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Liberia: Government trashes Critics claim, reconstruct Via Town bridge soon
Jul 18, 2008
Michael Kpayili
 As Public concerns mount over the prolong delay in reconstructing the Via Town bridge in Monrovia, Public Works Minister Lusinee Donzo says the reconstruction of the bride depends on processes instituted by the World Bank and not the Liberian Government.
Making the disclosure at a news conference in Monrovia, Minister Donzo revealed that two Chinese companies Chiko and Siko are currently bidding for the reconstruction of the bridge and maintained that all administrative and legal requirements surrounding the acceptance of the bid are seriously studied. Mr. Donzo said Government has not abandoned the bridge as being speculated by Opposition Politicians and critics.
The Public Works Minister divulged that Government does not have the money to reconstruct the bridge contrary to earlier pronouncement made by former Finance Minister Dr. Byron Tarr. He assured the public that the operation commencing the construction of the bridge would start at the end of the year.
During the week, former Finance Minister Dr. Byron Tarr sharply criticized the Liberian Government over the delay in reconstructing the Via Town Bridge. Dr. Tarr said between April and May of this year, government generated revenue around Twenty Four Million United States Dollars but decided to deposit it at a local Bank unconscientiously. He put the value of the repair of the bridge to be around Six Million United States Dollars and wonder why Government would decide to deposit over Twenty Four Million dollars and depend on World Bank to come in before instituting the bridge construction.
Dr. Tarr also condemned Government policy on it refusal to circulate money collected through taxes to improve the lives of its people. He categorized the budget preparation to be ancient citing several irregularities enshrined in the 2008/09 annual draft budget currently under debate. He said annual budgeting is an ancient phenomenon and urged authorities involved in the planning of the budget to rethink on modern budgeting which includes short, medium and long term revenue and expenses imports.
Dr. Tarr spoke at the University of Liberia during budgetary deliberation organized by the Liberia Democratic Initiative (LDI).
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