PHOTO: Pres. Weah breaking grounds for his sports park many meters from the Spriggs Payne Airport runway
The Liberian government of has refuted concerns that the Invincible Park being constructed by President George M. Weah will remove the acclaimed Women Prayer group and that it poses safety risks to users on of its proximity to a runway.
The park, the government says, will instead have a separate center for the group as clearly pronounced by the President when he broke grounds a fortnight ago.
The Senate recently unanimously voted against the construction of the Invincible Sports Park citing several reasons including safety, as the new sports ground is close to the runway of the James Spriggs Payne Airfield and that the new construction would displace the Women Prayer Group, which used the site during the war to pray for an end to the bloodshed.
In its reaction, the Information Ministry press release says President Weah places emphasis on the importance of the patriotic work the women do on behalf of the country, which is why he said an exclusive Prayer Center will be built for them near the site as a sign of appreciation.
On safety concerns raised by some senators, it said “the government also reiterates that the construction of the park meets all the guidelines set by the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority. The LCAA’s permission was sought and granted on grounds that all elevation and height in the park conform to LCAA’s guidelines”, the statement read.
The Information Miinistry added that the President envisions a Park that will be a reasonable distance from the runway and will not have a building constructed in it as mandated by aviation authorities.
The building of the Invincible Park, which has already begun, will be completed within four months, and will host three football pitches, two basketball courts, a tennis court and another for volleyball, according to the MICAT release.
Senate rejects site for sports park
The senators, during their Tuesday’s session voted that the proposed sports park intended for Invincible Eleven Majesty Sports Association be halted immediately the locality of the park is dangerous.
President George Manneh Weah had selected a portion of land right at the head of the James Spriggs Airfield as designated area for the construction, but senators argue the site is unsafe, as crashing of planes could result to huge human causalities.
Making the argument, Gbarpolu County Senator Daniel Naatehn said the sport park is a good thing which could provide young talents opportunities to develop themselves in various sports but the location could cause the more harm than good.
According to him, there are vast lands at the disposal of the government that it could take advantage of, but to only select a spot near the second largest airport in the country is detrimental to the very young people the government intends to help.
Debate over the project site was held under the watchful eyes of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, also president of the Liberian Senate. Opposition senators resisted anything that sounded wanting to keep the park there.
A motion was made by Senator Naatehn that the sports park be removed from the vicinity of the James Spriggs Airport and transferred to a better location, a motion seven senators voted for with five against.
However, Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph from the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change filed a motion for reconsideration.
According to the rules of the senate, a motion for reconsideration can only be upheld within three days of the senate and failure for that senator to make strong argument to overturn the earlier motion, plenary’s decision stands.
Recently, President Weah broke grounds for the Invincible Sports Park, a multi-purpose complex that will contain basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, walking trails, a children’s playground, and an outdoor gym, together with adequate sanitary facilities.
During the ceremony Tuesday, 9 February in Sinkor, the President, a former Liberian international soccer star, said as a public park, the facility will be freely accessible and available to anyone and everyone who seeks to use it.
“Today has brought me yet another opportunity to share my dreams and aspirations for the happiness and well-being of our citizens, by providing modern recreational facilities that will contribute to their good health, wellbeing, and fitness,” Mr. Weah said.