Bravo Mr. Nah. Minister Kofi Woods is no different from any gravy seeking politicians in Liberia. They and their master Sirleaf are on the move to get what ever they can now that time is running out fastly on them. The Sirleaf, the Kofi etc.etc. know that they are not living by what they preached in the past. Look around you in africa where in the region you find even clerical jobs in the U.N. system you find other foreigners doing, but Liberia. Now is the time for these politicans to realize that you can't have higher institutions graduating students in the thousands without jobs. This will definitely lead to insurrection. The days of the open-door policy are long gone. The situation in Liberia especially with the uncontrolled level of corrution is not only a disgrace to the Ellen led government but shame to all Liberians. Ms. Ellen has proven that she is only a talkative not a leader. Had it not been for the presence of foreign instituiton she would have been long gone.

I strongly agree with Mr. Philip J.G Piah that people should think before they speak on issues that they do not understand or comprehend. Mr. Thomas Doe Nah, The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), is wrong by saying that business operating in Liberia should not hire Legal Foreign Residents that reside in Liberia. Did Mr. Nah do any investigation to find out the status of these people that he accused of taking jobs from Liberians? Before making his accusation of Mr. Woods, did Mr. Nah visit said business or businesses to inquired about their hiring practices? Did an equitable and qualify Liberian filed a formal complain with the Minister of Labor about the unfair hiring practices of a particular employer or employers? I am not sure whether Liberia has an Equal Employment Opportunity Law on the books that states that you can not hire on the bases of, sex, race, age, religion or ethnicity. The business has to interview various candidates before selecting the most qualify. Remember that qualification does not only relate to education or experience. A person can be qualify for the position, even passed the testing, if required, but fail the oral interview. So my friend, just being a Liberian does not give you the rights to a job, you have to earn that right.

Before you run off accusing a person of being corrupt or attacking his or her character, please do your home work and follow it up with proofs. If a foreigner is a Legal Resident of Liberia, they have the right to live and work in Liberia. They may also have a Work Permit, but not a Permanent Legal Resident

Mr. Garmack, commenting on Mr. Nah remarks, stated, “The days of the open-door policy are long gone.” I do not know what he is talking about, or is he suggesting isolationism for Liberia’s Economy. Open-door policy is good for a country because it brings in people of different cultures, insights and backgrounds that help develop and enrich the country. Remember, we are now operating in a Global Economy. In my opinion, these people are the opportunist because their so-called fight for justice does not benefit Liberia or its people. Please play politic when warranted.

I think Mr. Woods is serving Liberia according to the Law of the land and not by how he feels or his emotions. With that said, Please bring forth your proofs and evidence that Mr. Woods is corrupt by abusing his power or misusing Government Funds. Please folks, before going on your character assassination, please do your home work and bring proofs.

I do know of Mr. Woods but never met him. Although I do not agree with some of his ideologies, I think he is the best thing for Liberia because he is TRANSPARENT and DECENT. In my opinion, overall, he is a good man of character. He can only be accused of his deep love and emotions for Liberia.

