MONROVIA – Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services designate, Prince D. C. Tamba, has strongly criticized the Liberian government for what he describes as a total disrespect, mockery, and unacceptable treatment of trained engineers at the Ministry by paying them only US$300 to 400 monthly.
By Blamo N. Toe, Contributing Writer, +231775963245 / +231880320363, [email protected]
Facing the Senate Committee on Public Works & Rural Development on Thursday, February 15, 2024, for his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Mr. Tamba emphasized that Liberia has well-trained and professional civil engineers working at the Ministry without adequate motivation.
Highlighting this issue as one of the many challenges faced by professionals within the government entity, the Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services designate noted that despite being underpaid, the engineers are relied upon by both the public and national government for the effective management of road projects.
He expressed frustration that, even though these professionals are often blamed when road projects encounter difficulties, they lack the necessary tools to carry out their duties effectively. Mr. Tamba pointed out that resident engineers lack vehicles, site engineers struggle to supervise adequately due to fuel shortages, and many are dependent on contractors for essential resources.
Mr. Prince D. C. Tamba argued that the lack of fuel for onsite engineers, coupled with the government’s failure to adequately motivate them, creates a situation ripe for compromise or corruption.
Therefore, he pledged that, if confirmed by the Liberian Senate, the Senior Management Team is committed to providing proper support and respect to these engineers to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
“We must support them. If necessary, we will seek additional resources to motivate our engineers to work once we are confirmed,” he stressed.
As the head of the technical arm of the Ministry of Public Works, if confirmed, Mr. Tamba described his new role as challenging but emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving success. He stated that he is approaching the position with an open mind and a dedication to serving the Liberian government’s interests.
“When I accepted this nomination from His Excellency, he told me, ‘Prince, put your country first,’ and that’s exactly what I intend to do. At Public Works, I will oversee all four bureaus and, despite the challenges, with your support, we can succeed,” he stated.
Furthermore, outlining his vision for the ministry, Mr. Prince D. C. Tamba emphasized his focus on maintaining the country’s road network, particularly the 13,000km of roads across Liberia.
“Sustaining our network requires serious investment. We must increase budgetary allocations and consider roads as valuable assets,” he concluded.
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