The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
November 13, 2021

Bai M. Gbala, Sr.

Sirs:

I pen this letter in the same vein in which I wrote, for decades during my political adventures advocating in favor of Liberian citizenship for individuals who were and are:

1. Non-Negro and/or of non-Negro descent,
2. Of any gender and age 18 years and over, and
3. Of any national origin, without consideration of race and religious creed, if qualified consistent with Liberian immigration/citizenship law and international conventions.

This has been my strong, unshakable belief then and now. For, I believe and hold that foreign nationals who lived, worked, contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Liberia and continue, especially, the Lebanese, some with children born here, should and must be granted Liberian citizenship if they desire.
Liberia is a small, poor, uneducated (relatively) Third World developing country with democracy under the rule of law.

But during these decades, I discovered, with deep regret and sorrow, that you, the foreign nationals doing business in Liberia took and are taking undue advantage of this small, poor country in milking its economy by your control of the parallel Forex Bureau with the prices of goods and services that you import into Liberia, and, thus, created/creating extreme economic hard times for the people.

Take, for example, your “supermarkets”, particularly, the Rice (nation’s staple) import Cartel, the major bribery/corruption point, and your pharmacies with unaffordable prices of drugs.  Thievery, “Legislated Bribery” and corruption stink to high heaven – by prices of your imported commodities such as HP #61 print cartridges which went from $10 US dollars to $15 to $20 to $25 to $30 to $35 and now stands at $40 US dollars yesterday !!

Today, Liberia’s foreign exchange Rate, though in the great beyond, is L$154 to the US $1, determined NOT by competitive free-market forces, but by Liberian forces of “demand- for/receipt” of “Legislated bribes” and political corruption – through parallel foreign exchange bureaus controlled and dominated with manipulation of exchange rates by Lebanese, Indians, Fulanis and some Liberian merchants, in collusion with some highly-placed officials of the Liberian Government.

The Indian “GUPTAs” got South African former President, Jacob Zumah, in serious trouble concerned with bribes – he was arrested, prosecuted, and jailed. If Liberians are not careful, similar handwriting is on the wall.

Regards,

Bai M. Gbala, Sr.