The Informer (Monrovia)
6 July 2009
Contractors working with the Atlantic Engineering Construction Company (AECC) have abandoned reconstructing of a 9- mile stretch road in Panta District in protest of management's refusal to pay them, but the company had denied the claims.
The AECC was hired by the Ministry Public Works to rehabilitate the road in Panta District, Bong County, but our Central Liberian correspondent based in Gbarnga City Jefferson Massah recently visited the area, and observed that workers had abandoned the work.
The over 20 protesting workers said they abandoned the job because they have not been paid since they started job nearly three months ago.
A spokesman of the aggrieved contractors Junior Kutu told The Informer that they were brought from Monrovia in April to form part of the workforce carrying out the road reconstruction work in Panta District, and they have not received a penny from their employer, a situation that has created an extreme hardship for them and their families.
He claimed that most of the contractors from Monrovia have abandoned their assignments and reduced themselves to mere baggers in the various communities because of the lack of food for them to eat while performing their task.
For the past one month, he disclosed, they are barely surviving on wild bush yams fetched from nearby bushes to stay alive and awaiting words from their bosses and Ministry of Public Works, in terms of payment.
Looking very disappointed the contractor's spokesman lamented that their conditions have deteriorated to an unbearable proportion, making some of them to venture into burning of charcoal for sale to empower themselves get food, while others are sometimes contracted by locals, involved with farming activities in the communities, to either clean or scratch their farms.
He indicated that apart from their payment and the lack of food for them to effectively execute their responsibilities, the unavailability of the requisite materials to work with is also undermining the job.
"We were to complete the job I am heading in a month's time, but we've gone three months. Can you imagine the time and energy being wasted here...? Kutu explained in misery.
He averred that since their boss, identified Mr. Bue Zobia of the Atlantic Engineering and Construction Company, left for Monrovia nearly a month ago, following the mechanical clearing of the nine-mile road, to acquire motor grader, he had not returned. "Whenever he is called he always tells us to hold on, because he was finding it difficult to get their payment from Public Works [Ministry]," Kutu alleged.
"Our boss told us Public Works is the one holding our money, that's why he is not paying because of the many procedures at the Ministry, and we are suffering," he lamented.
Kurtu said they (contractors) left Monrovia to at least get some money for the up keep of their families, "but this is on the contrary."
A middle-age woman hired from Monrovia as cook to be paid US$3, daily, expressed serious disappointment over the delay of the pay, saying if I knew, I would not have ventured to come here."
Meanwhile, an official of the contracted company, Bue Zobia, has denied that the road construction works in Panta District has been halted as a result of protest by workers.
He however confirmed that there are a handful of contractors who are demanding salary as soon as the month ends whether the work is done or not, something he said is not the policy of the company.
"When people say workers have abandoned the work, that is not true,
We are working and implementation the contract we signed with the Ministry of Public works. Due to technical preparations the project began two months late,"Mr. Zobia told this paper via phone interview.
The Ministry of Public Works resident engineer assigned in Bong County Emulus A. Toliver informed our correspondent in Gbarnga that the Ministry has already made thirty five percent (35%) payment to the company in the tone of US$140,000.
Mr. Zobia confirmed receipt of the amount, and disclosed that there has been constraint in the reporting process, upon which additional payment is based, and that has been completed. Additional payment is necessary to enable the company pay its staff, Zobia indicated.
"We understand that the people have high demand, they want as soon as the month ends, they must get money. Even if they don't do anything, they must get money, but this is not the case with us....you must perform before the money is paid," the AECC Executive said.
He said the company has trained people in certain technical skills who head groups and are recruited on sub-contract basis, and they are paid on their level of performance.
These people receive advanced payment to take care of their families before they move on the job site. On the job site they are fed daily and not abandoned. But they have to do the job; they have to perform before they are paid, explained.
He claimed that those complaining are individuals who do not understand the company's operations and think they have to be paid monthly, "but we don't work like that, you must perform before the money comes."
He confirmed that he left the sight, went to Monrovia to inform the Public Works Ministry with information that the company has reached the next level(more than 65% of the work done) to receive the final next payment.
"They sent the auditor and inspector, to inspect the work and the report is now with the Public Works for payment.
Concluding, Zobia said those who go and hang with the company and feel that they will get paid are lying. He said the company in April paid all local and trained contractors and documents are there to confirm.
The Ministry of Public Works engineer in Bong County, Toliver, said he was surprised to realize that the company has not allegedly paid a cent to its workers since they started job nearly three months ago.
Toliver maintained that considering the deliverable of previous contractors the Ministry had hired, the Atlantic Engineering and Construction Company has to reestablish a performance bond before the Ministry can remit its second payment, saying, "Anything outside of that, the government is not prepared to risk taxpayers money like the Bong Mines scenario."
He mentioned during his recent inspection of the road, it was realized that most of the machines being used by the company were malfunctioning and some have already broken down, which could further delay the completion of the project with the rainy season already at hand.
He said the mechanical clearing of the road, curvet installation and the required excavation have being completed, but the grading of the road to have it completely open has not commenced, which is the main aspect of the entire process.
The road reconstruction project in Panta District was awarded to the AECC during the administration of former Public Works Minister Lousine Donzo, under the government's initiated poverty reduction strategy (PRS) or "Lift Liberia" program.
Under the contractual agreement, the government is admitting US$400,000 to the company for the nine-mile stretch of road.
This means that one mile of the road is being done for forty four thousand four hundred and forty four United States dollars (US$44,444), an amount many in Bong County have raised concern over to be too much for one mile as compared to the Steel giant ArcelorMittal that paid US$25,000 per mile.
The Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), pays serious attention to the rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges across the country.
Liberia's PRS articulates the Government's overall vision and major strategies for moving toward rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth and development during the period 2008-2011.
The PRS is being implemented between April 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011 (the end of the 2010/2011 fiscal year), meaning its implementations began one year ago.
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