By Precious D. Freeman
With barely a week to the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) having a new leadership, the current leadership visited its new headquarters under construction.
According to the plans, the modern, multipurpose building was one of this leadership’s promise aimed at ensuring commitment to transparency and collaboration as it strives to create a space for the legal community.
The Bar’s leadership visit to its headquarters construction in the Tower Hill-Margibi County community yesterday, just at the heel of turning over the gavel, was against pubic concerns over the project’s pace and its untimely completion.
However, the Chairperson of the LNBA Project Committee, Bobby Livingston, admitted that there has been direct confrontation circulating through rumors suggesting delays and abandonment of the project.
“These narratives that the project has been abandoned need to be demystified, the project is in full swing,” he stated; emphasizing that the construction had officially resumed a month ago and substantial progress had been made.
Livingston expressed confidence in the project’s momentum, promising visible changes in the coming weeks. “In two weeks, this place will not be the same,” he assured, highlighting the active and ongoing nature of the work.
The General Manager of JES Engineering Company, Joseph F. Dennis provided an in-depth update on the construction.
The project, valued at US$211,165, commenced on October 15, 2024, with Phase 1 nearing completion.
“Phase One is 85 to 90% complete as we enter week six of the eight-week timeline,” Dennis revealed.
Achievements include, “Completion of Plaster of Paris (POP) work, installation of protective iron bars and doors, full installation of electrical systems, completion of tiling work for office spaces and near-completion of bathroom facilities.”
Dennis highlighted the team’s decision to expedite wall tiling, initially planned for Phase 2 as part of their commitment to exceeding expectations.
He expressed confidence in completing Phase 1 within the designated timeframe and potentially delivering the project ahead of schedule.
The president of the LNBA, Sylvester Rennie, commended the Project Committee for their transparency and progress and reiterated the association’s dedication to delivering a functional headquarters that meets the needs of its members.
“We will give the Bar a habitable headquarters,” Cllr. Rennie declared and noting the critical role of lawyers’ contributions in funding the project, he expressed optimism that the facility would host its first event before the end of his tenure in January 2025.
With the construction progressing steadily, the new headquarters is poised to become a landmark for professional excellence in Liberia.
