Grand Bassa County – The people of Nyuwein Administrative District, Grand Bassa County are still celebrating after Senator Jonathan Kaipay officially launched the implementation of a road and a major bridge project in their area.

The road, which is a major route connecting several towns in Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties, has been abandoned for over a decade, making locals in the area to face hardship.

Grand Bassa’s development council sitting has also failed to prioritize the road, while several appeals to the county authority and the Ministry of Public Works in past years have all failed.

 “When we were campaigning in Grand Bassa County, we campaigned on a slogan that say ‘Development is Now’, today we are pleased to inform the people of Nyuwein Administrative District that based upon your cry, your commitment, and your desire to have modern road…, we have brought you two projects,” Senator Jonathan L. Kaipay told locals attending the ground breaking program in Desoe Town.

The two projects, with a total of US$105,000, are part of Senator Kaipay’s Legislative Support Projects in Grand Bassa County, which he described as projects that impact social change and transformation of the lives of people in rural communities.

The Grand Bassa Senator said he was influenced to initiate the projects after he visited the area three years ago, when he had not even contested for the Senatorial seat. Kaipay, who is now on his constituency break, recalled how he had to tour the entire county after his election in 2015.

 “Upon our election as Senator, we came back to tell the people thank you, we toured the district …, and all they requested: Senator we need the road; we need the bridge – please help us,” Sen. Kaipay said.

According to the lawmaker, the people’s request came from the background that many pregnant women were dying because the bad road was preventing people from getting to the hospital and it is also hindering their livelihood.

Said Sen. Kaipay: “They said to me: this is the food basket for Grand Bassa County, but all our food we have to cross the St. John River, take it to Bong County and so the people of Bong County are being recognized as the county that is producing more food because we don’t have road.”

Already, several other towns in Nyuwein Administrative District have generated over LRD$300,000 and have started manually rehabilitating smaller bridges in other to ensure the full rehabilitation of the road.

“When people feel challenged, when people feel the need to help themselves, this is what they can do,” Kaipay told the Executive Director of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), adding that the community has agreed to contribute other resources like sand and rocks which would reduce the total cost of the project .

“If your people have done such a thing then it challenged you to go all out and look for way to help them.”

Speaking later during the program, LACE Executive Director, Julius K. Sele called on the community to collaborate with the contractors for the success of the projects. He complained that contractors faced numerous challenges while working in some districts.

“Plenty time people will say that government project, that the Senator project…, but the Senator has the money given to him as Senator for the county, he can decide whether to come here or whether to go to (district) number one, or number two or just do everything in Buchanan,”  Sele told locals in attendance at the program.

“But the fact that he decided to come here it means he has responded to what you asked him to do.”

While elaborating on the significance of the Legislative projects across the country, Mr. Sele named several projects that were implementing for Grand Bassa in 2015 including three markets, two schools, one clinic, and a youth center.

He assured that more projects will be done in 2016 due to the inclusion of Senators for the allotment of funds for legislative support projects at the national legislature. 

“This year, you have Senators coming on board – and you see, while the representative money that US$70,000 across the whole country, the Senators got US$210,000 …, you will have almost US$900,000 coming to Grand Bassa County alone,” he said.

Senator Kaipay, who chairs the Liberian Senate’s legislative projects, earlier said the senate managed to get US$6M out of US$11million proposed in the draft national budget. US$210,000 was allotted him as legislative project fund.

“Out of that amount, we have negotiated and LACE has gone through the different processes and we are about to conclude the second part of it by following all the PPCC regulations and LACE regulations so that two major projects will take place in this district,” he said amidst loud applause from the audience.

The project will be done in phases with the first phase of the road covering 20 to 25 kilometers, and the bridge will be constructed over the Wee River. The latter has an estimated cost of US$160,000 and will also be done in phases.

Already, the Senator has instructed LACE to allocate US$70,000 for the first phase of the bridge project while approximately US$40,000 is require for the rehabilitation of the first phase of the road project.

“Those things that you asked us for, we want to make sure we do it because we want to see your life transform. Many times I tell my colleagues that I see you my people, the voters as my boss because in job protocol when your boss man sends you or ask you to do something you just have to do it…, I’m doing what you asked because I don’t want to be fired,” Senator Kaipay said.

