Buchanan – Buchanan District Representative Matthew Joe has fulfilled two of his campaign promises on Sunday, March 11 when he presented a school bus to the district, while also inducting officials of the District Development Council (DDC).
Setting up a DDC and a bus donation to the students is the first in a very long time for the most populous district in the county.
Hon. Joe, who replaced former representative Gabriel Buchanan Smith, while on the 2017 campaign trail promised to in three months purchase a bus for the student community, initiate a LD$3 million micro loan scheme and form a district development council to spearhead development projects in his constituency.
Speaking at the dedication program in Buchanan City, Bong County lawmaker
Prince Moye, who is also Deputy Speaker of the House, said the DDC is a means of decentralizing developments in a district.
“Matthew Joe has made no mistake to have formed the DDC, they are the ones that will run after the day to day development in your district”, Hon. Moye to the Buchanan district constituents.
“To run a DDC there are many challenges because others think that the representative has all the money and is not willing to help his people.”
The Deputy Speaker noted that the leaders of the council should solicit the views of the people and stop putting their personal interest first.
“Sometimes, a lawmaker can make more promises during campaign but not all of the campaign promises are achievable; I am urging you to do the most urgent ones first,” he advised.
Continuing, the Bong County District Two lawmaker lauded his colleague for contributing to the development of his constituents “although he hasn’t taken pay” at the Capitol.
For his part, Hon. Joe hailed his constituents for being farsighted for electing him as their lawmaker.
“I want to let you know that your decision to have elected me was by no mistake but by the directive of God that is allowing the dream of this district to come to pass through me,” he said.
“I told you during my campaign that I alone couldn’t run this district and so I have formed the district development Council. I have started fulfilling my promises but my heart beat is to pave the Fairgrounds road and I can assure you that I will do what I promised.”
He announced that his office will shortly lunch a LD$3 million micro loan to market women to “help themselves” while we lobby for companies to invest in the district.
The lawmaker told the audience – “It’s no more time for politics but time to move the district and Grand Bassa forward”.
Christopher K. Neufville, Chairman of the DDC, assured his fellow constituents about his leadership’s commitment to working in their interest.
“As we have been trusted by our people, we are going to make sure that the bus and every other development in our district will be on path,” Neufville said.
By Elton Tiah, FPA Contributor