President George Weah, in consultation with local government authorities, has appointed Acting Public Works Minister, Madam Ruth Coker-Collins to head a Special Presidential Committee for the comprehensive cleanup exercise of all county capitals and the city of Paynesville.
Madam Coker-Collins, under whose administration the Public Works Ministry has been robustly executing numerous government infrastructural projects in recent time, will head the Special Presidential Committee as its chair, while the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) through Monrovia City Mayor, Jeff Tamba Koijee will served as co-chair, with the Ministry of State, Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, Liberia Land Authority, the Paynesville City Corporation and the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), all serving as members.
The Committee is charged with the mandate to effectively implement a 90-day action plan, commencing Friday, 16 July 2021, ahead of Liberia’s Independence Day celebration this year, on 26 July.
A statement released by the Executive Mansion over the weekend indicates that the Committee’s 90-day action plan is part of the Liberian government’s reform measures on the efficient management of market grounds in the country, with an initial focus on the grounds of the newly constructed Omega Market in the City of Paynesville.
The Special Presidential Committee, as per its mandate is to ensure that the sale of table tickets by any person or institution at the newly opened Omega Market is suspended for three months with immediate effect; and that there is no selling of space or any parcel of land to any person or marketer and that no marketer shall pay any sum of money for any space or land at Omega Market.
The Committee is also mandated to make sure that all marketers leave the Red Light grounds and relocate to the Omega Market in a peaceful and orderly manner; and to also ensure full compliance with the Special Presidential Committee’s mandate at all times for the success of the 90-day action plan.
The Executive Mansion statement stressed that the Government of Liberia takes very seriously the health and livelihoods of every Liberian citizen, including marketers around the country, adding, “especially during these crucial times of our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, being conscious that market grounds are at higher risk.”
“The government also sees it as timely and prudent to intervene and maintain sanity at our market grounds, particularly for the safety of our mothers who spend a significant amount of their time in the markets,” the Executive Mansion emphasized in its statement.
Meanwhile, the Executive Mansion says President Weah has pledged the his government’s commitment to collect and dispose of solid waste from the Omega Market grounds and maintain good sanitary conditions through an all-inclusive and participatory approach.
The President, according to the Executive Mansion statement, assures all that the government will work with the relevant stakeholders to have amongst other things, the construction of a new warehouse for marketers, the rehabilitation of the road leading to the market, ensure the cooperation of the transport union, and the installation of solar lights to enhance the safety of marketers.
“With the help of all market users, the government looks forward to a full cooperation in order to achieve this significant goal for the sustainability and local ownership of the Omega Market,” the statement noted, adding that “this exercise will be extended to all other markets throughout the country – with the help of local authorities.”