Kaipay, before becoming Senator, initiated and constructed a US$150,000 major bridge in the district while working as the director for the United Methodist Church Department of Community Services (DCS).

The bridge project significantly gained him more votes in the area back in 2014 during the special Senatorial election in Grand Bassa County helping him to comprehensively defeat incumbent Senator and Pro Temp of the Liberian Senate, Gbehzongar Findley.

Grand Bassa County – Grand Bassa Senator, Jonathan L. Kaipay, on Monday, August 1 signed an agreement with Humanity First Ahmadiyya Vocational College for the establishment of a technical vocational school in District #1, Grand Bassa County.

Report by Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

The agreement was signed in front of hundreds of youth on Compound One with several people including Representative Hans Barchue promising to fully support the skills training initiative. Over 350 youths in the district are expected to benefit when the training kicks off early September this year.

Speaking minutes before the signing, Senator Kaipay said the preparation for the partnership was based on discussions held years ago when he worked with the United Methodist Church’s development projects, adding that the vocational training project will be a technical mobile college offering intense six months training in mechanic, carpentry, and general construction, auto electronic and plumbing amongst others.

“The school is a complete academic; it’s not about politics,” Sen. Kaipay clarified to the audience. “It’s an opportunity. Whether you like Hon. Barchue or not, or you like Senator Kaipay or not, it’s going to give you skill. So we don’t want people to politicize it here.” 

further warned the youth to avoid politics and focus on building their human resource capacity which will prepare them for the job market, while announcing an initial budget of US$15,000 for tuition.

Humanity First is also expected to make immense contribution to the implementation of the project by covering fees, but the youths were also encouraged to make contribution to their tuition payments – something which the benefactors say will ensure the students contribute to their own education.

“To earn an education or skill, you have to work for it. So we want to challenge you as we open this technical training to take advantage,” he said.

For his part, the Principal of the Humanity First Vocational College, Mansoor Ahmad Nasir, described the partnership as a ‘noble task’, while thanking Sen. Kaipay for exerting efforts for the success of the partnership, terming it as ‘highly admirable’.

Meanwhile the Project Director, Sabeel Nasir, said youth will not be the burden of the society if they obtained vocational skills. Nasir promised to extend their vocational training services across the country, having already established vocational schools in other parts of the country, and also motivated youths to exert efforts in order to make the training project successful.

Deputy House Speaker Hans Barchue, the direct representative of the district, encouraged youth to take advantage of the opportunity, stressing that there are Liberians with college degrees that are jobless.

“Liberia is now transitioning from the position of academic to technical where you will be sitting down with your BSc…, the carpenter will be there doing his job and making money and you will be there sitting with your BSc,” Hon. Barchue said.

“Skills will be the way forward,” he added; “So I want to encourage you to take advantage.”

Promising to provide financial assistance to some students, he warned: “If I pay for you and you don’t go and complete the course; you’ll give my money back.”

He, meanwhile, advised the trainers to focus on the practical aspect of the training since many youth in the area have limited academic education in order to realize the full objective of the vocational project.

Development is Now – Says Kaipay

Kaipay, who has heralded a slogan ‘Development is Now’ and has been implementing several feeder road projects across the county, insists Grand Bassa can only develop if the county has technically skilled youthful population that are ready to take on jobs when companies are offering opportunities.

“If you don’t have the skill, you will be security…, what we need to develop this county is technical skills … (because) when you develop your skills, it will be for yourself,” he said.

He also disclosed that the program will run for one year and will be implemented in circles before being extended to other districts in the coming years with the objective of ensuring that young people in the county are educated with vocational skills. He added that a local administrative team will be set up to work with the trainers and Humanity First Ahmadiyya Vocational College.

Youth Excited about Project

As the project prepares to resume in the coming weeks, many youth, desperate for vocational skills, say the project has risen their hopes.

Emmanuel Scott, a college dropout who spoke during the signing, said they are excited about the project and will utilized it to the fullest. “People have condemned us and say we are not qualified but this is a means of preparing ourselves for the job market,” he said.

“Some people are educated but they are not doing anything, so we want to express our happiness for this opportunity you people have brought for us to be trained,” added Hannah Garway, speaking on behalf of females attending the program.

And warning the youth about taking the project seriously, an elder speaking at the program called on them to put the training into use for the betterment of their children and the development of District One, saying: “If you don’t do something you will become palm cutters.”

