Bravo Mr. Nah. Minister Kofi Woods is no different from any gravy seeking politicians in Liberia. They and their master Sirleaf are on the move to get what ever they can now that time is running out fastly on them. The Sirleaf, the Kofi etc.etc. know that they are not living by what they preached in the past. Look around you in africa where in the region you find even clerical jobs in the U.N. system you find other foreigners doing, but Liberia. Now is the time for these politicans to realize that you can't have higher institutions graduating students in the thousands without jobs. This will definitely lead to insurrection. The days of the open-door policy are long gone. The situation in Liberia especially with the uncontrolled level of corrution is not only a disgrace to the Ellen led government but shame to all Liberians. Ms. Ellen has proven that she is only a talkative not a leader. Had it not been for the presence of foreign instituiton she would have been long gone.

I strongly agree with Mr. Philip J.G Piah that people should think before they speak on issues that they do not understand or comprehend. Mr. Thomas Doe Nah, The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), is wrong by saying that business operating in Liberia should not hire Legal Foreign Residents that reside in Liberia. Did Mr. Nah do any investigation to find out the status of these people that he accused of taking jobs from Liberians? Before making his accusation of Mr. Woods, did Mr. Nah visit said business or businesses to inquired about their hiring practices? Did an equitable and qualify Liberian filed a formal complain with the Minister of Labor about the unfair hiring practices of a particular employer or employers? I am not sure whether Liberia has an Equal Employment Opportunity Law on the books that states that you can not hire on the bases of, sex, race, age, religion or ethnicity. The business has to interview various candidates before selecting the most qualify. Remember that qualification does not only relate to education or experience. A person can be qualify for the position, even passed the testing, if required, but fail the oral interview. So my friend, just being a Liberian does not give you the rights to a job, you have to earn that right.

Before you run off accusing a person of being corrupt or attacking his or her character, please do your home work and follow it up with proofs. If a foreigner is a Legal Resident of Liberia, they have the right to live and work in Liberia. They may also have a Work Permit, but not a Permanent Legal Resident

Mr. Garmack, commenting on Mr. Nah remarks, stated, “The days of the open-door policy are long gone.” I do not know what he is talking about, or is he suggesting isolationism for Liberia’s Economy. Open-door policy is good for a country because it brings in people of different cultures, insights and backgrounds that help develop and enrich the country. Remember, we are now operating in a Global Economy. In my opinion, these people are the opportunist because their so-called fight for justice does not benefit Liberia or its people. Please play politic when warranted.

I think Mr. Woods is serving Liberia according to the Law of the land and not by how he feels or his emotions. With that said, Please bring forth your proofs and evidence that Mr. Woods is corrupt by abusing his power or misusing Government Funds. Please folks, before going on your character assassination, please do your home work and bring proofs.

I do know of Mr. Woods but never met him. Although I do not agree with some of his ideologies, I think he is the best thing for Liberia because he is TRANSPARENT and DECENT. In my opinion, overall, he is a good man of character. He can only be accused of his deep love and emotions for Liberia.

Samuel H Perkins Yonkers, New York perkinss@coned.com

This is in response to Mr. PJPiah and Mr. Perkinss' postings. Gentlemen, political historians have observed and those of who have read their work have agreed that through out history whenever two groups of people come in contact with one another, whether violently or otherwise, the group with a well established culture (for example, advanced social systems, weaponry, bonds that transcend the family and clan), have always won. Example of this can found in our own country when former slaves from an advanced society made contact with our hunting and gathering forefathers. With that in mind, let's take closer look at the current situation in the Liberia and the origins of these so-called immigrants. As you may already know, gentlemen, our country is severely divided along ethnical and and socioeconomic lines, democracy and the rule of law are have yet to take hold in our society, unemployment and illiteracy rates are sky high and the condition of our basic infrastructures are deplorable. In short, gentlemen, our country is dangerously teetering on the edge of despair. On the other hand you have China and India, two of the oldest civilizations in the history of mankind and also the origin countries of our immigrants. These two countries are also firsts in the race for superpowerdom. Everyone agrees that as early as the middle of this century, these two countries would have, at least, paralleled or surpassed the United States as preeminent in the world, if and only if they control their population burdens. For this reason, these two nations have ripped a page out of the early 18th century European play book- population resettlement. As a evidence of this, countries like Nigeria, Angola and Sudan that do the most trade with these countries also have a proportionate amount their citizens residing within their borders. So what we are witnessing, gentlemen, is not only trade with India and China but we also serve as population relieve points for them. What bothers me the most, however, is not that these countries are sending their citizens to settle in our country or that Mr. Woods is giving them work permits. No, what bothers me is how so called educated and well-traveled Liberians and Africans residing within the continent or over-seas are so quick to transpose or transplant whatever they see in the United States and other developed countries into Liberia and Africa without careful analysis. Developed nations accept immigrants from Third World or less developed countries as a philanthropic gesture and because they can afford to do so. There aren't enough resources and jobs in Liberia to support Liberians and you gentlemen think its ok to add to this problem by rolling out the red carpet to immigrants, especially those coming from well-established and wealthier nations because America and Europe are doing the same thing? Here is the problem, gentlemen, today you give a work permit to a Chinese or Indian immigrant, tomorrow that immigrant sends for his or her mother, brother or sister and that mother or brother sends for her son or his daughter and so forth and so on. This is what we immigrants do. And because these immigrants come from well established cultures and we Liberians are still finding ourselves means, if I was a gambling man, that if we make contact with these people without careful planning we will definitely lose.

