A CALL TO ALL THE READERS OF FACEBOOK AND PARTICULARLY THE MEMBERS OF THE “INFORM BEFORE YOU REFORM” GROUP

Dear Friends,

The menaces to our internal and external security, and the huge number of social,  economic , and financial problems  that we have to address in Lebanon, have made it essential to introduce, as  early as possible, some basic reforms within our institutions, our government, and our society,

Unfortunately, our past and present public Administrations have shown a remarkable lack of interest in this domain. Similarly, our civil society, in spite of some short lived outbursts, was quite happy to go along and never manifested any real interest in opposing this laissez-faire attitude.

At this stage, I would like to mention that I firmly believe that NOTHING can be reformed in Lebanon unless one is able to define precisely what is going WRONG in our country, and how it can be made RIGHT.

For all these reasons, I have decided to appeal to all the sincere citizens who still believe in a united, free, and prosperous Lebanon, to join me in a last ditch effort to stop the degradation of values in our country and work toward instilling some sense of achievement into the minds of its citizens.

Our work, if it is to be fruitful, must start with the identification of all the problems that we are facing in every one of the eighteen sectors of our economy, seeking the adequate solutions to these problems, assessing the time needed to implement them, evaluating the cost of such interventions, and sourcing the funds required for that purpose. But, considering the lamentable experiments of our previous Administrations, all these achievements will lead us nowhere unless we are able to put in place an efficient follow-up system to ensure that the entire  national program works effectively.

For those who may be frightened by the extent of the work that is facing us, let me point out that a  great deal of useful and detailed studies have already been undertaken in this domain over the past twenty five years. We do not have to start all over again. In most instances, all we need do is to extract these studies from the archives, update them or amend them, if necessary, and include them in the L.N.D.P. Plan, the national program that is illustrated below.

That work ought to be done, as soon as possible, in spite of its complexity. A doctor who is put in charge of a seriously ill patient will not apply any treatment unless he has performed all the tests and all the analysis beforehand. How can we dare apply any reforms in Lebanon before we ascertain the extent of the sickness and clearly identify the remedies required?

 At the same time, we do not wish to repeat the mistakes of our previous Administrations. These studies and the conclusions that will be drawn from them must be shared with the citizens. These Lebanese men and women are the first concerned and they are entitled to have their say in the matter.

Consequently, we have decided to open, in the course of the following weeks, a separate page in Facebook for each of the eighteen sectors that make up the LEBANESE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN .

We intend consigning in these pages a review of the past researches and the conclusions that have been arrived at, and invite the readers to share their impressions and their recommendations with us. In this way, we hope to instill in their minds and in their hearts the confidence that they are our true partners in this national reconstruction effort.

What all the successive governments in Lebanon, were unable to achieve during the past seventy years, the citizens of Lebanon will now do so together and in participation with the Authorities, provided they really want it.

By devoting a page to each individual sector, examining in depth the one hundred or so problems that normally affect that sector, and seeking, in participation with any interested readers, the appropriate solutions to these problems, we hope that the end result of that holy quest will bring us one step nearer to achieving our goal of a free, united, and prosperous Lebanon.