Monrovia – The Liberian Senate is eager to get financial independence, something the body says will allow them effectively discharge their statutory responsibility without bottlenecks from the Executive in terms of the disbursement of funds allotted them in the national budget.

Report by: Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

The Senate is expected to hear a motion of reconsideration for the passage of the bill today despite criticisms from fraction of the Liberian public.

Bong County Senator Jewel Taylor submitted the bill entitled, “An Act Granting Financial Autonomy to the Legislature,” seeking to give financial autonomy to the National Legislature. When ratified, the bill will grant the Legislature an authority similar to that of the Executive and Judiciary branches of government.

The Senate ad-hoc committee responsible to lead the senate to making the decision is headed by Senator Joseph Nagbe (Sinoe County) with two other members including Grand Bassa County Senator, Jonathan L. Kaipay and Bong County’s Jewel Howard-Taylor – the crafter of the bill. The committee has submitted its report to plenary.

Speaking to FrontPageAfrica Wednesday, the Grand Bassa Senator justified that the bill seeks to promote and practicalize accountability at the senate considering constant calls by members of the public for the Liberian Senate to be audited and he insists that the senate is capable of managing its own finances.

Senator Kaipay argues that the senate’s funds are expended on their behalf by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning which makes it difficult for the senate to be audited holistically but he hinted that the body may be partially audited. 

“Amidst all of these things, I think for us to be audited is to create the spirit of independence,” Senator Kaipay said, adding, “I think the act is clear about abiding by the PPCC regulations, the different auditing standards and financial procedurals as enshrined in the different financial laws other legal financial instruments.”

He continued: “What we seek to achieve in this bill is to ensure that by the passage of this act we will now put the structure in place to carry out our financial transactions.”

Currently, the Liberian Senate lacks the financial framework to effectively run its own fiscal dealings and relies on its Ways, Means and Finance Committee to provide oversight for monetary activities for the body.

Senator Kaipay says what is anticipated is that the aforementioned committee will continue its oversight responsibility if the bill is passed.

The Senate budget is around US$12 million per fiscal year but with the passage of the pending financial autonomy act, Kaipay says it is expedient that the body opts for strengthening its financial structure before the autonomy comes into play by the next fiscal year.

“There’s need to create an administration wing or department to handle the finances, so if we have such department then it needs to be strengthened, because the task that is about to be assigned to that unit was not assigned before and there’s a need to ensure that if there’s one, we need to access their capacity and do in service training to build their capacity to ensure they effect the different functions of a financial unit,” explained Sen. Kaipay.

He is confident that initiating such system will put in place the right mechanism for regular audits, stressing that it will be more appropriate to ensure the financial structure is up and running before the bill takes effect in other to avoid lapses and flaws.

The Liberian Senate is under pressure from the public following allegations of bridging the public procurement regulations in the purchase of their vehicles which prompted the PPCC to insist that the government will not pay for the cars.

Responding to the dissenting public opinions about the bill, Senator Kaipay said lawmakers will have to explain to their constituents the relevance of the law especially before it takes effect, adding that public perception comes from the background that the senate has not been audited but he maintained that most of the body’s expenditure is done by the Executive through the MOFDP.

On the other hand, observers say, the senators are seeking the financial independence to limit the Executive leverage on them as frequent delays in disbursing their salaries and incentives impede their regular functions while another source told FPA that the Executive branch often strangulates the lawmakers when there are controversial issues emulating between the two branches of government.

Like the Judiciary which enjoys financial autonomy, the Liberty Party Senator is confident that the bill will further fortify the separation of power amongst the three branches of government as provided by the Liberian constitution but he clarified that financial independence will not thwart the coordination amongst the three branches.

“I think we are also credible enough to be able to manage our resources and give us the opportunity to be audited annually which will be an instrument that the Liberian people can measure us by because if we are not audited it will means that we are hiding something,” he said.

Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The responsibilities that come along with succeeding the once powerful Pro Temp of the Liberian Senate, Gbehzongar Findley are enormous. But Findley’s replacement is earning some kudos from across Grand Bassa County – thanks to his feeder roads initiative.

There are some concerns about his ability to pull political strings at the Capitol in other to gain prominence in Liberia’s body politics like the former Grand Bassa Senator did. Others are eager to know how he plans to maintain these feeder roads rehabilitation projects.

