind of change” was quickly bottled by the agents of the “same old, same old.”

Seventh, the April 12, 1980 military coup was welcomed with amazing joy by the majority of Liberians. The hope was that Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe and his fellow members of ruling People’s Redemption Council (PRC), who hailed from the lower class, would have brought about sweeping changes in all of the sectors of the country. Unfortunately, by the very poor performance of the military government, the coup was a “promise betrayed.”[2] Similarly, the Doe civilian government, which lasted from 1986-1990, performed even worse than the military regime. And this was reflected in, for example, politically-motivated killings of the real and imagined opponents of the regime, the violation of political rights and civil liberties, rampant corruption, and very limited socio-economic progress.

Eighth, the cycle of missed opportunities led to the first civil war from 1989-1997. After the deaths of more than 250,000 people, the injuring of thousands of others, mass population displacements as refugees and internally displaced persons, and the destruction of the already underdeveloped infrastructure, the war finally ended, thanks to the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Subsequently, Charles Taylor, whose National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) started the war, was overwhelmingly elected the President of Liberia for several understandable reasons, including the fear by the majority of the voters that a Taylor loss would have meant the return to war. During its tenure, from 1997-2003, the Taylor regime failed to fulfill its vaunted promise of making “Liberia the Hong Kong of Africa.”[3] This was reflected in the fact that mass abject poverty was widespread, there was the lack of functioning public hospitals and schools, and the infrastructure, which had been destroyed by the war, remained in ruins. To make matters worse, like the Doe regime, the Taylor one engaged in politically-motivated killings of both its real and imagined opponents, as well as the wholesale violation of political rights and civil liberties. In addition, corruption continued to be a “national sport,” as evidenced by the continuation of the practice of using the public’s money as an “ATM machine,” from which government officials withdrew cash anytime they wanted to do so.

Ninth, the seemingly unending cycle of missed opportunities, including the poor performance of the Taylor regime, resulted in the country’s second civil war, from 1999-2003. Characteristically, the war visited deaths, injuries, displacement and destruction on our dear country. Again, under the leadership of ECOWAS, efforts were made to terminate the war. After a two year transitional period, presidential and legislative elections were held in 2005. And Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected the President of Liberia. President Sirleaf’s election was greeted with a wave of optimism and hope by the majority of Liberians. Also, the international community provided assistance of various types in an unprecedented manner. In short, the Sirleaf regime came into office with a lot of good will from both Liberians and the international community. After more than eight and the half years in office, the evidence shows that the regime has made appreciable progress in improving the respect for political rights and civil liberties. However, on the socio-economic front, the regime’s performance has been poor. After leasing about 33% of the country’s land to various foreign investors, including major concessions to Sime Darby, a Malaysian-based multinational corporation, which was given 220,000 acres of land for a 63 years lease to invest in the palm oil sector, and Golden Veloreurn, an American and Indonesian-owned oil palm multinational corporation, which was given 865,000 acres of land under a lease agreement for 65 years,[4] and overall foreign investments totaling about $19 billion, the material conditions of the majority of Liberians have not improved. For example, according to the Sirleaf regime’s own Ministry of Labor, in 2010, the unemployment rate stood at an alarming 95%.[5] Similarly, during the same period, more than 56% of the population lived below the poverty line.[6] Significantly, these dire economic and social conditions have made living on a daily basis a major challenge, as most Liberians lack the financial means to purchase food, and the other basic essentials of life. Unfortunately, these challenges have led some Liberians to commit suicide, because they had given up hope. To add ‘salt to injury,” political corruption has increased and become widespread, as various public officials use an assortment of corrupt means, including the receipt of bribes, extortion, and outright stealing of public funds to enrich themselves. Overall, the dominant mindset is that Liberia is doomed!

