IPNews-Monrovia: Over the last two weeks, President George Weah, had been aggressively making key interventions in restoring economic and social viability across various sectors.
Last week Friday, was another glamorous moment when President Weah switched on streets lights from the ELWA Junction to St. Paul Bridge, in Burshrod Island, sending jubilations across Monrovia and its environ.
The lighting of Monrovia, now sets the stage for continuing commerce in Africa’s oldest Black Republic,even st night and increased security amid roaming drug street kids.
The move follows nearly thirty years of destruction of basic social services, including electricity and pipelining water due to nearly 40 years of Civil unrest.
It looks evidently clear that President George Weah, promises made during his fourth Annual Massage to the joint Session of Liberia’s Legislature is now taking shape.
IPNews understand that the Liberian leader is expected to dedicate the once deplorable Barnesville-Johnsonville, Johnsonville-Pipeline road corridors shortly as part of ongoing plans to making Liberia returns to prewar era.
The construction of the Johnsonville, Ganta to Sinequllie and Zwedru , River Gee to Maryland Counties corridors have rejuvenated residence resolve to accelerating development, trade, access to farm to market across the country.
Even as the tie is yet to dry on roads within these corridors, President George Weah, is up to another ground breaking today along the Tubman Boulevard, Fish Market, famously known as the I.E. practice ground.
President Weah will today break ground for a multi- purpose sports facility at the fish market. (Formerly IE practice ground)
The facility according to a social media post by special Presidential Aid, Sekou Kalasco Damaro , the multipurpose facility will be to be named and styled: “The Invisible Eleven Sport’s Park”
Immediately following the posting by Sekou Kalasco Damaro, social media began bursting with comments sparking serious controversy.
Some Liberians told IPNews in views simple that while they interpose no objection to the President’s initiative, yet it sounded laudable as a way of giving back or to appreciating his former club, the Invisible Eleven.
Others contents that the timing and sites are wrong and inappropriate, as it raises a lot of issues as to its funding, safety to aircraft carriers on landing or taking off; the ownership of the land to be developed and human capacity that will dwell on the park.
A resident of Monrovia bagging not to be mention stated: “I strongly advise against doing such or proceeding further at this time of national discontentment ( unpaid benefits and salaries, liquidity issues at banks and the general economic situation in the country; coupled with the global Covid 19 pandemic.”
“Therefore, we should suspend this for now and stay any and all further actions, so as to have more consultations with relevant ministry or agencies to ensure safety compliance, to pending constructions to aircraft and humans that would love on the park.”
The multipurpose facility according to sources will include but not limited to a basketball and Tennis courts. Other facilities expected on the park are: a regular size football field and a general play ground for leisure and children.
I prominent sports administrator, Cornelius Reeves stated that he thinks that the Administration of IE is in error and should have identified and purchased the land to be developed, at a different location other than the fish market area, which should NOT be in use even NOW due to safety reasons.
“Secondly, in all fairness, since it is the Invisible Eleven club that will no doubt be the DIRECT beneficiary of such ventures, they should go out in search for a more convenient location and not endangered the safety of others.”
” My last reason is that, the site being considered, is NOT the personal property of any one group of people, but the Government of Liberia for the use and sole purpose of an airport facility for the Republic.”
“In closing, the fish market land space is NOT feasible and will DEFINITELY pose a DIRECT threat to aircraft landing or taking off not mentioning those that might be on ground, should there be an emergency landing.” Mr. Reeves contented.
Cornelius Reeves also stayed that his comments are in direct reference to the President’s state of the Nation’s address, when he stated that ‘going forward, there is no more errors’.
“This mean that , we should not make those DECISIONS/MISTAKES that yielded no results or brought no impact to the country and people.” The Sports Administrator stated.
He further proposed that the government ensure the complete removal of all illegal inhabitants from within the air field facilities area, so that it can be enclosed or fenced and developed to meeting flying safety standards or rules to aircraft and human.
” In addition, carry out feasibility study as to whether the existing field can be extended to accommodate much larger aircrafts towards the old LPRC in Barnerville, as well as it’s environmental impact on the wetlands.” Cornelius Reeves told IPNews
Another Person taking onto the issue is international blogger and Journalist Charles B. Yates.
Yates lauded President initiative to ensuring the construction of the Invincible Eleven (IE) sports park, but warned that venue is not suitable for the project.
Charles Yates advice that President George Weah give the project ideal a little more consultation in finding a way forward to avoid international isolation.
“The same thing with the so-called Bali Island project, no consultation was done , But guess what? the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will not allowed this to happen or else they will shutdown that airport. Take my world to the bank … Safety measures for the airport is very key to the ICAO.” Journalist Charles Yates stated.
ICAO limiting objective provision on specification on Aerodrome safeguarding mandates that: “The airspace around the aerodromes to be maintain free from obstacles so as to permit safety of intended aeroplane operations.
“Prevent the aerodromes from becoming unusable by the growth of obstacles around the aerodromes by establishing a series of obstacles limitations surfaces that define the limits to which objects may project in to the airspace.”
The James Spriggs Payne, Airport, is Liberia’s secondary Airport much closer to the city center of Monrovia and possesses the nation’s only other paved runway, with scheduled commercial service since ASKY Airlines suspended service in November 2014.
In 2013, the Spriggs Payne, with a grant from the African Development financed the infrastructure development of the Airport in line with Liberia’s new poverty reduction strategy, the Agenda for Transformation recognizing that
economic growth and development cannot be achieved without adequate infrastructure.
The AFT at the same time, key insights from the nation’s history indicate that
the social and economic benefits of growth must be inclusive and an enclave orientation must be minimized
to avoid growth without development.
Infrastructure investment must therefore be planned to support key growth corridors that connect urban centers with the rural milieu and foster conditions for economic advancement by smallholders and the domestic private sector as well as foreign direct investors. Infrastructure services must strive to improve quality, availability and
affordability to citizens throughout the country.
This report provides an assessment of the current status of infrastructure and services in the transport, electric power, ICT, water and sanitation sectors in Liberia, together with the context of their participation in regional infrastructure development initiatives in the Mano River Union and ECOWAS. The report is divided into three chapters. Chapter one presents a diagnostic of the present
situation including an analysis of determinants of past conflict and continuing vulnerabilities, indicators of social and economic performance, the status of infrastructure
and the strategic policies guiding the nation.
Chapter two takes a look ahead to evaluate growth strategies which could accelerate inclusive and stability-enhancing growth if binding policy and infrastructure constraints are
addressed. Chapter three presents recommendations for short, medium and long-term infrastructure investment for and the related infrastructure investment priorities that can best bring Liberia out of its relative isolation. These will enable Liberia to play a larger role on an agricultural trading stage within the Mano River Union, on a regional stage within the ECOWAS energy, communications and transit trade markets and on a globally competitive stage as an attractive investment destination for manufacturing, mining and agro-industry.
The ultimate objective of the Report is to offer recommendations for short, medium and long-term infrastructure planning for Liberia. The approach takes its cue from Liberia’s national poverty reduction strategy, the Agenda for Transformation which seeks inclusive economic growth and it adds a regional perspective on relevant infrastructure development.
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