Recently, at the start of refurbishment work on the Waka Town to Compound Two road in District Two, residents in the area praised the lawmaker for what they term as ‘far-sightedness’. For Kaipay, it might be about fulfilling his campaign promises; for the locals, it’s a massive impact on improving their livelihood.

“The entire district citizens are happy by what he’s doing…; we are very happy because road going into Number two (District Two) will eased problems for not only marketers and farmers because if there is bad road condition, the pregnant women are also affected,” explained Amos Johnson, District Two Commissioner.

Many of these roads being rehabilitated were abandoned for decades and with little done by county administration due to limited resources compounded with the Ministry of Public Works failure to concentrate on feeder roads in rural Grand Bassa County. For example, the Rally Road in District Three has been abandoned since 1977 creating untold hardship of thousands of Liberians in that part of Grand Bassa County for almost four decades.

For now, farmers and marketers in these areas are expressing relief. Some say weekly markets will resume after the roads are reconditioned. “We used to set load on our heads and walk for hours to get on this main road before going to Compound Three Market just to sell our farm produce,” Marpue Yeaney, a resident of District Three explained when work started on the Rally Road.

Works on Rally Road, Waka Town to Compound Two and the Own your own community in Buchanan have accumulated some praises for Senator Kaipay. “Once he continues to fix these roads, he will continue to win the support of a lot of people in Grand Bassa County,” asserted Daniel Johnson of Buchanan City. “Our people in the rural areas really need road to help transport their markets for selling,” Johnson added.

Grand Bassa Superintendent, J. Levi Demmah admits that Senator Kaipay has put him under pressure with these initiatives, while promising to fully support any development initiative by any politician in the county. “We will support any development drive in the county or the district for our people relief,” Demmah said recently.

Most financial and other supports are forth coming, compliments of several others and Kaipay recently asserted that the locals in these areas will always be motivated by these community projects by showing the potential of collaborating. He has however cautioned his fellow politicians against using development as a competition.

“Development is not competition between leaders, between government officials and between citizens,” Senator Kaipay averred. “Development is a process that people work together because they love their people, they believe in their people and they think they should do something to impact their lives.”

The Grand Bassa County lawmaker continues to emphasize that he’s committed to working with all stakeholders in other to foster development in the county. “The challenge is for us as caucus to remain focus; for us as individuals to work together but once you take these giant steps I think there prospect for people to join you,” he added.

Observers say his work with the Department of Community Services of the United Methodist Church largely influenced his political career with a more hands-on approach. In 2014, as Director of the UMC-DCS he managed a US$1.2 million project but as proceeding political activities of the 2014 senatorial elections heightened, there were speculations of misappropriations of the church development funds.

Notwithstanding, the Liberty Party lawmaker continues to vaunt about being exonerated after series of audits. This year, the UMC-DCS is preparing to build a US$80,000.00 school in Grand Bassa County in his honor as a means of rewarding the county, for what the project considers as Kaipay’s outstanding work during his time with the church.  

Critics’ Views Tracking Kaipay

Although the lawmaker appears to be making gains in attracting praises from folks in rural Grand Bassa, critics insist his political influence at the national level is frail. In 2015, Kaipay became vocal on the President – accusing the Chief Executive of violating the constitution after hand-picking recommendations from the Constitution Review conference held in Gbarnga, Bong County. The Senator argument, some say had constitutional reliance but it hasn’t gained the much attention within the legislature so far.

Meanwhile, there’s also increasing demand from people of Wee Statutory District (District Three) for the completion of a health center that has been under construction since 2013 when Kaipay served as Director of the UMC-DCS.

Political interference led to the county administration delaying to disburse funds in other to compliment the church’s efforts in implementing the project. With Senator Kaipay now a key member of the county Legislative caucus, many expect the project to expedite but the bottlenecks are still impediments.

Both the county administration and the caucus have recently confirmed that US$93,000.00 has been allotted for the project after several obstacles including the moratorium on county funds and the Ebola outbreak.  “As we speak the fund is available, the project will resume very soon and I can say before December (this year) people of Gorblee will start to utilize that health facility,” Kaipay told FrontPageAfrica recently. 

Alpha Daffae Senkpeni,daffae82@gmail.com