Old Mat … New Mat
DID YOU KNOW...?
Old Mat … New Mat
Rhythms of Change & Progress
With J. Emmanuel Z. Bowier
Did you know Liberia had its own internationally recognized “Liberian Standard Time (L S T)”? It was 45 minutes behind Greenwich Main Time (G M T ). When it was 12 noon in London, it was only 11: 15 a.m. in Liberia.
After Dr. William R. Tolbert, JR. assumed the presidency in 1971, his impatience with the slow pace of change in Liberia was demonstrated by the frequent dismissal of government officials, including cabinet ministers, who arrived late for work. At a certain ministry, President Tolbert was seated behind the desk, in the minister's seat, when that public official arrived about 30 minutes late for work. He was fired on the spot!
During one of his un-announced “lightening visits” to government ministries, Tolbert occupied the chair behind the desk of the Minister of Education, who was not at work by 8:30 a.m. The news spread like wild fire. By nine that morning, the Minister had not arrived for work. The President instructed junior officers to contact their minister by phone. His wife replied, indicating that he was sick. President Tolbert directed that the Minister submits himself for medical examination by the President's physician. That Minister's wife refused to let her husband be examined. It was later announced that the President had accepted the resignation of the Minister of Education.
Shortly after that, the Executive forwarded a Bill to the Legislature for the elimination of “Liberian Standard Time (L S T)”. The Bill emphasized the need for Liberia to be in line with other nations and peoples, and therefore, recommended that Liberians adopt G. M. T. as their official standard time. That Bill was passed, and G. M. T. became the rule by which Liberians measure time.
President Tolbert earned the popular nick name “Speedy” for his swift, no-delay approach to the solution of Liberia's problems. His presidential jet was called “Speedy One.”
Like all leaders, Tolbert had his detractors. Critics accused him of “climbing stairs without steps;” they nick-named him “Hurry, Hurry, Bursts Trousers,” and predicted that “soon ripe, soon rotten, soon forgotten.”
The law was passed. L. S. T. changed to G. M. T. However, Liberians still seem to be stuck 45 minutes behind G. M. T. Our historic challenge is to reconcile the standard of G. M. T. with the realities of the comfort we find in L. S. T. Like an “Old school” song says, we are “torn between two lovers.”
Old Mat … New Mat
Rhythms of Change & Progress
With J. Emmanuel Z. Bowier
Did you know Liberia had its own internationally recognized “Liberian Standard Time (L S T)”? It was 45 minutes behind Greenwich Main Time (G M T ). When it was 12 noon in London, it was only 11: 15 a.m. in Liberia.
After Dr. William R. Tolbert, JR. assumed the presidency in 1971, his impatience with the slow pace of change in Liberia was demonstrated by the frequent dismissal of government officials, including cabinet ministers, who arrived late for work. At a certain ministry, President Tolbert was seated behind the desk, in the minister's seat, when that public official arrived about 30 minutes late for work. He was fired on the spot!
During one of his un-announced “lightening visits” to government ministries, Tolbert occupied the chair behind the desk of the Minister of Education, who was not at work by 8:30 a.m. The news spread like wild fire. By nine that morning, the Minister had not arrived for work. The President instructed junior officers to contact their minister by phone. His wife replied, indicating that he was sick. President Tolbert directed that the Minister submits himself for medical examination by the President's physician. That Minister's wife refused to let her husband be examined. It was later announced that the President had accepted the resignation of the Minister of Education.
Shortly after that, the Executive forwarded a Bill to the Legislature for the elimination of “Liberian Standard Time (L S T)”. The Bill emphasized the need for Liberia to be in line with other nations and peoples, and therefore, recommended that Liberians adopt G. M. T. as their official standard time. That Bill was passed, and G. M. T. became the rule by which Liberians measure time.
President Tolbert earned the popular nick name “Speedy” for his swift, no-delay approach to the solution of Liberia's problems. His presidential jet was called “Speedy One.”
Like all leaders, Tolbert had his detractors. Critics accused him of “climbing stairs without steps;” they nick-named him “Hurry, Hurry, Bursts Trousers,” and predicted that “soon ripe, soon rotten, soon forgotten.”
The law was passed. L. S. T. changed to G. M. T. However, Liberians still seem to be stuck 45 minutes behind G. M. T. Our historic challenge is to reconcile the standard of G. M. T. with the realities of the comfort we find in L. S. T. Like an “Old school” song says, we are “torn between two lovers.”