In addition, the cycle of missed opportunities in our country’s history has not only being caused by anti-people and anti-development regimes, but by Liberians themselves. Indeed, former Vice President Bennie Warner’s poignant declaration, “What Is Wrong with Us is us,” [7]which was made almost four decades ago, still have relevance in today’s Liberia. And the meaning of this declaration is reflected in several ways:

1. We encourage political corruption by expecting public officials to dole out money from the public coffers to individuals and groups for private purposes that have absolutely nothing to do with the provision of public service. In addition, we regularly ask public officials to give us gas slips, and to allow us to use government vehicles and equipment for private purposes.

2. We do not like to follow a system that is based on rules and processes. Instead, we like the corrupt “Liberian way” of short-cut illegal transactions.

3. We are easily impressed by form, including the names of the so-called “important political families.”

4. Our discourse is very uncivil. For example, the discourses on several of the Liberian-related discussion forums are characterized by personal attacks, personal insults and the desire for personal destruction. In other words, no attention is given to focusing the discussions and the resulting disagreements on the differences on policy issues. In fact, these uncivil discourses are being visited on President Sirleaf. For example, President Sirleaf has been the victim of personal attacks and personal insults on several of these discussion groups, as well as on radio and in the newspapers in Liberia. Now, it is a healthy thing to respectfully disagree with the policies of the Sirleaf regime, but it is completely unacceptable to subject the President of Liberia, a mother and a woman to personal attacks and personal insults.

TOWARD BREAKING THE CYCLE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

My fellow Liberians and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, clearly these 167 years of independence have been marked by missed opportunities, and their resulting hardships for the majority of Liberians. And as a result, our people have lost hope, and also believe that our dear country is doomed. But, by the grace of the Almighty God, who makes the impossible possible, I have come to boldly declare tonight that Liberia is not doomed! In fact, the best of Liberia is yet to come! I see emerging on the broad Atlantic coast a new Liberia in which the cycle of missed opportunities will finally be broken. You and I will see in our life time a new Liberia in which

the descendants of the Coopers, the Dennises, the Deshields, the Tolberts and the Tubmans, among others, will work together with the descendants of the Dahns, the Fahnbullehs, the Nyankoon, and the Yarkpawolos, among others, in the true spirit of unity, mutual respect, and a collective commitment to build a new Liberia in which one would be judged, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently stated on the basis of “the contents of their character.”[8] In so doing, our national symbols—emblem, motto, and flag—will reflect the various cultural and historical experiences of all of our people.

In the new Liberia, public service will be a noble undertaking rather than a quest to get wealthy through corrupt means. In this vein, public officials will make the interests of the Liberian people the focus of their respective responsibilities.

In the new Liberia, the political rights and civil liberties of all Liberians would be protected. In this vein, for example, Liberians will hold their public officials accountable, and would broadly require integrity and honesty from their government.

In the new Liberia, we will make massive public investments in world-class education and research, health care, public transportation, public housing, and the infrastructure, including full access to clean drinking water, sanitation and electricity. The resulting benefits will impact every county, district, city, town, chiefdom, clan and village.

In the new Liberia, we will create employment opportunities by the government creating an enabling environment in which Liberian-owned businesses can thrive and succeed. In addition, foreign investors would be required to create employment opportunities for Liberians both within their companies, and by helping to spurn the development of Liberian-owned businesses by their manufacturing activities. By so doing, the thousands of Liberians, including scores of our young people, who are unemployed, will be able to find jobs, so that they can live decent lives.

In the new Liberia, we will give special attention to our young girls and women, who have become prostitutes, because of the hardships of life. Also, we will show concern for our elderly and the mentally challenge, as well as all vulnerable groups.

In the new Liberia, we will have a new political culture that is characterized by civility in our discourse. In this vein, we will focus the discourse and the resulting debates and disagreements on policies and not personalities. As well, we will respect government officials for the positions that they hold, and as fellow human beings.

In the new Liberia, we will protect our environment from destruction by the pollution of the air, land and water. We will do so by designing and strictly enforcing environmental regulations.

