By Precious D. Freeman
The Government of Sweden has approved approximately US$400,000 as financing for the completion of Liberia’s National Development Plan, as well as the 100-days deliverables of President Joseph Boakai.
The disclosure was made when Sweden Ambassador to Liberia, Urban Sjostrom, met with the Senior Management Team of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, headed by Minister Boima S. Kamara.
According to Amb. Sjostrom, the US$400,000 will be used to complete the development and implementation of the country’s next five years Development Plan, which represents the Liberian Government’s development agenda for the next five years.
Also, the five-year plan will analyze the country’s objectives and priorities in relation to all sectors and in response to identifying national needs.
In other development, ELTEL Network, a Swedish company that, since September 27, 2019, provided Low Voltage electrical materials to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), is now threatening legal action if the outstanding debts of US$434,452 is not paid within 14-days.
The money in question resulted from a 2016 agreement between ELTEL Network and LEC for the Swedish Company to supply the electricity company with Low Voltage (LV) materials, which they did.
Some of the LV applications are diverse and include control rooms, distribution systems, lighting, communication systems, and security systems. LV wiring is often used in these applications, as it is designed for smaller currents and offers increased safety compared to regular wiring.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Gunner Edholm, in a statement released from Sweden, on March 9, 2024, said, they are issuing a 14-day ultimatum to the LEC for full settlement of the money, else they will resort to legal action.
Edholm said since 2019-2020, the management of LEC has deliberately refused to settle the outstanding balance of US$434,452, despite several emails and official letters written to them.
According to him, on January 1, 2024, he wrote the LEC Chief Executive Officer, Monie Captan, reminding him of the promises he made to settle the outstanding balance, but unfortunately, Captan has refused and failed to respond to the letter, leaving them with no option but to seek legal redress within the 14-day period, which expires on March 23.
The statement further said it is with deep regret that they have addressed the public regarding the ongoing issue of unpaid debt for the essential services they provided to the LEC from 2019 to 2020.
“And between 2019 to 2020, we offered to the LEC management composition settlement agreement based on a direct payment of US$360,000, meaning if they were to accept the offer, ELTEL Network was going to waive US$74,452, which LEC failed to honor,” he added.
