Monrovia – Public Works Minister-designate Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan said if confirmed by the Senate’s Public Works Committee, his administration will institute a robust zero-tolerance attitude towards violators of zoning regulations and those engaged in construction activities without obtaining the requisite permits from the Ministry.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
He promised to demolish structures that are deliberately built in alley ways, waterways and contrary to zoning regulations.
He further promised to institute proper city planning, bring sanity to communities by stubbornly ensuring proper layout of communities and work to ensure conducive and improved road network.
He also told them that he will institute standard construction and implement city ordinance as required by global engineering and international best practices.
The Public Works Minister-designate also said, consistent with the policy of President George Weah to empower Liberian businesses when confirmed, he will give priority to Liberian construction contractors and dedicate resources to the building of their capacity so as to enable them fairly compete with other companies in the industry.
“We will also seek a renewed partnership with the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors as well as the Engineering Society of Liberia and the Chambers of Architects and Surveyors.”
“It is sad that while we are encouraging Liberian companies to get actively involved in the economy of our country, government agencies and ministries are heavily indebted to these companies for services performed.”
“We want to assure construction contractors that while we demand of them excellent performance, we will, at the same time, ensure that they are paid for services properly rendered.”
Minister-designate Nyenpan said he holds dear that the payment of contractors, based on allocated resources, is a condition precedent for the enhancement of our infrastructure development program.
He believes that the implementation of many infrastructure projects either funded by government or bilateral partners is delayed for various reasons, ranging from procurement bureaucracies, slow payment, to the lackadaisical attitude of contractors.
“It is also observed, that when such projects are said to be completed they are later realized to either be of poor quality, substandard, and not consistent with the original specification of the project. In such cases, the government will have to commit additional resources to redo such projects.”
“This is tantamount to waste of the already scarce resources. “
“Our administration, when confirmed will also adopt a zero tolerance towards delays in project implementation, and substandard works.”
“Contractors found to be wanting will be severely penalized. Towards this end, we will immediately redeploy all of the county resident engineers to their respective counties of assignment.”
He also promised to institute a technical review of all public infrastructural projects that are being implemented or signed, and yet to commence.
The Minister-designate at his confirmation hearing Thursday, February 15, said, the object of the review exercise is to ensure that projects are technically viable and worthy of the cost for which they are being implemented.
“This exercise will also help us to identify those projects that have long passed their completion dates, and the contractors that are not in compliance with the terms and conditions of said contracts.
“Our decision to institute this technical review is informed by the frequent reports of completed projects later found to be substandard, as well as, claims of contractors receiving funding and failing to implement projects as scheduled.”
The Minister-designate holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering, an LLB in Law and a Master’s degree in International Relations.
Qualifications, he believes have adequately prepared him to productively contribute his quota to the development of his motherland.
In his professional life, he has worked as a civil engineer both in the public and private sectors and also had the unique opportunity to serve in senior managerial and administrative capacities at government agencies including the Liberia Water Seward Cooperation, and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Cooperation.