Sir, What do you suggest we do?

Do like the Ghanaians, the Liberian job seekers pool must be exhausted before hiring foreigners. At the same time, construct technical and trade schools to train Liberians so they may become middle and senior executives and entrepreneurs in the future. And finally, enforce the Liberianization law.

Why would this man bring his entire family to war torn liberia when, as you say he is from a well estableshed culture and his country is stable politically and econonically. rethink your position

piah

Brother Piah, I meant to pose that same question to you but I've been busy over the last couple of days. Why would this man travel thousands of miles over many other countries (most better off than Liberia, mind you)just to come to poor little Liberia? Did he travel here on his own or was he sent? Why didn't he come in the eighties when Liberia was a little better off and China was a little worse off? If he is so poor, where did he get the money to journey he and his family across two continents and three oceans? Ponder these questions, brother Piah, and hopefully what I said earlier would make more sense. The truth is, brother Piah, the players may have changed, the rules may have changed; heck, the game itself may have also changed, but the goal remains the same: to invade (whether forcefully or otherwise), to dominate (culturally, socially, economically and politically), and if possible, subjugate or worst, exterminate. Recent historic examples: Liberia, North America, Australia and South Africa. You've been warned, brother Piah, take heed or pay the price.

Mr. Piah, You seem to be out of touch or illinformed. Please know that the world over, the citizens of a given country come first. In Liberia today,one finds economic migrants running into the country as investors with no capital. Openning a shop with two or three foreign nationals is not an ivestment. Had Kofi and his master follow closely the reality of the situation in Liberia they would have created the avenue of opportunities to be provided Liberians who are honest and capable through banking institutions to open up small busineses. The poverty reduction strategy been advanced in the country will positively achieved only if the vast majority of the Liberians are able to take care of the economy of the country . Contrary to this, you will continue to have foreign capital flight there by depriving the country of needed funds. Moreover, if you support Kofi Woods, why defer with his ideologies? You need to comment on this. Finally, if you care to know, read about two of Liberia's sister countries, Guinea and Ghana. For foreign nationals to open store in any of these countries, 50% must be for a citizen of the country the business is established. For Ghana in particular, Liberians were not allowed to do business outside of the refugee's camps.

BROTHER MACK

NO DISRESPECT BUT, YOU ARE MORE OUT OF TOUCH BECAUSE NO ONE EITHER COMPREHENDS YOUR POINT OR SEE ANY CORRELATION IN YOUR AGRUMENT. NO ONE REALLY KNOWS NOW WHAT SIDE IF THE ARGUMENT YOU SUPPORT, NOW CUS YOU ARE FLIP FLOPPING.

YOU MENTION GUINEA AND GHANA AAD SAID FOREIGNERS DO NOT OPERATED BUSINEESE IN GHANA. IS THAT POLICY ALREADY ADOPTED IN LIBERIA? GIVE ME AN HONEST RESPONSE!

BROTHER WE CAN ARGUE FROM NOW TO JUDGEMENT DAY AND THE STATUS QUO WILL PREVAIL UNLESS WORKABLE AND UNBIAS POLICIES ARE PUT IN PLACE

AND BY THE WAY I DID NOT SAY I SUPPORT KOFI WOODS, I ONLY SUPPORT WHAT'S JUST AND FAIR.

BY THE WAY :JUST FOR FUN I POSR THIS QUESTION TO YOU:

WHAT YOUR VIEW ON THE JUST WAR THEORY? IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE 'JUST WAR'?

GOOD DAY BROTHER, I'M OUT OF THIS ARGUMENT THST WILL TAKE US NO WHERE

PHILIP JG PIAH MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA HEY CONTACT ME DIRECTLY: pjpiah@msn.com if you still have something you you wish I knew.

OH, BROTHER MACK SORRY I HAD TO BOTHER YOU FOR ONE LAST TIME. A LITTLE HOMOUR

FRONT PAGE AFRICA 12-31-2008

MY NAME OHOOOOOO!!!!

ARE GREEN CARD HOLDERS REALLY, REALLY DUAL CITIZENS?

MY NAME OHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Before denigrating the reputation of a person like Kofi Woods who has worked selflessly to improve working conditions for Liberian employees at Firestone and several other multinationals, we should first understand what Liberia’s labor law provides. Here a politician wanting to get noticed makes sensational statements and everyone buys into it that they are speaking nationalistically and when really what they are doing is self-aggrandizement. They might even be lacking in the knowledge of the law.

