By James Bruce

For many years the Liberian state has been rocked by a civil strife that, for most of the period during which it was being fought seemed intractable. But thanks to the help and foresight of the international actors that came to the country's rescue, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the attainment and restoration of lasting peace to this war ravaged nation. 

The political process that started with the demise of the kleptocratic regime of former President Charles Taylor and his departure from the country in August of 2003 has all but successfully concluded with the holding of two stages of general and presidential elections, on October 11 and November 8, 2005. This process has seen the elections of members to the country's two-chamber legislature, and a president and vice president. And for the first time in the country's history its electoral exercise has truly been hailed as free and fair, albeit some farfetched cries of cheating. 

The challenge now is the sustenance of the gains that have been made in different spheres of the nation's sojourn, and ensuring that the hard earned peace becomes more permanent. But this will be quite difficult to achieve if there are not the strictest adherence to the rule of law, and the institution of genuine efforts geared towards annihilating the major causes of the country's problems: reconciliation, economic and infrastructure development, anticorruption drives, etc. 

But growth for Liberia will not happen if the rampant culture of impunity that has dogged this nation is not arrested with genuine examples being set of people who are most culpable for the state of economic doldrums in which the average Liberian lives. 

The debate in the streets of Monrovia at present is one of whether or not the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), Mr. Edwin Snowe should be allowed to become speaker of the House of Representative, having successfully gotten himself elected to that body in the just ended plebiscite. For their part the pro-Snowe camp argues that Mr. Snowe should be allowed to get the job since he is very benevolent and furthermore not the only stained character in Liberian officialdom. 

Why this pro-Snowe position is true, it is nothing short of sickening for any well meaning person to argue that because someone gives away some of his loot to others, than that person is a good person. There should be no difference between one who keeps all the loot and the one that embarks upon dishing out largesse to the less fortunate, since both are equally responsible for the deprivation of their fellow Liberians through their actions. Liberians must be quite circumspect of making these kinds of assertions, since they could spell danger for the country's younger generations to think that there is nothing wrong with being a white collar thief so long as you share a miniscule portion of your loot with your less fortunate brothers. 

It is worth noting that the position of those that advocate for Mr. Snowe must be emphasized with – Mr. Snowe is not the only bad guy or unsavory character in Liberian officialdom. Even at the LPRC, it is purported that there were accomplices and partners to the criminal transgressions carried out. The anti-Snowe camp, for their part, argues that the fact that nearly all, if not all, of those connected with the LPRC's top management contested for different elective positions and using the massive reserve of state cash available to them comfortably won these positions. 

These kinds of wanton corrupt activities, as are being alleged must stop – and they must stop now or else the Liberia nation is doomed. The unenviable task, over the next few years, of ensuring that a zero tolerance of corruption is achieved now falls to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led Unity Party Government. What it does over the next few years of its reign of the country will greatly determine whether it moves forward or stagnates, and more probably backtracks into the free for all days of the civil war. 

All eyes are now upon the strong-willed Mrs. Sirleaf as her government moves in to reign in the scourge of corruption in Liberia. She is quoted as saying, in a recent interview, that 30% of all corrupt activities will end immediately upon her inauguration. While this statement may be viewed with a high degree of cynicism in different quarters of the Liberian intellectual environment, it is worth noting that only the institution of concrete actions in the days and months ahead will determine whether or not Mrs. Sirleaf will be capable of putting the nation emergency of corruption under control. 

Those fellows that used taxpayers dollars to take cover under legislative immunity must be brought to book for their thieveries. Let it be noted that there is nothing in the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia that says that members of the legislature cannot be prosecuted for corruption. The law is clear on the fact that members of the legislature cannot be arrested for "views" held or expressed as part of their legislative duties. It says nothing of them not being held culpable for alleged transgressions even if they have sought shelter in the legislature as a means of escaping their crimes. 

In view of the foregoing, the Ellen Sirleaf led government will do well in the eyes of the Liberian people and the international community in launching a thorough investigation into the activities of the "LRPC legislators" as it relates their running of that state corporation. It is also worth nothing that all other money generating state agencies must also be investigated. 

The people who should be at the head of this investigation list are Cllr. Fredrick Cherue Chairman of the Board of the LPRC and senator elect of River Gee County, Mr. Mambutu Nyanpan, Deputy Managing Director for Administration of LPRC and senator elect of Sinoe County, and Mr. Devine, Deputy Managing Director of LPRC and senator elect of Bomi County. Others are Mr. Edwin M. Snowe, Managing Director of LPRC and representative elect of district five in Montserrado County, Mr. Zoe Pennue, Deputy Managing Director for Operations at LPRC and representative elect of Grand Gedeh County, Cllr. Varney Sherman, former Chairman of the Board of LPRC and presidential candidate of the Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia (COTOL) during the October 11 elections, and all other persons who have served in the hierarchy of the LPRC over the past two years.  

The Liberian people need to know how their petrol dollars were spent. And the onus is now upon Mrs. Sirleaf to ensure that all government wealth and assets are well accounted for so as to set the proper basis for the running of this nation. Madam, the people are watching your ever move especially those of your first 100 days in office. Your must ask yourself whether you want to leave a positive legacy or not on the pages of Liberian history. Please do not disappoint!

About The Author: Bruce James is an independent Liberian political commentator, who regularly contributes to debates regarding the future of the country. He can be contacted at liberiaman2002@yahoo.com.