By Fofee Jarbe fojarbe@gmail.com

Twitter @fofeej

Monrovia- We have been analyzing previous speeches made by Independence day orators on corruption from generation to generation. Like others, the country 166 and 172 Independence day orators spoke on corruption fearlessly.

Monrovia Latest News brings you the two fearless speeches made by Cllr. Varney Sherman and Madam Leymah Gbowee 2011 Nobel laureate winner.

Cllr. Sherman, who was the national chairman for the ruling party at that time, served as Liberia’s 166 independence day orator in which he told the Sirleaf government that “Our country cannot be transformed when public service is evaluated by the Liberian people at large as the place where corruption exists and is perceived as a matter of course and with impunity”.

For her part, the 172 Independence day orator, madam Gbowee said president Weah and his government that the fight against corruption is not just in words but actions.

The hard questions remain in our minds to ask, Cllr. Sherman 166 Independence Day Oration on Corruption Vs madam Gbowee 172 Independence Day Oration; who Really Talked Truth to Power?

Analysis:

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CLLR. VAERNEY SHERMAN ORATION ON CORRUPTION:

Expressing his concerns about corruption like many other Liberians, but on that Day in the City of Tubmanburg, said Counselor Sherman, “Madam President, something similarly new, different and aggressive must be employed to tackle corruption in Liberia, or else the ‘talk and talk, and talk, about corruption will overshadow all our achievements . . . there is something that we have not done right or . . . that we ought to do that we have not done, that makes our people . . . to criticize us for corruption in our society . . . If corruption remains on the lips (and minds) of our people the day you (Madam President) retire from office in January 2018 . . . our legacy as a Political Party, the Unity Party, which took over the helm of this country after the civil war, will be marred forever. Our country cannot be transformed when public service is evaluated by the Liberian people at large as the place where corruption exists and is perceived as a matter of course and with impunity”.

Accordingly, the Counselor-at-Law suggested, among others, in his lawyerly fashion that:

1.  “ …. I strongly believe that prosecutorial powers to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) will expedite the management of corruption matters. So, I recommend to you (‘as everything political must be driven by the office of the President in this country in order for it to succeed. . .’) and members of the Legislature to reconsider . . . and pass the necessary law to enable us to move vigorously fight corruption in our country”.

2.         “We conduct a study of how countries, similarly situated as ours, managed to reduce the incidence of corruption or stamp it out completely. Our LACC should be staffed by men and omen who are not only capable and qualified, but in whom you (Madam President) personally have the strongest confidence . . .”.

3.         “We need to change the conversation . . . the debate. We need for the Liberian people to talk about your (Madam President’s) achievements . . . in tackling corruption just as your achievements . . . in getting our international debt waived”.

My response or answer, if asked, will be an unequivocal “none of the above”.  Here are the reasons:w

First, there has been and is an entrenched tug-of-war, for prosecutorial turf between the Ministry of Justice, the official, legal prosecutorial arm of the government, and the LACC, a sort of a watch-dog agency against corruption, with cabinet rank, for prosecution of suspects accused of corruption. Both LACC and the Ministry of Justice are members of the Executive Branch of Government. The fight for turf went before the National Legislature in the form of an Act submitted by the President, seeking legislation to empower LACC prosecutorial authority. In this contest, the Legislature, in rejecting the Act, is aligned with the lawyers from the Ministry of Justice, an Executive Branch member, against LACC and the President, Head of the Branch. Therefore, there is no legal grounds, whatsoever, to pursue a rejected issue.

Further, there is, absolutely, need to hire additional “capable and qualified staff”.  The current executive head of LACC is an experienced attorney, former Justice of the Supreme Court and former head of the National Elections Commission. Nor is there the need to “conduct a study (another international, expensive, wasteful adventure of needed capital) of other countries of how” to deal effectively with public/private dishonesty. For, we have the talent and well-paid professionals.

Our major problem is the awesome power of Corruption, Inc. today in Liberia.  At or about the time that the President’s Act went before the Legislature or there about, the FY 2012-2013 National Budget went before the Senate for hearings/approval. Informed, verified reports revealed a “a tip of the iceberg” of hundreds of thousands of US dollars allocated as salary/wage allowances in several, unexplained categories, in favor of all executives of government ministries, agencies, the Legislature and  state enterprise executives.

Second, Liberia needs NO new laws to arrest, detain and prosecute suspects charged with theft, fraud and deceit involving a few or billions of dollars, a high-profile, elegantly-attired person or the average Joe Blow next door. We have the necessary laws, already, on the books. But what Liberia needs, and needs desperately, first, is honesty, commitment, patriotism; second, is trial lawyers, judges and police officers. Government lawyers, ministers and judges are well-paid (salary/wage allowance recipients, already) enough to perform assigned duties with honesty and diligence.

Finally, there is a compelling need, at this moment, for comprehensive review of the salary/wage allowance “allocations”. There is an apparent, massive abuse of this necessary, lawful system. We published a tip of the iceberg of this abuse last month. Corruption, Inc. has infiltrated all business – trade, commerce and industrial, including the insurance companies and banks (they transfer all the huge sums, in billions of US dollars earned in Liberia, out of Liberia.

Madam Leymah Gbowee 172 oration on corruption:

Transparency is something that we heard repeatedly.

Mr. President, members of the Legislature, the fight against corruption is not in words, it is in action. You must walk your talk. You cannot preach against corruption and then not declare your assets and keep it locked up. Show us what you came with so that in a few years when you’ve got two houses, we can know that you already had those resources in the bank.