Residents, Businesses given ‘Ultimatum’

By R Joyclyn Wea

As part of processes geared towards the 171^st Independence Day celebration, President George Weah had set up an inter-sectorial task force, headed by the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), and the Paynesville City Corporations (MCC) to clean up Monrovia, Paynesville and all adjacent cities in Montserrado County.

The task force includes, Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Paynesville City Corporations (MCC), General Services Agency (GSA), Ministry of Health (MoH), Environmental Protections Agency (EPA), Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of States (MoS) amongst others.

The taskforce in a press conference on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 gave a 17-day ultimatum for all residents and businesses in the respective communities to join the efforts of the national task force by cleaning their various homes, business centers, and communities; this take effect as of July 3rd to the 20th of July 2018.

The task force in its mandate affirmed that as of July 20, 2018, failure on the part of residents and businesses that will not adhere to its mandate, would lead to the imposition of fines consistent with the ordinances of the cities of Monrovia and Paynesville.

The task force further admonishes residents and by passers to appreciate the importance for clean environment, observes and respect the city ordinance regulations as well as refrain from littering or dropping dirt anywhere; and encourage people to use the official waste collection sites as anyone found in violation would be fine US$5.00 or its equivalent in Liberian dollars.

Speaking at a joint press conference held at MCC in Monrovia, GSA boss Madam Mary Broh said the task force would be engaged into both primary and secondary waste collection and disposal focusing on vulnerable areas like Red-Light, Waterside and Pipeline Road amongst others.

According to Madam Broh, there are increase level of illegal waste management in the country, something she noted needs to be reduced.

The GSA boss threatens to go after anyone will be found in violation of all ordinances and measures put in place to safeguard the process, noting that violators will not go with impunity.

According to her, wants all citizens to use the tactical techniques called ‘security on security’.

“Let’s watch each other, security on security,” she declared.

She further explained that the task force would become engaging community dwellers as part of effort to sensitize them to take ownership of cleaning up their communities.

Madam Mary Broh bewailed “as we strive for a healthy Liberia, let us not shift blame on anybody, but rather, come together for the environmental sustainability of our country taking it from where it is to another level with passion.”

“We want to have a clean city by July 26 because this is President Weah’s first July 26 celebrations and we need to make the city clean for him,” she added.

This for his part, MCC Mayor Jefferson Kojjie noted that the initiative is geared toward providing short-term job opportunity for one thousand young people from various communities in the two cities (Monrovia and Paynesville cities) and are expected to be paid at the end of the month with the possibility of being maintained on the job for months ahead, in order to help keep the cities clean and to earn money for livelihood.

He cited that the possibility of the process extending beyond July 26, 2018 will be determined based upon the work done by the one thousand young people who will be contracted to carry out the exercise.

This primary and secondary waste collection and disposal processes will further target 178 communities and 52 hotspots in Monrovia, Paynesville and its environs; sweeping and brushing grass in communities thereby de-clogging drainages and opening water-ways to facilitate free flow of water, trimming trees and flowers in parks and playgrounds; painting the sidewalks road tracks, and public buildings such as schools, markets, churches in strategic locations.

Accordingly, the task force stressed the need for young people to seize the opportunity and demonstrate their commitment to the national campaign of “Weah for Clean City.”