Todee District, Montesrrado County – Montserrado County Electoral District 1 Representative, Lawrence Morris says he has embarked on the implementation of some his promises made to the constituents.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh 00231880881540 / 00231777769531 [email protected]
Rep. Morris defeated the incumbent Josephine George Francis in a hotly contested election in 2017.
Among his biggest achievements, he said, are the provision of scholarships to dozens of students, provision of free medical services and lobbying with local and international partners to improve agricultural opportunities within the district.
Speaking on separate occasions during his legislative report recently, the Montserrado District #1 lawmaker named some of his interventions as his continued engagements to resolve the labor crisis between the workers’ Union and the Morris American Rubber Company (MARCO) as well as engaging with stakeholders including President George Manneh Weah to find an amicable solution to the ongoing Fendell land crisis.
Dozens of residents of Fendell were left homeless when authority of the University of Liberia demolished their properties on account of ‘illegal occupation.
For lawmaking and oversight, Rep. Morris highlighted his worked alongside his colleagues at the Lower House and the USAID Revenue Generation for Governance and Growth (RG3) tax experts for potential tax policy reform, as well as engaging the Liberia National Police to reawaken the community watch team to boost security in the community.
He furthered that although an allotment of US$207,000 as county social development fund in 2017/2018 budget was made, with District #1 carrying US$10.000, his district did not receive any amount; something he noted is being repeated in 2018/2019 where his district is set yet to receive the 2018/2019 allotment.
Agriculture
On agricultural development, Rep. Morris reported that he, in collaboration with a partner identified as Sylvester Mulbah have purchased 60 acres of land to construct a modern chicken poultry facility in Yarkpa Town, Todee District; putting the projected investment at US$500,000.
In addition, the lawmaker stated that he has built traction with Green Gold Liberia to provide cost effective, highly sustainable agro-economic training for farmers and others.
Education
For education, Rep. Morris recounted that he awarded scholarship to 150 students at Barshell University in Paynesville and additional L$125,000 towards vocational and academic education.
In addition, the Montserrado District # 1 lawmaker noted that he has formed a partnership with the Dutch Government through the ORANGE program (OKP) where students will be awarded scholarship to pursue BSc, Masters and PHD to study in the Netherlands.
He disclosed application process is still ongoing and encourage eligible candidates to apply. Dozens of students, he added are currently benefiting from his financial aid at various academic and vocational institutions including the St. Christopher Catholic High School and the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC).
Health
For health, the lawmaker, in his PowerPoint presentation and displaying graphic pictures, said he has strengthened relationship with health partners in the United States to improve the healthcare delivery system in the district.
Some of his interventions include establishing partnership with the Liberia Medical and Dental Council to provide free treatments and drugs for more than 500 hundred residents from across the district with more than 25 medical doctors volunteering their full time.
In addition, he partnered with Rep. Samuel Enders (Montserrado Dist. #6) and conducted free medical outreach for residents to hard-to-reach communities.
Infrastructure
In a bid to boost infrastructure development in the area, Rep. Morris revealed that on his trip to the United States of America, he also engaged Liberians hailing from Montserrado District #1 residing in the US to build consensus in having a shared understanding of the development needs of the district and finalized discussion with Phil George, a native of District #1 residing in the US for the construction of a modern market facility in Kingsville Township of #7.
Rep. Morris also met with current and past legislators of the Arizona State to improve coordination, collaboration and Technical support that will spur the district development agenda, especially in sanitation, roads and food production.
“I want for Montserrado County District #1 to be the Model District in the country in term of trade, education, health and self-sufficiency in food production,” he averred.
Meanwhile, the residents including chiefs, elders, youth and the Statutory Superintendent, John N. Tucker and Clan Chief Patrick Sumo thanked their lawmaker for his numerous development initiatives and ‘sound’ representation within the a ‘very short time’ and pledged their cooperation to him as he strives to lift the district up.
They noted that it was the first time for a lawmaker to return home and make a comprehensive report about his activities.
However, in Kangai Town, Todee District, the residents called on Rep. Morris to engage the relevant authorities to put their volunteer teacher on payroll. Also, in Nyen Town, officials called on Rep. Lawrence to help with seating capacity for students of the public school.