George Howe,  the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Libra Sanitation in his welcome remarks said his firm will ensure that the City garbage is maintained with an increased staff due to the delicate and serious nature of the problem of waste management.

Monrovia -

f the popular saying, ‘Sanitation is dignity’ is anything to go by, then a significant level of dignity is being restored to Liberia as a private Liberian owned sanitation and waste management company receives a huge donation from the United States African Development Fund (USADF) that would be a major boost in the sanitation problem of the post-conflict nation.

During a brief dedicatory ceremony Wednesday, in Monrovia, an official proxy of the United States Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas Green told of her country’s unflinching support to Liberia in the area of sanitation and waste management.

PROUD VENTURE

"The United States is so proud of this kind of private entrepreneur partnership that the United States government is proud of and is able to support”. Sarah Gonzales,  Economic Officer of the United States Embassy, Monrovia

Serving as a proxy for the United States Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas Greenfield, the Economic Officer of the United States Embassy accredited near Monrovia said the United States supports Liberia’s sanitation quest and is proud about the manner in which a Liberian is dedicated in the area of sanitation.

Sarah Gonzales said that a Liberian owned business of such is the kind of private entrepreneur partnership that her government is looking forward to support.

“The United States is so proud of this kind of private entrepreneur partnership that the United States government is proud of and is able to support”, she said.

She noted that the issue of sanitation adds dignity to people’s life and thinks that the works of Libra Sanitation has added dignity to the lives of the residents of Monrovia, adding, “This includes me because I’m a resident of Monrovia”.

Sanitation and waste management are two of the critical problems faced by a nation emerging from a protracted civil war as filths and stockpiles of garbage engulf the Capital in particular and the nation in general.

A grant of a little over US$230,000 from the United States Government through the USADF has helped to empower Liberia’s first major professional sanitation and waste management firm when several new equipments were donated to the 100 percent Liberian-owned firm, Libra Sanitation.

The donated equipments which include three new heavy-duty sanitation trucks, some of which are two-wheeled trucks will reduce the level of unemployment in the City as the firm increases its workforce.

The firm which is involved in sanitation and solid waste works via by the collection of garbage and cleaning-up of filthy places currently has a workforce of 55 Liberians that will grow to over 100 Liberian employees as a result of the additional equipment.

Waste Management—A Serious Problem

Mary Broh, Acting City Mayor of Monrovia says she could not hide her impression toward what she called a high level of professional work being carried out by the sanitation firm and told residents of Monrovia to learn how to secure their garbage.

Meanwhile, the issue of waste management has been described as a very serious problem in Monrovia and its environs.

George Howe,  the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Libra Sanitation in his welcome remarks said his firm will ensure that the City garbage is maintained with an increased staff due to the delicate and serious nature of the problem of waste management.

“The issue of waste management in this country is a very serious and appalling problem, and with the dedication of these new equipment today, we want to assure our partners that Libra will be increasing its services and employment”, the General Manager committed his company which he believes was another way of contributing to the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

Mr. Howe urged all Liberians to secure the services of professional waste management firms in order to properly manage and control wastes in the country.

Broh’s Impression –  ‘very pleased’

At the same time, the Acting City Mayor of Monrovia said she could not hide her impression towards what she called a high level of professional work being carried out by the sanitation firm and told residents of Monrovia to learn how to secure their garbage.

Madame Mary Broh said, “I’m very pleased and I’m very proud for a Liberian man to keep up his head in the garbage business. Our environment is very important to us. We must learn to secure our garbage.”

Broh who is known for her robust action in the campaign to keep the Capital clean urged Monrovia residents to invest in the business of garbage.

“Garbage is money. Invest in it”, she said.

Reporter Nat Nyuan Bayjay can be reached at nbayjay@frontpageafrica.com or 231-6-402-737/231-77-402-737.