The administration revisited the investment contracts that Bryant signed which had inadequate labor provisions, required economic returns, and environmental standards to protect Liberia and her citizens. To undo this damage, all contracts were nullified and renegotiated with improved provisions. They all have had to be ratified by the Liberian legislature. Here are some fundamental questions one must begin to ask, do we currently have quotas for hiring of nationals by foreign companies in the current Liberian labor law or investment contracts? And even if we do have such a law for multinationals, does this law specifically make reference or applies to foreign-owned proprietorships (such as a Lebanese retail shop)? Before going about denigrating we should first define what the law is and whether the government has any right to enforce a labor regulation which is not in our national labor laws. For crying out loud, they could get sued for millions of taxpayer dollars! Hence, like many of the issues that the administration has had to study in order to bring about changes in law, let us recognize for once that we are inching toward a day in Liberia when our country will not be a (NATION OF MEN, BUT OF LAWS). We are not quite there yet, but we are getting there.

Anyone who is knowledgeable knows that Liberia has had many longstanding structural limitations. Many of these limitations are partly due to weak laws or not having existing laws that deal with emerging international standards or the extenuating circumstances facing the country. Those who wrote the laws back in the old days were not facing the same situations of today. This is why as much as the administration is trying to bring about rapid development (a nearly 9% growth rate); a major starting point have required revising or in some instances, creating laws to remove hindrances or speed up the pace of progress. All of this has had to be done while ensuring equity as a public policy provision of the law. This is why I believe that the legislature needs to appreciate the urgency of passing the many bills before it. These laws need to be voted on as passed or rejected, and (if rejected, quickly revised and then passed) in order to keep pace with the need for rapid development in the country. Every law should also protect our national interest and the rights of our citizens. With such an oppositional legislature, if they can’t come up with alternative legislation, then they shouldn’t impede Liberia’s progress because of party politics to win points against the Sirleaf administration. By doing such, they would be viewed as playing party politics or seeking self interest which in the long-term would not benefit them or the nation.

About Ghana and comparisons with Liberia -- some people are missing the point. Ghana has enjoyed nearly 20 years of smooth political transitions and national tranquility. Political stability and national tranquility are essential ingredients to sustainable development. Contrastingly, Liberia has known 14 years of civil war and before that in the 1980s, had an economy that had been badly managed and was weighed down by a heavily unsustainable debt burden. In essence, Liberia has really only had 3-4 years of tackling some longstanding structural deficiencies which Ghana had already started perfecting 15 years prior. Therefore, those drawing direct comparisons are not looking at the entire picture. Every international expert view that I’ve read or have heard states that Liberia is starting on an excellent course under the Sirleaf administration. Now, even where some citizens may disagree for whatever reason, these disagreements should never again take us back to civil war. We need to make sure of this. Like Ghana, we should educate the electorate and use the electoral process to constitutionally bring about change in leadership when applicable. We should also ensure that the political choices we make go beyond tribal and patriarchal connections and that they guarantee a continuation of the country’s development from one administration to the next. Thanks - views of William Ponder

I am responding to the first and some of the first part of your last paragraph. Let’s be clear, Sir, no one disputes the extensive human record of Mr. Kofi Woods. But does this record make him infallible? Mr. Nah is not a politician, but a director of a non-profit organization. How could you accuse anyone of “self-aggrandizement” when nearly everyone on this site uses a pseudonym or nickname? You are one of the few exceptions- William Ponder. The answers to the questions in the second paragraph in your post are, yes and yes. How many taxpaying Liberians do you know? “Nation of Men, But of Laws?” Sir, this is plagiarism at its worst. Those words belong, in the least, to Cllr. Winston Tubman or someone else, but definitely not yours. A little accreditation or quotation marks would have sufficed. You seem to disregard the “political stability and national tranquility” of Liberia before 1980 or 1990. Do I need to remind that when Liberia enjoyed almost a century and the half of independence in 1980, Ghana was not even a quarter of century old? If we are to accept your prerequisites of “sustainable development” to be “national tranquility and political stability” how come Liberia was not head and shoulders above Ghana before the 1990s or even 1980? I caution you not to put too much validity to international or Western opinion as far as the progress of Africa or Liberia is concern. Some view Liberia and Africa like a family views its quadriplegic member- they applaud and rejoice for the most minute and insignificant progress. They are happy as long as that member is breathing (whether on his own or not).

Thanks a million brother Perkins

Piah

Mpls, Minnesota

I had put this subject to rest but could not let such Rambling by Crappie and Kenneth goes by without responding. I do not know where these two individual got their so-called historical facts from. Maybe both of these individual lived in China, India or other countries mentioned in their responses. I will make this brief by only focusing on china. Both of you strayed from the subject being discussed. Sometimes it is best keeping quiet if a person does not understand or comprehends the subject at hand.

China was a closed society. In referring to china and India, you said, “These two countries are also firsts in the race for superpowerdom”. As a matter of fact, no nation or country can develop into a superpower that has a closed society. China is not The Leader of the world because she was a closed society. Maybe now that she has changed her immigration and economical policies, things might change in the future. Please revisit your history or historians and set the facts right.

