President Sirleaf, Touring River Cess, Dedicates Important Bridge, Schools, Clinics And Other Infrastructure Projects

Liberia Government (Monrovia)

6 June 2011

Monrovia, Liberia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf extended her nationwide tour to River Cess County, dedicating a number of projects, including a bridge, schools, clinics and roads, and holding a Town Hall Meeting with local citizens.

The President had departed the capitol on Friday, June 3rd, spending the night at the Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC). Upon crossing the border from Grand Bassa into River Cess, the President was warmly welcomed by Superintendent Wellington Geevon Smith and other government officials.

The President dedicated a bridge constructed by the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), which links Joe River District and Gaye Town to the rest of River Cess. Prior to its construction, there was no motor road leading to Gaye Town and surrounding villages. The citizens took it upon themselves to build the road on a “self-help basis.”

“We fixed this bridge by ourselves on a self-help basis,” residents told the President, and requested her help so that the road could reach to Joe River District where their brothers and sisters lived. They said they wanted to name the bridge the “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Swanii Creek Bridge.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the President praised local citizens for sending their children to school, despite the lack of roads. She told them that despite the difficulties they faced, the best thing they could do for themselves was to send their children to school, as was evidenced by the high turnout of children, dressed in their uniforms, to welcome the Liberian leader.

The President assured Gaye Town citizens that, for the coming dry season, she would liaise with the Ministry of Public Works to ensure that the road is extended to reach Joe River District.

Responding to the effort to name the bridge after her, the President said: “I want this bridge to be named in honor of some of the old traditional chiefs who have made contributions toward the development of this area.” She was of the opinion that the tendency of Liberians to always name projects after the President was not a good thing, and she called upon the chiefs, elders and zoes of Gaye Town to select prominent elders who had made meaningful contributions toward development, and name the bridge after them.

Among the officials accompanying President Sirleaf to the area were: Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea; Foreign Minister Toga G. McIntosh; National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) CEO Christopher Neyor; Deputy Defense Minister for Administration Othello Warrick; Grand Bassa Superintendent Julia Duncan-Cassell; and other local officials.

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