The Senate Committee on Public Works, chaired by former Senate Pro Temp and Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie, has pledged to work with the Ministry of Public Works to address the issue of bad roads in Liberia, especially in the Southeast region.
Senator Chie said that better roads would boost the country’s economy, attract investors, and unlock the potentials of the agriculture and tourism sectors.
He made these remarks on Wednesday, February 6, 2024, during the confirmation hearing of Public Works Minister-designate Roland Layfette Giddings.
Giddings, said to be an experienced Liberian public infrastructure policy practitioner, presented his policy framework and 100-day deliverables to the Senate Committee.
He added that his administration would invest in roads and bridges, pave major highways connecting county capitals and neighboring countries, and set up mechanisms to address flooding and drainage problems in Liberia.
He also shared the findings of a recent roads inventory conducted by the Ministry of Public Works, which showed that only 8.7% of the country’s 13,000 km road network is paved, and that the Southeast counties have the worst road conditions.
Meanwhile, the Public Works Minister-designate, Roland Layfette Giddings, said that he would invest in roads and bridges to increase access across the country, if confirmed by the Senate. He also added that he would pave major highways connecting county capitals and neighboring countries to boost trade and social ties. Concluding, he told Senators that he would tackle other road-related issues, such as flooding and disasters, as part of his 100-day plan.
Story by Abraham Multipurpose Kollie.
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