The NEWS (Monrovia)
Alloycious David
6 January 2009
Monrovia — A civil society advocate has criticized Labor Ministry for issuing work permits to Lebanese and Indians who are employed as store boys and gatekeepers.
The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) Thomas Doe Nah has also questioned the criterion being used by the Ministry of Labor to grant work permits to foreign store boys and gatekeepers.
Mr. Nah said he observed that foreigners, especially Indians, are serving as store-boys and door-keepers in many stores around the country.
He noted that it was wrong for foreigners to be hired in second-rate positions when thousands of unemployed Liberians are available to do such jobs.
Serving as a panelist at the December edition of the Edward Wilmot Blyden Lecture Forum organized by the Press Club of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) recently, Mr. Nah was very critical of Minister Kofi Woods' stewardship at the Labor Ministry under the Unity Party led-government that has promised to reduce poverty by creating employment opportunities for thousands of jobless Liberians.
"I am surprised of comrade Woods who is also a renowned human rights advocate for allowing Lebanese and Indian merchants to employ Indians as story-boys and gatekeepers", he added.
Mr. Nah: "these people should carry their stores elsewhere if they can't employ Liberians," and registered his disappointment in Minister Woods for allowing foreign businesses to employ Lebanese as accountants.
"Liberia is not a place where people should migrate for jobs; this must stop," Mr. Nah told the forum held under the theme: "An Appraisal of the Government's Performance in the Education, Security and Economic (Transparency) sector.
He said it was wrong for foreigners to be serving in low capacity when the employment rate in Liberia has risen to an astronomical level.
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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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
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… [Read Full Text]
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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… [Read Full Text]