By By Contributing Writer
Paynesville, Montserrado County — In a strong show of civil-military cooperation, joint security forces over the weekend carried out a massive cleanup exercise across major corridors of Paynesville as part of activities marking the 69th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), celebrated annually on February 11.
The exercise, led by the Armed Forces of Liberia, brought together several security institutions, including the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), alongside the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC).
Cleanup Linked to Armed Forces Day Activities
The sanitation campaign forms part of a series of programs lined up ahead of Armed Forces Day, aimed at strengthening civil-military relations and giving back to communities.
Speaking during the exercise on Saturday, February 7, 2026, Assistant Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of National Defense, Oscar Mulbah, said the initiative goes beyond the routine first-Saturday cleanup.
“What you see today is beyond just the first Saturday clean-up exercise. This is part of our line of activities leading towards the Armed Forces Day celebration,” Mulbah said.
He explained that the cleanup falls under the AFL’s civil-military operations, designed to provide direct assistance to civilians while reinforcing public trust in state security institutions.
Joint Security Unity on Display
Mulbah highlighted the visible presence of multiple security agencies as a clear demonstration of Liberia’s joint security architecture.
“This is an inter-agency coordination. All of the institutions you see here were formally communicated—the Armed Forces of Liberia, Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Drug Enforcement Agency, Fire Service—so that we can work together,” he noted.
According to him, the joint operation sends a powerful message of unity within the country’s security sector.
“We want the Liberian people to know that the security institutions in this country are not divided. We are one,” Mulbah emphasized.
PCC Mobilizes Heavy Equipment, Workforce
Sanitation Director of the Paynesville City Corporation, Arthur S. Kemeh, described the exercise as “very special,” noting the level of coordination between the city authority and the joint security.
“What makes this exercise special is the involvement of the joint security. We do cleanups regularly, but this partnership elevated the work,” Kemeh said.
He disclosed that the PCC deployed its full workforce and logistics, including front-end loaders, dump trucks, skid trucks, tricycles, and other sanitation equipment. The Paynesville Mayor, Robert S. Bestman, was also present, working alongside AFL leadership and other security officials.
“The mayor was here with us, working with the AFL boss. That alone shows how important this exercise is,” Kemeh added.
Red Light Labeled a ‘Hard Zone’
Deputy Director for Commercial Solid Waste at the PCC, Gbale Brown, described Red Light as one of the most difficult areas to maintain due to persistent dumping and street trading along drainage paths.
Brown said sanitation teams began work as early as 6:00 a.m., clearing drainages and sidewalks from Duport Road through Red Light to the double bridges.
“Red Light is a hard zone. You clean the drainage today, and by tomorrow morning it is filled again,” she said.
She stressed the need to stop trading along pedestrian walkways and drainages, warning that blocked waterways contribute directly to flooding in surrounding communities.
“The drainage is not a dump site. It is for water to pass. When it is blocked, water will always find another way—into people’s homes,” Brown cautioned.
Both Kemeh and Brown called for increased patrols by city police, stronger enforcement, and public subscription to Community-Based Enterprises (CBEs) for waste collection, while also appealing to central government for additional manpower and logistical support.
Street Vendors Applaud, Call for Enforcement
Several street vendors along the cleanup corridors welcomed the initiative and urged authorities to sustain enforcement.
Pauline Moore, a vendor at Red Light, praised the joint security and the PCC but warned that the cleanliness may be short-lived.
“Before tomorrow the place will be dirty again because when people give dirt to zogos, they bring it to the street,” she said.
Margret Kossah, another street seller, urged city police to focus not only on chasing vendors but also on arresting and punishing individuals caught dumping waste illegally.
Victory Mary Toe echoed similar sentiments, blaming illegal dumping for persistent sanitation problems.
“To keep Red Light clean is hard. But if people are arrested or taken to court when they violate, others will learn,” she said.
As Armed Forces Day approaches, authorities say the cleanup campaign reflects a broader commitment to public service, civic responsibility, and national unity—while residents continue to call for sustained action to keep Paynesville clean beyond commemorative events.
