Taking a second look at America’s Economic Policy towards Liberia.
Solomon Myers (February 2004)
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results ~ Albert Einstein
History has shown that Liberian leaders have failed in developing and maintaining infrastructure in Liberia. It is therefore essential that America, take a second look at their economic policy towards Liberia at this crucial point.
In 2003 the Liberian public marched on the streets of Liberia calling on America to get them out of the quagmire they were in. Fortunately through arrangements made and the involvement of the world community, the brutal gangsters who held the realms of power in Liberia were dethroned.
In light of the new monies raised to assist Liberia in recovering from the devastation caused by over a decade of strife, it is imperative that America step in and set up teams to oversee the development of infrastructure in Liberia.
In the past, the U.S. government provided some $500 million to the Doe administration from 1981 to 1985. The money pumped to Doe without any monitoring, was siphoned and used for personal shopping sprees. Doe, obviously allergic to all the money he was receiving, engaged in no infrastructural development. He became power drunk and murdered Liberians at whim.
This lack of monitoring of the monies given to Doe was one of the factors that led up to the civil strife in Liberia.
The mistakes made in the past must not be repeated. Liberia can only obtain lasting peace through the proper development of infrastructure and equitable distribution of monies to better the lives of Liberians. This can be achieved through monitoring.
From where I sit…