Monrovia — The government of Liberia through the legislative enactment has provided over US$366,000 to each of the 15 political sub-divisions of the country. Some of the counties are now planning and discussing how to spend their portion.

One of the counties that is planning ahead of time is the Margibi County. County officials are said to be holding discussions with their legislative caucus, elders, and a cross section of the citizens of the county to identify seven projects that will benefit the people of Margibi County.

Speaking to The Analyst yesterday in Monrovia after touring the project sites in Margibi County, Development Superintendent John Z. Buway disclosed that after several meetings at the districts and township levels the county authority organized a group named as the Special County Development Council (SCDC) to work along with the citizens to identifies projects after tough brainstorming.

Mr. Buway said SCDC comprises the Superintendent Office, Legislative Caucus, senior citizens among others.

He said the projects identified include the renovation of the three administration buildings, in Mamba Kaba, Gibi, and Lackey districts, rehabilitation of one market building in Solo Town, completion of one City Hall in Kakata City, construction of one school building in Mende Town in Farmington District and the improvement of the only referral hospital in the County, the Rennie Hospital in Kakata City.

He said two out of the seven projects identified will completion of the City Hall in Kakata City and the Gibi Administrative building. He said the contracts were bided for by many companies but two were selected based on the ability and financial capability to do the job.

The two companies selected are the Margibi based Along Associates Inc. and the Community Investment Builder Inc. Mr. Buway noted that over US$45,000 each will be spent and the projects are expected to be completed in less than three months.

He expressed thanksto the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led administration especially the Internal Affairs Minister and the Legislature for giving the citizens the opportunity to select and fully participate in the development initiatives of their county.

Mr. Buway pointed out that this way the development exercise will directly impact on the citizens, adding "They know what they want, I think this is one of the best things this government has done," he said.

Witness Outlines LPC Mayhem

Fighters of the defunct Liberia Peace Council (LPC) in 1994 roasted dozens of captives and village inhabitants accused of witchcraft activities in Grand Gedeh County, a witness told commissioners of Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Albert Mowen, special assistant to the superintendent of Gbarzohn Statutory District said the fighters laid their victims on driers, made to roast animals, and burned them to death in blazing fires lit with wood.

He was testifying Wednesday at the ongoing public hearings of the TRC at the Zwedru City Hall in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

Mowen said the act was a constant practice of the rebels in various towns and villages in Gbarzohn, saying that dozens of inhabitants of various towns and villages fell prey to the rebels' actions.

"When they put those accused of witchcraft activities on the drier they cried until they are completely burned to death," Mowen told the audience. He claimed the rebels were led by one David Torjillah, a former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldier now deceased and one Alex Yarbo.

Mr. Mowen said the fighters flogged his brother Thomas Mowen to death after they arrested his entire family and accused them of collaborating with fighters of the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).

"LPC fighters took us to their base, tied and beat us with cartridge belts. The belt hit my brother Thomas on his private part and he died on the spot," the witness said in an emotional tone.

Another witness, a former fighter of the group, Stephen Jones said Boley personally brought in supplies of arms and ammunition for the rebels through the Port of Greenville, Sinoe County during their occupation of territories in southeastern Liberia.

Meanwhile, Oliver Wah, another witness testified Wednesday that fighters of the LPC massacred 27 inhabitants including his father, mother and sister in Gbeapo Kanweaken in River Gee County on May 7, 1995.

He said the fighters of the group who launched a village attack upon orders from their leaders lined up the town's inhabitants and ordered them to lie down before they slit their throats with cutlasses.

He said before the killings he saw the rebels raped the women including his mother and sister. Having escaped from the rebels, Oliver explained, he concealed himself in a nearby orchard where he witnessed the slaughters.

He said after the rebels left the town he returned and slept with the dead bodies until the next morning when he piled the remains of the decomposing corpses on mattresses in the bush near the town.

The distressed 11th grade student of the Zwedru Multilateral High School said the remains of the victims can still be found in the area. LPC one of ,the warring factions in the Liberian civil war was led by Dr. George Boley.

Meanwhile, the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL) has reaffirmed its support for the TRC process, saying it is impressed with progress made by the commission.