CONCLUSION

Finally, my fellow Liberians and distinguished ladies and gentlemen, when we have constructed a new democratic and prosperous Liberia for all of our people, then all of us, Liberia’s sons and daughters, Christians, Muslims, the adherents of traditional religions and others, the descendants of the various indigenous ethnic groups, of the repatriates, of immigrants from other African states, and of immigrants from the Caribbean, men and women, old and young will form a gigantic human chain from the picturesque Kpatawee Falls in Bong County to scenic Blue Lake of Bomi County, from the trees-rich Belle Forest in Gbarpolu County to the beautiful Atlantic coastline in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, from the tourism haven of Lake Pisso in Grand Cape Mount County, to the Puto and Tiempo Mountain ranges in Grand Gedeh County, from the wonders of River Norh in Grand Kru County, to the agricultural rich lands of Foya in Lofa County, from the multiple economic benefits of a revised Firestone concession agreement in Margibi County, to the economic engine of the Port of Harper in Maryland County, from the welcoming view of Providence Island in Montserrado County, to the re-assuring outlook of Saclepea in Nimba County, from the shipbuilding potentials of Cestos City in Rivercess County, to the highlands of the Killepo Range in River Gee County, and to the valleys of Jedepo in Sinoe County, and in true celebration of our independence, we will sing will real meaning and purpose “With hearts and hands our country’s cause defending. We meet the foe with valor unpretending. Long live Liberia happy land, a home of glorious liberty by God’s command.”[9]

May the Sovereign God, who is “able to keep us from falling,” [10] take us, guide us and lead us on this national journey to break the cycle of missed opportunities. May the God of Mercy and Renewal rebuild our country, and watch over our counties, our districts, our cities, our towns, our chiefdoms, our clans and our villages.[11] May God, Who is the Source of both physical and spiritual strength, enable us to “run and not be weary, to walk and not faint.”[12] May God enable us to invest in our children, bring joy and happiness to all Liberians, give our country peace and stability, prosper the works of our hands, and save our dear old Liberia. GOD BLESS YOU, AND HAPPY “26.”

Dr. George Klay Kieh Jr., is Professor of Politcal Science and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of West Georgia, Carrollton.

NOTES

[1] Robert Clower et al, Growth Without Development: An Economic Survey of Liberia, (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1966).

[2] See the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Liberia: A Promised Betrayed, (New York: Human Rights First, 1986).

[3] See Rose George, A Life Removed: Hunting for Refuge in the Modern World, (Jersey City: University of Bullet, 2004).

[4] See T. Ford, “Liberia: Land deals With Foreign Firms /Could Sow Seeds of Conflict.’” The Guardian (UK), February 29, 2012, p.1.; and E. Baron, “Palm Oil Industry Accused of Land Grabs in Liberia,” Global Post Rights, December 27, 2012, p.1.

[5] See New Democrat, “Liberia: Estimated 95 Percent Unemployed,” March 17, 2011.

[6] See The World Bank, Liberia. www.worldbank.org/en/country/liberia/overview. Accessed July 2, 2014.

[7] Bennie D. Warner, Induction Speech as the Vice President of Liberia, delivered on October 31, 1977.

[8] See Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a Dream Speech,” delivered on August 28, 1963, at the historic “March on Washington.”

[9] See the 7 and 8 stanzas of Part II of the National Anthem of the Republic of Liberia

[10] See Jude 1:24

[11] See Psalm 127:1

[12] See Isaiah 40:31

July 30, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

“Toward breaking the cycle of missed opportunities in Liberia’s history”

By George Klay Kieh, Jr.

INTRODUCTION

THE TRAVAILS OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN LIBERIA’S HISTORY

2. We do not like to follow a system that is based on rules and processes. Instead, we like the corrupt “Liberian way” of short-cut illegal transactions.

3. We are easily impressed by form, including the names of the so-called “important political families.”

TOWARD BREAKING THE CYCLE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

In the new Liberia, we will protect our environment from destruction by the pollution of the air, land and water. We will do so by designing and strictly enforcing environmental regulations.