You said, “Developed nations accept immigrants from Third World or less developed countries as a philanthropic gesture and because they can afford to do so.” This is further from the truth, maybe that how you ended up where you are. Develop countries are developed on the back of immigrants because immigrants were used as Slave Labor, Cheap Labor and worked under deplorable working and living conditions. They were abused by employers without any redress of their problems. Due to poor working conditions, labor Unions were form and the rise of the middle class began. You said, “There aren't enough resources and jobs in Liberia to support Liberians and you gentlemen think its ok to add to this problem by rolling out the red carpet to immigrants,” Now you are diverting from the subject matter again, this is a different subject. Liberia does have enough resources to sustain her population but due to poor education and corruption, the country development is stagnant. Liberian sent their money to the World Bank and banks outside Liberia instead of investing in the country. Liberian are not business minded, you folks said it yourself. Can you tell me how the jobs will come about if the so-called foreigners do not create them? All you people do is sit around and complain about things you do not understand or comprehend. Please tell us, why Firestone and all the other foreign developers doing in Liberia taking all of our wealth out of the country? Why Liberians are not planting rubber and developing rubber products in the country? Why the iron ore not being process in the country? I want to know why all of our Natural Resources are taken out of the country cheaply, bought over seas and the finished product return into the country at a very exuberant priced? My friends, due to our very low educational, and technical standers, we have no choice bur to tolerate the foreigners at this time. All Liberia can do at this time is to make sure that jobs are issue fairly. As a matter of fact, why only look at the private sector, people in government hired their relatives and friends instead of hiring on the basic of education and experience.

Mr. Konneh, you said, “People that are arguing for those foreigners or the way the business atmosphere is in Liberia in the name of human rights need to visit India, Lebanon to learn how foreigners are treated in these countries.” I can see that you are well traveled, that is impressing. Folks, I am sorry, I have to agree with Mr. Philip J.G Piah again, you are rambling all over the place because you do not have a clue about what you are talking about. What the subject matter has to do with human rights? We are speaking of job placements in Liberia. Please revisit Mr. Piah initial respond then you will understand what he was trying to elaborate, he was on cue. I think that it is time that you folks stop the waffling, return to Liberia and start businesses to create jobs for Liberians. I may suggest the fishing business because of its low starting capital. All you need are canoe, fishing nets, fishing lines and hooks to start your business.

I really think that you folks are writing to see your names in prints. Education is the only key to our developmental problems. Liberia needs a 25 years National Educational Program starting from grade school to the highest level of education. The mind set of the Liberian children have to be reprogram to enable us to compete in the global economy. They have to be taught the love for country, respect of law and others. Keep the ethnis cultures but wsay away from tribalism. Tribalism was all over your writing. All Liberian are one people and one nation.

Samuel H Perkins Yonker, New York

For those of us have participated in formal debates, one of the ways to know that an opponent has run out of ammo is when he or she engages in personal attacks. Sir, my pseudonym on this site is Chappie and not crappie and Mr. Konneh is that and not Kenneth. You accused Mr. Konneh and me of rambling, straying from the subject and suggest that we keep quiet because we do not “understand or comprehend” the issue at hand. I was once dragged down the path of personal attacks by another individual on this site and till this day I regret going down the path. For that reason, Mr. Perkinss, I’d rather walk away from this debate than go down that path again. I understand that emotions sometimes get the best of us whenever we discussed issues affecting our beloved country. But we must not use that as an excuse not to have amicable debates. Here is the argument at hand: recently, our Labor Minister Kofi Woods has issued Work Permits to Lebanese and Indian immigrants to perform jobs that Liberians are quite capable of performing. What the article doesn’t say, (even though you wrongly assumed this in your first posting) however, is the legal status of these people. “Mr. Nah…” you said, “is wrong by saying that businesses operating in Liberia should not hire Legal Foreign Residents that reside in Liberia”. You and Mr. PJPiah support the actions of the Minister and defend the immigrants while Mr. Konneh and I support the views of Mr. Nah. You wrote, “Developed countries are developed on the back of immigrants because immigrants were used as Slave Labor, Cheap Labor and worked under deplorable working and living conditions.” From this erroneous statement, I assume you don’t know the difference between slave labor and cheap labor or a slave and an immigrant. Allow me to educate you; slave labor is performed by force and without compensation or any benefits to the slave and cheap labor is when an individual willingly works and is paid, either knowingly or otherwise, below the acceptable wage. An immigrant willingly leaves his or her home of origin and relocates to a different place or country for better opportunity or other reasons. A slave is a person who was captured either in war or as a free person and forcefully taken to another place or country to perform some kind of services for his or her captors. Your statement would be debatable if it stood on solid or moral premise. What you seem to suggest in your statement is that Liberians should use slave or cheap labor to build up their economy. This statement is wrong not only on moral grounds, but because it also assumes that Liberians own most or all the businesses in Liberia. The truth is, Mr. Perkinss, those businesses are owned by those very same immigrants you are advocating for and if this trend continues karma will have the best of you as these owners would employ cheap Liberian labor, or worse, slave Liberian labor in the future. “Can you tell me how the jobs will come about if the so-called foreigners do not create them?” Another flawed question and due to the fact that it is wrong on so many levels it doesn’t deserve a response from me. You know what, Mr. Perkinss, I suggest you reread Mr. Konneh and I postings. The answers to the questions you are asking can be found in them.

Thanks a ton brother T D Nah. You got the point right and needs commendation. Like we very well understand the direction now a days from most of ourr failed progressive advocators have continued to tred on the culture of silence and corrupt nature of their true self.

