By Justice R. Clarke
MONROVIA, June 6 (LINA) – Recommendations from some Liberians under the banner “Council of Patriots”, through a petition, extensively show similarity to existing governance programs being rolled out by the CDC-led government.
In their “save the state” petition obtained by the Liberia News Agency from an unimpeachable source, the June 7 marchers say the government should enforce issues of governance, human rights and rule of law, and ‘urgently’ proceed with efforts to amend and/or repeal the current Electoral Law of Liberia.
They are seeking the establishment of an inclusive governance framework that reflects the diversity and interests of the Liberian society.
However, some of the proposals spelt out in the petition could be deemed personal to the Legislature, Executive or Judicial branches of government.
One such case could be the ‘CoP’s’ call for the government to ‘immediately’ commission an independent investigation into the hasty impeachment of Associate Justice Kabina Jan’eh, which they say has undermined the integrity and independence of the Judiciary “at a time when Liberians are craving for justice.”
Other elements of the document call for the government to “launch an immediate investigation into the ‘mysterious’ death of Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Assistant Director Matthew J. Innis which occurred at the same time reports from two forensic audits into the missing billions of newly-printed Liberian banknotes were released;
“Establish a court to address claims, corruption and rape; demonstrate respect for human rights, human dignity and press freedom through the comprehensive review of [our] constitution and the laws that restrain the exercise of basic freedoms, especially the media.
“Immediately demobilize all former fighters re-deployed into various entities, thus reigniting the fear, creating a threat to peace and undercutting the restructuring of our national security sector.
“Immediately implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), particularly the recommendation for establishment of a war and an economic crimes court in Liberia ‘without delay’ (by making a request to the United Nations for such a court before July 26, 2019).
The Document also calls for “Immediate steps to curb, through public denunciation, reprimand and/or condemnation all anti-peace, fanatical, sectionalistic, tribalistic and divisive utterances by officials, friends, associates, political actors (whether of the CDC or otherwise) which seek to promote division and disunity in violation of the Liberian constitution.”
These are just to say a few from the long list of recommendations, which also include more push for integrity and accountability, improvement of the educational, health and agriculture sectors, fight against corruption — all of which the government has from time-to-time said are underway, pending, or reflected in its Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
Interestingly, also, the group wants the government to “immediately” launch an audit of all infrastructural and ongoing road projects; and give account of all Social Development Funds (SDFs) paid by various concessionaires for the benefit of the counties in which they operate.
Moreover, and on the economic front, ‘CoP’ presented a rather open recommendation, indicating that it is still within the purview of the government to identify concrete solutions that will bring about sustainable economic boost.
For instance, they want the government “develop, design and implement an economic reform plan to revive our declining economy and address financial and fiscal reforms.”
They also want “urgent steps” to improve the business environment in Liberia by aggressively, urgently removing all administrative bottlenecks and barriers that hinder trade, “including the duplication of functions, removal of irrelevant personnel from the Customs Office at the Freeport of Monrovia and major ports of entry.”
Still with their vision for the economy, ‘CoP’ wants the government to “comply fully” with the Budget and Public Financial Management (PFM) Laws by “stopping” the habit of off-budget spending; and restore integrity to the forestry sector by taking urgent steps to maintain the current monitoring system as the contract with SGS will soon end.
Meanwhile, President Weah reiterated Thursday when he dedicated a modern market he built in the Du Port Road Community in Paynesville, that his government will look into any petition sent to it by group of citizens and act where necessary.
LINA JRC/PTK