Congo Town – A five storey multipurpose building belonging to Liberian businessman George B. Kailando risk being demolished by the government of Liberia as the Ministry of Public Works plans to begin construction of an overpass around the under-construction Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr [email protected]
According to the Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Eugene Fahngon, the building “stands in the way of development” and needs to be brought down for the construction of an overhead bridge to allow for the free flow of traffic around the ministerial complex, which is being constructed by Chinese government in Oldest Congotown.
Dep. Min. Fahngon announced recently that the government is ready and set to demolish the building to jump-start the construction work of the overhead bridge.
Fahngon, addressing a news conference at the Ministry’s regular press briefing, stated that Kailando is refusing to adhere to government’s halt order being placed on the building.
“We told him to halt the construction works but he has refused. He is still carrying out the works; so, the Government of Liberia is ready to bring down the building to give go-ahead for the bridge construction,” he announced.
Fahngon didn’t say whether government will pay any expenses on the building.
But the owner of the building, George Kailondo who is a popular businessman said Fahngon “spoke out of ignorance.”
According to Kailando, he is not refusing development, but said he and authorities of the Ministry of Public Works are discussing the processing of demolishing the building and the strings attached.
“Let that jailed bird stop misleading the public; I have not in any way violated any halted order from government. Let Fahngon know that government has not told me anything about my re-imbursement, either,” Kailondo stated.
He said the building is his private property and if government wants to use eminent domain to acquire the property or destroy it, the building needs to be evaluated and expenses paid to him.
“If government wants to destroy my building using eminent domain, they need to come and let us discuss on how they can pay back my money spent on the property.”
The businessman, who operates a chain of businesses including petroleum stations and a radio and television stations, noted that he is willing to assist government with his own ‘yellow machine’ for the demolition of the building; adding, “If the government will do the right thing.”
“Let government come and do their own assessment on the building to know how much I have spent here. The land is mine; I have the deed in my possession. I took loan from the bank to construct that build you see there. It is a five-storey multipurpose building,” Kailondo stated.
According to him, the building is now valued at US$5 million; disclosing that he is constructing the multipurpose building to house his travel agency, boutique, offices, conference hall, shopping mall and jewelry shops, among others.
He told journalists over the weekend that he has requested from the government to show him the blue print of the overhead bridge to further convince him, that it is not a witch-hunt.
“I went to the Ministry of Public Works so that they can show me what they want to do because my property is probably involved. Up to present the Ministry has not shown me anything. They said the Chinese would have brought the blue print last month, but the month has ended and we are in a new month they cannot show the blue print,” he stated.
The building, when completed, will be named Saint Georges’ Plaza. According to him, since the President of Liberia has a first name ‘George’ and he, too, has the same first name, so he decided to combine both names, hence Saint Georges’ Plaza.
He, however, clarified that he is not seeking favor from the President for adding his first name on the building.
He blamed the witch-hunt on his property on folks who joined the Congress for Democratic Change from other parties making it the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
“They are the problem; they are the ones spoiling the image of this government. They are the ones who are afraid for people to join this party because they think everyone is joining to eat their elephant meat. For me they can’t even tell me that because I am a founding member of the Congress for Democratic Change and I am back in the CDC and not the ‘Coalition.’ Those who joined as the Coalition are the problems in our party,” he said.
Kailando recently rejoined the ruling party after being away for years. While he was away from the CDC, he became a member of the former ruling Unity Party (UP).