I can remember few years back in our dear country, our astute brothers and colleague (Cd Kofi Woods, Steve Wilson and James verdier) were household names of our Liberian society noted for alarming the ills of the most wicked regieme of criminar taylor who ruled the country with iron hands for his selfish gains.

Today you see Kofi comfortably seated in government position where he has the opportunity to negotiate government contracts and quote un quote recommends Liberian for strategy position in other private sectors. how show are we that this young and failed politicians have not gone accross the road? Let me take you back a little about this young man quest for justice in Liberia:

I quite remembered during his year of graduation from the UL ( Class of 86') when our late and former Vice President Harry F. Monibah served as one of the speakers of the convocatios, this brother refused to stand up in recorgnition of the second man in command of our nation at the time. today, they have become the oppressors who continue to enjoy the benefits of our nations resources in fabulous jeeps and lives in good homes. he probaby have forgotten his days back from the 404 class on the UL main campus and can now afford to eat in one of our city's best reasaurant in Monrovia and drink cold beer with other petty bousiouzee' as they once called big shots of the Doe and Taylor's governments.

Yes Kofi, you inability to unearth issues relative to the ills of this government is a big shame and disappointment on your endeavor for good governance you once preached through the length and breadth of our country. Have gone to sleep now? maybe because you are not visiting those down trodden communities you visited to gain popularity for your quest for political power. remember the people of west point, Slip way, new kru town, key hole / Old Rd, point 4 among others will still continue to survive in the midst of your continue silence on the ills of this government. You can now join your brother ( Tiawon) to remain mute on the ongoing corruption in our society.

Look Nah, there were times in Liberia when these so - called advocators made some us of to believed that once you were in government, eventualy you were against the masses and the idea went a long way until wa saw their political God father ( a. c sawyer) administration when they all had the opportunity to devide our govt cars and the remaining revenues in govt coffers by the end of service as an appeasement for the job well done' what a shame on these guys?

I am very disappointed and think that they should continue to remain silence on Liberian Politics like they have done in the last three years now.

manny thanks and promised to contribute more on the status of unfolding political issues back home.

A G Kolubah agemehkolubah@yahoo.com Nairobi - Kenya

Good people, please critically think before you talk or critize

Now.

1. If the foreign store boys and gate keepers are allowed work permits to work in liberia, this means that they have immigration clearances to live and work in Liberia, prove me wrong. or do you want them to work under the table and not pay income taxes?

2. What is this Second rated position thing? Does this mean that the foreigners should only be given first- rated positions?

3. Are you also saying that foreign businesses should only employ Liberians as accountants/ this is straigh out wrong, brothers. Put your acts together.

All you should say is that all qualified professionals should be given an opportunity. you cannot demand that only liberians should be hired? Please leave Woods alone cus you as the advocates are not being fair so i do not know how you became advocates.

remember in a game if you are chosen as the referee, you should be neutral

Thanks Philip JG Piah Minneapolis, Minnesota

I couldn't have said it any better than you did Sir, thanks. I will ,however, add that Mr Nah seems to be speaking from both sides of his mouth. He's disappointed in Mr Woods because as his argument implies, Mr Woods, as a human rights activist should advocate only the cause of Liberians.

Mr Nah is just as clueless as many Liberian "intellectuals"; they run their mouths and provide no tangible solution to the many problems that plague the Liberian society. They criticize and undermine others in authority but given the opportunity to right or fix the problem, they fare even worse.

My advice to Mr Nah and those that have issues with an Indian or Lebanese businessman hiring their fellow countrymen, boycott their businesses or better yet open your own establishments and help provide the much needed jobs.I believe the many unemployed Liberians will be very appreciative than your seeking attention and spouting b.s.

No one is advocating mistreating foreigners in Liberia. If foreigners invest or open stores in Liberia, The so-called investors and Liberians alike should all benefit from the investments, either by employing or training more Liberians. Right now they (Lebanese and Indians) seem to be running the economic and benefiting a lot and there seems to be no limit as to what they can do in Liberia.

If Liberia is to develop, the government has to do a lot to help SMIs, small businesses empower the Liberian middle class and encourage Liberian entrepreneurships, not just by drafting laws that are not applied, but by making sure the laws are observed and Liberian interest is protected to encourage further development.

Entrepreneur spirit is very low or dysfunctional in Liberia, so without some serious protection, Liberian entrepreneurs will be in no positions to compete with Indian and Lebanese that have more capitals and business know how.

One could argue that competition is good for growth, but after years of wars and lack of Liberian entrepreneurship, we are not position to compete with foreigners for low capacity jobs.

Most developing or emerging countries have laws that protect their citizens and limits on what foreigners can do. Despite progresses the government is or may be making, if Liberian entrepreneurship is not encouraged, we might take years if we are to see some development.

The media has to expose politicians that are lobbyists for some of those powerful foreigners and we (Liberians) need to make sure those politicians are not reelected or appointed to senior level positions.

People that are arguing for those foreigners or the way the business atmosphere is in Liberia in the name of human rights need to visit India, Lebanon to learn how foreigners are treated in these countries The aliens and we can all live together in Liberia but not at our disadvantage if we are to develop as a strong nation.

