IPNews-Monrovia: President George Manneh Weah, has handed over keys of newly constructed 50 housing units to over 71 family heads and 288 dependents in Popo Beach community, Bushrod Island.
The president’s gesture also contains mattresses to each room of the two bed apartment.
It’s may be recalled nearly three months ago, fire swept away many of the clustered makeshift leaving the lost of valuable properties during the disaster.
The next day after fire gutted the area, on April 4, 2019, President George Weah instructed the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) to immediately proceed with the erection of the housing units that could be ready for use in the period of 60 days.
In the aftermath of the fire, President George Weah, led a team of government officials and promised to construct new homes for the victims of the fire, which is now being completed and turned over.
Even though the cause of the raging fire was not clear, but some pointed to an electrical fault that degenerated from a single room. Power theft in slum communities and reckless handling of candle lights and mosquito coils can sometimes end into the burning of homes and human casualties.
The Popo Beach project costs nearly US$900,000, which now gives each home two bedrooms, two porches, a bathroom and other facilities.
As direct beneficiaries and other community residents defied the heavy downpour Friday afternoon to witness the cutting of the ribbon to the new homes.
During the dedication, President Weah noted the desire of his government to take the people out of poverty regardless of the little resources the government was entrusted with, adding the importance of occupants and the entire community in promoting cleanliness, to prevent fire disasters and other harms.
Further speaking, President Weah said it was a good thing to see that: “our people who were devastated are now joyful,” adding that his government’s duty is to ensure that its Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) works to lift all Liberians, including the underprivileged.
“We did not promise heaven. But we promised development and this is what we are doing,” said President Weah, as jubilations covered the community.
The President stated that the housing units are guaranteed- stressing that his government will keep its promise to transform Liberia as evidenced by the ongoing works on road infrastructure that will lead to capacity-building and facilitate a vibrant agricultural sector for the economy over the next three years.
“Before the six-year mandate that you gave me is ends, you will see the trace of my government all around the country, ”
” All I want you to do my fellow citizens is to exercise patience, discipline and hard work as my government work with the international partners to provide the much-needed assistance and cooperation on all fronts.
The Liberian leader reiterated his government’s plan to construct housing units in all 15 counties — an undertaking that now sees the construction of 282 new shelters for poor residents of Sass Town in Grand Kru County — taking them from huts to modern homes.
LACE says the Sass Town project is nearing completion, and Maryland County will be next on the list.
Meanwhile, President Weah used the occasion to resound the need for Liberians to work in the common interest of the nation, indicating that plenty talk with no impact on lives and country means just “nothing.”
“I am President for all Liberia. I am interested in moving this country forward, and I can tell you that Liberia will not move forward until we unite, sustain the peace, promote dialogue; and there shouldn’t be any segregation.”
This statement observer says is welcoming as there have been ridiculous comments coming from some elements of the governing CDC following the conduct of the Montserrado County by-elections.
For his part, the Chairman of Popo Beach, Eric Thompson, alias “Christian Cole”, stated that the community was profoundly overwhelmed and grateful to President Weah and Government for such development initiative.
According to Chairman Thompson, his leadership has since embarked on a sensitization campaign intended to safeguard homes. The awareness, he said, is focused on zero candle-use and anti-power theft, working together with the Liberian Electricity Cooperation (LEC) and Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) to ensure safety measures are intact.
During the ceremony, LACE’s executive director Quiwu Yeke disclosed that an additional 69 such homes will be constructed on the coastline in New Kru Town for the needy beginning next month as the ocean revetment and drainage systems would be in place.
