Monrovia-Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings on Tuesday disclosed plans that his ministry is going to be implementing during the Dry Season to alleviate some of the damages that occur on the road during the Rainy Season.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-[email protected]
This year’s rainy season caused serious damage on many road corridors including the Bushrod Island road corridor.
Providing an overview of what the Public Works Minister termed as 100-day work plan, Minister Giddings said his team at the Ministry was about to make serious intervention in road work but the rain hampers the works.
“The rainy season came so early. We took over in February, by March, April, we started to intervene but when we could not do a lot of the other work. Some of the intervention that we will be making in the different communities in the city streets, city patching and all of that will be done. There are lots of works we will be doing in the dry season,” Minister Giddings said.
With the use of US$8.9 million out 22 million on road maintenance, the Public Works Minister said his team will work harder during the dry season to ensure better roads during next year’s Rainy Season.
He added: “The assessment that was done on the 100 days, you could see that we were beating ourselves. We want to make sure that we did an assessment that will advance us during the coming Dry Season. Remember, we started in April of 2024 which took us closer to the rainy season. The success of the 100 days is just that we have done a little over 70 percent in terms of the conditions of the road.”
Mr. Giddings furthers: “The Dry Season is coming, we can do a lot and the next rainy season that is coming, the road will be in better condition as they are now. Maintenance works will soon start. In the weeks, you will see maintenance teams everywhere.”
Adding up, the Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Community Services, Jocelia J. Taplah disclosed plans by the ministry to begin a nationwide drainage clearing exercise to reduce the issue of flooding.
Flooding over the past months has been a challenge for many citizens as more than 50,000 people were affected in just this year alone.
According to the Deputy Minister, all areas that experienced the worst flooding this year, the Ministry will make sure that those places are going to be better and free from flooding.
She also blamed flooding on community members who use their drainages for garbage disposal and construction in waterways and mangrove swamps.
“We went to the Montserrado River and we saw a dumpsite. Huge deposit of dirt that we need to get rid of,” Taplah said.
She also stressed that in the coming days, the Ministry will target seven of Liberia’s 15 counties with a drainage clearing up exercise.
