By Leila Gbati
Liberian NFL player, Alvin Kamara, currently based in the US, has taken the initiative to raise awareness about the urgent need for cleanliness in Monrovia city. Kamara’s efforts have not only drawn attention to the issue but have inspired Liberians worldwide to come together in support of the Monrovia City Corporation’s (MCC) sanitation initiatives.
Playing for the New Orleans Saints in the US, Kamara demonstrated his commitment to the cause by generously donating sanitation materials worth over US$14,000 to the MCC. The donation includes essential items such as wheelbarrows, hand gloves, nose masks, rakes, shovels, jackets, brooms, and more, all aimed at enhancing sanitation efforts in the city.
During the official handover ceremony of the donation, Monrovia Mayor John Charuk Siafa expressed gratitude for Kamara’s support. He revealed that Kamara, who was visiting his family in Liberia, took the opportunity to visit the MCC and offer his assistance in improving the city’s cleanliness.
Kamara’s contribution serves as a shining example of how individuals, regardless of their location, can make a positive impact on their communities. His gesture not only underscores the importance of personal responsibility towards environmental cleanliness but also highlights the power of collaboration in creating a cleaner and healthier living environment for all residents of Monrovia.
According to him, Kamara highlighted that the MCC is doing a good job of cleaning the city and he asked what support can he give for a start.
“I said well, our people who are working daily cleaning the streets need attention first; they need something to work with, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrow, and overall they need safety materials like nose masks, jackets, and gloves Kamara said okay let me see what I can do now before I go back so, this is as just quick,” Mayor Siafa added.
The Monrovia City Mayor indicated that Kamara took it upon himself and his friends and brought nose mask, jacket, gloves, shovels, ricks, and rain boots among others, and therefore, they are calling on a lot of Liberians to come a help and Kamara has started.
He thanked the US Base Liberian NFL players and his friends for the support at the same time stressing that the city needs a whole lot and there is more to be done and they can’t do it all one day but need to start working in phases and the actual people they depend on to clean the city and the trash out of the streets are those people that you see daily cleaning.
“These people are our most important staff without them we are nothing because when people talk about MCC though the city government has a lot to do the first thing they rate us by is trash. People don’t see anything else like city planning, youth services, healthcare, economy but trash and if the city is not clean nothing else is done. These people work every day so when Kamara me what we needed, I said to him we need to start taking care of them and am happy you (Kamara) came to our call, thank you very much,” he noted.
For his part, Kamara thanked the MCC most especially the sweepers who are working tirelessly daily to ensure that the city is kept tidy and clean. “Thank you so much. I came and talked to the Mayor and he told me what the issue was and I said let me address it while am on the ground now,” he mentioned. Kamara bragged that it is so easy to come and do what he is doing which is needed and necessary for all Liberians to do.
He told the sweepers that they all are going to get it done and they are the most important people right now because they are the ones working and doing the job and they appreciate it. “Am home so, we are going to make a difference and what we can do is what we are doing. I appreciate you Mayor for the good job. We are here and will join the team today to go and clean the city,” said Kamara.
Meanwhile, Kamara and his friends joined the team and were seen sweeping and cleaning the trash from the streets and several residents of the city jubilated and clapped for the team seeing Kamara and the others.
Kamara used the occasion as a means to raise awareness calling on other well-meaning Liberians home and abroad to assist the City Government in its efforts.
“The work these people are doing they got to protect themselves. They are sweeping and cleaning without protective gear; picking up the garbage with their bare hands this is how we were taught to help and do something we went in literally and got these materials shovels, ricks, safety jackets, rubber gloves, nose masks, and rain boots. The materials are 300 each,” he asserted.
