Sen. Duncan To Liberians: ‘End Blind Political Loyalty’

By Stephanie M. Duncan

Sinoe County Senator Craton Duncan has cautioned Liberians against what he described as “blind political loyalty,”, warning that unless citizens rise above party sentiments, the lives of ordinary people will remain trapped in poverty.

Speaking Wednesday at the launch of a loan scheme by the Center for Exchange of Intellectual Opinion (CEIO) in Monrovia, Senator Duncan stressed that political surrogacy for failed and selfish politicians has left Liberia stagnated while neighboring countries continue to experience meaningful development.

He argued that Liberia’s natural resources are being massively exploited by concession companies with little or no benefit to the citizens. According to him, the situation has persisted despite the election of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., as Liberians had initially hoped his leadership would reverse years of exploitation.

“The Liberian people thought that with President Boakai’s ascendency, the looting of our resources by concessionaires would come to an end,” Senator Duncan said adding, “But sadly, the exploitation continues while our people remain in abject poverty.”

The Sinoe lawmaker called on Liberians to begin holding government accountable, insisting that genuine development and economic transformation can only be achieved when citizens demand transparency and equity in the management of the nation’s wealth.