By Alex Yomah
President George Manneh Weah, over the weekend informed jubilant citizens residing in Peace-Island to expect paved streets after lighting up various communities with electricity.
Speaking at a program marking the electrification of Peace-Island on Friday, March 5, 2021, Weah expressed the important role light plays in Liberia.
“When the light comes, there must be paved streets,” President Weah indicated amidst hands of applause in Peace Island community. He asserted that it would not auger well for community members to commute under electricity on a deplorable road.
The Chief Executive however, instructed Acting Public Works Minister, Madam Ruth Coker-Collins and Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah to ensure the construction of the Peace Island Community Road to complement the electrification process in that area.
The community, during the occasion craved the indulgence of the President to reconstruct their roads, so as to enable alleviate the difficulties they face in commuting to different locales.
Peace Island was the first community to benefit from the electrification project which is expected to connect over 38,000 customers within the affected areas.
Weah stated that the presence of electricity in the Peace Island Community and other suburbs of Monrovia will provide security and bring together family and Community, indicating that General lighting is not a luxury, but instead, a necessity.
Weah again expressed his concern about the safety of facilities against the fact, that their unknown individuals are in the constant habit of destroying the facilities and even recounted reports that some individuals have begun destroying light poles along the main Tubman Boulevard.
The program to light up various communities stemmed from U$63m electricity project signed between the Government and the European Union.
Providing an overview, Henry V. Kimber, Project Manager-LEC said the project is intended to strengthen the LEC grid in various parts of Monrovia and that it will not just cover Peace Island, but other parts of Monrovia.
“This serves as one of the major transportations in the electricity sector in Liberia,” Kimber noted.
“Peace Island is the first to be connected under this project, but this comes with a responsibility to ensure that the LEC be allowed to do the necessary things to ensure that electricity reaches across the community,” Mr. Kimber said.
He maintained that in order for LEC to extend; beneficiaries will have to pay their bills regularly and added “If you are able to use one dollar a month, pay the one dollar, because this will empower LEC to do more work.”
Mr. Kimber informed the community members that they will not have to pay for transformer, wire or poles, stressing that those items will be brought by LEC free of charge.
According to him, the arrival of electricity will erase darkness and lonely streets during the night hours at Peace Island.
“It is your responsibility to protect this effort against those who will be involved with power theft,” he said.
He encouraged customers to remember their meter numbers, on grounds that any report of stolen meter will be blocked by LEC Management.
Speaking further, European Union Head of Delegation to Liberia Laurent Delahousse expressed EU member states, representing together 450 million European citizens’ support to the development of Liberia.
“I cannot emphasize enough of its positive consequences for the promotion of social and human development for women and children,” Delahousse said.
According to him, EU is spending US$63 Million on the electricity program of “Monrovia consolidation of electricity,” to support the government of Liberia in its effort to provide electricity to all citizens.
He expressed EU’s concern on the urgency and need for all Liberians to become connected to the grid as soon as possible.
“Yes, people want power, people need power, but illegal connection to the electrical grid is unjustifiable. Stealing electricity is not only an offense punishable by law; it also endangers the lives of many; it will have to be paid for, so that LEC can bring electricity to more people,” he explaimed.
Meanwhile, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah informed the gathering that aside from the Peace Island electricity project, government has also signed a US$42 Million rural electricity project with its partner.
Minister Tweah on behalf of government has however appealed to EU for road finance.
“You already know him as bad road and darkness medicines and it will also be good to make some finance available for road projects,” Tweah stated.