I am glad that the granting of work-permit to people of Indian and Lebanese descenddents has claimed a lot of people attention exmplified by the responses posted on this website. But let face the issue critically by answering certain basic questions. First question is to determine whether it is legal to grant Indian and Lebanese nationals residing in Lberia work permit or employment authorization. Second could be under what condition can such permit be granted. The third and most basic is to find out if the Minister follows the rules in granting such work permit or employment authorization. If one follows the labor laws of Liberia, it will be surprising to learn that only Liberians and legal immigrants/residents are allowed to work or take employment in Liberia. To be a Liberian, either one must be born in Liberia or born to Liberian citizen or citizens or be naturalized under the Immigration Laws. The Immigration laws of Liberia are enforced by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) with oversight responsibility by or under the canopy of the Minister of Justice. Legal residence is granted alliens either permanently or temporarily as dictated by the Immigration law. When the conditions stated above are met, only non-Liberians are required to present work permit to employer before taking up employment in any sector in Liberia. Notably any thing to the contrary is illegal which is punishable under the laws. So it will be stupid for the Minister of Labor (who is granted the power to issue work permit based on conditionality not limited to only those stipulated above) to deny application of law to anyone who meets the requirement for work authorization. When someone gets work permit, the Minister of Labor has not the power or authority to decide when or how or where the person should work because that decision is left with employer to enjoy. As a caution, Liberians can open up their own businesses and decide not to employ foreign nationals without engaging in discrimination based on skin color, nationality or religion, and that can be a prerogative that Liberian employers enjoy. At the same time Liberians who feel that they are refused or denied employment through discrimination by any employer can challenge the employer's action in court. Consequently in this case, I think the Minister is right and should not be used as a political stooge for those desparately seeking to score point or gain recognition. Kofi Woods is not above the Law, but inevitably he is a very, very learnt and patriotic Liberians and must be respected as such. I hope the comment above provides illumination.

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I must say that I have some issues with it, though. First and foremost is that the last time I check, only people of Negro descend are allowed to be citizens or own land in Liberia. Secondly, I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here, the article didn't say that these people are legal residents or how they got into the country. Eventhough we can assume that because they were given work permits they must be citizens. But if that is true, why weren't they given work permits the same time they received their residency? And why it was the Labor Minister and not the Immigration Commissioner that issued them these permits? Lastly, Sir, you seem to be well versed in the Liberian Labor and Immigration laws, could you be nice enough to share your source so we all can take a look?

Thanks for your honest inquiry. I did not posit in my previous discussion that people of non-Negro background could be citizen of Liberia. I only mentioned the category of people who are allowed to work or seek employment in Liberia. Citizens are not required to present work authorization to get a job but the non-citizen who could be either a permanent or temporary resident is required to show proof of authorization to work. The Liberian law grant separate powers to the Bureau of Immigration (BIN)-the power to grant residency and naturization among others and the Labor Ministry-the power such as determining who is qualified to work based on status of citizenship or non-citizenship. Documents to authenticate these claims are available at the Ministry of Labor and the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Republic of Liberia. So for a critic to sustain a point against the Ministry of Labor for wrong doing, it should be proven that the Minister violated or an official of the Ministry violated the Law or ethical standard. As a caution, it is important for one to look at an issue from a factual perspective rather than let his or her judgment be clouded with sensation. I must admit that it is a definitely honorable thing to love one's country and seek the best thing to happen to her, but unfortunately, moving forward in that direction with a mind saturated with biases and falsehood would do no good but impinge on progress.

“To be a Liberian, either on must be born in Liberia or born to Liberian citizen or citizens or be naturalized under the Immigration Laws.” Tell me if I’m wrong, but the impression that I get from the above quote from you is that anyone (be it an Indian, Lebanese, or a European) born in Liberia or to a Liberian citizen (no matter how that person may have gotten his/her citizenship) automatically becomes a citizen of Liberia. That is why I made it a point to quote the Liberian Constitution that says only people of Negro descend can own land or be citizens of Liberia, in fact that is one of the points all three of our Constitutions have in common. The second point of my inquiry was your quotation of both the Liberian Labor and Immigration Laws. I’m an employee of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and it struck me as to how similar those are to U.S. laws. I know that we Liberians are very good at cutting and pasting anything American, but your quote seems to be word-for-word. That is also why I asked you to make your source available to me or to the rest of us.

