China over the years has been establishing itself as and economic, military and financial power and the current global crisis has strengthened their dream of becoming a world power. The present crisis has a telling effect on United States to the point of recession with some of their multi-national businesses filing for bankruptcy or waiting for the Federal bail out plan.
Several international crisis meetings and conferences have been held over this period to find a solution to the problem. Every meeting and conference held has seen China playing a pivotal role. No matter what we say or do, whether we like them or not, they are now ‘the new kid on the block’ as the saying goes, for their continued economic progress.
At present, China has the largest foreign exchange reserve in the world amounting to some $2.3 trillion. Also they have overtaken America in the market and now the two leading banks in the country have been rated as the best three in terms of market value. The economy of China is now the fourth large and it keep rising by the day.
But China would not have achieved these successes without the rest of the world. As the recession is biting in Europe and America, so is the Asian countries too feeling the pinch especially Japan that has so much economic link with America. China during the recession had about 20 million unemployed workers due to the closure of many industries as exports dropped drastically. But the government never relents as the unemployed were paid unemployment benefits and also they were encouraged to return to the rural areas to involve in small scale businesses and Agriculture with aid from the government.
Decoupling theory, which means the Chinese economy, is independent and is not dependent upon USA and EU markets has been severely tested under the aftermath of the recent financial crisis in global markets, especially financial and stock exchange markets. This shows that the world economy is truly global in scope practical implications.
The impact of global crisis is explored in the context of financial, manufacturing and stock exchange in China. Decoupling holds that European and Asian economies, especially emerging ones, have broadened and deepened to the point that they no longer depend on the US for growth, leaving the US insulated from a severe slowdown, even a fully fledged recession.
This caused the new Obama administration to implement policies that saw the bailout funds going to companies that are fully US owned and buying raw materials within the country.
China’s development started in 1978 when the late leader Deng Shaoping shifted from his predecessors’ policies by calling for opening up and reform. This call was heeded by the Chinese people and on the first day of January 1979, China and United States established diplomatic ties, and that was the starting point of China’s development.
The Chinese knew that if they are to develop they have to look for a target and an admirer, so they chose the US as their target. 31 years after the opening up and reform, China have achieved so much that they are now a very important world player.
Every thing good about the US has been good for the Chinese to implement; from business to social, the only difference between the two is politics. In China, every TV program has some American flavors, planning of their cities, their western style dress code, the western food they eat; the English they speak, the curriculum in their universities and the popular sports are all linked with America.
Even with the global recession, MacDonald’s and KFC, the American fast foods are steadily expanding in the country because of the demand from the Chinese populace.
So if in 31 years China can change the status quo and moved towards development, what is wrong with our own leaders as we still continue to move down into the bottomless pit.
Most of our leaders over the years were laughing the Chinese for their uniform dresses and the same face culture, when these Chinese were working day and night to change the cause of their country, we laughed and took guns to kill and maimed ourselves.
They had a target (America) and they wanted to reach them at all cost, so they have been working to achieve their goal, because the leadership was very serious to get them out of poverty. Their dream has been achieved, now they are at the top but they are not relenting as they are pressing on to even be the world power. China defies the western theory that no country will be successful without democracy. They are now a success story without the western democracy.
In 1961 we got our independence along with many south American and East Asian countries, we were better than Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and even China, we were able to feed ourselves, and still export rice, but today, Sierra Leoneans has been reduced to beggars due to bad leadership over the years, whilst these Asian countries are progressing.
Since the eighties when we have been in recession, up till now we are still fighting it. The current situation is worse because the global recession has slowed the crumbs falling from the rich table for us to collect and this has had a telling effect on the economy of the country, coupled with the failed policies.
Inflation is rising, a bag of rice has almost tripled since 2007, crime rate and corruption are on the increase and there is no end in sight. We are told to change our attitudes if the country should progressed, how can we change our attitudes when those in power refused to lead us through the positive road of change.
Police beating up journalists, journalist giving orders to humiliate innocent people and public figures, bondo women in forceful recruitment and embarrassment of women and children and there is a government with a leader of attitudinal change drive, yet he is not aware of these incidents as usual. Three square meals a day is almost impossible, can we change for the better or for the worse? Change is just an empty word used by politicians in electioneering and that’s it.