CONCLUSION

Dr. George Klay Kieh Jr., is Professor of Politcal Science and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of West Georgia, Carrollton.

NOTES

[1] Robert Clower et al, Growth Without Development: An Economic Survey of Liberia, (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1966).

[2] See the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Liberia: A Promised Betrayed, (New York: Human Rights First, 1986).

[3] See Rose George, A Life Removed: Hunting for Refuge in the Modern World, (Jersey City: University of Bullet, 2004).

[5] See New Democrat, “Liberia: Estimated 95 Percent Unemployed,” March 17, 2011.

[6] See The World Bank, Liberia. www.worldbank.org/en/country/liberia/overview. Accessed July 2, 2014.

[7] Bennie D. Warner, Induction Speech as the Vice President of Liberia, delivered on October 31, 1977.

[8] See Martin Luther King Jr., “I have a Dream Speech,” delivered on August 28, 1963, at the historic “March on Washington.”

[9] See the 7 and 8 stanzas of Part II of the National Anthem of the Republic of Liberia

[10] See Jude 1:24

[11] See Psalm 127:1

[12] See Isaiah 40:31

July 30, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Why is Ebola in Liberia? What it takes to hear from Heaven to heal our Land!

By Rev. Dr. William B. G. K. Harris

Senior Pastor, International Christian Fellowship Ministries

A Pastoral Letter to the Nation on July 26, 2014

Lessons: II Chron 7:12-15; Proverbs 14:34; Ezekiel 22:23-31; Proverb 3:1-12

Text: ¹²Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

¹³When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ¹⁴if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ¹⁵Now my eyes will be opened and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place….2 Chronicles 7:12 -15……³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people…Proverbs 14:34. ….. “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none… Ezekiel 22:30.

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. This year, July 26, 2014 is the one hundred and sixty-seventh independence anniversary of the Republic of Liberia which was declared in 1847 that is celebrated annually. Since the country’s declaration of independence and to the present, the nation has faced many challenges. These challenges include the deadly 1980 military coup which turned into a senseless civil war. Instead of things becoming better, there is now mass poverty; the lack of major infrastructures such as quality public educational institutions - at all levels; available quality health care, electricity, safe drinking water and sewer systems, deplorable roads, jobs and quality technical institutions to undergird development. Instead of the ruling party making major changes facilitated with the oil and other natural resources’ revenue to propel Liberia into an oasis economic empowerment and uplift the quality of life for its 4 million people; there is gross corruptions in high and low places, with the majority of the people living in vast poverty, while a select-few living well. The prospect of things getting better for the poor looks deem!

B. To top it all, this practice has become the norm and the way of life in the Liberia. Now with the addition of the Ebola epidemic that struck Liberia, there will be more deaths and sufferings for the Liberian people. The epidemic has become rampant and the national health system seems not to have a plan in place to control the spread of the virus. Recently, two doctors and a nurse became its victims, 129 had died since the virus was discovered in Liberia. We must register our thanks and appreciation to all persons in Liberia and abroad particularly the international community who are doing whatever they can do about the “Ebola” saga. On the other hand, the “Church” must also become involved and begin asking the right questions concerning this deadly disease that has come upon the nation of Liberia. For Christians and others, What does the WORD OF GOD say about this deadly matter that hand? Has the Church addressed the matter as a “spiritual matter”? And if not, why not? Could it be that the Church is too engaged in preaching the “prosperity gospel” instead of teaching the truth ….the whole Bible and what the Lord desires, requires and expects?

