Monrovia — The Management of Firestone Liberia has intensified the construction of addi­tional housing facilities for its employees and their families in several parts of the concession area. This was disclosed by the Public Affairs Manager of Firestone Liberia, G. Rufus Karmorh, on Monday, May 4, 2009, when he inspected ongoing housing construction at the old Harbel Market.

Mr. Karmorh lauded the contractors for the level of work done and urged them to exhibit a high degree of professionalism in the execution of the project. The Public Affairs boss reaffirmed during the visit of the company’s determination in improving the living conditions of its dedicated employees and the families.
Though these housing projects are spread in various parts of the concession, the one at the site of the old Harbel Market and the once Zukorbor Community in Harbel has attracted the attention of visitors and employees alike.

Currently, the site is the scene of the construction of several modern housing units for dedi­cated employees of the company and their families. Firestone Liberia has entrusted the building of the modern housing facilities to Liberian-owned con­struction firms with the view of helping to upgrade their capacity,
According to a release issued by the company, when completed, the
houses would be occupied by employees and their dependents as part of efforts by the company to improve the living standards of those in its
employ.

The ongoing construc­tion works in this part of Harbel is in fulfillment of a decision taken in early 2009, by the Management of Firestone Liberia, to relocate the old Harbel Market to a suitable spot so as to give way for the complete transformation of that once congested community to a spacious and modernized one.
Sources close to Man­agement have revealed that besides the construc­tion of the ..modern dwelling places for employees and their families, there were also plans in the making to build schools and other structures in the area to benefit would-be residents of that new community.
Meanwhile, several employees and residents of the concession area spoken to have expressed a deep sense of commen­dation to the Manage­ment of Firestone Liberia for the decision to relocate the old Harbel Market to a suitable area which was in the collective interest of marketers, drivers and pedestrians as well.

According to them, since the relocation of the market the sanitary condition of the old Harbel Market has improved considerably and the rate of thefts has also reduced drastically.
Firestone has built and renovated more than 1,300 homes since the end of the civil war and has spoken of the need to construct approximately 4,000 more housing facilities.