Officials representing the Kparblee District Association based both in United States of America and Liberia have made a passionate appeal to the Liberian Government to muster the political will to construct a bridge over the Kwi River which separates the district from the largest Tapitta District, without which citizens of the districts will not benefit any substantial development programs.

Cllr. Gabriel S. Wehjla, President of the Association's USA Branch, Mr. Benjamin B. Saywahn, Chairman of the Board of the Association, USA, and Peter Kangbale, head of the Kparblee Development Association here in Liberia told a news a conference yesterday that the call for government to construct the Bridge is informed by the dilapidation of the bridge over the river for which citizens of the town are finding it hard to get out without hindrance.

In separate remarks, the officials expressed disappointment at the desertion by the government of the district which is predominantly homed to Grahn ethnic group in Nimba County, stressing that they were only interested in the construction of the Kwi Bridge so that citizens can have unhindered access to life-saving and development programs as other districts are.

Of all the districts in the Nimba County, they claimed Kparblee District is the most neglected and blamed the desertion on the lack of political will on the part of the government which has social responsibility to the governed - those who elected it to state power.

The Kparblee District representatives who arrived in Liberia early this month have visited the district during which they observed the appalling state in which the residents are living, primarily caused by the devastation of the roads, especially the bridge.

"The Kparblee District Association in America is a non-governmental, non-profitable association, registered with the United States government, and we cater to the needs of our citizens in the USA. Our primary focus has been on development projects in Kparblee District. The association is over 20 years old and during the years, we initially started as an organization to help our people during the war situation. And we did very well; we provided relief supplies and educational materials. As the war ended, our approach reverted from reactive to proactive. So our primary focus now is to undertake development projects in the district. Upon our arrival, we went to the district to see firsthand, the conditions of our people. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must tell you our people continue to live in abject poverty," Cllr. Wehjla says.

He blamed the poor conditions in which the people live on the poor state of roads and bridges which he said to some extent are beyond repair and non-existence.

The Kparblee District USA Inc. President who said the district has ten towns also noted from Toweh Town, one of the towns in the Tappita Electoral District, the roads leading to the administrative district of Kparlee are near inaccessible.

He, however, said traveling to the district on such bad roads is equated to endangering their lives, but that doing so was worthy because it was in the case of the people.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Kparblee District has been a historically neglected district. We come from a district that is predominantly Grahn, with a small Gio population. To have a representation in the House has been an uphill battle," Cllr. Wehjla said.

Of all they require of the government is the construction of the Kwi Bridge so that district can benefit development programs, premising the importance of the bridge on four reasons, namely moral, education, economy and security.

"We are not asking for hands out; this problem is Liberia's problem," Cllr. Wehjla noted.

For his part, the Chairman of the Kparblee District Association in the US praised efforts of Senator Thomas Gruppee and Representative Ricks Toweh who have been working with the association in finding solution to the problems affecting the district.

Mr. Benjamin Saywahn told reporters at yesterday's news conference that the district was the least developed in Nimba County, stressing it appeared that Kparblee district is a different entity from the body politics of Liberia."

"We want to petition our government, as any other civilized people do to build the Kwi Bridge; that is all we want them do for us," Mr. Saywahn said.

At the same time, the association has donated consignment of materials including books and other learning equipments to several schools in the district as a way of responding the needs of the people, especially students who are dire need of assistance.