PHOTO: Visiting Dutch Humanitarian, Tjeerd Bandringa as he turns over housing units
By Alfred Kollie,alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Citizens of Bogbeh Town, Gbanvon Clan in Dewein District Liberia’s western Bomi County have extolled a visiting Dutch humanitarian, Mr. Tjeerd Bandringa for the construction of several housing units for hundreds of Liberians in the County.
The construction of the housing project started since 2009, value over thousands United States Dollars and was implemented by Teeta Foundation Incorporated, a local Non-Governmental organization with funding coming from Mr. Tjeerd Bandringa.
The Teeta Foundation Incorporated, a local Non-Governmental organization has constructed over fifteen unites, three bed rooms of each with bathroom including front and back poach respectively.
Speaking recently during a welcoming program in his honor to the projects site in Bogbah, the citizens thanked Mr. Bandringa for the construction of the housing units.
Mr. John McGill who spoke on behalf of the citizens thanked the Dutch humanitarian for his investment to residents and the country at large.
According to him, ‘’Mr. Bandringa visit was not only meant to see for himself what was done in his absence, but to make sure that the citizens of Dewein District have better living standard’’.
“Let me take this time to say a very special thanks to you for the construction of these housing units, including latrines, we the citizens of Bogbah Town highly appreciates your endeavor.” He said.
Mcgill noted that the construction of the three bedroom-houses by Mr. Bandringa came at the time when most of the locals could not afford to construct their own homes as the results of the civil crisis that broke their structures.
McGill informed the visiting Dutch humanitarian that his assistance was not only for shelters but a way of reducing the financial constrains faced by the locals in sending their kids to school.
For his part, the Chief Imam of Gbanvon Clan, Karmon Boima Sonnie praised Mr. John McGill and the visiting Dutch philanthropic Mr. Tjeerd Bandringa for thinking about them during this difficult period in the country.
The Islamic religious leader said the coming of Mr. Bandringa to Liberia particularly to Bomi County was a gateway for development of the county and Liberia at large.
He indicated that Mr. Bandringa’s visit to the country would afford citizens the opportunity to benefit from more developmental programs as well as creating employment for thousands of Liberians though-out the country thou appealing to Mr. Bandringa to ask the Dutch government to assist Liberia with infrastructural development.
In response, the visiting Dutch humanitarian praised the people of Liberia for the warmest reception accorded him and his Dutch counterpart Mr. Claudius Emmett McGill and promised to work with well-meaning Liberian to carry out more development in Liberia.
“I am surprised to see the way how Liberians constructed the structures with mud or clay; it is unique to Liberia.” He said.
According to Bandringa, he will work with Mr. McGill to provide other assistance in the field of Bio-mac that would help to change the lives of Liberians.
He emphasized that his visit to the country has afforded him the opportunity to get firsthand experience that more people in the country are suffering and that there is a need for the construction of more affordable housing units.
Mr. Bandringa is the chief financier for the construction of several housing units and latrines in Bomi and Bong Counties.
Meanwhile, the Dutch humanitarian and philanthropist has expressed interest in investing millions of United States dollars in the renewable energy in Liberia.
During the welcoming ceremony, an honorary traditional Dei name, Ghairsawyer Kaibokey Saytomah was conferred on the Dutch humanitarian by Citizens of Dewein District meaning an indigenous Chief of the Dewein people who once represents a torchbearer.
Performing the ceremony the Dean of Elder, Chief Siafa Gaye informed Mr. Bandringa that the citizens were admitting him into the redemption of Liberian history in conformity with their cultural norms for his tremendous assistance to the people of Dewein District and other parts of Liberia over the years.
The program was graced by Bomi County Senator Morris G. Saytumah and Former Speaker of the 52nd National Legislature, J. Alex Tyler including local chiefs, traditional leaders, and religious leaders as well as students of Gbanvon Clan in Dewein District, Bomi County.
Making remarks at the program, Former House Speaker Alex Tyler lauded the Dutch humanitarian for such initiative in the county.