MONROVIA – Hon. Anthony F. Williams, the Chairperson of the House’s Committee on WASH and Environment for Pleebo Sodoken District #2, Maryland County, led a joint assessment team to evaluate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities. The team included members of the Legislative WASH Caucus, such as the Legal Advisor Hon. Edward P. Flomo, Jr., as well as representatives from the WASH Secretariat, the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation (LWSC), the media, and community leaders from affected areas in electoral district #4, Montserrado County.
The assessment revealed several critical findings:
- The assessed WASH facilities were found to be abandoned and in a state of disrepair, requiring urgent attention.
- Communities, especially in the Soul Clinic area, were denied access to water, with supplies primarily serving businesses like the Liberia Coca-Cola Bottling Company (G5) and others.
- The LWSC failed to honor agreements with affected communities regarding land waivers.
The joint assessment team commended the LWSC for committing to restore water supply in Soul Clinic and New Georgia Estates as of May 2, 2024. They also pledged to renovate and hand over a refurbished latrine to the affected communities within 35 working days. The committee appreciated the communities for their patience and peaceful conduct during this period and acknowledged the LWSC leadership for participating in the assessment and addressing community concerns.
Hon. Williams’ committee, while acknowledging the LWSC’s initial efforts, requested the LWSC Management to submit a Recovery Plan with a timeline to restore safe and sustainable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services promptly. The committee assigned the WASH Secretariat to collaborate closely with the LWSC and affected communities to ensure these promises are fulfilled and that management issues related to the WASH facilities are addressed.
Furthermore, the committee assured the public and Liberia’s developmental partners in the WASH sector that there would be no business as usual. They pledged to ensure that donor, private sector, and government investments in WASH are sustained and that citizens and the government take full ownership of WASH facilities across the country.
Hon. Williams expressed his commitment to working with colleagues and partners to provide the high-level political leadership needed for Liberian citizens and residents to access safe and sustainable WASH services, aligning with Liberia’s national and international WASH commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 6.