C. The answer to the Ebola virus has a “spiritual root” and should not be a difficult one if we dig deep into the Word of God because there are many countless examples. You see, God loves his people but hates disobedience and wickedness - He will also bring about war, calamities and death upon a nation and people when they failed to obey Him. The Book of Judges (chapters 1-21) demonstrates that the Children of Israel (God’s chosen people) were always in a cycle of blessings and curses. When they obeyed God as read in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, there were much blessing but when they disobeyed (Deuteronomy 28:16-58), they felt His wrath. To carry the matter further, Deut 28:58 is clear that God will send deadly diseases when the people fail to obey. In other parts of the Old Testament, God sent enemies to defeat His people again and again. In Numbers 21:4-9 when the people acted ugly and disobeyed God, the snakes bit them. However, they were later saved when they looked up to the bronze serpent.

D. There are many social issues and ills in the nation of Liberia that can be considered as not consistent with the Word of God. Despite the many blessings and natural resources He has bestowed upon Liberia; yet, the leaders and the people still disobey Him. Certainly indeed, leadership has changed again and again, but things seem to be getting worse. As we have noticed in the past, national leadership changed due to coup and elections, but the people seem bent in keeping things the same and are not willing to change. As a result of not doing things the “God-Way”, we still have poor educational system, high illiteracy and unemployment, the lack of basic essentials such as electricity, safe drinking water and sewer systems; quality health service, deplorable roads, coupled with high corruption that runs amuck in high and low places. Additionally, there are mountains of moral and social problems that leaves one to wonder what have we achieved to be celebrating July 26 each year? Is there a parallel between Liberian and the Children of Israel who kept forgetting to obey God after they were delivered from bondage and oppression but doing the very thing that sent them into bondage? Based on the Prophet Ezekiel’s observation, there seems to be a mirror image of what is going on in the nation of Liberia. God is angry with Liberia and wants someone or a group to “stand in the gap” but the search seems to not find the “Church” that is the moral vanguard/watchman on the tower of justice/peace to make up the “hedges” and to “stand in the gap” as read in Ezekiel 22:30-31. Now let me have you ponder upon this: What would be the outcome if the “Liberian Church” stood in the gap for God?

E. Let us bring it closer to home with respect to the urgency of standing in the gap for the nation. In many ways, Liberia is like the City of Jerusalem whose walls were gapped up and broken. Nevertheless, the Bible teaches us that “Righteousness exalted a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). As we look at Ezekiel 22:23-31, we see that the actions of the religious leaders, the governmental leaders and people have much in common with the leaders and people of Liberia. Let us now dig deeper into our text to gain some insights.

II.THE LIBERIA AND EZEKIEL 22:22-31 PARELLES:

A. First…we have the PROPHETS (verses 24/28) who were like a roaring lion devouring souls, giving false visions when the Lord had not spoken.

B. Secondly…we have the PRIESTS (verse 26) who were the religious leaders that violated the laws of God and could not distinguish holy things from common things.

C. Thirdly…we have the PRINCESS (verse 27) who were the GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS who were like wolves tearing souls apart, killing people to make unjust gains, greed, and gross corruption.

D. Fourthly…we have the PEOPLE (verse 29) who practiced extortion, they and oppressed, the poor and needy as well as mistreated strangers and foreigners.

Now in 2 Chronicles 7:12, it is very interesting to note that God heard the prayers of people and choice a place for himself! Indeed, Liberia was chosen by God but our prayers are blocked despite the huge church attendance and praises that we see in the nation. On the other hand, note with me in 2 Chronicles 7:13, God will shut up the heaven, command locus to devour the land or sent pestilence among the people. Could the “Ebola” be a pestilence that God has sent as He has done in the past? Even now, Liberia is having more rain than she ever had that keeps the people in for days! Nevertheless, in 2 Chronicles 7:15, we know for sure that when certain things are done according to the Word, God’s eyes become opened, His ears become attentive to prayers. So the logical question is this. Are we praying and not getting answers from Heaven and why or are the eyes and ears of God closed to Liberia? Perhaps, we need to see what the Word of God has to say according to 2 Chronicles 7:14 as discussed below.

