By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia-The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince More has asserted that the economic is under severe strains, recording its worst performance, since the civil war ended.
The Deputy Speaker in the 54th Legislature was speaking in Gbarnga, Bong County on Monday, September 30, 2019, when he gave the keynote at the 55th anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
According to him, due to the current economic hardship in the country, many children are unable to attend schools this academic year, because their parents are unable to pay their children’s tuition and fees, because the economy is in a strait.
Deputy Speaker Moye added that income levels have fallen to the extent that employers are laying off workers, while civil servants salaries are not being paid in time and at the same time the health system is worsening.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that generally, the economic hardship in the country is a turbulent time in our country’s history that needs all the ruling position and opposition hands on deck in improving the lives of our people and this is where the role of the fourth estate (the free press) comes in to push them into action.
He further added that toward the end of the 20th century, the press played a pivotal role in alerting the population and the world to an impending conflict. It also, when the civil war eventually erupted, sought to expose the atrocities it unleashed across the country, including the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Tyson, Cowfield and Cater Camp Massacres.
Deputy Speaker Moye explained that it is because of those atrocities that the call for some form of retributive justice has been growing louder and louder, and indeed it was the free press that exposed these atrocities against unarmed civilians.
He further said that the Fourth Estate as the free press is often called, it can promote transparency and democracy, challenges abuse of power and seeks to protect the press itself and fundamental civil liberties against other excesses in the use of the public trust.
He however said, a free press is vital for enhancing the Democratic culture and it helps public officials to remain alert as they execute their fiduciary duties and responsibilities.
Deputy Speaker Moye said the main perpetrator of crimes against the media in the past was government, but it is changing rapidly as a result of the advent of the internet and today there is shrinking readership.
Mr. Moye also said interest in newspapers has warned substantially. Indicating that traditional radio stations are today threatened by satellite radios with no ties to local concerns.
Deputy speaker Moye stated that there is an ever-going distribution enabled by the internet and these are some of the disruptive effects of digital information.
For his part, the President of the Press Union of Liberia, Mr. Charles Coffey said the Union has experienced many difficulties since it establishment in 1964 because people were imprisonment when you call a lawmaker to be radical.
Mr. Cuffy disclosed that what happened those days are not happening now only because of those laws being put in place for press freedom.
He added that what is affecting the growth of the media is the economy even though Journalists are trying their best to bring the rightful information to the public.
The PUL President noted that Reporters are making no money because of the economic condition in the the country is dismal.
Mr. Coffey said the Liberian economy needs to be revised by investing in the agriculture sector, tourism. But he said by cutting the Lawmakers’ salaries cannot help nor harmonization.
PUL was founded in 1964 to champion the cause of press freedom and free speech, from the arrest and detention of prominent Journalist Stanton Peabody, who had earlier written a report which described some members of Liberia’s Legislature as “radicals”.
The celebration is intended to unite media workers across the country.
This year’s anniversary will look at key issues affecting the Union in Liberia.