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A Critique Of Government Devil Advocacy Played In Addressing The Plight Of The Citizens And The Way Forward
May 7, 2008
T. Maxwell Grigsby, II.
06850858
 In time like these where our perceived best friends are those that hate us the most, we should be very meticulous in embracing their delicate services rendered us in their quest to befriend or seek favor from us.
Living a life in Liberia today has become more difficult and frustrating than past regimes that were seen as despotic, brutal and tyrannical amidst the presence of our international partners who had been here for the past sixty months (5 years) to help us achieve peace, a reformed security sector, transparency and accountability in our financial and other sectors of government.
It pleases me to critically analyze major undertakings of this government that has been calendarized as achievements in confronting impediments that deprived the citizens good standards of living, and subject them to abject poverty.
Increment in Civil Servants Salaries
It is very beshaming to have our government cataloged increment in civil servants salaries as an achievement when there has not been any increment in the salaries of civil servants. Regrettably, the government noted that during past regimes civil servants were been paid the maximum wage of approximately Two Thousand Liberian Dollars (2,000.00LD), which she felt was very infinitesimal to the needs of the citizens, and as such, the need to have the income of individual civil servant salary increased was an imperative.
Not withstanding, the government deviated and employed political chicaneries to appease the population. Let it be made emphatically clear that the insinuation by this unpopular government of increment in income is a calculated attempt to popularize herself in winning sentiments from the masses. Realistically, instead of increasing income, the government adjusted for inflation.
Being cognizant that inflation is the general rise in price or the percentage rate of increase of the level of prices during a given period, and critically looking at the complex nature of the increase in prices of commodities that are consumed by the population, being provided by the factor market (household) and the foreign market (rest of the or international community), the government became constrained to adjust income for inflation. This action was essentially taken to enable civil servants purchase the very commodities that were being consumed at low prices without resulting to strike or acts of mass uprisings due to the lack of purchasing power. It can in no way be seen and propagated as an increment in the income of civil servants, because a civil servant (consumer) will not realize any increment in exercising his/her purchasing power in the product market (business firm), which produce goods and services for the maximization of utility.
The down sizing, right sizing, and eradication of ghost names from various government institutions payrolls
The government in her superficial quest to achieve workable system of zero tolerance on corruption and the process of ensuring accountability and transparency in governmental affairs, decided to embark on the down sizing, right sizing and the omission of ghost names. The significance was to reduce the number of employees, by relieving those employees that were of pension ages of their jobs and subsequently pensioned, terminating the services of individuals who were not most needed by government institutions, eradicating ghost names that were unrealistic and promoting employees who were qualified and willing to work to higher positions of trust in government.
Unfortunately, this arrangement became a bogus one in which oppositions in government from past regimes and the most recent interim government were relieved of their posts (some without compensation), so as to appeased partisans of the Unity Party and supporters of Madam Sirleaf with available jobs. Also, it is frustrating to note that some members in the hierarchical structure of this government who are above pension ages are still in government despite their years of long services because they supported the controller and manager of the national cake; “The Madam”.
Is this the transparent and accountable government they promised us?
Moreover, the ghost names that were been eradicated as was said, and apprehension of individuals that have criminally and surreptitiously corrupt government by placing these ghost names are yet to be known. Even with the loud alarm of zero tolerance on corruption. What a great disappointment?
Recommendation
Finally, let me close by recommending that this government should provide alternatives that will serve as remedy to the effect of every decision she intend to execute in meeting the plight of the citizens.
Most recently, through the Liberia National Police, the government announced that not more than one individual should be seen in commercial and private vehicles flying the streets of Liberia for safety purposes, and the minimization of accidents that are caused by this inconvenient situation. Firstly, is this decision part of the traffic safety rule of Liberia, or an attempt to apply western-style life amidst rough economic conditions; and how will it impact the lives of striving Liberians who find it very difficult in getting commercial vehicles to be transported from one point to another even with two persons in the front seats of these vehicles? Additionally, with the increased in petroleum price, is it timely and feasible? The answer is no. It is not! It would have been holistically welcomed as a kind of reform, if alternatives such as the provision of more buses were being prioritized by government in resolving the transportation breakdown in Liberia.
It is left with the conscience of the crafters and implementers to see reasons for adjustment in the effectuation of the policies. The government must engage in tangible initiatives that will impact the lives of her citizens, and help in relieving them from trauma, frustration, hopelessness and abject poverty, rather than playing devil advocate (propagating falsehood) to gain political favor at the detriment of the citizens.
As my pen runs dry, I want to draw the attention of this simple Liberian adage: “Fart scent is good in the preparation of voodooism, but the stink one ones bring about quarrels, degradations, and vomit.”
About the author
Mr. T. Maxwell Grigsby, II. Is a youth and student activist in the Republic of Liberia. He is a Member of Mano River Union Youth Parliament, representing Sinoe County and Acting Secretary General of the Progressive Student Alliance Leading Movement (PSALM). A student based political party on the campus of A.M. E. University located on Camp Johnson Road. He’s also the Director of Youth of the Liberia Annual Conference in the Western West Africa Episcopal District of the A. M. E. Zion Church.
Cell #: 2316-850858
E-mail: parliamentariangrigsby@yahoo.com
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