By: Samuel P. Jackson, Global Development Consultant

If I was a white man with the same education and experience Liberians would worship me. But being a poor black Bassa boy from Soniweh carries no small respect self. The white man has been advising successive governments of Liberia for 177 years. Intensively since 1945 with the formation of the Breton Woods institutions. World Bank and IMF.

Postwar we’ve been in IMF and World Bank programs. HIPC. Extended credit facilities through Article 4 Consultations. We’ve gotten billions in aid with conditionalities by OECD countries. We are still among the poorest and least developed countries on the planet.

I don’t understand why some Liberians would blurt out that Sam Jackson been advising Doe, Taylor, Ellen and Weah with no improvement. Why would you blame me and not the white consultants from Harvard and MIT? Or the World Bank or IMF consultants. ADB consultants? For your information I have not advised anyone of these presidents on policy development and implementation. I have not contributed to writing a national development plan. Most of my consultancies have been in chronicling socioeconomic development or lack there of with data on where we are. I’ve also written linkage plans to show the contributions of concessions to local business development.

I will never take blame for the backwardness of my country. And if they’ve listened to me especially in the postwar period Liberia would be much better off.

My solemn promise to all Liberians now. I will not take any consulting position with the new government and will not apply to RFPs for anything connected to the government through international agencies like UNDP or USAID.

I will concentrate on doing my business as I did in the postwar. Ice factory. Dollar store. Restaurant. Gas station. Bakery. But for now only global business.

I wish the country well. I hope that ends the mindless and contorted and may I say idiotic refrain that I am criticizing the Boakai Administration seeking a consultancy. All I can say is there are thousands of Liberians who can support Liberia’s development with their expertise and money. My time to exit has come. I’m retired but will work with the opposition to hold the Boakai Administration accountable and fulfill its campaign promises to the Liberian people. Keeping the Rescue Team alert and focused on the country’s development agenda.

And so it goes.