15 October 2008
editorial
WE CARRIED A story recently in which we quoted Liberty Party leader, Cllr. Charles Brumskine, as calling attention to rising corruption in Liberia and calling for immediate probe to be conducted by international jurists appointed by the International Contact Group (ICGL). The Counselor's call came against the backdrop that corruption was hurting the Liberian people as the government became increasingly apathetic, sometimes allowing corrupt officials to go with impunity and even awarding them higher positions and incentives.
THERE IS NO question that these remarks are out of place for several reasons, principal amongst which is that the emphases of the "remarks" were not sufficiently counterbalanced by concrete proofs of wrongdoing or an exit strategy. There is no question that corruption is a serious obstacle to the nation's reconstruction effort that involves the revival of the economy and adherence to good governance standards. President Sirleaf has said so, the international community has said so, and so there is no Liberian who does not know what effect corruption has on the country's renewal efforts. The Liberian people are anxiously awaiting the day when their taxes will provide them affordable healthcare, standard primary, secondary, and higher education, and restore their basic social services. They look up to Liberians with solutions even outside government - in the private sector; in relief organizations, in community-based associations, in partisanship. They want action, not pathetic fault-finders.
THIS IS WHY it does not reward the nation when one of its leaders takes to the podium simply to emphasize the incidence of corruption in a given timeframe and political tenure. For so many years since multipartyism too effect in Liberia, it has become a popular practices amongst the political opposition and some civil society organizations to take to public forums and spew out strings of allegations most of them taking from unsubstantiated media allegations. Then, as some politician still think feasible even after a devastating civil war and with reconstruction effort in place to build a new culture of democracy, it was sufficient to accuse the government of wrongdoing and then wait to be made popular by security arrest. The practice may have catapulted some "johnny-just-comes" into the realm of political elitism, but it by and large created bad governance. Today, a different approach is needed. If Liberians expect a government awash in the principles of good governance, those advocating their cause must act responsibly. They must set themselves off from the ordinary and the discredited opposition approach as usual.
THIS BRINGS US to Cllr. Brumskine's remarks. The counselor did the usual job of raking up all the known unsolved incidents of corruption in Liberia since 2006 or earlier and concluded that corruption is more than rampant in this administration than any past administration and that most Liberians were feeling better off under the Taylor administration and Gyude Bryant's transitional administration than they are now! As a leader of a political institution that is eyeing the presidency, the learned counselor should have reminded himself that being in the opposition requires more than spewing criticisms and waiting for others to make sense of the criticisms and take action. It requires identifying what is wrong, establishing who is responsible, and requiring, by the force of the investigative findings on hand, a legal probe and even dictating the action to be taken. This is the responsible opposition the Liberian people have been wishing for and this is the opposition they must have.
FOR INSTANCE, CLLR. Brumskine was adamant that the Nigeria-LPRC crude oil deal is a case of corruption. Granted. But where was the evidence beyond the spate of allegations and the public spectacle between LPRC management and some rights advocates? What, for another instance, is the identity of the "purported vendor" the LP leader claimed was paid millions of dollars by the Finance Ministry but who suddenly disappeared? Again, who are the local government officials in Bassa on LAC's payroll and what are their salaries? Does it suffice to restate the President's reported announcement that there was corruption at the National Port Authority and the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy? What does the public know beyond this announcement - what more does the Liberty Party knows to help force legal proceedings in case the government fails to act? Why has the counselor-at-law chosen to speak in tongues and keep the Liberian people in the dark, only feeding them superficial crump? Has he forgotten the ethics of his profession that calls for evidence after every allegation?
BY SIMPLY STATING the obvious without acting, by not providing a prima facie imperative, to compel investigation as stated above, there is no denying that the LP leader did the Liberian people and the international community a disservice. And he grossly disappointed us. The prevailing interest of the Liberian people now rests in identifying the wrong and giving compelling reasons why the government must act or risk condemnation. Sweeping allegiants hurt the people's cause.
WE THEREFORE CALL on the LP leadership, the Liberia's political opposition in general to ensure in the future that their comments on national issues go beyond the ordinary to embrace the details issue at bay and to make assisted propositions for the way forward. This is the national cooperation that sincere and circumspect Liberians are looking up to.
