With
all Due Respect-I disagree!
By:
Henrique Caine
In
the interest of full
disclosure, let begin
by saying that I supported
the Candidacy of Ambassador
Winston A. Tubman for
President of Liberia
and passionately campaigned
for him both in Liberia
and among Liberians
in the United States.
However, and with all
due respect to the Ambassador,
just as I publicly and
vigorously campaigned
believing that in him
was the best person
to move Liberia forward
at this critical time,
I must on principle
also publicly disagree
with his decision to
endorse George Weah
for President in the
upcoming November 8,
2005 run-off election
against Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
For
me the choice is all
too clear, and is beyond
personal ambitions,
or any thoughts riddled
by self-interest. I
stood with Ambassador
Winston Tubman because
I believe that he was
better prepared and
better experienced to
restore Liberia's dignity
on the world stage as
a nation capable of
peaceful self-governance.
Now post October 11,
2005, we're left with
the choice of Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf or George
Weah. I cast my lot
with Mrs. Sirleaf.
Frankly
speaking, Liberia cannot
afford to remain in
a constant state of
disrepair! We need a
leader with the capability
and ability to grasp
the challenges that
comes with re-attracting
international investment,
combating rampant corruption
that continues to plague
Liberia, negotiate on
our behalf for the elimination
of our international
debt burden, rebuild
our damaged infrastructure,
rebuild our schools
and health care facilities,
restore law and order,
rebuild our justice
system, improve our
trade potential with
other nations, develop
our youth, reconcile
our people, and the
list goes on and on.
George
Weah's obvious lack
of experience in these
matters of State is
a clear indication that
he is not the best suited
of the two for the Presidency
at this juncture. Mrs.
Sirleaf is the better
Candidate and should
be elected President.
If
there is anything that
we should have learned
as Liberians during
these last difficult
years, it is that we
can no longer make choices
merely based on political
expediency, or what
is perceived as popular.
Remember the 1997 chant
"he kill my ma,
he kill ma pa, I will
vote for him..."
Look where that got
the country! Now the
chant of the day is,
"he know book,
he don't know book,
we will vote for him..."
For
the betterment of Liberia,
I support the Candidacy
of Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
in the November 8, 2005
run-off election!
Mr. Caine can be reached
at cainehenrique@hotmail.com.
