Yes. Check the roaches crawling out of the woodwork now. Everybody is endorsing everyone else, but yet no one stands out. Some of our so called political parties (I would rather call them networks of friends) are having trouble with their own mini democracy. It is just that the democracy is what is missing. Conventions are held, primaries held, vetos laid out. I mean some of them cannot even agree in a democratic manner over who to send to the polls.
Well, time alone will tell. As a lawmaker, I would not worry too much about who joins the house, but rather about my own ass. The frequency of death in both houses is alarmingly high when compared to the public in average. But then again, thats Liberia.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Gbarnga in darkness again after 35 days
I have to chuckle here in my slumber, because this is so very Liberian that it almost hurts. It i very common practice in our small country to "fix" things ahead of national and foreign dignitaries.
If it wasn´t for the occasional visit from abroad, the houses along the road from the airport in to town wouldn´t be painted/whitewashed. Now as the case in Gbarnga, pretty much preparation was done ahead of the July 26th festivities there. Now 35 days later, there is no more fuel to run the generator for the street lights.
In the true Liberian way, does anyone care? Not really, because as long as no official is on the way there, nothing will be done about it.
In a way, this mentality reminds me of the old Western movies, where you see a whole town along a high street, but if you enter any of the buildings, you will only find that everything is a prop.
If it wasn´t for the occasional visit from abroad, the houses along the road from the airport in to town wouldn´t be painted/whitewashed. Now as the case in Gbarnga, pretty much preparation was done ahead of the July 26th festivities there. Now 35 days later, there is no more fuel to run the generator for the street lights.
In the true Liberian way, does anyone care? Not really, because as long as no official is on the way there, nothing will be done about it.
In a way, this mentality reminds me of the old Western movies, where you see a whole town along a high street, but if you enter any of the buildings, you will only find that everything is a prop.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
One step ahead, four steps back
"Let justice be done to all" is now inscripted on the walls of the Liberian Temple of Justice. The same sign used to say something else before, that only implied half of the population. This is this step forward I was refering to.
Today, our so-called honourable House of Representatives expelled from chambers, Deputy Finance Minister for Revenue, Elfreda Tamba for not being properly dressed. The minister was wearing trousers, and for this she was expelled. Can you believe it? But then again, are we surprised?
Today, our so-called honourable House of Representatives expelled from chambers, Deputy Finance Minister for Revenue, Elfreda Tamba for not being properly dressed. The minister was wearing trousers, and for this she was expelled. Can you believe it? But then again, are we surprised?
Friday, May 08, 2009
What a mess
Oh yes, what a mess, I must confess. Our new head of senate has struck a journalist for asking uncomfortable questions. Seriously, if you are going to mess up, at least stand up for what you have done. Do not try to hide behind some false sense of authority. There is a small reminder of the century old "do you know who I am?" mentality. Please sir, this is afterall 2009. We are serfs no more. You may not know it but we are all equal. At least try to act equal.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Great god will come down from the sky...
...take away every thing and make everybody feel high.
Again, attitude, and now that I am started, let me just touch the god issue. I don´t think that there is a more religious country than Liberia. Every second person is a reverend somewhere. Taking into account of what we have been through, this understandable. But is it sustainable? Putting our blind trust in our gods to provide. Will they clean our streets? Will they start private companies to provide jobs for the masses? Will they give us food to eat? These and other questions on this issue have been on the agenda since the first missionaries arrived on our shores. We have had foreigners come here and tell us that we need to accept their gods and everything will be fine. Do not worry, my god will provide.
To me, this religious attitude is one of the main brakes of our developement. It makes our people very passive, reluctant to take their destinys into their own hands. I am not saying that everyone is like this, but a majority is certainly there. Those who do not leave everything to a god, but try to work hard to improve their lives are looked upon with extreme envy. We even pray to these same gods that those who are doing well should fail, because we do not have the solidarity there to wish them well. This has to change now. Look beyond your own selfish ambitions. If you have to go to worship something, use that time to try to come together a one community and act as one.
Again, attitude, and now that I am started, let me just touch the god issue. I don´t think that there is a more religious country than Liberia. Every second person is a reverend somewhere. Taking into account of what we have been through, this understandable. But is it sustainable? Putting our blind trust in our gods to provide. Will they clean our streets? Will they start private companies to provide jobs for the masses? Will they give us food to eat? These and other questions on this issue have been on the agenda since the first missionaries arrived on our shores. We have had foreigners come here and tell us that we need to accept their gods and everything will be fine. Do not worry, my god will provide.
To me, this religious attitude is one of the main brakes of our developement. It makes our people very passive, reluctant to take their destinys into their own hands. I am not saying that everyone is like this, but a majority is certainly there. Those who do not leave everything to a god, but try to work hard to improve their lives are looked upon with extreme envy. We even pray to these same gods that those who are doing well should fail, because we do not have the solidarity there to wish them well. This has to change now. Look beyond your own selfish ambitions. If you have to go to worship something, use that time to try to come together a one community and act as one.
Attitude
In my last posting, I was very negative, for all the right reasons mind you. During the last few days these thoughts have been going through my mind, and I more and more feel that the problem with Liberia is one of attitude. How do we change this? Not an easy task, but once we are aware of the problem, there might be a remedy.
We have a very carefree attitude to our own environment. We throw things (anything) over our shoulders and hope that somehow they disappear. When they don´t, but build up into huge piles of debris all over the place, smelling up our neighborhood, we rather get used to the scent than to do anything to get rid of it. We say that it is the governments job (read City Council) to clean up the mess, so we keep throwing things in the street in that same old carefree way.
