As the euphoria surrounding the debt waiver granted Liberia by her major creditors wanes reality has finally set in.
For the first time Liberians are anxious to get involved in the process of national loans negotiations, know the true intent and terms surrounding those loans and ensure that TRANSPARENCY and fairness are the umbrella principles throughout the processes.
It seems the Unity Party government again is taking Liberians for granted by unilaterally appointing officials of the Debt Management Committee. Once again the Government of the Unity Party have missed an opportunity to live up to its name as the Unity Party of Liberia.
This welcome debt relief presented us yet another opportunity for consensus building and national unity. The Johnson-Sirleaf government MUST accept the fact that REPAYMENT of any loans to be acquired, in the near future, will be the responsibility of EVERY Liberian, whether one is a Unity Party partisan or NOT !
While citing the Public Finance Management Act 2009 as a rationale for the setup of its Debt Management Committee, the Act as passed makes no mention of the composition of the committee.
One would be right to seek more information on the antecedents of the members of this Debt Management Committee. Are they skilled in international and national loan negotiations ? Are they fully aware of the long term implications and impacts of loans on the national economy ? Do they fully understand debt management ? Or is this pronouncement, like most of the Unity Party public antics, yet another charade meant to cajole the Liberian people while saddling them with a Trojan Horse.
I believe that Liberians will collectively shudder at the prospect that this debt relief which was intended to guarantee us a new start could be abused by unscrupulous and oblivious government officials and could ultimately trigger a new cycle of dependency.
In the cause of the people, the STRUGGLE continues !
Government links:
http://www.emansion.gov.lr/press.php?news_id=1513
http://www.mof.gov.lr/doc/Financial%20R ... 2.2010.pdf
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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