The Government of United States has singled out Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe among the presumed presidential aspirants for the pending polls next year as a person with a high degree of integrity in Liberia.
Ambassador Michael McCarthy said that Gongloe has an impeccable character from his public records which has been demonstrated with high “degree of integrity” in the fight against corruption or waste and abuse; according to him, a leader must first set the example for people to follow.
McCarthy has re-echoed Liberia’s inability to institute measures to stop power theft that is causing so much losses in revenue generation to the Liberia Electricity Corporation or LEC.
He also expressed frustration by being worried about the company’s future or survivability in the coming years in the wake of no drastic measures in place to curb the stealing of electricity in the country.
McCarthy stressed that power theft and corruption were contained when granted an interview to a privately-owned radio station Okay FM recently in Monrovia.
He stated that Liberia needs to turn the page of power theft and corruption into a serious fight so as to restore international partners or donors’ confidence who are contributing to the reconstruction or recovery program of the country after years of conflict.
McCarthy added that the energy sector is the backbone of any country’s economic growth and developmental agenda which can lead to the improvement of the population’s living standard is cardinal but waste and abuse must be tackled.
“Liberia has lots of potential but power theft and corruption is a serious headache which must be addressed by Liberians which nobody can do for them. Developed countries taxpayers’ money must be used for the intended purpose,” he noted.
On why George Weah has not been invited to Washington for a meeting with Joseph Biden, McCarthy responded that there is nothing special about it but what is important and can speak loud about you as leader is your record at home which speaks for you abroad.
“Invitation is not that important; rather your work at home will speak for you by meeting or improving the living condition of your people is more important than going to Washington. Indeed, Weah and Biden met for a photo shoot during the climate change summit in Scotland last year,” McCarthy said.
About integrity in Liberia, he singled out among the rest presidential aspirant Cllr. Gongloe of being the person with such impetus and the leading example everyone needs to follow.
