PHOTO: Acting Min. Ruth Coker Collins
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Acting Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker-Collins has confirmed a widely-held belief in the country of the proliferation of sub-standard building materials on the local market.
Minister Collins wants the collective efforts of Liberians including institutions to tackle sub-standard building materials to put the country on path.
She named steel rod, electrical materials including wires, among others as some of the sub-standard items that have caught her attention in the country.
Madam Coker-Collins admitted that her Ministry cannot identify those traders without the total involvement of everyone.
“We go out in the market place; we see sub-standard building materials like steel. Right now, the steel that is in country is less than 30ft long. But how can we fight this battle together” she disclosed.
“It is not only alone, if you look at electrical appliances- like wires, light bulbs, everything is nothing. We need to stand up as the country depends on us,” Minister Coker-Collins continued.
She did not however, state the ministry’s involvement in curtailing this alleged action; thereby calling for a joint effort to thwart this.
The acting Public Works Minister said that the ministry is challenged as they don’t the time to monitor those sub-standard building materials that are coming into the country.
Madam Coker-Collins disclosed that with partnership, they are able to identify some of the “loop holes on some of the things coming in the country.”
She however, failed to point out where particularly the loopholes are as she is focused on partnership rather than source.
The Public Works Ministry boss recommended a thorough laboratory assessment on goods before clearance- a factor she says will help change the narratives.
With this revelation from the acting Public Works minister, it hangs a dark cloud over the performances of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as it is charged with the statutory mandate to regulate and supervise goods in the country.
Many citizens have also criticized the Commerce ministry of not doing much as they have accused some importers including frozen dealers of importing expired frozen food in the country.
The acting Public Works Minister spoke recently when the Engineering Society of Liberia celebrated its 4th anniversary in the central city of Gbarnga, Bong County.
Background of the Ministry
The Department of Public Works was created by an Act of the National Legislature in 1928, and was later changed to the Ministry of Public Works in 1972 to adequately administer the Engineering component of the State in terms of surveying, drafting/designing, construction and supervision, to improve and maintain, direct or by contract all highways, bridges, roads, streets, airport, seaport, and all other public infrastructure in the Republic of Liberia.
Summary description of goals and services:
Its goal is to construct conducive and improved road net-work, standard construction and standard city ordinance as required by global engineering.