Monrovia – Gender county coordinators of the Ministry of Gender and Social protection are nunable to tackle sexual based violence in hard-to-reach areas because Gender Minister has recalled most of the vehicles assigned in these areas.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
According to some coordinators who spoke to FrontPageAfrica on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisal said the vehicles were outrightly recalled without any prior notice.
Some counties vehicle that was recalled includes Gbarpolu, Lofa, Sinoe, and Bong Counties.
For Bong, the vehicle was reportedly seized on the celebration of the Day of the African Child, June 15, 2019.
The vehicle assigned in Sinoe County was seized when it came to Monrovia for maintenance while Gbarpolu vehicle was involved in an accident while for Lofa’s, a mechanic was taken from Monrovia to repair a damaged vehicle which is now in Monrovia.
Grand Cape Mount vehicle is reportedly being use by one of the Assistant Ministers.
The coordinators said no reason was given but theywere told that there were new policies and the vehicles will be reassigned.
“She (Minister Williametta Saydee-Tarr) said some people cannot afford to maintain the cars so they are recalling the vehicles till they can put in proper policy.
“We cannot attack them because it is the Government of Liberia, though the vehicles were donated by UNICEF.”
“We work within our reach, even official days we had to get support from partners to hold programs for the 16 days of activism activities.
FPA contacted Minister Tarr to ascertain information regarding the recalling of the vehicles on December 5, 2018, via WhatsApp since she is out of the country, the blue check shows that she read it but she didn’t reply.
Also, on December 8, 2018, she was also contacted reminding her of a response to the inquiry but again the check showed, confirming that she read the message. However, she didn’t reply to this paper’s inquiry.
Prior to contacting Madam Tarr, Webster Cassell of the communication department was contacted but his phone rang endlessly. Prior to this article he previously told FPA that he was not the official spokesperson for the ministry.