We, a group of concerned citizens of the Republic of Liberia, having heard from some officials of your government, as well as supporters of yours, the statement “Rome was not built in one day,” somehow as a defense for your government’s apparent failure or inability to carry out certain needed development projects, write to make a few comments in this direction.
You see, Madam President, we are sick and tired of hearing this usually wrongly applied statement. We are really sick and tired of it. It seems they – those of your officials and supporters who are fond of making this statement – want to use this as an excuse for your government’s apparent failure or inability to undertake quite simple development projects in the country, especially in the capital.
In the first part of our letter, we mentioned the many bad roads and streets in and around Monrovia. It’s too discouraging, especially considering the fact that the affected streets and roads are right in Monrovia or areas near it. We don’t know whether this embarrasses you or not, but the condition of 9th Street, 11th Street, 15th Street, 24th Street, Police Academy Road and other places is embarrassing – really embarrassing. If this is happening right in the capital, then we can imagine how places far from it look. It is sad, Madam President.
In the second part of our letter, we started talking about the lack of electricity in Monrovia and areas near it. In this third part, we wish to continue the discussion. Sometimes we feel that restoring electricity to the country is not even part of what you consider your priorities. Considering your words during the war, for instance, telling Taylor to destroy the Executive Mansion because you would re-build it in three days’ time, we thought you would be able to restore electricity during your first term, even if not for the entire country, but you have failed miserably.
Vice President Boakai once said that there can be no real economic development in the absence of electricity. You know Madam President, we are disappointed. We are disappointed that after having been in office for almost seven years, Monrovia is still a dark city. We are not surprised, though. We are not surprised that Monrovia is still dark because, if your government is this corrupt, although you declared corruption Number One Enemy, how much can we expect in an area that you didn’t declare Priority Number One.
You know, Madam President, if you were living like most of the rest of us, perhaps you would have done everything to seriously tackle the issue. If you didn’t have 24-hour supply of electricity from the nation’s resources, perhaps you would have done something serious about this electricity problem. If you had to take money from your purse or pocket daily to buy gas or fuel oil for your generator, we believe you would have paid more attention to solving the problem of electricity.
Most of us sleep in darkness every night, while you have 24-hour current. You have never slept in darkness since you became our leader. We virtually provide everything you need and want, while we suffer. It is annoyingly disappointing and painful. Even people in Central Monrovia depend on generators. It shouldn’t be this way.
You have 24-hour current daily. Go on the Old Road and see. Darkness. But you have 24-hour current. Go on the Duport Road and see. Darkness. But you have 24-hour current. Go on the Air Field and see. Darkness. Go Police Academy and see. Darkness. But you have 24-hour current. Go Jacob Town and see. Darkness. Go 72nd and see. Darkness. Almost everywhere is dark Letter Sixty-Two
