‘Coastal Highway Costly’

-Senate Pro-Tempore Asserts

By Jackson C. Clay, Jr.

The President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate says the construction of the proposed coastal highway by the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government would be very costly if not impossible.

Senate Pro-Temp, Albert Chie

Making the disclosure Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at his capitol building office in Monrovia during a press conference, Senator Albert Chie said it would be very costly to construct the most talked about coastal highway due to the many rivers, marshland and other harsh terrains along the coastline of the country.

“It would be very difficult to construct the coastal highway which has been talked about over many years due to the many rivers, marshland and other harsh terrains along the coastline of the country,” the former Senate Chair on Lands Mines, Energy and Natural Resources said.

It can be recalled that, upon taking office as President of Liberia, President George Weah vowed to construct a coastal highway and as well connect all of the counties via a well-constructed road network.

At the same time, Senate Pro-Temp Chie has clarified that there has been no loan ratified by the Liberian Senate as it relates to road construction in the country contrary to media reports.

It has been wildly spread that the government of Liberia through the executive branch has secured five hundred and thirty-five million United States dollars (US$ 535M) for the construction the coastal highway.

But addressing newsmen at his capitol building office, Senate Pro-Temp Chie said he is aware that the executive is presently into an engagement talks with some financial institutions for a loan to construct some crucial roads segment in the country.

Pro-Temp Chie indicated that said loan in the tone of five hundred and thirty-five million United States dollars (US$ 535M) is not intended for the coastal highway, but the paving of existing stretch of roads between Buchanan, Grand Bassa county and Pleeboo, Maryland County.

“The Senate welcomes the planned paving of the existing stretch of roads between Buchanan, Grand Bassa County and Pleeboo, Maryland County. We have been informed that the executive branch is presently engaged in talks with financial institutions for a loan to construct some crucial roads segment as well as other trucks of road leading to Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties at a cost of approximately US$353M,” Pro-Temp Chie clarified.

Senator Chie asserted that no loan has been signed by the government, thus, when it is, it would be sent to the legislature for ratification as per the law and the ratification process would involve the general public and not in hidden has been speculated.

He further assured Liberians that the Senate would ensure that any loan incurred would be within the confines of good governance and would be used for its intended purpose.

Meanwhile, Pro-Temp Chie stated that in line with existing regulations and international guidelines, individual Senators, including himself are gathering their paper works to formally declare their assets.