Liberians were thrilled and seen a euphoric mood over the weekend when President George Weah switched on phase three of the street lights following three decades of darkness in Monrovia and its environs.The young folks around the “Freeport” and its environs including adults who have experienced the beauty and the importance of lights, took to the streets with government’s Pro-poor songs, clapping for President George Manneh Weah for what many of them termed as ‘the developmental undertaking’.
Addressing jubilant citizens prior to switching on the lights, President George Weah said he was grateful to God for placing him in the position to chase away the darkness from his people.
He said the project is a major part of his government’s initiative to bring light to the darkness which his people had experienced in the past for many years, stating that light will help to enhance the safety and security of his citizens particularly at night.
The Liberian leader assured that the street beautification project will be extended to the rest of the cities, adding that all county’s cities will be lighted and urged Liberians to secure the lights.
The President frowned on Liberians who he claimed are in the constant habit of unscrewing the knots from the poles.
The Liberian leader who described such attitude as harmful also informed the would-be doers that destroying the street lights will affect the “No position, the opposition and the government as well”.
Weah indicated that though the project may be seen to be small and inconsequential on his government’s onward development agenda, noted that it represents a giant step and a major impact in terms of improving the quality of lives for the people of Liberia.
Also speaking at the Commissioning ceremony which was held at Prestige Motor, Acting Public Works Minister, Ruth Coker Collins also frowned on those she termed as unscrupulous individuals bent on unscrewing knots from the poles.
Madam Collins asserted that in an effort to protect the poles from being wrecked, the Ministry has set up a Special Taskforce Dubbed “The Surveillance and Maintenance Taskforce”.
According to her, the special team will be charged with the responsibility to surveillance the movement of any person attempting to do any criminal act around the poles.
Giving an overview of the project, the Acting Public Works Boss put the cost of the first phase of the project at US$2m.
According to the Public Works Acting Minister, the first phase of the project was divided into three lots including, the ELWA to Vamoma House while lot two will began from Vamoma House to Broad Street and Ducor with Johnson Street to Freeport which comprises lot three respectively.
She named communities and local streets that are expected to be lighted shortly under the presidential lighting project which among other things, include; Johnsonville to Pipeline, Rehab to Duport Road, Johnsonville to Dry Rice Market, SKD Boulevard, S.D. Cooper Road including the municipal Borough of New Kru Town, Logan Town, Doe Community and Mamba Point among others.