By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has lashed out at local radio stations for talking “trash” instead of focusing on development issues, as she dedicated the internal road and modernization project at the national sea port (Freeport of Monrovia) at the weekend.
The project includes the construction of rigid pavement, drainage, sidewalks, streetlights (some as high as 60 meters) as well as parking lot outside the concession area of the Dutch company, APM Terminal. It has 25-year concession agreement with the National Port Authority (NPA) to manage the Freeport of Monrovia.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony on Friday, President Sirleaf told her citizens that development in every country requires time and cannot happen over night
“We have come a long way and every endeavor which we have undertaken. There are challenges not doubt. Development takes a long time, commitment dedication and it takes hard work. It doesn’t happen in any other way,” the President explained.
In an apparent reaction to public criticisms in the local media that her nearly 12-year-old regime has not done enough to develop Liberia amidst huge international donor assistance, President Sirleaf added:
“And the only ones to develop a country are the nationals of the country themselves. Unless they take responsibility, primary responsibility the country will never achieve its development goals.”
Sirleaf, who has barely a month to hand over to the next elected government, urging Liberians to learn this, largely blaming the local radio stations for not giving much air time to development issues.
“Maybe our radio stations would now carry things that talk about development, that talk about building society and not talk so much trash,” the Liberian leader said.
The just dedicated completed Freeport Modernization project is the latest in a series of projects President Sirleaf has been dedicating in the past few months as her tenure runs out.
Unlike the Freeport project, the 78-year-old Liberian leader has gone ahead to dedicate other projects although they have not been completed, something that have sparked sharp criticisms from some citizens in local radio phone-in shows.
One unfinished project slated to be dedicated shortly is the new modern multimillion US dollars Terminal at the country’s only Roberts International Airport outside the capital, Monrovia.
Hailing the National Port Authority—“Talk less, do more”– President Sirleaf wished that “all Liberians will take it to heart.”
The internal road pavement, something that has not been done in the past 30 years, is expected to address the long-running flooding within the Freeport of Monrovia during Liberia’s rainy season, according to the port authorities.
NPA Managing Director David Williams said that the entire amount for this aspect has come from the corporation’s coffers and it has not taken any loan to undertake this project.
He disclosed that the Freeport of Monrovia is now providing 24 hours services instead of the previous 12 hours operations. He also said the second seaport of Buchanan, which is some 88 miles from Monrovia is now carrying out 24 hours operation as well.
The Freeport of Monrovia modernization is part of the Sirleaf administration’s development blueprint code named, “The Agenda for Transformation” under the seaport sector.
Few years ago, the NPA entered into a concession agreement with APM Terminals, which has in recent times constructed a 600-meter quay at the Freeport of Monrovia which is said to have a 50-uear warranty.
The quay project is said to cost US$50 million and it is in line with the Concession Agreement signed by the Liberian government, while the terminal modernization is also said to cost US$34.5 million.