Liberian Literary Magazine January Issue 0115
destroys potential fulfillments of its victims . There is nothing good that comes out of this less-busy practice . We see how it affects families every day and hampers societal growth . Liberia has a youthful population that needs serious human development . More than 65 % of our population consists of young people who are yet to find a marketable career . Almost everyone , including our political leaders , is complacent about the current status of young Liberians . The determination of any legitimate government in this country falls solely on the shoulders of young people . If we are the ones to decide who becomes President , Representatives , or Senators , then why must we be treated in such a cruel manner ? When I walk through the principle streets of Monrovia , I pity the condition of my peers as they jostle and hustle to survive daily . Some of them are already hopeless , while others are still yearning to reap a decent living . Instead of young Liberians eagerly standing on long queues to receive educational materials , starter-kits , scholarships , and employment opportunities , they are busy fighting among themselves to obtain betting tickets from WINNERS , DOXX , BLOOMING , PRIMIER , and other gambling enterprises . This trend must stop now ! The best alternative is to invest more in technical and vocational training . In 2014 , an official of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in person of Henry Coleman spoke to Journalists from VOA and said “ The government is excited about the presence of gambling institutions in Liberia because they are helping to promote the Poverty Reduction Strategy .” It is really disappointing to hear such a ridiculous assertion from someone whose mandate is to enhance youth development . In what way does gambling substantively contribute to poverty reduction ? What is the transformational effect of this absurd lifestyle ? What concrete impact does it have on our Liberia today especially when most youngsters are becoming wayward and forgetting to give much attention to useful ventures ? I thought the Ministry of Youth and Sports is under statutory obligation to promote youth development through empowerment opportunities such as vocational / academic education , career expansion , massive employment , scholarship , microloan , small & medium enterprises , capacity building , etc . Sadly , this regime has decided to prioritize gambling over rewarding undertakings that could secure a prosperous future for generations yet unborn . In addendum , WINNERS Incorporated Gambling Enterprise through its Marketing Manager , Randall Kaybee made a staggering disclosure in January 2014 by saying more than 7,000 Liberians bet every week at their locations around the country . This figure in my mind was even underestimated by Kaybee . Liberia has never had gambling entities like now since 1847 . The proliferation of gambling activities under Madam Sirleaf is alarming and its effects are scaring . Besides
WINNERS Incorporated , there are other gambling institutions such as DOXX , PREMIER , LOTTO , BLOOMING , CASIONOS , etc . These betting operations are doing more harm to Liberia and if our leaders remain insensitive to this reality , our nation would become a host to professional gamblers ten ( 10 ) years from now !! The best option to reduce poverty in Liberia is not gambling . The best preference is to create legitimate opportunities through education , empowerment , and employment . Madam Sirleaf and others who are national stakeholders today were never subjected to gambling by leaders of yesterday . In fact , the resources of Liberia were used to even send most of them abroad to obtain foreign education . Why must they continue to mistreat this young generation especially at a time of globalization and modernization . The Liberianization of our economy will remain a daydream until young citizens are fully equipped in basic skills to respond to future challenges . What is this government doing to ensure sustainable empowerment program for over 102,193 excombatants who hastily underwent the DDRR process ? The best solution to reduce post-conflict trauma is to build their capacity vocationally . Liberia needs technicians and technocrats who can easily use their minds and tools to enhance reconstruction . Malcolm X said “ Education is the passport to the future ”. The great United States was built by young technocrats , and not gamblers , prostitutes , or drugs addicts . As such , the Liberian government must do all it can to empower young men and women who can reflect an image of greatness . Today , everyone is anxious to visit Europe and America simply because citizens of these continents put their thoughts to work . The Industrial Revolution is a unique strategy to emulate as an underdeveloped country . There is no social , economic , or political transformation without mental change . Most youngsters in this country are thirsty for mental change . It is time to construct more polytechnics , youth centers , district / public libraries , etc . If two young men ( The Wrights Brothers ) had not put their ideas to work at a bicycle shop , there would have been no airplane . These two great inventors are memorialized today simply because they had the opportunity to learn how to fix and repair bicycles . This is the kind of opportunity young people of this country need . We don ’ t need betting tickets and drugs . We need leaders who will teach us how to fish by creating an enabling environment . Drugs dependency is increasing every minute . Young men and women are experimenting with harmful substances as a result of unavailable opportunities . Liberia is now a major commercial site for drugs transaction . Nothing tangible is being done to prevent drugs trafficking . Young women are forced to sell their pride and self-respect just to survive . The rate
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