Chappie,

Your postings appear like someone who wants to portray himself or herself as knowledgeable or know-all and finds it ddifficult to admit mistake(s). For instance issue for this discussion has nothing to do with citizenship. It came about only to clarify doubt as to how one can obtain or is given work permit in Liberia under the law that governs. In so doing discussants needed to focus their postings on proving or disproving any wrong doing on the part of the current Minister of Labor, Hon. S. Kofi Woods about the issuance of working permits to people of Lebanese and Indian descends. I am seriously afraid that you lost track of the whole journey and you are lingering and fumbling around accussing Liberians of "being good at coping and pasting". I do not see the relevance of such statement in this discussion. On the other hand, you requested sources about references made concerning Labor and Inmmingration laws of Liberia. Well sorry you might not find those sources in the electronic media nor any public libraries because there has not been any publication on such issues. The said laws are still in their original codified form as they were enacted by the National Legislature of Liberia. So your best bet would be to contact or have someone contact the two institutions mentioned i.e the Ministry of Labor and Bureau of Immingration and Naturalization (BIN, for copies on those laws. I hope it be of a help. But given the check and balance that exists between the two institutions, it is unlikely and highly rare for any functionaries of the Ministry to issue work permit to an immingrant or temporary immigrant without the BIN's prior approval. So be informed of the fact that the critics did not do their homework properly to prove any wrong doing on the part of the Minister of Labor. But if you want to perpetuate standing on the bandwagon of vulgar pedanticism, then that is prerogative.

Mr. Chappie, with all due respect, working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security does not make you an expert in Liberia’s Labor and Immigration Laws. You did not state in what capacity you work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that will qualify you as an expert in Liberia’s Labor and Immigration Laws. Some of you have taken the subject matter out of context.

The issue was foreigners holding jobs in Liberia that Liberians should be doing. And the respond was that if these people have legal work permit or are legal residents of Liberia, they have the right to work in Liberia; if all applicants were given equal opportunity at said jobs and the best qualify were hired. I still say that Mr. Nah should had investigated to find out whether these people were legal workers before accusing Minister Woods of being corrupt. Before continuing with the discussion, please investigate before assassinating Mr. Woods’s character.

Since you brought about the subject of who can own land and be a citizen of Liberia, below is the answer as quoted in the Constitution of Liberia. I do not understand how the issue of citizenship became part of the discussion? The question was raised about said workers work permit and residence status. All Liberians should know that non-black can not be citizens of Liberia. See Chapter III, Article 22 section a c, and Chapter IV Article 27 section a, b, c and Article 28 of the below Constitution of Liberia.

“CHAPTER III, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, Article 22 a. Every person shall have the right to own property alone as well as in association with others; provided that only Liberian citizens shall have the right to own real property within the Republic. c. Non-citizen missionary, educational and other benevolent institutions shall have the right to own property, as long as that property is used for the purposes for which acquired; property no longer so used shall escheat to the Republic.

CHAPTER IV, CITIZENSHIP, Article 27 a. All persons who, on the coming into force of this Constitution were lawfully citizens of Liberia shall continue to be Liberian citizens. b. In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, values and character, only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia. c. The Legislature shall, adhering to the above standard, prescribe such other qualification criteria for the procedures by which naturalization may be obtained. Article 28 Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the Person’s birth, shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship acquired by virtue of one parent being a citizen of another country. No citizen of the Republic shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality.” Mr. Chappie, You mentioned that I was being personal by Misspelling you and Mr. Konneh’s name in my posting of January 14th 2009 due to an oversight while spellchecking. But if you had read further down you would have seen the names were spell correctly. I apologize for the error. I neither become emotional or personal during a discussion; we are only sharing our views to the best of our knowledge. I do respect other views and opinions at all times, although we may differ. I’ll be more careful in the future while spellchecking. Samuel H Perkins Yonkers, New York

Mr. Perkinss, I neither claimed to be an expert in Labor or Immigration Laws nor in the Constitution of Liberia. However, my job has allowed me to know enough to recognize the similarity and thereby ask the question posed above. Furthermore, you keep insisting that the rest of us investigate a given topic before expressing opinions when the same can be said of you. For example, in our previous discussion you assumed that these foreigners where in the country legally when the article said nothing of that sort; in your post of today, your citation of the Liberian Constitution supports my point while the rest of your posting seems to be refuting it; and lastly, sir, you now claim that Mr. Nah called Minister Woods corrupt when he said nothing like that in the article. For that reason,sir, I ask you too to investigate before making an opinion. Yes, I agree that we have digress a little by discussing Immigration and Labor laws, but it all stemmed from Mr. Ignoramus' posting which saught to shed light on our discussion. I found that his references to the Immigration and Labor Laws of Liberia to be very similar to those of the United States and asked him to reveal his source so I may take a look; and that's where we are. I'm still waiting for his response.

Chappie,

Your postings appear like someone who wants to portray himself or herself as knowledgeable or know-all and finds it ddifficult to admit mistake(s)when they glaringly occurred. For instance issue for this discussion has nothing to do with citizenship. It came about only to clarify doubt as to how one can obtain or is given work permit in Liberia under the law that governs. In so doing discussants needed to focus their postings on proving or disproving any wrong doing on the part of the current Minister of Labor, Hon. S. Kofi Woods about the issuance of working permits to people of Lebanese and Indian descends. I am seriously afraid that you lost track of the whole journey and you are lingering and fumbling around accussing Liberians of "being good at coping and pasting". I do not see the relevance of such statement in this discussion. On the other hand, you requested sources about references made concerning Labor and Inmmingration laws of Liberia. Well sorry you might not find those sources in the electronic media nor any public libraries because there has not been any publication on such issues. The said laws are still in their original codified form as they were enacted by the National Legislature of Liberia. So your best bet would be to contact or have someone contact the two institutions mentioned i.e the Ministry of Labor and Bureau of Immingration and Naturalization (BIN, for copies on those laws. I hope it be of a help. But given the check and balance that exists between the two institutions, it is unlikely and highly rare for any functionaries of the Ministry to issue work permit to an immingrant or temporary immigrant without the BIN's prior approval. So be informed of the fact that the critics did not do their homework properly to prove any wrong doing on the part of the Minister of Labor. But if you want to perpetuate standing on the bandwagon of vulgar pedanticism, then that is your prerogative.

