When it comes to lifting Liberians out of poverty and creating wealth, the Liberian government have a terrible track record, but yet “Boakai Takes ‘Wealth Creation’ Message to Diaspora” …Why?!!! Boakai needs to begin at home (Liberia), not in the Diaspora. Here’s why:
In July 2012, when Boakai was Vice President, the voodoo economists, at Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) imposed a hefty registration fees (US$1,500) on Money Exchangers to solve the “high exchange rate problem”. But did the hefty registration fees solve the “high exchange rate problem”?? Please…
But the unintended negative consequences of the CBL registration fees (US$1,500) prove disastrous for the little people, like Melvin Eskill and Bia Williams (small foreign exchange business owners) who can least afford it. (Re” CBL Wants Us Out of Business: Money Exchangers Decry Registration Fees” Frontpageafricaonline)
But, but, is that the way to create wealth (expand our economy), and help our young people get out of poverty?? License laws, such as hefty registration fees, CCCS certification fees, PPCC fees, NASSCORP fees, that prevent young entrepreneurs from getting government contracts, operating a hair braiding business, operating taxis, selling Kallah, and operating a foreign exchange bureau, stifles competition and keep them in poverty for a longer period of time!
With our nation’s high youth unemployment,-it’s morally offensive and downright evil for the book people, in our country, to deprive young people of their God-given right to earn an honest living! But you know what? Most of these book people don’t know a damn about honest living! Most of them are nothing but, born rogues!
Then, in November 2013, when Boakai was Vice President, the Liberian National Police, in its infinite wisdom, began enforcing a ban on privately-owned motorbike taxis (phen-phen), the main mode of transportation in Monrovia, to make the streets of Monrovia “safer”! Yes, ‘safer”?? But, but guess what happened?
Because of the ban, thousands and thousands of Liberians were forced to walk to and from work and school. Another 12,000 young entrepreneurs lost their only source of income!!! Seriously, I don’t know how some of these book people sleep at night!
But here’s the kicker: Youth unemployment is a major threat to the peace and stability in our country, but the gasbags in our government insist on enforcing the ban on these privately-owned motorbike taxis because it would make our streets “safer”! They say it’s all about safety! Yeah right………
But we all know that “safety” is not a free lunch. You have to pay for it, in one way or another! The price of our “safety” was more than 12,000 young men lost their jobs!
But how do you expect these jobless young people to get out of poverty when they are being hampered and prevented from doing so by the so-called book people in our government? By begging…stealing…and prostitution, right?… But, but, shouldn’t we help those who help themselves?…..
As you can see, the heavy regulatory burden on small businesses and government interference in the economy (Executive Order #128), are the prime reason for wealth destruction (shrinks the overall economic pie!) in Liberia!
Look, I agree with Boakai that wealth creation is the only thing that can cure poverty in our country, but wealth creation must begin at home (Liberia), not in the Diaspora!! But, but will the economically illiterates, in our government agencies, ever eliminate ALL their economically disastrous regulations and fees on innovators and investors, and get the hell out of the way?? Please….But don’t bet your rent money on it, because government regulators (CBL, PPCC, CCCS, NASSCORP, etc ) treat these hefty fees on businesses, like a gravy train!!!
Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
