Don’t blame President Ernest Koroma: Scarcity of fuel is a global issue

The world at large is becoming unsustainable and it means its inhabitants should brace up for unprecedented events. In the USA, we drink from the Potomac River, despite its pollution, there is no complaint as the technology is available to recycle and purify it. In Saudi Arabia people drink from the salty Red Sea, again there is no complaint as the technology is bought to desalinate the sea. Earthquakes, tsunami, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters are inflicting colossal damage around the world. Global warming is increasingly causing depletion of the protective ozone layer, resulting in the rise of skin cancers and drought and famine.  (Photo: Dr. Augustine A. Kamara)

Man made or artificial disasters are promoted by the folly, greed and ignorance of humans. Deforestation by man that may cause land or mudslides is changing the landscape of our environment; civil unrest and unnecessary turmoil are on the rise. Time in and out we have witnessed global recessions, affecting leading world economies of wealthy nations and bailouts is a common household word to support that. Portugal and USA recently offered a bailout to their citizens. Sierra Leone, a poor nation coming from the scourges of war and devoid of modern technologies would not be expected to do better than most wealthy nations undergoing recession and struggling with unprecedented high cost of living, unemployment and uncertainty.

What perhaps we as Sierra Leoneans should do is to use our worldly experiences to utilize the endowed natural potentials call it wealth if you may for the development of Sierra Leone. We have just shown the world that, we are a people that can march forward and ready to face challenges for mama Salone.  I think by making a mockery of ourselves by using global difficulties experienced by everyone including the very wealthy of nations as a comparison or to blame our impoverish state seem ridiculous. Yes I do sympathize with the present situation of a hike in the prices of petrol and other basic commodities but this is not the first time of such occurrences. The game plan should be fair; we should be fair even in war. It is of no good dividend by making a hullabaloo against President Koroma and his government about oil prices that are determined by OPEC states.  Scarcity of commodities should be an incentive and a wake-up call to follow the call for attitudinal change and promote our efforts in agriculture, also the majority of our population lack education it is duty bound for every Sierra Leonean to strive for education.

The government, parents and children all have a responsibility in promoting education which should be the cornerstone of our development.  There is no free agency; therefore let us follow the examples of First Step and other industrious Sierra Leoneans that are re branding Sierra Leone. The youths of our nation are the vanguard to our development and civilization.  Let us stop poisoning their minds with hatred and all other negativity as the truth is there for all to see.  In fact it is sinful to bear false witness against thy neighbor let us avoid wickedness, sadism and hypocritical in dissemination of information.

If, as we call ourselves Sierra Leoneans cannot be a solution to an inherited ailing economy it is better to keep quiet and stop using President Ernest Koroma as a scapegoat for the very problems which we created.  In our society today, it is very easy to cast blames and find faults on someone.  However, any rational and meaningful person will offer constructive criticism for problems affecting the country rather than imputing and ridiculing a perceived situation.

The intelligentsia and host of professionals that Sierra Leone has produced and nurtured for years should be the very people that should rescue Sierra Leone in this period of world-wide economic malaise but to our dismay these people have become a laughing stock to themselves because they rejoice in seeing the country and Sierra Leoneans in the doldrums while writing scathing and provocative articles about the country.  One thing I would like to remind all and sundry is Sierra Leone is the only place we call home therefore we should be proud and defend her at all cost.  If we fail in our endeavor to meet this obligation, posterity will never forgive us.

The almighty USA has not been spared. The country is going through one of its worst economic recessions. Unemployment is at an all time high and still companies continue to shed off staff and sometimes even fold up. Many car owners are parking their cars at home and using cheaper alternatives. Even shops and supermarkets are complaining of a significant reduction in purchasing power.

It is very important to note that the economic hardship we are experiencing is not as a result of mismanagement of the country. It is a worldwide phenomenon sparing neither the under-developed, developing, nor developed countries.  It is hoped that those who are criticizing President Koroma are doing so in good faith. Condemnation should however be meted out to those whose criticisms are born out of mischief, who are not giving realistic alternatives, but are only criticizing to score cheap political points.

By Dr. Augustine A. Kamara, Virginia, USA

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