Vice president Joseph N. Boakai has stressed that the Government of Liberian needs to do more in its budgetary allocation towards the support of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) in its community driven development. Vice President Boakai emphasized that only Liberians can rebuild Liberia at nation strives in its reconstruction drive.
Speaking recently at the dedication and turning over ceremony of 12 sub-projects in Bong County valued at US$ US$469,757.86 Vice President Boakai thanked the World Bank and European Union for providing the grant for the sub-projects.
Earlier LACE Executive Director Ramses T. Kumbuyah stressed the completion of the sub-projects marked the end of the Agency's intervention in the 12 communities and it was now the responsibilities of the community people and local authorities to make good use of the these facilities and to regularly maintain them.
Atty. Kumbuyah stressed “LACE does not have funds to do post project maintenance. If these are to serve you for a long time, then you must maintain them.”
“LACE wouldn't come back here to clean the water way under your bridges and culverts; or change the locks on the doors of your school or latrines; or repair your hand pump when the valve cuts. Taking ownership means you must invest your resources in the upkeep of these facilities”, he told community people and local authorities at the ceremony.
The LACE boss said the projects were implemented in six districts in Bong County. Atty. Kumbuyah named the projects as: the Gbarnay and Yarwelle bridges valued at US$86,759.84 and US$88,721.70 respectively; the Cotton Tree/ Bassa Community (valued US$23,968.02), Daimu (valued US$35,713.07), Gboayah (valued US$30,513.37) and the Paye-Ta (valued US$36,586.95) box culverts.
He continued: Sasia-Ta (valued US$15,951.79), Manakporlursue (valued US$13,185.19), Vamuyanta (valued US$15,954.40), Kollie-Ta Wollie (valued US$15,066.65) and the Blatanah (valued US$16,168.44) communities benefited from water and sanitation project. While the Yarbayei community benefitted from a school including furniture valued at US$91,771.63.
Atty. Kumbuyah thanked the World Bank, European Union and Government of Liberia for continuous support to the Agency.
District 5 Representative in Bong County, Edward W. Karfiah said it was now time for the government of Liberia to begin to give social justice to communities by provident them with basic social services.
He believes without social justice, peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved. Representative Karfiah promised to campaign for more budgetary support to LACE in the upcoming budget year.
