- But Unanswered Questions Still Linger Why Lawmakers Allowed Deputy Publi
c Works Minister To Defend Entity’s Budget When They Threw Out Deputies From Agriculture, Education, Planning, UL
The Ministry of Public Works yesterday appeared before the joint-budget hearing committee of the House Of Representatives and Senate to defend its 2012/2013 budget.
To the dismay of people, the Ministry was represented by Stephen Yekeson, Deputy Minister for Administration along with a high level team from the ministry.
This came about forty (48) hours when same joint-committee members Tuesday disgraced and threw out several deputy ministers who appeared before them to justify their budget.
The lawmakers threw them out because they were not the ministers-proper and therefore not the appropriate authority to defend their entities’ spending.
Those thrown out Tuesday included representatives from the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Planning & Economic Affairs and the University of Liberia.
According to an MPW press release last night, Min. Yekeson defended Public Works’ budget as telling the Committee that the Ministry’s budget of US$146m includes US$86m expected as contribution from donors and US$54.8 million from the Government of Liberia.
He clarified that the contribution of the donor community is however not under the direct control of the Ministry of Public Works. He said the donors have their guidelines and regulations on the use of their money to undertake projects in the country and that the Ministry’s actual budget for the fiscal year is the US$54.8 million.
Min. Yekeson said the proposed budget is reflective of several key policy issues, including the Ministry’s Five-year Strategic Plan, the Agenda for Transformation, National Transport Master Plan and the Poverty Reduction Strategy of government.
The Minister outlined, according to release, several key achievements during the 2011-2012 budgetary year as significant interventions on feeder, secondary and primary roads in Bong, Nimba and Montserrado counties.
He also noted that the renovation of key public buildings was a priority during last fiscal year. He named some of those public facilities as the Centennial Pavilion, Executive Pavilion, new Health Ministry among others.
In the same token, he informed the committee of the Ministry’s commitment to building the capacity of local contractors through training, contractor reclassification and strengthening of the relationship between the Ministry and the Association of Liberian Contractors as well as the Chamber of Commerce.
The Public Works Deputy Minister said as a result of the Ministry’s interventions, road users across the country reported significant reductions in transportation costs.
Responding to the question of defaulting contractors, Min. Yekeson said six contractors have already been taken to court for prosecution. “If found guilty they will have to restitute tax payers’ money,” the release quoted him.
Also speaking at the occasion, Assistant Public Works Minister for Operations, William Slour, clarified that there were categories of road constructions based on the availability of funds and urgency in road intervention.
Min. Slour explained that some roads such as the SKD boulevard road were intended to be temporary interventions and were not designed for heavy trucks and other large vehicles.
The Ministry’s press release concluded by calling on the Legislature for the early passage of the budget so that much needed works can commenced by the dry season.
c Works Minister To Defend Entity’s Budget When They Threw Out Deputies From Agriculture, Education, Planning, ULThe Ministry of Public Works yesterday appeared before the joint-budget hearing committee of the House Of Representatives and Senate to defend its 2012/2013 budget.
To the dismay of people, the Ministry was represented by Stephen Yekeson, Deputy Minister for Administration along with a high level team from the ministry.
This came about forty (48) hours when same joint-committee members Tuesday disgraced and threw out several deputy ministers who appeared before them to justify their budget.
The lawmakers threw them out because they were not the ministers-proper and therefore not the appropriate authority to defend their entities’ spending.
Those thrown out Tuesday included representatives from the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Planning & Economic Affairs and the University of Liberia.
According to an MPW press release last night, Min. Yekeson defended Public Works’ budget as telling the Committee that the Ministry’s budget of US$146m includes US$86m expected as contribution from donors and US$54.8 million from the Government of Liberia.
He clarified that the contribution of the donor community is however not under the direct control of the Ministry of Public Works. He said the donors have their guidelines and regulations on the use of their money to undertake projects in the country and that the Ministry’s actual budget for the fiscal year is the US$54.8 million.
Min. Yekeson said the proposed budget is reflective of several key policy issues, including the Ministry’s Five-year Strategic Plan, the Agenda for Transformation, National Transport Master Plan and the Poverty Reduction Strategy of government.
The Minister outlined, according to release, several key achievements during the 2011-2012 budgetary year as significant interventions on feeder, secondary and primary roads in Bong, Nimba and Montserrado counties.
He also noted that the renovation of key public buildings was a priority during last fiscal year. He named some of those public facilities as the Centennial Pavilion, Executive Pavilion, new Health Ministry among others.
In the same token, he informed the committee of the Ministry’s commitment to building the capacity of local contractors through training, contractor reclassification and strengthening of the relationship between the Ministry and the Association of Liberian Contractors as well as the Chamber of Commerce.
The Public Works Deputy Minister said as a result of the Ministry’s interventions, road users across the country reported significant reductions in transportation costs.
Responding to the question of defaulting contractors, Min. Yekeson said six contractors have already been taken to court for prosecution. “If found guilty they will have to restitute tax payers’ money,” the release quoted him.
Also speaking at the occasion, Assistant Public Works Minister for Operations, William Slour, clarified that there were categories of road constructions based on the availability of funds and urgency in road intervention.
Min. Slour explained that some roads such as the SKD boulevard road were intended to be temporary interventions and were not designed for heavy trucks and other large vehicles.
The Ministry’s press release concluded by calling on the Legislature for the early passage of the budget so that much needed works can commenced by the dry season.