GOVERNMENT'S IMAGE

( A Guest Editorial by Tobga-Nah Tipoteh )

Madam President, this commentary focuses on actions taken by officials of government that affect not only the government's image but the image of Liberia . For example, if you were to announce publicly that the government is correcting a mistake pointed out through public criticism, such as announcement would be promotive of the government's good image as well as the good image of Liberia . This is why when you responded to public quarries about the delay in the implementation of road projects, during the 2006/07 dry season, by pointing out flaws in the feasibility study, you received commendations generally, including one from me, for telling the truth and submitting to just public demands.

Such appreciation of criticism and the admission as well as correction of mistakes are clearly demonstrative of breaking with that unhelpful past posture of “do you know who I am and who are you to tell me what to do” The appreciation of criticism and the correction of mistakes are central to democratic institution building, a process that can carry Liberia forward for the better. Thank you for my first experience in the Cabinet Room, attending a meeting chaired by you as President of Liberia. My experience at that recent meeting showed good leadership on your part in the way you encouraged debate on the issues and supported clearly the posture of appreciating criticism, admitting mistakes and proceeding to taking immediate corrective decisions.

One would wish that such a decision-making posture would permeate the halls of the National Legislature and become dominant. The handling of the current bribery case in the House of Representatives poses a severe problem with respect to the image of government and the image of Liberia .

Representatives Gbollie and Bondo came out publicly admitting, through a signed letter published and announced in the mass media, that each of them had received US$5,000 to vote for the removal of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives. These Representatives indicated that they had received the money from fellow Representatives Tyler, Ford and Seah.

In the midst of considerable public concern and demands for investigation, the House of Representatives proceeded to not only removing the then Speaker but electing a new Speaker. In its failure to bow to the demands of the electorate, their constituents, the Representatives were subjected to a critical observation from the United States government, upon turning over the newly renovated Capitol Building to the Government of Liberia. This observation calls for an Independent Board of Inquiry, as self-admitted bride-takers and alleged bribers were not only Representatives but one of the alleged bribers had been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

On the day of President George Bush's visit to Liberia , some members of the House of Representatives were expressing disappointment that President Bush did not address the Joint Assembly of the National Legislature. It is not surprising at all that President Bush did not go to the National Legislature. He certainly did not want to go to an entity that had a bibery case over its head and refused to follow an internationally credible suggestion made by his Ambassador as a way of correcting the image of the National Legislature and therefore the image of Liberia for the better.

Another disappointment of some officials of government has to do with the textbooks and school chairs with desks donated to Liberia by the United States government through President Bush. Certainly, it does not help the image of any entity, not to mention a government or a country that puts money in front of friendship. Even when President Bush said that “this new positive phase of the relationship between the Unites States and Liberia is just beginning” some persons were grumbling “da one million textbooks we will chop”. Anyway, for those who are looking at money first, the money, US$700m that President Bush announced for Tanzania is from the Millennium Challenge Account, based on good performance with governance of the state. Furthermore, for the money first people, let us look at the more than US$2 billion given to Liberia by the United States government to help support UNMIL, the DDRR Program and national reconstruction. Let us remember that that act of putting money first in election, first before friendship and first before education has got us into the big mess that we face as Liberians. Let us focus on good record, friendship and honesty before money and learn to rely mainly on ourselves in the building of good relations in the comity of nations.

God Bless Liberia