The newly appointed Mayor of Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), Robert S. Bestman, has stirred hopes for a brighter future in the city.
Mayor Bestman outlined his vision to uplift the city’s standards, with a focus on sanitation, recreation, and youth empowerment, through the provision of educational opportunities at the core of his agenda.
At a ceremony held over the weekend, when he officially took office, Mayor Bestman highlighted plans to establish educational institutions and recreational spaces to foster community growth and cohesion.
Drawing from his extensive experience in urban affairs, he underscored the critical need for sustainable planning and zoning initiatives to accommodate the city’s growing population and foster orderly development.
Emphasizing the importance of education and civic engagement, Mayor Bestman outlined plans to establish educational institutions and recreational spaces conducive to community growth and cohesion.
He also envisioned a future where Paynesville will flourish as a model city, characterized by efficient governance, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the city, Mayor Bestman expressed gratitude to the dedicated staff of the Paynesville City Corporation, who work tirelessly to maintain cleanliness, despite difficulties, including irregular pay.
“These workers go through troubling times to keep this city clean, and some of them do not have the enabling protection to get in the street to clean, but because they want the city to be clean, they get there,” he said, adding, “I was told that some of them have not taken pay for months, but yet they are working. The majority of them are not on salary; the majority of them are something they call casual labor, and they find means to pay them. For that, we have made that case to the budget committee and to the Ministry of Finance, and they are working on it.”
In addition to advocating for improved compensation for workers, Bestman also vowed to work assiduously to address the city’s urban planning deficiencies.
Mayor Bestman emphasized the importance of sustainable urban planning and zoning initiatives to accommodate the city’s growing population and promote orderly development.
“Our administration at the Paynesville City Corporation will focus on sustainable urban planning and zoning. We will not want somebody to build their church, their school, or their residential area, and then the next person comes and puts a makeshift gas station right beside it. We will have to inform and educate our people about what a city should be, what type of homes should be where, and where we should have a park for children to play in,” he said.
The mayor’s agenda received support from Michael Thomas, Representative of Montserrado County District 4, and Chair of the Paynesville Legislative Caucus, who pledged collaborative efforts to realize Mayor Bestman’s vision for a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous Paynesville.
Speaking further, the Officer in Charge and Human Resource Manager of the Paynesville City Corporation, Hawa Doe Sheriff-Dunbar, assured Mayor Bestman of their commitment to work together towards making Paynesville a clean city.
“As we walk the streets of Paynesville, we see an overflowing dumpsite, a pile of plastic waste, so if everyone cleans the street in front of his or her home or business place, Paynesville will be clean. At least you will know that a clean city is the tourist’s first choice,” she said.
The Paynesville City Corporation also launched a cleaning campaign under the theme: “Clean City Starts with You,” emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and community participation in maintaining a healthy environment.
She added that, as Mayor Bestman takes office with a commitment to build upon the legacy of his predecessors and engage the expertise of Paynesville’s residents, there is optimism and determination for a positive transformation in the city’s future.
Inaugurated as the 12th Mayor of Paynesville, Robert S. Bestman assumed office with a firm resolve to build upon the legacy of his predecessors and harness the collective expertise of Paynesville’s residents. With a door open to all who seek to contribute to the city’s progress, Mayor Bestman has embarked on his tenure with optimism and determination, poised to lead Paynesville into a brighter future.