III. WHAT IT TAKES TO HEAR FROM HEAVEN (2 Chron 7:12-15):

A. We Have To Be God’s People…Called By His Name (ref 2 Chron 7: 14). It suggests that we must know the Lord on a personal level, know who we are and our identity as well as walk and talk as a people of God at all times!

B. We Have To Humble Ourselves… (ref 2 Chron 7: 14a). It suggests that we must be ourselves, be respectful of each other regardless of social class, tribe, color, religion, creed and physical limitations. However, it starts with humbling ourselves before God and He will lift us up!

We Have To Pray To God… (ref 2 Chron 7: 14b). It suggests that we must have no other gods that we pray to include trees, objects, animals, material items and people or an individual. However, our prayers to God must be sincere and God-centered.

We Have To Seek God’s Face… (ref 2 Chron 7: 14c). It suggests that we must put God first in all that we do and it must be real and from the heart instead of lip-service or mere personal seeking for what God can do for us personally. Above all, we must seek the Kingdom of God first and then everything else will be added unto us.
We Have To Turn From Our Wicked Ways… (ref 2 Chron 7: 14d). It suggests that we as a people sure have some wicked ways that must be dealt with and not swept under the rug of pride, arrogance, apathy, and unrighteousness which is a reproach to the people! Perhaps, if the “wickedness cap” fits you, wear it, confess it, repent of it, and turn from your ways to God’s way. The instruction of the Word is to turn from and not to gossip, witchcraft, juju, palm reading, oppression, corruption, stealing, lying, cheating, immorality, corruption, murder, killing, classism, tribalism, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, laziness, apathy, all forms of physical and verbal abuses.

IV. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HUMBLE OURSELVES, PRAY, SEEK GOD AND TURN

A. When we humble ourselves, pray, seek God and turn from our wicked ways; God promised that we will HEAR from heaven… 2 Chron 7:14e.

B. When we humble ourselves, pray, seek God and turn from our wicked ways; God promised that He will FORGIVE OUR SINS from heaven… 2 Chron 7:14f.

C. When we humble ourselves, pray, seek God and turn from our wicked ways; God promised that He will HEAL OUR LAND from heaven… 2 Chron 7:14g.

When we strive to do the things as commended in 2 Chron 7:14, we will hear from God to heal and restore our Land. Let us therefore turn to God in our national crisis and put Him to a test for a new, better, and prosper Liberia as God’s people who will be known by the way we love and care for one another.

I urge the Liberian Council of Churches to establish a national “10-Day Daniel Fast” to invoke divine healing.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. William B. G. K. Harris is the Founder & Senior Pastor of the International Christian Fellowship, Inc. (ICF), Atlanta, Georgia. In 1984, he was ordained in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church by the late Bishop James S. Thomas. For three years he served as adjunct/part-time professor at Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a 1973 graduate of Booker Washington Institute (BWI), Liberia, where he received a Diploma in Electronics. In 1981, he obtained his BsEE degree in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University; and he went to earn his MDiv degree from the ITC of Atlanta University Center (Gammon Theological Seminary) in 1987. In 2012, earned his Doctor of Ministry from Adamsville Theological Seminary. Pastor Harris worked for nineteen years with GEC Marconi Avionic as an Electrical Engineer in the disciplines of Quality Assurance, Reliability and Logistic Engineering.

Pastor Harris is a published author. He is very active in the Liberian and larger communities in Georgia. He has been happily married to Queeta Tolbert for 33 years. Their union is blessed with 7 children including triplet daughters and two granddaughters. One of their children (son) died in an automobile accident in 2002. Pastor Harris had a successful kidney transplant August 11, 2011. He and his family reside in Buford, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He can be reached at: [email protected].

July 28, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Patrick Oliver Sawyer’s Ebola death a teachable moment for Sirleaf and the Liberian political class

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

I don’t know Patrick Oliver Sawyer, and I never met the young man, either. I understand, however, that he was a brilliant and vibrant young man who was full of life.

So full of life and progressive ideas to move his country forward, he moved back home to Liberia from the United States years ago to contribute his part to the development of his country.

