- Rep. Acarous M. Grey: “We Are Proud of Your Work”
Former Secretary General of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), now lawmaker for Montserrado electoral district #8, Acarous M. Grey, is affectionately known as ‘General’ by his partisans and admirers. So, too, is Madam Mary T. Broh, Mayor of Monrovia, by admirers of her ‘keeping Monrovia Clean and Green’ campaign.
      The two met yesterday at the Monrovia City Corporation in Sinkor where the CDC Lawmaker lauded Madam Broh for what he termed ‘her invaluable services’ rendered the people of Monrovia, especially his constituents.
      Monrovia is mostly located in Rep. Grey’s political constituency. The lawmaker has just returned from the United States.
      “Mayor Broh, let me say how pleased I am with the services you have rendered my people and the relationship that has been so well improved under your leadership between residents of my district and the MCC family,” Rep. Gray said.
       The lawmaker’s courtesy visit on Mayor Broh was intended to seek MCC’s timely intervention in helping to improve the sanitary condition of his district, including drainage cleaning and clearing.
      He said the visit was also intended to strengthen already existing relationship between his people and the City Government.
      The CDC lawmaker vowed to also support Madam Broh in creating massive awareness on the city ordinances and municipal regulations; something he said will help his people to keep the environment clean and green.
       “Ma Mary, you have done well, but we also need to beef up efforts and support you in spreading the good news about your work, teaching our people city ordinances, creating massive awareness and public education on how to safeguard our environment,” Rep. Gray asserted.
       The Montserrado lawmaker also frowned on the level of pollution and degradation that has engulfed his constituency and pledged to work with the MCC in ensuring that drainages are cleaned, cleared and well maintained.
       He appealed to Mayor Broh and the MCC family to help with the construction of modern toilet facilities and garbage bins in his district, something he said will bring sanitary relief to his people.
       For her part, Mayor Broh said despite progress and many gains made so far since she took over in 2009, MCC still faces numerous challenges, particularly in the area of education on environmental protection, behavioral as well as attitudinal change.
        “We have done our best. We have tried to restore sanity to this our beloved country. But our people are the real problems. They want to sell everywhere and any open space they see, and this must stop,” Madam Broh remarked.
        The Acting Mayor pointed out that marketers want to sell corn, ground peas and boiled eggs everywhere, at street corners and open spaces, which contradicts City Ordinance #:1.
        City Ordinance #:1 among other things prohibits street selling, open defecation, open and unsanitary garages and throwing dirt in the streets.
        “The biggest area of concern right now is education, sensitization and massive awareness. Although we have done this more than million times, we will continue until our people stop polluting the environment,” she told Rep. Gray.
       Broh also promised to go after private companies, including some foreign business partners, for corporate social responsibility benefits for the people of Monrovia, especially banking institutions and big businesses that operate within Monrovia and its environs.
       “Although these people pay taxes, they also owed a lot to the common people where they have their banks and big businesses. They must help to build these toilet facilities and sanitation stations. We can’t do it alone. I will go after them for corporate social responsibility,” she promised.
       The Acting City Mayor expressed her pleasure for Rep. Grey’s and promised to continuously work in the interest of the Liberian people in making Monrovia a clean and green city for all.
       The courtesy visit ended with a tour of the City Hall facilities from the event garden patio, to the garden set-up, and the modern public toilet facility built with support from APM Terminals.