If president Koroma really understands change, then let him start by changing the status quo in his government and look for a country that got independence at the same time with Sierra Leone like Singapore and establish diplomatic ties with them. Get them to teach us what success is.
If president Koroma can use a country like Singapore as a target and work with them in all areas of development, then his idea of attitudinal change will be effective as the population will definitely follow the trend.
Celebrating World Food Day in Sierra Leone was a big farce as almost half of the country’s population cannot afford three square meals a day. This year, more Sierra Leoneans are hungrier due to the high cost of living with very low salaries.
The Land Tenure system is another big problem for us as agricultural lands are in abundance but are not accessible to us all because of the laws. Any country that has such backward laws will never succeed in development.
We have electricity, but we can’t pay the bills, or buy electrical appliances and food stuff to utilize the electricity. Electricty should come with good economic policies that would enable us to buy goods and to pay our bills.
China’s development was all round so as many other developing countries, but Sierra Leone is a very strange country that some of us can’t understand our government or the system operated.
The Chinese knew America was the best to copy and implement identical policies, so they did it and they succeeded. If president Koroma can put aside the negative aspect of ‘I was unaware of it, or I don’t know about that’ and try to understand and know everything that is going on in his government, it will be better for us all.
When he assumed office in 2007, we didn’t expect a backward movement, instead we hope for a forward movement, but the vehicle seems not to have forward gears only reverse, so we are reversing now. A driver knows how difficult it is to drive for long periods on reverse because an accident can easily occur. We don’t want an accident at this point as letters have been coming out from the military, the next thing they would want to do is to stage a coup.
Please Mr. President you have to look for a country that has developed and will understand our situation so they can help us with our development problems. The current economic trend is quite clear: East Asia is now the new economic power in the world. These Asian countries believed in themselves and some 20 years ago they said the 21st century will belong to them; indeed they are correct as 40% of the world’s strongest economy is now in East Asia.
Set yourself a target that Sierra Leone will be able to do this or that in the next 10 years and not to judge you after three years. We judge a president by the day and not after three years. Most Sierra Leoneans as of today are angry because your two years in office is a sham, because life in the country is extremely difficult.
Let us take the Chinese example of development and put it into action, be sure you would come out with flying colors because Sierra Leone is just like a small city in China and it will be easy to develop. We are now clamoring for aid from China with all the natural resources we have, why should we always be like the cemetery, waiting to receive?
China has been establishing themselves over the years in Africa, and they gave out loans to the tune of $12.5 billion in mid 2006 for infrastructure development alone. The same year, Angola became China’s leading foreign supplier of oil, overtaking Saudi Arabia. China also agreed to debt relief for 31 African countries, worth $1.2 billion.
Ecobank Group’s Corporate and government relations manager of West Africa Adama Gaye two years ago in Chatham House meeting said that China is not only coming to Africa with financial support, but with package of solutions and also with legitimacy. Their track record is impressive as they have pulled more than 200 million Chinese out of poverty in the last 20 years and reversed the effects of colonialism.
He stated that the Chinese promises made are delivered, in contrast to grandiose shows like the Group of Eight who make big promises but are yet to be delivered. China’s aid has no condition attached to them and they give what they know they will be able to do.
All what Mr. Gaye said is the truth, but there is a problem with Chinese assistance that all Africa countries are facing, because China is not a democratic state, they only deal with or speak with governments and tends to ignore the civil society, the media, labor movements, environmentalists and other non-governmental groups.
But if we have a sincere government that is determine to remove Sierra Leone from the bottom of the world, then he will do it with all sincerity. We were born in poverty, I know most of us will die in poverty, but for the sake of our children, can’t we leave behind a country that will be worth living?
As the slogan of attitudinal change rings across the nation, may the president thought it wise to kick start the change by understanding every plan and decision taken by his officials and if not positive, change it. Let him know that he was not voted to run a club or an institution with 50 or 60 staff, but he is now the president of a country with more than five million people waiting on him to move the country at least one step forward than taking five steps backward.
Mr. President, the earlier you understand that you were voted to that seat for five years; the better it will be for you. Find a country of substance, a country that developed rapidly in the last 30 or 40 years and work with, so that posterity will judge you for all the good things you did and left behind. Don’t copy your APC predecessor; instead look for someone out of the continent of Africa that will be your model. Time is running out on you, beware!
By Austin Thomas