By Grace Q. Bryant
The former head of the Arms Commission, Teklo Maxwell Grigsby, says any country that disregards justice and the rule of law is in the wrong.
The attorney-at-law expressed that vicious cycle of corruption and underdevelopment persist because people tend to address issues in isolation of accountability and justice.
Speaking on variety of national issues on the OK FM Morning Rush yesterday, Grigsby said the rule of law must prevail for equitable distribution of resources adding, “It is time for justice to be served, because since 2003, there has been fundamental errors and that, President Boakai, must address.”
Atty Grigsby said this President is determined to correct those fundamental errors before leaving office and therefore he is not concerned about any political casualties that may arise from his actions adding, “He did not enter politics to gain power, but instead wants to leave a positive legacy in his country.”
Though Grigsby said himself thought this decision to erect such court would have come to reality in 15 to 20 years or more, he admitted that President Joseph Boakai is an unpredictable man and that his vision for the country is admirable.
He praised Boakai that his legacy will be long-lasting, and said the move to establish a War and Economic Crimes Court is great news that this will be apparent in 2024 adding, “Despite the political consequences, this decision is one of the best steps we can take as a nation to break free from the cycle of impunity, where those who committed crimes against the state and humanity are allowed to go unpunished.”
“This is a clear message to those in government; deliberate actions will be taken to hold people accountable for their actions. If someone is found guilty in court and punished appropriately, it sets a precedent for others to follow suit and make amends for their wrongdoing,” he cautioned.
“It’s difficult to determine how individuals have been living their lives and planning for future generations while many people may be living in silence but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t making conscious decisions. It’s estimated that there were 255 different sites during the war, and today there are many individuals unaware of where their parents were even buried. Although we may be opening wounds, we are making decisions that will impact future generations. As young leaders in this country, we must come together and put aside our differences to make a positive and lasting impact. President Boakai has the opportunity to make a difference and we must support him in his decisions,” he presumed.
Grigsby said some Liberians believe that establishing war crimes in the country is crucial to ensure accountability and deterrence, however, others argue that there are more pressing issues that President Boakai should focus on, such as economic development.
Though he believes that the United States is not a good example of welcoming people and their resources, yet noted that Liberians need their expertise and stated, “Could this be beneficial for our country? They should be learning from us, considering all that we have achieved. Where can we find a successful model? They should come and learn from us and adopt our practices. We are doing things correctly, and they are making mistakes, but they have the resources to assist us. This is the point I am making with regard to reparations. We need to have a dialogue about the possibility of restoration, and it is a lengthy process.”
In the meantime, he called on President Boakai to appoint professionals to the Asset Recovery Committee and ensure that it is trustworthy for all Liberians, regardless of political affiliations.
Grigsby, who resigned to enter the political race in Sinoe County in 2023, stressed that if anyone is actively involved in politics, they should not be appointed as chairperson of said integrity committee.
“My advice is that integrity individuals should not remain politically active in order to ensure that their in critical roles meet their objectives,” Grigsby said.
According to him, by now it is clear that the President is deliberate about ensuring accountability and the evidence is that he is intentional about holding individuals accountable for misusing state resources emphasizing, “He is determined to assemble a group of the best Liberians, including outstanding young individuals, despite some challenges with the committee.”
However, he called on President Boakai to demand two things from every committee member, that is, “They must report through the appropriate auto secrecy and confidentiality process to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.”
He underlined that there are concerns about some members’ ability to keep such information sacred and to conduct themselves professionally adding, “Every committee member must remain non-political.”
They should not participate in active politics, or it may create a tense situation, particularly when it comes to arrest and those who are highly active politically need to decide whether they should continue to participate in the committee or not.”
He added that it is important to consider the situation carefully before making any decisions, “There are people who are very active politically and we need to ensure that we are not sacrificing the country’s best interests for political advocacy.”
“It is also important to prevent any doubts or prejudices from arising by ensuring that proper accountability measures are in place,” He noted.
On other areas of concern, Grigsby then commented on the Civil Service Agency’s recent announcement of 40,000 civil servants lay-off which he stated that government initiated reforms; like beginning from 2012, to professionalize and qualify entities, such as the Finance Ministry, and ensure reasonable compensation for those employees.
“Over the last six years, we have seen harmonization in the civil service. The new CSA boss is exuberant and passionate about his work, which is good for the country, during a subsequent interview, he was careful not to set specific numerical goals,” Grigsby observed.
Atty Grigsby further highlighted that the new CSA boss seems to be very enthusiastic and passionate about his work, which is a good thing for the country, adding that he is making progress by processing the numbers, with 19,000 people already being processed out of a total of 40,000, noting, however, “There are still challenges that need to be addressed within the civil service.”
“When discussing the police, it is important to note that they are not considered civil servants. While they are part of the spending entity, they are not governed by the civil service standing order. The regulations for police officers are managed by the revenue institution at LRA Motors, where they are employed,’ he explained.
According to the legal practitioner, the hope is to have a team of professional civil servants who are not influenced by politics and focus on the general public.
“However, there have been some issues with reduced income for civil servants, which has caused some to vote against the government. It’s important to consider the impact of income changes on civil servants and find ways to ensure that their finances are stable,” he averred.
“It appears that some individuals have committed their income to the bank, which can lead to difficulties if they need to access that income,” and he noted that refinancing loans or repaying a large portion of the incumbent can be painful and leave them with little to no money, “We hope to see more progress and the establishment of the Civil Service,” he expressed.