Samuel H Perkins Yonkers, New York perkinss@coned.com

This is in response to Mr. PJPiah and Mr. Perkinss' postings. Gentlemen, political historians have observed and those of who have read their work have agreed that through out history whenever two groups of people come in contact with one another, whether violently or otherwise, the group with a well established culture (for example, advanced social systems, weaponry, bonds that transcend the family and clan), have always won. Example of this can found in our own country when former slaves from an advanced society made contact with our hunting and gathering forefathers. With that in mind, let's take closer look at the current situation in the Liberia and the origins of these so-called immigrants. As you may already know, gentlemen, our country is severely divided along ethnical and and socioeconomic lines, democracy and the rule of law are have yet to take hold in our society, unemployment and illiteracy rates are sky high and the condition of our basic infrastructures are deplorable. In short, gentlemen, our country is dangerously teetering on the edge of despair. On the other hand you have China and India, two of the oldest civilizations in the history of mankind and also the origin countries of our immigrants. These two countries are also firsts in the race for superpowerdom. Everyone agrees that as early as the middle of this century, these two countries would have, at least, paralleled or surpassed the United States as preeminent in the world, if and only if they control their population burdens. For this reason, these two nations have ripped a page out of the early 18th century European play book- population resettlement. As a evidence of this, countries like Nigeria, Angola and Sudan that do the most trade with these countries also have a proportionate amount their citizens residing within their borders. So what we are witnessing, gentlemen, is not only trade with India and China but we also serve as population relieve points for them. What bothers me the most, however, is not that these countries are sending their citizens to settle in our country or that Mr. Woods is giving them work permits. No, what bothers me is how so called educated and well-traveled Liberians and Africans residing within the continent or over-seas are so quick to transpose or transplant whatever they see in the United States and other developed countries into Liberia and Africa without careful analysis. Developed nations accept immigrants from Third World or less developed countries as a philanthropic gesture and because they can afford to do so. There aren't enough resources and jobs in Liberia to support Liberians and you gentlemen think its ok to add to this problem by rolling out the red carpet to immigrants, especially those coming from well-established and wealthier nations because America and Europe are doing the same thing? Here is the problem, gentlemen, today you give a work permit to a Chinese or Indian immigrant, tomorrow that immigrant sends for his or her mother, brother or sister and that mother or brother sends for her son or his daughter and so forth and so on. This is what we immigrants do. And because these immigrants come from well established cultures and we Liberians are still finding ourselves means, if I was a gambling man, that if we make contact with these people without careful planning we will definitely lose.

Sir, What do you suggest we do?

Do like the Ghanaians, the Liberian job seekers pool must be exhausted before hiring foreigners. At the same time, construct technical and trade schools to train Liberians so they may become middle and senior executives and entrepreneurs in the future. And finally, enforce the Liberianization law.

Why would this man bring his entire family to war torn liberia when, as you say he is from a well estableshed culture and his country is stable politically and econonically. rethink your position

piah

Brother Piah, I meant to pose that same question to you but I've been busy over the last couple of days. Why would this man travel thousands of miles over many other countries (most better off than Liberia, mind you)just to come to poor little Liberia? Did he travel here on his own or was he sent? Why didn't he come in the eighties when Liberia was a little better off and China was a little worse off? If he is so poor, where did he get the money to journey he and his family across two continents and three oceans? Ponder these questions, brother Piah, and hopefully what I said earlier would make more sense. The truth is, brother Piah, the players may have changed, the rules may have changed; heck, the game itself may have also changed, but the goal remains the same: to invade (whether forcefully or otherwise), to dominate (culturally, socially, economically and politically), and if possible, subjugate or worst, exterminate. Recent historic examples: Liberia, North America, Australia and South Africa. You've been warned, brother Piah, take heed or pay the price.

Mr. Piah, You seem to be out of touch or illinformed. Please know that the world over, the citizens of a given country come first. In Liberia today,one finds economic migrants running into the country as investors with no capital. Openning a shop with two or three foreign nationals is not an ivestment. Had Kofi and his master follow closely the reality of the situation in Liberia they would have created the avenue of opportunities to be provided Liberians who are honest and capable through banking institutions to open up small busineses. The poverty reduction strategy been advanced in the country will positively achieved only if the vast majority of the Liberians are able to take care of the economy of the country . Contrary to this, you will continue to have foreign capital flight there by depriving the country of needed funds. Moreover, if you support Kofi Woods, why defer with his ideologies? You need to comment on this. Finally, if you care to know, read about two of Liberia's sister countries, Guinea and Ghana. For foreign nationals to open store in any of these countries, 50% must be for a citizen of the country the business is established. For Ghana in particular, Liberians were not allowed to do business outside of the refugee's camps.