Along comes the new mayor, with her clean the city task force. What happens? We gather around with hundreds of others who happen to see them working and watch, preferably with our arms crossed. ANYWHERE ELSE, everyone in that community would have pitched in and taken part, but not in Liberia. No way.
Typical excuses:
• Nobody is going to pay me.
• I don´t want to make my shoes dirty
• I have somewhere to be
• I don´t throw dirt into the streets
We have a very carefree attitude to our own environment. We throw things (anything) over our shoulders and hope that somehow they disappear. When they don´t, but build up into huge piles of debris all over the place, smelling up our neighborhood, we rather get used to the scent than to do anything to get rid of it. We say that it is the governments job (read City Council) to clean up the mess, so we keep throwing things in the street in that same old carefree way.
Along comes the new mayor, with her clean the city task force. What happens? We gather around with hundreds of others who happen to see them working and watch, preferably with our arms crossed. ANYWHERE ELSE, everyone in that community would have pitched in and taken part, but not in Liberia. No way.
Typical excuses:
• Nobody is going to pay me.
• I don´t want to make my shoes dirty
• I have somewhere to be
• I don´t throw dirt into the streets
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Too much talking, no action
For some reason I have recently been getting the feeling that over in Monrovia, everyone is running around attending programs put on display by different players. At these various programs, people gather to listen to keynotes, seminars or whatever. This really appeals to our people because they get to zoot and make merry.
Is anything ever accomplished at these gatherings? Who knows, but I can clearly see that talking is cheap. We do a lot of talking in our country, but when it becomes time to invest your time or money in something concrete, everybody charkla.
Gentlemen, please come help me, lets do this or that. Whoosh! Nobody left. Had it been a question of food, oh, Where is the line?
Yes, Liberia will never go forward. Sound negative to you. Damned right.
Is anything ever accomplished at these gatherings? Who knows, but I can clearly see that talking is cheap. We do a lot of talking in our country, but when it becomes time to invest your time or money in something concrete, everybody charkla.
Gentlemen, please come help me, lets do this or that. Whoosh! Nobody left. Had it been a question of food, oh, Where is the line?
Yes, Liberia will never go forward. Sound negative to you. Damned right.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Hopes are forever high, but discouragement is just under the surface
Yes, sitting here in limbo, wishing for miracles to happen. That is just about how I feel. What is so hard for us to realise? If I line my own pocket from government coffers, how will the rest of my people prosper? Is it so hard to understand this? This incoherent selfishness is exactly what has driven our sorry excuse for a nation to conflict time after time.
Many questions there, but the only answer is to urge those in charge to dutifully carry out their individual tasks with the betterment of all. In varying degrees, this seems to be a worldwide problem, so we are not going to solve it here or today.
Sometimes I wonder wether democracy really is for Africa or more specifically Liberia.
Many questions there, but the only answer is to urge those in charge to dutifully carry out their individual tasks with the betterment of all. In varying degrees, this seems to be a worldwide problem, so we are not going to solve it here or today.
Sometimes I wonder wether democracy really is for Africa or more specifically Liberia.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Here we go again
Our honourable ladies and gentlemen have barely begun their new term, when the holabaloo starts again. Why all the pride? You people are lawmakers, so please do just that.
Even considering the county developement funds that have largely been misused in the current form of management. Take heed of your own incompetence and let the funds be administered by someone who has no interest of lining their own pockets.
Even considering the county developement funds that have largely been misused in the current form of management. Take heed of your own incompetence and let the funds be administered by someone who has no interest of lining their own pockets.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Corruption
Whatever you may call it, corruption, graft, kickback, stealing, coldwater, greasing, appears just about everywhere.
What is new, is that the media nowadays is free to report and investigate on it. This is a huge step in our country. What I would like to highlight is the smalltime corruption that is taking place.
In most societies, information is critical to curbing these practices. What I would like to focus on is fees, govenment fees.
Many government bodies do certain tasks for a fee that should go directly to the government coffer. What I have not seen here in Liberia is any pricelist for fees. (With some exceptions like the NPA)
Example:
You go to the Ministry of commerce to register a company. What does this cost? It depends on who you ask. But, why not put up a big signboard with the different fees for the different forms of companies. (This is free information that cannot be misinterpreted)
Immigration fees. Same thing. Put up a signboard with the regulated fees so that anyone entering the reception area imediately sees how much their business costs. Then you would not have the employees taking 300US dollars and giving customers a receipt for 50 US dollars.
What is new, is that the media nowadays is free to report and investigate on it. This is a huge step in our country. What I would like to highlight is the smalltime corruption that is taking place.
In most societies, information is critical to curbing these practices. What I would like to focus on is fees, govenment fees.
Many government bodies do certain tasks for a fee that should go directly to the government coffer. What I have not seen here in Liberia is any pricelist for fees. (With some exceptions like the NPA)
Example:
You go to the Ministry of commerce to register a company. What does this cost? It depends on who you ask. But, why not put up a big signboard with the different fees for the different forms of companies. (This is free information that cannot be misinterpreted)
Immigration fees. Same thing. Put up a signboard with the regulated fees so that anyone entering the reception area imediately sees how much their business costs. Then you would not have the employees taking 300US dollars and giving customers a receipt for 50 US dollars.
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