Rhode Island, USA—A leading Liberian Journalist and author, Joe Bartuah is calling on his fellow Liberians at home and abroad to engender and nurture a culture of collaboration, partnership and mutual empowerment for the progress and development of the Liberian society.
Mr. Bartuah, who was Editor of THE NEWS newspaper in Monrovia, believes that through collaboration and mutual empowerment, the Liberian economy will be steadily stimulated, thereby creating a pool of economically potent middle class.
Speaking recently in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, at the Kiiton Publishing House, where he received the first consignment of his newly published book: AN AGENDA FOR A BETTER LIBERIA—A Common Sense Approach to Nation-Building, from the Chief Executive Officer of Kiiton Press, Dr. Nya-Kwiawon Taryor, Mr. Bartuah noted that no economy can ensure sustainable growth and development without a formidable middle class.
According to Mr. Bartuah, mutual empowerment is one of the reliable conduits through which the Liberian economy can be assured of rapid revitalization. He therefore called on the Liberian Government to formulate prudent public policies aimed at effectively empowering its citizenry and engendering entrepreneurship throughout the country.
In what is seen as an attempt to pinpoint some specific policy issues, Mr. Bartuah called on the Weah Administration to initiate a legislation that will ensure that Liberian construction companies are given priority when Government’s construction projects are being undertaken.
“In cases where some construction projects are so sophisticated to the extent that no Liberian construction company has the necessary equipment, or expertise to be awarded the entire project, at least 25 percent of such project, such as carpentry, for example, must be given to a Liberian company”, he noted.
The veteran journalist also called on Government to ensure that 25 to 50 percent of all textbooks prescribed in Liberian schools are authored by Liberian writers, except in cases where there are no Liberian writers in a specific subject area.
Mr. Bartuah added such forward-thinking policies would not only help in creating a vibrant Liberian middle class, but would also serve as a source of inspiration for today’s generation of students in optimizing their potential in varied professional endeavors.
“If, the Government empowers its citizenry through policies that enable them to generate profits from their talents and entrepreneurial initiatives, they would, in turn, pay their legitimate taxes to Government, thus increasing Government’s revenue generation and thereby enabling the Government to undertake multiple development projects and as a result, create more jobs and more income for the Liberian people,” he pointed out.
Mr. Bartuah commended Dr. Taryor for the high level of professionalism carried out by his publishing house, adding, “You have amply demonstrated that indeed, Liberians are qualified, competent and capable to do whatever professional job, except that we all need the support of our compatriots and most especially, our Government.”
He said collaboration with Kiiton Press is a practical demonstration of some of the key public policy issues that his book delves into. “I could have submitted my manuscript to some of the big publishing companies, but I deliberately chose to prioritize this Liberian-owned publishing house. This is imperative, because we all need to have confidence in one another in order to make LIB a better place for us all,” Mr. Bartuah added.
Answering a reporter’s question about his motivation for writing the book, Mr. Bartuah said nationalism or patriotism was the impetus. The NEW THINKING columnist said he considers An Agenda for a Better Liberia…as his treatise for national development to the Liberian people. He emphasized that if propositions contained in the book are formulated into public policies through the legislative process, with all the necessary modifications and scrupulously implemented, Liberia will be a better place for us all.
Earlier, in presenting the very first consignment of the book to the author, Dr. Taryor thanked Bartuah for reposing such enormous confidence in his business, which he noted, was a practical proof of the author’s desire to empower his compatriots. Dr. Taryor expressed optimism that more Liberian and other African writers would take advantage of the existence of Kiiton Press, by submitting their manuscripts for possible publication.
Tracing the existence of his publishing house to 1984, Professor Taryor, a former president of the Gbarnga School of Theology and a veteran Methodist prelate, noted that Kiiton Press was mainly set up to cater to the publishing needs of beginning and aspiring authors, because he had realized that many mega publishers were often reluctant to consider manuscripts from some first time potential authors. Commenting on Bartuah’s book, Dr. Taryor hoped that schools and colleges in Liberia will shortly begin to prescribe it for their students, because it is enriched with historical, policy and even legal issues germane to the Liberian society.
Also speaking at the brief presentation ceremony, the former Managing Editor of The News newspaper and former Deputy Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Mr. Y. Nyekeh Forkpa noted that Liberian democracy currently faces challenges of public policy continuity, because it seems that every incoming administration is intent on dismantling institutions established by law to ensure the functional integrity of many public service agencies and smooth functioning of the Liberian democratic process.
Citing an example, Mr. Forkpa said the tenure laws governing some public service institutions in Liberia were intended to guard against undue political interference in the operations of those institutions and thereby ensure their integrity, so that those appointed to those agencies will professionally administer such agencies without fear or favor.
Mr. Forkpa who bought the first copy of the book, autographed by the publisher and author, then expressed optimism that more Liberians, especially politicians and policymakers will read Mr. Bartuah’s book, so that they can begin to implement some of the policy suggestions contained in the book, to ensure the continuity and integrity of the Liberian democratic process.
Also present at the event was Mr. J. Grody Dorbor, former Associate Editor of The Inquirer newspaper in Monrovia and currently publisher of The African Star newspaper in Providence, Rhode Island.
The 402-page book, which contains 14 chapters, discusses varied public policy issues within the Liberian society, ranging from tackling pervasive corruption, provision of electricity, abiding by the rule of law, to youth empowerment, restructuring the governance architecture and power devolution, among others. According to the publisher, this highly-enriched book is being sold $35 per copy.
The author holds double bachelor’s degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master’s of Science in International Relations from the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Governance, also in Boston, Massachusetts.