By Allen P. Lablah,lallenpaye@yahoo.com
SANNIQUELLIE, Liberia-The National Peace Ambassador of Liberia, Rev. Dr. William Tolbert, III says Liberia’s Peace Ambassador Rev. William Tolbert III says governance is critical to the sustenance of peace and stability in this post-conflict country.
Rev. Tolbert, son of the late President William R. Tolber, Jr, said Liberia has from time immemorial existed in errors due to bad governance, adding that bad governance and insincerity by both citizens and stakeholders are the root causes of the country’s backwardness.
Research has shown that bad governance practices such as abuse of power, lack of respect for justice and corruption led to the eruption of 14 years of violent civil conflict that formally ended in Liberia in 2013.
Speaking at the weekend in Marshall, Lower Margibi County during the Young Ambassador for Peace (YAP) National Peace Summit, Rev. Tolbert further mentioned that there are people in positions of trust including the legislature and other government entities who lack what it takes to function in their respective areas, something he believes undermines national growth.
Also speaking was the Assistant Commissioner for Community Services at the Liberia National Police (LNP), Samuel Ford, who urged justice actors to dispense justice void of friendship and favoritism.
“If peace and unity are to exist amongst Liberians the interpreters of the law remain fundamental and important,” he told those attending the summit.
Assistant Commissioner Ford also called on those in positions of trust to serve with sincerity and integrity.
Mr. Ford attributed the violent occurrences around the country to lapses in the Justice System, and cautioned justice actors to serve with professionalism, integrity, fairness, and sincerity for the sake of peaceful co-existence.