Jassie Kamara, 57, is a widow and mother of eight children and 20 grandchildren who worked with the Reclaiming Liberia Beaches and Waterways Program for several years, but the failure of the Government of Liberia (GOL) to pay her nearly two years’ salary arrears poses a threat to the survival of her family.
By Obediah Johnson
The program was designed during the second term of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to give a facelift to beaches and waterways around coastal areas in Monrovia and other parts adjacent.
It was also intended to combat open defecation and the polluting of the Atlantic Ocean and clogging of drainages.
Jassie was among hundreds of aggrieved Liberians, mostly elderly women, who stormed the grounds of the Capitol Building in Monrovia during the early morning hours of Thursday, September 12, to demand the Government of Liberia (GOL) to pay their over 20 months salaries owed them since 2022.
Workers of the program are reportedly being paid between US$70 to US$150.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa, Jassie pointed out that family members of workers of the program risk being out of school this academic year due to the delay by the government to settle their arrears.
She pointed out that she is constrained to go the extra mile just to provide food for her children and grandchildren.
“Almost two years now we have not taken pay. Our children and grandchildren are not going to school because there is no money to pay their fees. My children are not working and I’m the one taking care of my grandchildren. They will not be in school if the government does not pay us. To get food in the house too is very hard.”
Jassie recalled that though efforts were made by them to meet their respective elected Representatives to compel the government to pay their salaries; nothing has been done to address the situation.
“We made up our minds to come here today to draw their attention; maybe the lawmakers will say because we come they will act. They know much about this project because they can see us on the beaches working.”
She expressed disappointment over citizens and others who discredit the work they do to save lives and properties.
“We are working very hard, my son, but no pay and we are suffering. The government must look into it. We want the President himself to look into it because; the past government said they left US$2M in the budget. So, we want them to give us that first money before they give us the money they have for us.”
“If I see President Boakai today, I will just talk to him to look at me and my age as a widow taking care of her grandchildren and children. It’s not easy. We have no hand and we are Liberians. We have run out of food. I don’t even have a cup of rice at home right now.”
Jassie maintained that she and others are depending on the cleaning of the beaches and waterways program to survive, and as such, President Boakai should intervene to ensure that they receive their salaries.
She observed that all citizens do not have the requisite academic credentials and experience to work in government and as such, workers of the program who are from slum communities should be given their just compensation for the work they do.
Back to Maritime
The beaches and waterways project was previously executed by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA).
However, the project was turned over to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to implement for unknown reasons by the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government of President George Manneh Weah.
Jassie called for the program to return to maritime.
According to her, workers were being paid on time when the LiMA was implementing the program.
But since the program was transferred under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, she pointed out that they have been finding it difficult to receive their salaries.
Laughing stock
She recounted how workers of the beaches and waterways program are being scolded by others on a regular basis due to the work they do.
“Since the program came to Youth and Sports, we have only taken pay for six months. We used to take pay on time when the program was under maritime and we never used to bother; that’s what motivated more people to join us to work on the beach. First when we started some people used to say ‘oh we can’t clean poopoo’ and we still used to clean it and other waste on the beach.”
She disclosed that they have turned to “laughing stock” to those who normally go on the beaches to defecate because of the current situation.
“They can be telling us ‘your move from here; you’re working and the government is not paying you and you’re embarrassing us.’ They can be mocking at us and clapping their hands.”
Deaths
Jassie claimed that many workers of the program have died from pressure and frustration due to the failure of the government to pay their nearly 24 months’ salary arrears.
“More people have died from this thing but God’s grace is resting upon us and that’s why we are here today.”
Beggars
Munah Gibson, 65, stated: “Schools have opened and none of my eight children are in school. I don’t have money; they will sit down because I don’t have anything and my husband died.”
She noted that she and other workers have turned to beggars in their respective communities due to the delay by the government to pay their salaries, adding that, “I begging people to give me food to eat.”
She maintained that the situation is currently imposing debts on them.
“We have come to appeal to them to give our money and let our children go to school too and learn. They are our future. Three of my friends who we were working with died. That frustration killed them.”
James Pusah pointed out that the peaceful protest was triggered following negative responses from their officials to their countless inquiries made on the payment of their salaries.
“My brother, it’s not easy. You know to be a family person renting and children living with you-it’s not easy. We are just living by the grace of God.”
He encouraged aggrieved workers of the program to remain calm and continue to engage with the government until their arrears are settled.
Against payment system
Lewis W. Konoe, Sr expressed disappointment over the change in the payment system of the project.
According to him, workers were previously paid through the banks when the project commenced in 2011, but the Ministry of Youth and Sports has allegedly introduced what he called “on-the-counter” payment system.
“Sometimes we get pay from the banks; and sometimes they carry it to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to pay us on table. We have been engaging our Representative, but no good answer.”
Petition submitted
Meanwhile, the aggrieved workers have submitted a petition to the leadership of the Liberian Senate.
In the petition, a copy which is in the possession of FrontPage Africa, the aggrieved workers expressed dismay over the reduction of budgetary allotment to the program from US$3M to US$2M in the 2024 national budget.
They noted that since the passage of the budget and up to present, they are yet to receive a dim from the budgeted amount.
“We have exhausted all efforts in engaging both the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Finance concerning our pay but up to present there have been no way out and frustratingly for us we were just informed by an insider that out of the two million United States Dollars (2MUSD) that was approved, we are only left with less than US$300,000 plus thousand within the recast budget submitted to you which can’t even pay one month salary for the over 10,000 thousands workforces both (BWWP) and (TECY).”
“With this narrative, we are pleased to kindly appeal to you honorable to see reasons to appropriate at least three million United States Dollars (3MUSD) in this recast budget that is before you currently to enable us get our job benefits in order to pay our children school fees as you are aware that schools are opened and up to present we can’t afford to pay our children fees due to the challenges we are fix with currently. Based on all the above, we are therefore kindly seeking your intervention again as you are about to pass the recast budget.”
The leadership of the Senate is expected to act on the petition during this ongoing extra sitting.
