Delays in Road Works in Gbarpolu Disappoint President Sirleaf

Liberia Government (Monrovia)

17 May 2011

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, continuing her nationwide tour of the country’s political sub-divisions, arrived in Gbarpolu County Monday, May 16, on the latest leg of the tour, which included the inspection and dedication of development projects. During an inspection of road projects, the President expressed disappointment over the repeated delays in their completion.

Addressing the press on Tuesday in Bopolu City, following a Cabinet Retreat, President Sirleaf made specific mention of the Belle Yella road. “It should have been completed by now; we are facing problems with local contractors, not just for Belle Yella road, but several other roads,” the President acknowledged.

Quoting the Ministry of Public Works, the President told newsmen that the Ministry is addressing the delays by instituting measures which include the cancellation of contracts awarded to some local contractors. Although some of them may have good intentions, “they don’t have the capital and lack the capacity, so because of this, they have been unable to complete those road,” the Liberian leader said.

As a result of the delays, the President disclosed, government now faced the prospect of cancelling the contracts of most local Liberian contractors, and awarding new contracts to contractors with the capacity to complete the roads speedily. The Belle Yella road would be among such projects.

The road linking Gbarma to the diamond-rich mining town of Weasua is also said to be in a deplorable state, a situation which affected the President’s schedule to tour that part of the county. There are reports of illicit mining activities in the area, and a visit there would have afforded the Liberian leader the opportunity to get first-hand information on activities there.

During her visit to Gbarpolu, President Johnson Sirleaf assured residents that the land dispute between them and the people of Bomi County over boundary harmonization will soon be resolved. The President’s assurance was in response to a complaint by Gbarma District that the people of Bomi were encroaching on their land.

The President said she has been assured by Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea that the matter is being addressed and would be resolved in the shortest possible time, and that the Ministry was working along with the Land Commission on the issue. “They will look at the map; they will look at the old deeds from Tubman time; they will listen to what the old people say, and then they will come back to tell you what they’re supposed to do,” the President assured the residents amid applause. “After the land is divided, the person who doesn’t plant in one year, I, myself, will come and take the land from them,” the President said, jokingly, extracting a promise from the residents to engage in farming.

She reminded the people of the strong bonds that exist between the Golas of Bomi and the Golas of Gbarpolu, and urged them to avoid violence and settle their differences peacefully.

The President and delegation returned to the Capital Tuesday evening.

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