President Ellen Johnson has paid surprised visits to several commercial centers in parts of Monrovia and its environs, expressing dismay at the sanitary conditions of the areas visited.
The President also frowned on the erection of makeshift structures in residential areas, and has advised owners of those structures that Government will demolish the structures to give the city a facelift.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the President informed owners of the makeshift structures and street peddlers that Government cannot continue to allow the city to remain in a deplorable state. Accompanied by the Chairman of the Monrovia City Council, Mr. Daniel Johnson, the Liberian leader assured those affected that the Corporation will work with them to ensure that their businesses are relocated to designated centers to be identified by the Monrovia City Corporation.
Thursday's visit by President Johnson-Sirleaf covered Mamba Point, Johnson Street, the Gabriel Tucker Bridge, and Duala Market on Bushrod Island. She assured marketers in Duala that that the facilities would be fenced to protect the market grounds from being used as a dumping ground. The President was responding to an appeal from Madam Haja Sheriff, Superintendent of Duala Market.
President Johnson Sirleaf, has meanwhile, ordered a halt to the sale of plastic alcoholic drinks, referred to locally as 'drip.' The drink, produced by a local distillery, NICOM distilleries, is reportedly being consumed by under-aged youth. In a brief discussion with the Managing Director of the company at the factory's headquarters on Lynch Street, the President also deplored the poor sanitary condition of the factory and wonder how facilities which produced items for human consumption could be kept in such poor sanitary condition? Commerce Ministry officials have been directed to ensure that the company halts the production of the drink or risk closure.
The President's visit to the commercial centers comes in the midst of ongoing preparations to host an International Conference in Monrovia. President Johnson Sirleaf will serve as co-host with the President of Finland in March this year for an International Colloquium on Women's Leadership, Empowerment, Peace and Security.
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"Level Monrovia, we will rebuild it." Poor sanitation conditions, crimes, under age drinking, no pipe borne water and lack of electricity are only few effects of the "leveling" process and you are "dismayed?" Such naivete is beyond reproach. Now it's time to honor the "rebuilding" part of your irresponsible and insensitive remark. It's also good to know that you only take interest in the livelihood of Monrovia when international dignitaries are due in. Fence Duala to curb dumping? No, what you really mean is to keep the trash out of view from the street. You and I both know that 90% of the trash is coming from the market itself, so fencing it will only keep it from outside view not keep it out. Give the people jobs and maybe they will improve their neighborhoods instead of moving them out. By the way, where are the jobs that all the pillaging of our nonrenewable resources were suppose to bring? It's a shame that with your Harvard economic degree and Dr. Tolbert Wall Street credentials and you two still don't know that these kinds of economic policies cannot sustain economic growth. What happens if these companies exhaust our resources within 20 years- the duration of most of their contracts? That means these companies would be packing and leaving when the first generation of Liberians are only graduating from high school. If these kinds of policies were successful, Liberia would not be where she is today. Why can't you and your Investment Commission Chairman get that your heads? Invest in the country's infrastructure and the Liberian people and then invite manufacturing companies in Liberia and we will go from zero to hundred in no time. And stop this pageantry, this is no time to host this event and attend that event, you have seen first hand the deplorable condition of the Capital, imagine the interior. It's time to roll up your sleaves and get your hands dirty; dear Madam President.
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I just want to say to this writer that if you keep on playing the blame game, we will never get ahead. Accusing the Congo people for what is going on in Liberia today is a bunch of rubbish. Look at the make up of the leaders of Liberia today, how many of them are Congo people, from the legislatures to key cabinet positions are occupied by indigenous Liberian. Look at the distruction of liberia during the civil war, how many Congo people were buring down villages, looting, raping and killing innocent people. The indigenous Liberian had the chance to change this country after the coupe in 1980, instead they took our country down to ground zero. They were too busy fighting among themselves and in the process destroyed our country.
You call them "so-called Americo-Liberians" I advise you re-write your history. Remove J.J.Roberts,Tolbert,Tubman from your history books and you must stop celebrating J.J.Roberts Birthday. I'm tired of hearing of this nationalism issue. Where does Pres. Ellen J. Sirleaf come from? Your comments are like 'A commuter who criticize a dusty-smoky car that runs from Duala to Virginia and VOA,and yet he stands to wait for the same car to take him home'. Ask me next time I'll explain myself to you.
WHAT EXCATLY ER YOU SAYING THERE? YOU TALK ABOUT REMOVING SOME ONE AND SAYING WHAT EVER YOU HAVE TO SAY. LOOK LET ME TELL YOU A SECRET THAT THEY LONG BEING HIDEING FROM YOU.THEY OBSERVED YOU AS A DONKEY, I MEAN ANIMAL THAT TRAVEL IN THE DERSET WITH SAYING TO THE OWNER THAT I WANT TO DRINK. PLEASE OBSERVED YOUR STATUS AS FROM TODAY DATE AND BE FOCUS, AM NOT A POLITICIAN BUT AS A CONCERN LIBERIA I BELIEVED IN PERFECTION.SO IF STILL DONT UNDERSTAND ME THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD. OMELL
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