PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado – The city government of Paynesville has kicked off enforcement of a ban it placed on street peddling, car, tricycle, and motorcycle loading at the ELWA Junction intersection.
The exercise began on Monday, July 1, after a three-month awareness and sensitization, with the aim of enhancing city beautification and reducing congestion, among others.
Following the erection of a roundabout as part of an ongoing road pavement, the Paynesville City Corporation began the demolition of makeshift structures at the intersection, many of which were being used by street vendors.
Speaking to The Bush Chicken, Paynesville City Police Director, Lt. Melvin Tolbert at the start of the enforcement exercise said the operation was well on course as planned and warned that the city police will not hesitate to go after anyone who fails to under the new regulation.
“The process is fine; we initiated it by 12 midnight on Sunday – at the time, we are always out there trying to get the entire streets cleaned up,” Tolbert said. “This will be a continuous process until we succeed in getting all the street sellers in the designated markets.”
He said the city corporation has also secured a spot for those selling in the streets to relocate at the ELWA Junction Market, located right opposite the former PA’s Rib House, before ELBC Radio station.
He said the mandate to clear ELWA Junction and keep it clean and green will remain enforced. He warned that any city police officer caught undermining the enforcement by compromising the mandate would be prosecuted under the law.
“If you are caught, you will face the full weight of the law because your action by compromising will undermine the city’s progress,” he said.
To prevent littering and keep the city clean, he said city police officers will be deployed across the city limit.
Street selling at the ELWA Junction prior to PCC enforcement. Photo George K. Momo.
The Paynesville City Police boss also warned residents to follow proper trash disposal guidance and use professional companies that won’t dump the trash in the streets. He also disclosed plans to remove sellers from the commercial district of Redlight for relocation to the 14th Omega Market.
Oretha Seleweyan, a resident of Paynesville and a street seller herself, welcomed the move. Seleweyan said every development comes with pain, and she encouraged her colleagues to abide by the mandate and leave the streets or face the weight of the law. She had already relocated to the ELWA Junction Market.
“For me, I know they are enforcing or implementing the city ordinance. We need to abide by what they say because I believe it’s by law they are acting,” she said.
However, the president of the Liberian Business Association, James Strother, called for a holistic approach to the ongoing enforcement by PCC.
“I agree that you want to see the city of Paynesville the way you want it. There are people who seek their daily bread on that street. If we want to remove them, it should be done holistically,” Strother stressed.
He told The Bush Chicken that LIBA would officially communicate with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the city government for a proper redress of his concerns about the approach being used against the street sellers.
Featured photo courtesy of George K. Momo
