As I clock 79 Years on 11 May and as I reflect on my earlier Patriot’s Cry’s over the past years since 2021 (my 75th yr.) and last year in particular, when Iclocked ’78, it was clear that while there has been some progress on a number of issues, there remains the need for serious and aggressive attention, to others.
Having said that, one must acknowledge encouragingactions by the President Boakai’s administration onoutstanding killings, and murders; attention to drugs crisis; putting in place of skills training and opportunities for Liberian small scale entrepreneurs, to highlight a few. At the same time we needfeedback on the status of investigation of the murders as well as the investigation of the destruction of the Capitol Building by fire.
The above – mentioned notwithstanding, my Cry @79 yrs. calls foremost for aggressive and enhancedattention to the security imperatives with particularemphasis on the unacceptable and growing illegal and unauthorized Burkinabe presence in GrandGedeh, Bong County, the Kru Coast and other parts of the nation engaged in illegal mining of our natural resources which are having serious adverse impact on the Liberian population that needs urgent attention. We are taking this too lightly. We shall pay a price for this. Liberians are being left in poverty while others are advancing. To our National Security Advisor, we need to hear from you on what concrete measures are afoot and being put in place in response to this looming crisis.
Clearly Government of Liberia may need external assessment and assistance of this growing problem. Are we aware of how Cote d’ Ivoire had to deal with the problem of the very Burkinabe? Let me say that the recent press conference by the Bong County Superintendent on the negative impact of the Burkinabe’s engaging in illicit mining says it all. The fact that EPA is responding is encouraging. We welcome our fellow Africans, but, like in their country and as exemplified by their dynamic President Ibrahim Traore, they must follow the law, while Liberians must protect our space.
Secondly my Cry on the Drugs Situation and impact on our future. I have been on this since 2021. I have advocated for request to the UN Drug Enforcement Agency as well as the International Narcotics Agency in vain. What, pray tell me, is the problem? It is clear that we do not have adequate capability to handle this problem, while our future-our youths-is being compromised. This is not only a Human Resource Issue but also a Security threat.
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Thirdly, the Condition of our nation’s capital and our National Cemetery. A complete disgrace and an embarrassment! Where is the nation’s pride and dignity? I had pleaded in vain with the past Government for the President, his Environment Minister and Minister of Health and the Mayor to walk through the city for a first hand appreciation of what it looks like – Shame, Shame, Shame! Serious action is needed.
In this regard look at the growing filth towards the Diplomatic enclave in Mamba Point – UN Drive where Garbage is now accumulating; Sekou ToureAve and Newport Street, near the SAC Towers sidewalks. In recent months it has become an eye sore. Aye Mehn! Aye Mehn!!
Fourthly, I had highlighted in my Cry @78 the fact that LAND was the next crisis facing our nation, allin vain. It is clearly here – What are we doing? We have cases where foreigners are ignoring Government decision and directives through the MCCand the Ministry of Public Works and getting away with it. Our Nation is being taken over by foreigners, and we sit idly by? Might we look at the Operation of the Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) where the Public has access to lay their complaints to impartial 3rd party (BOTA) and where the parties aregiven an opportunity to be heard at a Hearing. The Ministry of Finance is the governmental entity and the party that the public brings to BOTA for tax resolution. The Minister is subject to BOTA’s jurisdictions at the same level as the public. The Board then writes an opinion to which either party may appeal to the Tax Court.
Fifthly, there is also the growing divisiveness in the nation. Our nation remains traumatized from the war years. There is need for attention to the mental health of our people as the anger, bitterness and hatred are triggers of violence and Societal Cleavages. I covered Rwanda from UN headquarters and visited there 3 times after the Genocide- I suggest we seriously look at their experience, policy and actionfor meaningful Reconciliation and National Healing!
Our national unification must be taken seriously and with concrete action. The recent call for a focus among the 4 new counties under the Tubman Unification and integration policy is unacceptable. There should be no such encouragement. Rather those counties are part of the 15 counties and all counties must experience enhanced emphasis for unification.
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Sixthly, the significance of the month of April needs to be etched in the nation’s Psyche. This year’s April 12, April 14 and April 22nd saw no special attentionby Government of Liberia. How is this possible? It was proposed by one Journalist recently that GOLmight designate the month of April as a month for National Healing! Excellent idea for us to run with at the Schools & Churches and all Government agencies and interreligious bodies, They must all set up programs in concert with the nation and Government as a whole. Our peace must not remain fragile: The efforts to address the Zogosproblem with skill training is commendable;similarly the recent youth skills training under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). This was a major item under my administration years ago in my capacity as Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Seventhly, The issue of electoral reform-Lessons of experience from the Angie Brooks International Center’s flagship product, the Woman Situation Room (WSR), as well as the recent Nimba Election indicates that in order to safeguard the future of our democracy, the NEC and the Legislature need to provide and implement comprehensive electoral reforms to include strengthening the legal framework that prevent and penalizes the potential or actual election fraudsters. Several Recommendations from various actors, Partners and Civil Society Organizations, on the 2023 elections should begin receiving attention now, towards 2029. May I suggest that NEC holds a workshop inviting participants who have made recommendations, so that they will priorities them for implementation.
