Open Letter to the President

By: Daniel Whern
Minneapolis, Minnesota

February 12, 2006 - UNICCO Digest

Madame President:

I wish to congratulate you for your victory as not only the first female president of Liberia, but also the first on the continent of Africa. We as Liberians are extremely proud to have you as our president. We are counting on you to make a difference in Liberia by providing leadership that Liberia needs for the advancement of our beloved country. Madame President, please permit me to provide you the following recommendations:

• That you ensure checks and balance between the three branches of government.

• Ensure that the rule of law takes precedence over political loyalty or expediency.

• Allow the other branches of government to perform their duties as required by the constitution without interference.

• Maintain a good working relationship with the United States, European Union, Asian Pacific, and African States.

• Establish a monitoring agency or committee to ensure transparency in the execution of governmental functions or activities. This agency must be empowered to prosecute corrupt officials when found guilty before a panel of competent
  Jurisdiction.

Madame President, Mr. Charles Taylor is gone, but his ideas and protégés are still felt on the ground in Liberia. Liberians are grateful to have you as their president and I believe we will even be more grateful if you bring corruption to a halt. Corruption is the most engaging enemy of public service in Liberia. Corruption promotes backwardness, political and social instability undermines good citizenship, and most importantly corruption retards economic progress for any nation, Liberia is no exception.

Madame President, let us remember the efforts made by the former president of the United State of America, Mr. Jimmy Carter in creating political stability in Liberia. I ask your good office to put the citizens of Liberia first in all state matters, because the most important asset for any nation is its human capital. I want to applaud you thus far for the caliber of professionals you have nominated for variety of positions in your government. It is a great start.

Madame President, we want you to make the difference in the lives of our people in Liberia. I ask your good office to discourage anyone or group(s) from using divide and rule tactics that had been used by past administrations to set us apart. Let us discourage people who are bent on using divisive languages. Few of these divisive languages are but not limited to the followings:

• Krahn men will not return to Liberia, so say the Taylor’s fighters.

• There will be no more Nimba County, says Samuel K. Doe’s fighters.
  
  
• Nimba County will be eliminated from the map of Liberia, so say Samuel Doe
  
  
• Mandingo people will never return to Liberia, so say Taylor’s fighters
  
  
• Country men will never be able to run this government, so say some Congopeople
  
  
• By refusing for us not to return to Liberia will surely mean no end to the war, so say some Mandingo people.

During the war, I sat and watched many things happened. Every tribe, every person, every neighbor, every county, and every organization contributed either directly or indirectly to the Liberian civil war. We should all take the blame and find collective solution to the problem we created for ourselves. Madame President, we urge you to make serious difference in this direction. We ask the drivers union, market women, students, farmers, religious community, government officials, and our elders to join you happily in correcting the ills of Liberia through which we will produce a better and wholesome society for all.

Let me conclude by asking your honorable office to review concession agreements. Our people have been abused by past concession agreements, thereby leaving them poorer and more exposed to health hazards. Liberia will only be built if Liberian workers are fairly treated in accordance with the Liberian labor laws. Your administration needs to review the Liberianization policy, reinstitute the National Food Production Council and place priority for agricultural programs. Your recent innauguration that brought high power foreign dignitaries to Liberia was very impressive. Maintain and use these great contacts in helping us develop our country. Finally, remember that Monrovia is not Liberia. Liberia is composed of 15 counties and their capital city is Monrovia. We know and trust that you will make a difference for all Liberians regardless of tribe, religion, gender, or political affiliatio. May the almighty God continue to bless you and the Republic of Liberia.

Respectfully yours,

Daniel Whern, MN
USA

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