GBARNGA, Bong – In continuation of a nationwide “acquaintance tour,” Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf on Friday visited Gbarnga, where he met with local leaders and some citizens of the county at a town hall meeting.

Sirleaf said he has embarked on the tour along with other officials of the ministry to acquaint themselves with new members of local governments in the counties. He also said he planned to listen to citizens concerning some of the issues facing the counties.

Giving Bong’s current state of affairs at the town hall, Superintendent Esther Walker said the county does not have funds at the moment to continue some unfinished development projects that were left behind by her predecessor.

“We took over from zero, our coffer is zero. We owe the bank US$1,000,” Walker told the minister.

Supt. Esther Walker giving Bong’s current state of affairs at the town hall. Photo: Moses Bailey.

She said most of the local leaders of the county are not on the government’s payroll, something she said is impeding the effective operation of the local government.

Walker also talked about alleged interferences by members of the Bong County Legislative Caucus in local operations: “There are some chiefs here if they see something, they don’t come to me, but they go to the lawmakers. And the lawmakers take decisions and say they are passing a vote of no confidence in me.”

She said some of the chiefs are not taking administrative instructions from her; rather, they are listening more to lawmakers.

Walker also said residents of Bong want to engage in agriculture but need farming materials, seeds and technical support to enhance productivity.

“We want to get involved at the district and clan levels with farming. We must now learn how to feed ourselves. Please advocate on our behalf,” Walker said.

Responding to the issues raised by the superintendent, Sirleaf said he wants the chiefs to make monthly reports to the superintendent through their various administrative structures.

He said local leaders including general town chiefs, clan chiefs, paramount chiefs, and commissioners are free to attend to the calls of lawmakers and accord them due respect, and not to make reports to lawmakers.

He threatened to dismiss any chief who refuses to make report to the superintendent for onward submission to his office.

Internal Affair Minister Varney Sirleaf speaking at the town hall meeting. Photo: Moses Bailey.

On the alleged interference by caucus members, Sirleaf said: “The people we elected, they are our leaders too; I am not saying we should be disrespectful to our elected officials, no, but you are not answerable to them in terms of reporting.”

On agriculture, Sheriff said the Ministries of Agriculture and Internal Affairs are currently working on plans to promote communal farming across Liberia.

He said the two ministries will work together to provide tools and improved seeds to farmers to enhance their farming projects at the district level.

For the inclusion of local chiefs on the government’s payroll, Sirleaf encouraged unemployed chiefs to be patients, noting that getting people on the payroll requires several processes with different agencies of government.

“I will work with the superintendent and gradually, I will bring some response to you people,” Sirleaf said.

It is unknown exactly how many chiefs are unemployed in Bong; however, several local chiefs from Bong’s thirteen administrative districts have consistently complained about the government’s failure to include them on the payroll.

On behalf of President George Weah, Sirleaf extended Independence Day’s greetings to Bong residents and called on them to maintain peace and reconciliation as the government strives to improve the economy and ensure better living conditions for Liberians.

Featured photo by Moses Bailey