Eightly, I wish to commend the recent Town Hall Initiative of President Boakai’s Administration. In sodoing, I believe that in keeping with the concept of Public Trust and Sustainable Development consideration might be given to the rebranding of an appropriate unit of public safety in the Security Sector with a focus on genuine community engagement for human security and human rights. This would be a plus for Liberia’s reporting internationally on its achievements of the SDG’s in 2030. The recent MOU with Cuttington University and the LNP is commendable and suggests an emphasis on professional developments in our Security Sector which is much needed. At the same time Government support to the Community Crime Watch extraordinary work is called for.
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Ninthly–Food Security
The ARREST Agenda calls for emphasis on Agriculture, amongst others. How I recall the challenge of our Rice as I assumed the portfolio of Minister of Commerce and Industry, under the firstAdministration of former President Johnson Sirleaf. In my Patriots Cry @78 Years, I addressed the issue. At this time I want to commend actions underway in the Agriculture dossier under the ARREST Agenda and take the opportunity to highlight one Liberian business, which in this connection, the “Think Liberia, Love Liberia and Built Liberia’, is clearly manifested in the area of our staple food-our perennial challenge and Achilles Heel! – RICE
Carrs Heritage
Name of Company is Carrs Heritage Farms located, Kpayah Bellequelleh Clan, Jocquelleh District Bong County.
Carrs Heritage Farms is an emerging agri-tech venture focused on scalable, sustainable production of Liberian staple foods – starting with rice. Its core belief: Liberia can and should feed itself. Backed byearly proof of concept from its first production cycle, now in its second cycle, they are refining methods based on initial learning’s. Next, they plan to expand into mechanized farming on larger acreage.
Founded by software engineer Elton Carr II and supported by a dedicated team of Liberians, that is more than a farm – it’s a high – impact growth initiative poised to drive food security and economic transformation in Liberia.
Recent Crisis at the Legislature:
We have as part of the Voices of the Elders, (R.L)reacted to the ongoing crisis in the Legislature with newspapers publication since December last year and more recently, subsequent to direct delivery of our position to the President followed by our Open Letter to the President, published in Women Voices and the Observer in early April, as well as to the Legislature, calling for respect of the ruling of the Supreme Court, as per our Constitution. At the same time, we want to commend the Intervention recently by the former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott at the Law Day program calling for respect of the Supreme Court Decision, while taking issue with the position of the LNBA on the subject matter.
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Lastly, @ ’78 My Patriot’s Cry had proposed the establishment of an Independent National AdvisoryCouncil to no avail. Since then I have restructuredthat proposal in concert with others and as such I end my Patriots Cry @ 79 with a revised rendition of same – one that is a combination of Economic Development and Private/Public Sector Professional expertise into a private sector driven IndependentAlliance.
As such, I am pleased to announce the establishment of an initiative titled Liberian Independent Alliance for Economic Governance, Sustainable Development and Investment, the gist of which is summarized below. Others are invited to join since the concept has been shared already and positively received by many. We will run with it as it gets incubated for a year under the Liberian Institute for “Growing”Patriotism.
Summary: Establishment of a Liberian Independent Alliance for Economic Governance,Sustainable Development and Investment
1) The Alliance would comprise Liberians with private and public sector experience as well as international experience and expertise. Diaspora Liberians are expected to be part of this.
2) Such an Alliance would reinforce and make available expertise that our nation has and from which Government, the private sector, and international Partners could benefit. The proposed Alliance would be completely non-partisan and Liberian focused. It would explore, amongst others, prospects for establishment of a Liberia Fund to be triggered by Liberians themselves, both on the Home front and from the Diaspora, involving Government as well as the privatesector. The model of the Botswana Fund may be tapped in this regard, as well as other variants of such funds.
3) As such, the following dimensions will be the Alliance initial focus, in a phased approach:
a) Creation of an Investment Fund
b) Development of a Data base of Liberian talents and expertise on the
Home front and in the Diaspora including with private sector organizations worldwide, as well as international NGO’s and international finance and development organizations.
c) Operationalization of a public/private sector Forum.
d) contribution to and concrete actions and steps responding to challenges facing the nation amongst which, issues of Economic Governance; national healing promoting unity to address growing divisiveness in the nation; electoral reform imperatives; respect for the Rule of Law; and issues of Governance namely, – rights, duties and responsibilities of the citizens and ourGovernment.
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N.B Details of the above-mentioned to be further elaborated upon and operationalized by those interested and ready to be a part of this initiative.
4) Institutional Base
a) Plans call for incubation and further elaboration & implementation of the Alliance as a programmefor the first year in an already established and registered and operational entity since 2013, namely The Liberian Institute for “Growing” Patriotism. (see attachment)
b) The proposed Alliance would, after a year, evolve into a registered entity (equivalent of a Think Tank) along the lines of an Imani (Ghana) or the Wilson Centre (Washington DC, USA) with its Africa programme or the NISER (Nigeria Institute for Social & Economic Research) at Ibadan in Nigeria.
In Closing, I wish to inform the public that there will be a release of previous, Patriot’s Cry’s the last week of May in a Book collating them formally at the time.
