SACLEPEA, Nimba – Rep. Larry P. Younquoi of Nimba’s eighth electoral district and the citizens of the Wee-Gbeh administrative district have officially broken ground for the construction of a US$ 67,000 bridge over the Vee River.

The bridge, funded as part of the Legislative Support Projects, will link Saclepea with the rest of the Wee-Gbeh administrative district.

“This long-awaited Vee bridge project is now being put behind us,” Younquoi said. “Government has since provided the money to us, and it is now in [the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment] account. So, as far as I am concerned, the bridge is built.”

The ground-breaking ceremony was performed last weekend in the district and brought with it a slew of guests, including the county’s resident engineer, the county’s assistant superintendent for development, the Wee-Gbeh administrative district commissioner, the constructing engineers of Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment, as well as citizens from the district.

“We are using [the] maximum [US$] 67,000 for the project,” Younquoi told reporters before the ceremony. “This money is coming from government covers, through the Legislative Support Projects.”

Although there are several bridges within the district that need to be constructed, Younquoi said the Vee Bridge was a top priority.

“Why this bridge?” He asked. “Because none of those [other] bridges – to the best of my recognition – have led to the death of somebody or a number of people. But this bridge has reached that particular peak, and so, it has drawn our attention,”

Younquoi claimed that due to limited resources, he was unable to raise enough money to undertake a bridge construction project, and not even his salary as a representative could help him do so (contrary to Youngquoi’s assertions, salary and allowances for representatives exceed US $140,000 per year).

“[US$] 67,000 to 68,000 thousand dollars – where can I raise it? If you look at it carefully, my salary for two years cannot reach that amount,” he said. “It has to take some time before we reach that amount. So, we had to prioritize this bridge.”

There has been speculation within the district that the bridge costs as much as US$ 70,000, but Younquoi said those are simply rumors started by “mongers.” He did, however, explain the cost of the bridge.

“The contractors have to pay their taxes to [the] government; that comes from that particular money. LACE itself needs some mobilization funds to look at the water on the risks that are there,” Younquoi said, adding that they are “lucky” that the bridge costs what it does.

Nimba’s assistant superintendent for development, D. Dorr Cooper, praised the lawmaker, saying, “Hon. Younquoi, we are proud of you, because you are one representative of Nimba that has made Nimba proud.”

Cooper said democracy is all about change, but citizens must learn to recognize the efforts that leaders are making toward the rapid growth and development of Liberia in the aftermath of a war.

“It is not a wrong thing to change leaders,” Cooper said. “But while they are performing, let us appreciate them for the little they are doing.”

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah