MONROVIA-Tension has intensified at the Omega Market between the United Marketers Association and Authority of the Ministry of Public Works over a land that were previously given to the marketers for the construction of their stores.
Speaking to our Reporter who visited the area, over the weekend, the secretary of the United Marketers Association, Francis Keey alleged that Public Works Minister Ruth Coker-Collins along with some securities moved on their premises and began to run lines and engaged in destroying their building project.
“They came and started running a line and then they told us to leave this place , in doing so, they came into our project, 40 feet so we decided to use the media to inform the president on what is going on at this omega market” he said.
According to him, they will resist any attempt for the Ministry of Public Works to forcefully remove them without going in line with the agreement
Mr. Keey further said they have planted sixty pillars and mats at their project that have been constructed upon by the Public Workers staff and the security.
According to him, the Authority of the Liberia Marketing Association and that of the Ministry of Public Workers gave them two lots of land for the Association to construct their stores .
He alleged that their land was given to some foreigners who indicated that they purchased five acres of land from the government at the omega market.
Mr. Keey told our reporter that when the Minister and the foreigners who allegedly purchased the land were running their land , the Minister of State for presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill came to their call and intervened into the matter .
“Minister McGill and us, including the Minister of Public Works , the discussion we went into clearly states that they were going to give us four hundred begs of cement and our other materials that we used for our project and some cash but we have not come out with any documentation and we saw arm men and some other people came and they were digging our areas and threaten to beat on use “he said.
Mr.Keey further said , they will resist any attempt for the Ministry of Public Works to forcefully remove them without meeting up with the agreement during the meeting with the Minister of State for presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill.
“We are Liberians, we are willing to contribute to the transformation of our country but some of those Liberians who are in power are suppressing their own Liberians for foreigners, how will our country develop” he noted.
Mr. Keey used the interview to call on President George Weah to intervene for a peaceful settlement over the land dispute with in the omega market community.
“We took loan to invest into this project and see what the Public Works Ministry is doing to us, after they did the soil test, the Land Authority came and did the survey and we stated our project only at the end for the minister and those foreigners to come and say they own this land , we will not take it” he said.
He said those who are at the front of President George Weah mandate to give the marketers a decent place for their businesses are not going in line with the president’s vision.
When engaged the Ministry of Public Work Project Supervisor refuse to be recorded and event told the marketers not to speak to the press investigation continues.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.