Monrovia — The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) and a Liberian- owned company, the JES Engineering, have signed an Exchange of Notes Agreement, worth US$121,000 for the completion of the first-floor of its four-storey multipurpose headquarters along the Tower Hill Community, Roberts International Airport Highway.

By Victoria G Wesseh 

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, October 15, by the LNBA’s President Sylvester D. Rennie, and the General Manager of JES, Mr. Joseph S. Dennis, in the presence of the LNBA’s project manager, Cllr. Bobby Livingstone.

The signing ceremony, held at the LNBA’s office on Ashmun Street, was also witnessed by staffers of the Bar and JES.

According to Cllr.  Rennie, the project is fully funded from dues and other fees collected from its membership.

Delving into the selection process of JES Engineering, Rennie noted that they followed a competitive bidding process. “We announced a bid about three months  ago for contractors to express interest. We were able to get a company that is 100 per cent Liberian owned to carry out our project,” Cllr.  Rennie said.

Rennie added that the contract for the pending project will run  for eight months, where the first-floor will be completed.

Rennie lauded Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe and  Cllr. Moses Paigar, both of whom  administrations have contributed to the project.

But, according to the LNBA’s President,  his leadership, as part of its promises, has seen it necessary to have the project completed within the next eight months for official use by members of the organization.

“Once it’s completed, our leadership will go down in history as the first to be completing the first-floor,” Cllr. Rennie maintained.

While the project is ongoing, Rennie disclosed that they have raised the funds for the completion of the first-floor.

The LNBA President has attributed the delay in implementing the project to a lack of funding over the years, as well as, the previous contracting Liberian company, GeoScope Limited.

“We were compelled to terminate the contract with GeoScope because the company defaulted on the project,” Rennie said. He added that plan is underway to seek legal redress against GeoScope.

However, he said with the sound financial policy currently being put in place, a substantial amount has been collected to implement the project.

“I will make sure to complete the first-floor before my tenure comes to an end,” Rennie vowed. The LNBA’s leadership is scheduled for November 2024, which disenfranchises Rennie from seeking re-election due to a term clause in the bar’s constitution.

For his part, JES’ General Manager, Dennis assured the LNBA’s membership that his company will complete the project within the eight months agreed scheduled.