1. 02-07-2009 15:35

Right Direction.

Joe, I must say you guys are in the right direction. The first stept in my view is to study the ground. I was on the ground last December. I can tell you that the country is not prepared for investors. 
 
The Government must frist prepared the country to create the conditions to encourged small investors. 
 
There're Plenty of investments opportunaties available in rural Liberia. 
 
But no Roads network to access the rural areas. 
 
No Lights, No Water, No security, No Telecommunications, which is very important to any small or large investors in any country. This is not to undermind your effort, but without the appropreate investment conditions on the ground small investments will be slow or impossible. 
 
We may do all the mouth talking, in Washington D.C. If the Liberian Government is not preparing the country, We may be talking forever. 
 
Food is primary in any country, Food is being produced in rural Liberia, but because of the lots of Roads, the local food is not reaching the cosummers market. 
 
As a result, it appeared locally, like our people are not able to produced local food. 
 
This has being the problem long before even the civil war, that we now blamed for everthing. 
 
 
 
Example: If you can recall, sometime ago Microsoft/Bill Gates agreed to built 27 communications call centers in Liberia. Those centers could have been the foundations for rural development, jobs, and rural investments. 
 
Microsoft Technican team went to Liberia only to discovered that our 162 years old country, is still not accessible by roads. In order 
for Microsoft to contiue the project, they had to fill in for Government, Built the roads, provide Electricity, and provide security. 
 
Help is provided to some one who is prepared and ready to be helped. Liberia is just not ready. 
 
 
Microsoft concelled the whole project. I mention this to tell you that, there are certain things, the Government along can, and must do to prepared the country for both small and large investments in Liberia. 
 
Thank you, for the called I am hoping that we can come together and talk again.