Harrisburg, Montserrado – Latest assertion by Lands, Mines and Energy Minister, Patrick Sendolo, that residents around the Mount Coffee Hydro Dam are obstructing the ongoing electricity project is not going down well with the inhabitants.
“We have lost significant amount of time on the Mount Coffee project,” said the Minister at a Ministry of Information press briefing last Thursday.
“Why? It is because we have people along the corridors that are stopping contractors from carrying on their work.”
But residents of the area have disagreed with the Minister. During a FrontPageAfrica tour of Harrisburg over the weekend, an official in the office of the Commissioner of Harrisburg, Robert Norris, said the Minister’s comments are far from reality, adding that things are normal in the area and the project is ongoing smoothly.
“It sounds too strange because Harrisburg is very normal and everybody is doing their normal business and the project is in full swing,” he says.
“Nobody is causing any problem; there is not anything as such. So, I don’t know where this information is coming from. Let him come here and verify for himself—nothing is happening like that here and we are in full cooperation of the work.”
For Country’s Sake
Dorbor Kollie, 25, a resident of the area says Minister Sendolo’s statement is far from the truth, saying they have been working with authorities at the plant.
“Other people came and saw what we are doing here. We are in a peaceful and well secured environment. So, if he goes and says such thing, he is lying. We are working in line with them,” Kollie said.
Kollie stressed that the Project Implementation Unit and the authority of the Lands, Mines and Energy are not treating them right, adding that they were promised many things but have been let down by those who are now levying accusation.
He says if the project was not in the interest of the country, they would have stopped it in protest of their basic social services. According to him, they are in dire need of safe drinking water as the sole hand pump in the area runs out during the dry season.
“Actually, if this was an ordinary company, production company or manufacturing company, the inhabitants of this area were going to stop it until they can meet up with the our demands; like safe drinking water, good latrines, health center, good school—all these things are not met up with,” he explained.
“Through the dry season, it has been very hard. We get water from a small hole where water shoots from underground. That water helps us a lot during the dry season.
Actually, we have one hand pump that is half functioning. During the dry season it gets dry. Rainy season water gets into it; so dry season time we cannot use it.”
He added that another hand pump is at the Harrisburg community clinic but they do not use it as it was built specifically for the clinic, not the community. According to Kollie, the Project Implementation Unit promised to build a new hand hump and latrines.
“We are joining in the rainy season now. And I bet if we jumped in the rainy season, they will not get the chance to dig that; particularly the hand pump, neither to build the latrines. They come with their big lie and say things that they will not do.”
He called on the government, especially the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, to come on the scene to know what’s affecting the people and not to spread what he described as rumors.
“It’s good to come on the scene and know what is affecting the people not to sit and get all types of lies outside there and try to say something contrary from what happening in this area”, Kollie said.
“You seeing it? If they want eat the money, it left with them; let them go ahead and enjoy the country’s money; they shouldn’t sit and be lying that we are putting stop to the project that is going on. That is a lie and he should stop practicing lies.”
‘We Are Not Stopping the Work’
At the front of the fence of the project sits a makeshift market structure with people who are selling variety of items, ranging from food etc. Speaking to FrontPageAfrica, they also refuted reports that they are obstructing the ongoing project.
Ma Teta Flomo, a resident and food vendor said she has not seen anyone stopping workers at the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant.
According to her, they were told by authorities of the plant to move from within the area of operations but they begged and were promised that another area would be available at the end of this year.
“We not stopping anybody here, I just sell here. That the same place the people who working inside the fence can eat. So if they say go, we will go, and we not get any problem. We only tell them to find another place for us and they say they will find place for us at the end of the year,” Ma Teta said.
J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972) [email protected]