Patrick Oliver Sawyer, (PO) to his many friends was not suppose to die now, this young; let alone, die far away from his native Liberian soil.

If he wanted to die for some reasons, or if we expected him to die because we knew he was sick, at least, his death would have kicked into our consciousness knowing that the young man was on his dying bed. That way, we would have prepared ourselves for the eventual rituals of burying him.

Mr. Sawyer, however, had no idea after he returned home to Liberia that his name would be associated in a negative with the politics of the deadly Ebola virus that took his young life in Nigeria, where he reportedly traveled for a conference.

As we question his senseless death and the deaths of others, we understandably want to holler, cry and rant, and put our collective frustrations on the political leadership that failed to do the right thing for him, the other victims and the Liberian people.

Doing the right thing means investigating and working hard to eradicate the disease from Liberia; or accepting the fact that the Ebola virus exists right now in the Liberian society, declaring national emergency; closing the borders immediately, isolating the sick and infected from the general population, providing protective gears and equipment to health workers, and instilling confidence in the Liberian people by telling them that the government is fully in control of the situation.

That is because the Liberian people, like all breathing people on earth expect their government to be responsive to crisis, responses to their needs, their pains and their frustrations; and is ready to take charge when the need arises.

As usual, this president did not take all the above into consideration, and did not consider the Ebola pandemic serious enough to declare a national emergency. Sirleaf did not even consider closing the borders to prevent Liberians and other foreign nationals from entering the country, immediately after the government knew of the virus. Madame Sirleaf did not assemble her public health team (if there are any) to get to work around the clock to help educate the public, contain the virus, and do whatever they can do to completely wipe the Ebola virus off the Liberian landscape.

What Sirleaf has done so far is to lead from behind by being slow, insensitive, naïve, and at times playing catch-up as if all is well in the country.

I don’t have an iota of confidence in the Sirleaf presidency and her leadership abilities. And if I had my way or a magic wand, I will have her leave Liberia and go somewhere in exile voluntarily to enjoy her stolen wealth to avoid a riot that will be difficult to contain.

Because in nine years of her presidency, Sirleaf has caused more harm, more damage in Liberia than good, and hasn’t demonstrated (other than her choreographed photo-ops that shows she is governing.

And when a president like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is so incompetent, insensitive and nakedly arrogant that she refuses to see, feel or hear her people cry; or when she is not accountable to her people, the first thing in my book is to fire her.

There has to be accountability and public hearings by that other boneless institution, the Liberian legislature, to know who fumbled the ball when the virus and the first patient were noticed in the country.

There has to be hearings by the legislative branch so that the proper operating methods and practice can be put in place for the future to combat this virus and other national disasters in the country. There has to be an investment or funding of public health education, public health workers, and funding for disaster relief, emergency management and training.

There also has to be hearings because democracy calls for openness.

The Liberian people were already suffering on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s watch when Ebola invaded the country. Now, what’s next?

Patrick Oliver Sawyer’s death and the deaths of others are teachable moments for the Liberian nation, the Liberian people and the entire political leadership.

May his soul and the souls of other Ebola victims rest in peace.

July 27, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Archive for July, 2014

In such a time as this, Liberia needs revisiting the 'Disneyland of Highly Infected Apes'

In such a time as this, Liberia needs revisiting the ‘Disneyland of Highly Infected Apes’

Debating post independence-day issues, and Liberia’s development in the age of interconnectedness and Interdependence

Continuing the mistakes and practices of the past - Part I

Ebola: The virus of quick death: the socio-economic implications in Liberia

Disasters can be avoided if we obey God and do good

"Toward breaking the cycle of missed opportunities in Liberia's history"

“Toward breaking the cycle of missed opportunities in Liberia’s history”

Why is Ebola in Liberia? What it takes to hear from Heaven to heal our Land!

Patrick Oliver Sawyer’s Ebola death a teachable moment for Sirleaf and the Liberian political class

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