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I strongly defer with russ2boys on the praise given to the Analyst's editorial. However, the russ2boys have everyright and entitled to their opinion. Techinically, if one reads the editorial comments on corruption in Liberia,and those of cll Brumskine, he discovers that the Analyst only re-echoed what Mr. Brumskine has said. Besides, is the Analyst newspaper saying that the government that be should not be criticized and what specifics the paper is seeking for when the president herself admitted of corruption in her government- the recent audditor's report. What else, again, the Analyst newspaper is looking for? Can't this paper looks at the scandal in the National Port Authority, the suspension of the superintendent in Bong County among others. Journalists are watchdogs of society. please, Analyst newspaper, don't turn your blind eyes and deeath ears to the truth.
Thanks Mr. Editor for your comments on Cllr.Charles Brumskine statements in regards to corruption.We Liberians need to be very decerning about politicians that are seeking their own interest and not the interest of the entire nation.
Every Liberian knows about corruption, as an epidemic in our society but,in this difficult time of our country history, we see the tireless effort of president Johnson Sirleaf administration to stop the practice. I do not think, it will fully go away in a short period. However, we should be thankful for the little successes, we see in our country. So when the opposition want to make comment about corruption, they should show concrete evidence then to make for nothing noise. Remember Liberians, our world is a difficult place to live now then it was two years ago. I live in the wealtiest nation on earth, and trust me, things are hard everywhere,even for us who make far better income. Let us have patience as you know we can destroy in one day but, will take many years to rebuilt.
I wish to thank you for the time give me. I don't know why the Analyst will be disappointted for recently story carried, "CORRUPTIONS"
They know Counsellor's Brumskin is telling the truth, that there is corruptions in the government. I am not for no party in Liberia but for the mases, that are now suffering mainly the rurals people.
Right now , I wish that they give the government back to the natives Liberian. There is no room for you do me I do you. Again, I wish to inform you that the corruptions is been proving after 3 years in power and there is no good thing is going on. No eletricity and Water etc. (MAINLY).
Again, we all knows the deal, liberian knows what is going on.I loves you analyst do not be a part of this big deal in that government. Corruptions to me the way I understand means they need to give the power back to the Liberians,and then create a Special Theft Court, and War crime Court.- Big Daddy.
I was one of the five persons that provided comments, when The Analyst published that the Liberity Party Standard Bearer,Cllr. Brumskine stated that the United Party led government is the most corrupt government in the history of Liberia on October 8, 2008. In my comment, I stated that Cllr. Brumskine was short of specifics in his accusations against the aforesaid government.Some of the specifics that identified are in line with The Analyst' editorial. To my fellow Liberians who are defending Cllr. Brumskine, I would like to give you a piece of advise to go back and read the original story and my comment.Aftering reading the story, you will side with us. More to this, let me give you this piece of example, I reported to the Police that James Johnson stole my shirt. Do you think the Police can investigate this? No, because my accusaton is lack of specifics. It is my responsibility to tell the Police, my relationship with him, his age,criminal history, employed, unemployed, selfemployed,color of the shirt,long or short sleeves, new brand, size, month, day,year, how and where. All of the above are specifics that the Police needs to investigate, but without them, the Police can not carry on an investigate. To submit, I would like to say to the defenders of Cllr. Brumskine to encourage him to involve in community initiatives that will lead to development and training of community members in different careers, and encourage international investors to invest in the country. These have the propensity to reduce the poverty rates in the country. Not sitting and engaging in negative criticisms that he/she feels could serve as a path way to becoming Presdient.
edwin, you do have a good point, but lets look at it from a different angle. You are right not for "us" to use the path to the presidency by engaging in lies and negative criticisms. But it is also important to note that the head of this administration madame johnson, used these same lies and negative criticisms as a path to the presidency. two wrongs can't make a right, but thats the situation at hand. yes, we can change, but until then, the "struggle continues"
For once you have written a piece that you can be proud of.The editorial is well composed,your points are very specific, clearly stated and the ideas you present are responsibly discussed. I am hoping that you will maintain this level of professionalism in all of your future coverage and editorials and distant yourself from all of the informecials being passed off as professional, objective, journalistic reporting.