Mayor Koijee Bemoans Huge Garbage

-Terms It As National Threat

In an effort to alleviate the huge pile of garbage or wastes across Monrovia, Mayor Jefferson Koijee has disclosed some measures needed to address what he terms as a ‘national threat’.

Addressing a major press conference Monday in Monrovia, Mayor Koijee said the municipal government is doing everything possible to address the health threat facing residents in the territorial confines of the city.

He lamented the garbage issues confronting the city, but said previously the World Bank, the Government of Liberia have been operating bilaterally in dealing with wastes in the city of Monrovia.

According to him, the amount of US$17.5million was allotted to clean Monrovia with the Liberian Government asked to make available US$4million, but was given US$350,000.00 quarterly prior to his administration taking over.

“We took over nothing in the budget as city government. We are challenged as a city government. However, we went to President Weah and the amount of US$750,000.00 has been placed in the 2018/2019 national budget for the cleaning of Monrovia.

“Our contribution in the partnership with the World Bank will go toward equipment. The World Bank is contemplating on a new land for wastes to enhance our work. With this, things will not be the same,” he said.

The Mayor was quick to point out that the amount of US$116,000.00 is used weekly just to keep Monrovia clean and green.

The amount according to Mayor Koijee is gear toward fuel, oil, heavy duty rental among others.

Meanwhile, Mayor Koijee has announced that in order to maintain the beauty of the city, the city police officers will be deployed at every location where the dirt budgets will be placed for the collection of dirt and violators will be arrested and deal with in accordance with the city ordinance of Monrovia.

He said if the buckets are filled with wastes, it wouldn’t be good for residents to drop the dirt on the ground and all in the city, this he said city police will be deployed to regulate such.

“We have embarked on a 20-day engagement to keep the city clean and green and it requires everyone to get involved. We have over 3500 buckets that will be placed in several locations across the city to collect wastes. Hotlines will be made available to call if the buckets are filled for collection,” he added.

Mayor Koijee is calling on the residents with the city to fully cooperate with the municipal government in making the city clean, because wastes affect everyone irrespective of statuses in society.

“This is a national threat or emergency. We need to engage every sector regarding wastes. We are exploring how we can have a public-private partnership in wastes collection. Beginning August 17-18, 2018, we will have a national stakeholders conference to address wastes issues in the city. We need to do a comprehensive review of wastes process,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Mayor Koijee has announced that the ‘Weah for Clean City’ has received US$750,000.00 in the current 2018/2019 national budget, something he said will help the young people in the country involved in the cleaning up exercise.