By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Bong County Representative Marvin Cole has presented 200 pieces of solar panels to inhabitants for their use in the central city of Gbarnga, nearly 198 kilometers northeast of Monrovia.
Residents here had initially been promised 1,000 pieces of the solar panels.
The presentation ceremony was one of jubilation despite citizens not receiving the total amount of what was earlier promised them.
Rep. Cole had earlier assured during the 2018 senatorial by-election in the county, that he would electrify Gbarnga before Independence Day that year, though that did not happen. He was criticized for not keeping his promise in time.
The estimated cost of the solar panels is put at US$105,000, according to the lawmaker.
He said the lights will serve as security during night hours, in the wake of escalating criminal activities across the country.
Lighting up Gbarnga is one of several projects in keeping with his developmental initiatives in District Three, Cole said.
“Currently, I am building the Janipleta Health Center through the help of my office and friends. We are building bridges across the district, providing tuition aid for students, creating the enabling environment for different women groupings and youths in spite of the many economic challenges in the country”, he told kinsmen.
Rep. Marvin Cole: “I will always be there for you because I know what you did for me. This is my way of giving back to the community, and there are things that I didn’t promise but decided to give, one of which is light”.
He said the light would also be helpful especially to students during their studies.
Rep. Cole at the same time told citizens that money for the light project came from his pocket, clarifying that it was not government funds or a legislative project.
He then lauded Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and Public Work Minister Manbutu Nyenpan for the assistance they both provided him which enabled the bringing in of the solar panels to county.
The lights were then presented to Madam Taylor for onward turn over to Gbarnga City Mayor Lucia Herbert who will in turn distribute them.
In her remarks, the Vice President thanked Rep. Cole for the undertaking and assured that she will work with him to procure additional three containers of solar panels to electrify the whole of this central Liberian city and its environs.
The containers are expected in the country soon, according to Taylor.
She then admonished citizens of Gbarnga to be security for the lights in their respective communities.
Also speaking was Mayor Herbert, who praised Rep. Cole for the lights he personally procured, describing him as a far sighted leader. She also assured him of proper usage of the solar panels.
The presentation ceremony was witnessed by a cross section of local leaders and residents.