Monrovia — President Joseph Boakai has introduced the institution of a Excessive-Stage Presidential Advert Hoc Committee to research and suggest sensible options to the nation’s rising value of dwelling. The Liberian chief’s choice, made throughout his official deal with marking the nation’s 178th Independence Day celebration on the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, is available in direct response to a name from this 12 months’s Independence Day Orator, Emmett L. Dunn.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
Dunn, who serves as Presidential Particular Envoy for Partnership and Philanthropy, used his nationwide platform to induce President Boakai to take daring and speedy steps to deal with the nation’s worsening financial disaster.
In a tone each pressing and uncompromising, Dunn mentioned, “A hungry little one can not look forward to macroeconomic coverage. A farmer with out instruments can not look forward to committee reviews. And a mom who can not afford healthcare for her little one doesn’t want guarantees, she wants options.”
His remarks drew solemn silence from the viewers and sparked speedy response from President Boakai, who acknowledged the persistent contradiction between falling import prices and stubbornly excessive costs of products and providers throughout the nation. “This contradiction, the place import prices have fallen but market costs stay excessive, requires pressing consideration,” President Boakai mentioned. “Subsequently, I’m establishing a Excessive-Stage Presidential Advert Hoc Committee to research these disparities and suggest sensible options for our speedy motion.”
‘Small, small, we’re marching’
The President named Vice President Jeremiah Koung as chair of the committee, citing his expertise in each public service and personal enterprise. The committee has been tasked with submitting a full report inside 45 days. It’s anticipated to look at key drivers of inflation in Liberia’s markets and suggest actionable suggestions to alleviate the financial burden on bizarre Liberians.
President Boakai’s speech acknowledged enhancements in infrastructure, agriculture, and public well being, however he admitted that the tangible advantages of these developments haven’t but reached most residents.
“Transportation prices are too excessive. The costs of flour, sugar, and different important items proceed to be a burden. Constructing supplies are nonetheless costly, making it exhausting for bizarre Liberians to assemble houses and companies,” he mentioned. “Small, small, we’re marching towards a contented land by God’s command. However let me be clear: there’s nonetheless way more to do.”
The President’s Independence Day deal with was broad in scope, relating Liberia’s latest diplomatic strides, together with its election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Safety Council. But essentially the most resonant portion of his remarks was his concentrate on financial hardship — a problem Dunn positioned squarely on the heart of his oration.
In his speech, Dunn painted a vivid and sobering image of Liberia’s socio-economic divide. “Unemployment stays dangerously excessive,” he warned. “We can not afford to let our folks drift into despair, or worse, into the palms of those that would exploit their frustration. Too lots of our folks go to mattress hungry whereas a couple of develop richer with every passing day.”
Dunn challenged the Boakai administration to maneuver past speeches and coverage intentions, and as a substitute pursue actions that yield seen outcomes. “My fellow residents, we can not discuss true independence with out speaking about financial independence,” he mentioned. “It’s time to confront a painful reality: an excessive amount of of our financial system is owned and managed by international pursuits.”
He referred to as for the total enforcement of the Liberianization Coverage — lengthy a degree of competition in nationwide financial discourse — which reserves particular sectors of the financial system for Liberians. He additionally proposed a daring requirement that every one future international funding offers embody a compulsory fairness stake for Liberians, both as people or by way of collective establishments.
“Liberia should not be a passive observer of our personal financial system. We should assert our rightful place on the heart of nationwide growth,” he mentioned.
His proposals prolonged to the structural and symbolic pillars of nationwide id. Dunn proposed the institution of a Nationwide Fee on Reconciliation to proceed the work of therapeutic previous wounds.
He additionally advisable re-examining Liberia’s nationwide motto. “The present nationwide motto, ‘The Love of Liberty Introduced Us Right here,’ speaks to the legacy of the freed settlers. Whereas this historical past is an inseparable a part of our nationwide story, the motto fails to acknowledge or converse to the lived expertise and heritage of the overwhelming majority of Liberians,” he mentioned.
‘Youth are as we speak’s modern’
Turning to Liberia’s youth — who make up over 70 p.c of the inhabitants — Dunn urged the administration to deal with younger folks not as future leaders, however as as we speak’s innovators and changemakers. “They don’t seem to be leaders of tomorrow, they’re leaders of as we speak,” he declared. “Allow us to fund youth-led enterprises, create innovation hubs, and combine younger voices into policymaking.”
Dunn additionally addressed gender fairness, warning that Liberia’s growth will stay incomplete with out the total inclusion of girls. “Selling gender equality shouldn’t be a favor to girls, however a elementary human proper,” he mentioned. He added that home relations legal guidelines should be enforced to guard struggling moms and maintain absentee fathers accountable.
To the Liberian diaspora, Dunn prolonged an invite to maneuver from the margins to the middle of nationwide growth. “To you within the diaspora, we’d like you. Not simply your cash, however your concepts, your experience, your networks. Return in the event you can. Make investments in the event you’re in a position. Converse up. Keep engaged.”
He counseled latest amendments to Liberia’s Aliens and Nationality Legislation that enable twin citizenship for natural-born Liberians and referred to as for the removing of all remaining restrictions.
The orator’s remarks weren’t restricted to the Government Department. He urged opposition events to behave with integrity and a dedication to nationwide unity, and reminded public servants throughout all branches of presidency to place the general public curiosity above private acquire.
“Opposition events should be revered, not demonized. They don’t seem to be the enemy of the state; they’re a part of the equipment of accountability,” he mentioned. “Cease treating public workplace as a non-public enterprise.”
Talking on to the non secular cloth of the nation, Dunn challenged spiritual establishments to match prayers with sensible motion. “There is no such thing as a honor in poverty, and there’s nothing righteous about financial struggling when options are inside attain,” he mentioned. “Allow us to cease spiritualizing poverty and begin dismantling it.”
President Boakai echoed lots of Dunn’s themes all through his personal speech. In a gesture of nationwide therapeutic, he reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to reconciliation, citing the dignified reburial of former presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel Okay. Doe, in addition to his personal public apology for previous nationwide failures. “Our growth won’t endure with out reconciliation. Our future can not take root with out unity,” the President mentioned.
He additional introduced plans to determine a Nationwide Memorial to honor the victims of Liberia’s civil wars and the ECOWAS peacekeepers whose intervention helped restore peace. “This sacred monument won’t solely commemorate the fallen but in addition function a name to conscience for generations to return,” Boakai acknowledged.
President Boakai ended his deal with with a name for non secular reflection and nationwide renewal. He declared Wednesday, July 30 as a Nationwide Day of Prayer, encouraging residents to assemble in church buildings, mosques, and houses to hunt divine steering and recommit themselves to peace and nationwide unity. “We must always ask for His continued blessing upon our land, and to resume our covenant for peace, unity, and a reconciled Liberia,” the President mentioned.
