Assistant Public Works Minister for Administration, Andrew K. Kear, has described as cardinal, the partnership between Public Works Ministry and CHICO, China Henan International Company. Minister Kear made the assertion on Friday in Neegewein, Owens Grove, Grand Bassa County when he received the keys to nine modern housing units equipped with furniture from the Management of CHICO.

"We are keen about the sustainability and maintenance of this facility, we can only do so with the support of the community in terms of how we up keep it" Minister Kear noted. The turning over of the housing units was in fulfillment of the agreement enshrined in the Cotton Tree-Bokay road contract awarded to CHICO by the Liberian Government through the Public Works Ministry.

In his concluding remarks, Minister Kear thanked CHICO for the fulfillment of its component of the agreement and promised that the housing units will be wisely utilized. He also thanked the residents for their continuous support and cordial working relationship with CHICO. Speaking earlier, CHICO'S Procurement and Administrative Officer, Mr. Joseph N.Swen, lauded the partnership between his entity and the Public Works Ministry. He reassured the Public Works Ministry of his company's commitment to spearhead the development drive of the country.

Mr. Swen revealed that although CHICO is a Chinese company; but it has begun to realize what he termed as "liberianization policy by employing several Liberians. Mr. Swen disclosed that based on the partnership between his entity and the Ministry, his entity has begun implementing the Minister of Public Works' request to train engineering students from various institution of higher learning.

It can be recalled that Public Works Minister, Samuel Kofi Woods last year made a former appeal to the management of CHICO to consider offering training to Liberian students reading engineer in various universities.

Making closing remark, the Town Chief of Neegeewein, Hon. John Lynch, thanked CHICO for the construction of the nine modern housing units in their community. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Liberia through the Public Works Ministry for securing the parcel of land for the housing units, but warned that the facilities be used to benefit residents of Neegeewein town.

The Cotton Tree-Bokay Town road was contracted to CHICO on May 6, 2011 with funding from the Liberia Reconstruction Funds (LRTF) which is jointly managed by the World Bank and the Government of Liberia.