By In fulfilment of his constitutional mandate, delivering his State of the nation address to the national Legislature on January 22nd, President Joseph Boakai assured Liberians of his government’s commitment to ensuring that ‘‘NO VEHICLE WILL GET STUCK IN MUD DURING MY FIRST HUNDRED DAYS IN OFFICE’’
Since the pronouncement, the Liberian head of state has been instrumental in paving major highways including Ganta to Luogatuo, Maryland to Fish town and Nimba to Grand Gedeh corridors.
What seems to be great and rewarding News, on day two of the President’s cabinet retreat, Minister of State without portfolio Mamaka Bility disclosed the bringing of 285 yellow machines to Liberia intended for road constructions across the country.
The minister revealed that 19 machines will be assigned to each county. Minister Bility made the disclosure while presenting at the cabinet retreat at the EJS ministerial complex.
PROGRESS:
The pronouncement has since been greeted with mix reactions from Liberians home and abroad. The social media especially Facebook has been flooded with congratulatory messages from the downtrodden, complementing the efforts of President Boakai and the UP government while some Liberian parliamentarians and politicians have been concerned about the source of the funding.
The ordinary Citizens who’ve been appreciating the government said the nation’s economy is stunted due to bad roads connectivity stressing that pliable farm to market roads are a conduit to an improved economy. They believe that such effort by the government is aimed at easing transportation burden; creating easy access to other parts of the country to enhance trade, commerce and Agriculture.
‘’19 caterpillar machines to each county? This is what I’ve prayed for always- to have a country that is connected with pave roads straight to its capital. I want my country to be develop, whatever means possible. Thank you to President Boakai and his government for the effort, I’M HAPPY!’’ Maccullay Doetein wrote to his Facebook feed.
For Maccullay and many Liberians, they welcome the pronouncement demonstrating their commitment to progress over Scepticism.
SCEPTICISM:
On the contrary, permanent politicians including Bomi County senator Edwin Melvin Snowe as well as Gbarpolu county Senator Amara Konneh have been more concerned about the source of the funds to procure 285 earth- moving equipment under six month in power.
In a Facebook post late Sunday, Senator Konneh raised an inquiry about the cost of machines and how the Boakai administration raised the money. Senator Konneh argued that the minimum price for each of those machines is one hundred thousand accumulating approximately 30 million.
‘‘The administration must state what that figure is, and who put up the capital.’’ An excerpt from Senator Konneh’s post.
As for Senator Edwin Snowe, Transparency and Accountability is his paramount concern in the machine’s debate.
‘‘We want to see transparency in this pronouncement; we cannot sacrifice transparency and Accountability on the altar of perceived development.’’ Snowe’s take!
‘THE EDITORIAL’’
Since Independence in 1847, for the first time for a newly elected government under six month to make such significant strides in addressing roads- a major factor affecting all sectors of our country is with President Boakai and the Unity Party.
The pronouncement of acquiring 285 pieces of earth-moving equipment by Minister Mamaka Bililty of the Ministry of State without portfolio is a ground-breaking revelation and should be celebrated by all Liberians broadly.
Roads connectivity has been among key issues affecting the progress of Liberia. As stated by minister Bility, 19 caterpillar machines to a county is a serious boost to transportation, trade and commerce. Our highways will be pliable, our local produce will get to the market, transportation burden will be eased and our economy will begin to boom. Let’s celebrate the development first.
Let’s not conceive at this early stage that the president acted outside procurement laws and other important legislations governing the state until otherwise proven.
The legislature as part of its functions provides checks and balances for both the Executive and Judiciary. If a member/members of the legislature need (s) clarity concerning the arrangements leading to acquiring the earth-moving equipment, cite the minister to plenary to answer to your inquiries instead of the early social media campaign of perceive outburst against the initiative. The executive is answerable to the Legislature.
As a struggling country, fighting to improve our various sectors, our foremost concern should be development and how can we sustain it for improve livelihood. Scepticism has only taken this country into unforgettable hurdles and the perception to oppose development. It’s hard time we graduate from unnecessary Scepticism and gravitate towards supporting meaningful venture for the common good of the country and its people.
President Boakai has taken a bold step in an effort to revamp Liberia’s aged old roads connectivity problems; good road is all we need and the rest will follow. Road drives development, we look forward to receiving the machines in country and subsequent pavement of our roads connecting rural Liberia to Monrovia.
Progress over Scepticism!!
