By Laurina B. Lormia (Intern)
A group of young Liberian businesses on Carey and Gurley Streets is calling on the incoming government of Amb. Joseph Boakai to improve the business environment for Liberian businesses across the country, noting that over the last five years, foreign businesses took over the local markets, thereby making them spectators in their own economy.
During his inaugural speech in 2018, President George Weah promised to have improved Liberian businesses by making them take the lead and not be spectators in their own economy, but six years on, Indian and Lebanese businesses are vigorously engaged businesses that are protected by law, as opposed to local businesses that are solely Liberian.
The chairman of the Good Will Liberian Business Association on Carey and Gurley Streets, David S. Wah, Jr., said that his organization expects that the incoming government give special attention and protects Liberian-owned businesses, something the Weah government failed to do.
“We want for the new government to make things straight, protect Liberian businesses, open the market for us by bringing in more business; and at the same time, encourage more Liberians into businesses. We know that there are lots of challenges Amb. Boakai will face, but we are confident that he will make it,” Wah stressed.
He suggested that the Boakai-Koung government give special attention to the security of the State and human resource sectors, and as well initiate a robust rehabilitation for people who are described as disadvantaged youths in the country, saying, “This will help to depopulate our major cities, and at the same time, fight crime in our communities.
Wah added, “I have a lot of disenchantment with the outgoing government; President Weah was too flexible with his officials; he provided jobs for them in order to help the country and citizens at large, but they used it for their own selfish gains and left us, the youths of the country, out. We are anxious to see how Amb. Boakai will engage with us.”
For his part, J. Donzo Zean said that he will like for the incoming government to prioritize the rule of law, development, and the social security of the country.
According to Zean, the outgoing CDC Government did not protect Liberian businesses from foreign businesses, and criminals as well.
According to Moses Kollie, one of the main things he expects from the incoming government is to audit the past government officials.
“One of the mistakes the outgoing government made was running their government on partisanship and friendship; government officials were not performing their tasks well but were still kept in their positions,” Kollie stated.
“I will like to tell the incoming government not to run their government on friendship and campaign, because campaign is over and we are talking about a new Liberia,” he maintained.