Gentlemen (Mr. Perkinss and Mr. Ignoranmus), both of you have accused me of straying off the subject under discussion and have suggested that before making an opinion I should first "understand" and "comprehend" the topic. I will admit that I have deviated a little, but for a reason. But to accuse me of not understanding or comprehending the topic is way over the top because not only do I get it but I understand its future impact on our nation. Both of you also suggested that we return to the topic: our Labor Minister Samuel Kofi Woods issuing work permits to foreign shop boys; that I'll do starting now. Mr. Perkins, this is what you wrote on January 9, 2009, "I strongly agree with Mr. Philip J.G Piah that people should think before they speak on issues that they do not understand or comprehend. Mr. Thomas Doe Nah, The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), is wrong by saying that business operating in Liberia should not hire Legal Foreign Residents that reside in Liberia." Mind you folks, the article did not say whether these individuals where in the country legally or not. "Did Mr. Nah do any investigation to find out the status of these people that he accused of taking jobs from Liberians?" The follow is you viewing lawless and corrupt Liberia through rose colored lenses bought in the U.S. "Before making his accusation of Mr. Woods, did Mr. Nah visit said business or businesses to inquired about their hiring practices? Did an equitable and qualify Liberian filed a formal complain with the Minister of Labor about the unfair hiring practices of a particular employer or employers? I am not sure whether Liberia has an Equal Employment Opportunity Law on the books that states that you can not hire on the bases of, sex, race, age, religion or ethnicity. The business has to interview various candidates before selecting the most qualify. Remember that qualification does not only relate to education or experience. A person can be qualify for the position, even passed the testing, if required, but fail the oral interview. So my friend, just being a Liberian does not give you the rights to a job, you have to earn that right." Actually, sir, to a certain extent, it does. "Before you run off accusing a person of being corrupt or attacking his or her character..." Mr. Nah did not accuse Mr. Woods of corruption nor did he personally attack him in the article, "...please do your home work and follow it up with proofs. If a foreigner is a Legal Resident of Liberia, they have the right to live and work in Liberia. They may also have a Work Permit, but not a Permanent Legal Resident." The following citation is from the official website of the Ministry of Labor, please read it carefully. Section 75. Liberians employees to be preferred. “Except as provided in section 280 of the General Business Law, all employers are required to hire employees, except agricultural and unskilled laborers, from the lists of qualified Liberian workmen and employees maintained by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Agents. Except for administrative, supervisory, or technical positions, it shall be unlawful to hire an alien employee unless and until the list of qualified Liberians has been exhausted or there is no qualified person on the list capable of performing the job to be filled. In the event that an employer reports to the Minister of Labour that he can find no Liberian employee capable of doing a specific job, the Minister or his deputy appointed for that purpose shall grant a special permit setting forth this fact and according to the employer the right to engage the service of an alien or aliens to be named in the permit, designating the class of work he or she will be required to perform.

Mr. Ignoranmus you were a little difficult to pin down because of the ambiguity of your stand on the issue and because you also chose your words carefully, like any intelligent person should. However, where you went wrong was to assert that Minister Woods was somehow compelled to issue these individuals work permits because their legal stata had been approved by BIN , when in fact, sir, the process to issue work permits to aliens is begun by the Ministry of Labor. This is what you wrote on January 15, 2009, "So it will be stupid for the Minister of Labor (who is granted the power to issue work permit based on conditionality not limited to only those stipulated above) to deny application of law to anyone who meets the requirement for work authorization." And again on January 21, 2009, "But given the check and balance that exists between the two institutions, it is unlikely and highly rare for any functionaries of the Ministry to issue work permit to an immingrant or temporary immigrant without the BIN's prior approval. So be informed of the fact that the critics did not do their homework properly to prove any wrong doing on the part of the Minister of Labor." This is what I found on the official site of the Ministry of Labor. Section 1507-A. Liberian to have employment preference. “Applications made by any person, partnership, firm or corporation for visa to enable travel of an alien to Liberia for employment or to the Ministry of Justice for change of status for employment of an alien who entered Liberia on a visitor visa shall not be acted upon by the Minister of foreign Affairs or the Minister of Justice, as the case might be, unless such application be accompanied by a permit from the Ministry of Labour that there is no qualified Liberian for such employment. Moving forward, gentlemen, I challenge every one of you, myself included, that when we come out here to discuss, debate or argue that we do so based on the facts and not hearsay or innuendos. That gentlemen, was the reason I intentionally swayed off course and embarked on the so-called Socratic Inquiry. To be fair though, you gentlemen are not to be blamed entirely for making erroneous comments, you are both victims of bad journalism. End of discussion!