The Movement with Integrity for National Development (MIND) has called on the Liberian Senate to give priority to a communication emanating from the office of Grand Kru County Senator, Prof. Albert Chie, calling for the revamping and rehabilitation of domestic airports. According to MIND, the agenda item, if prioritized, will enhance the movement of Liberians through domestic flights around the leeward counties.
MIND underscored the importance of addressing issues surrounding Liberia’s domestic airports and rehabilitating the various airports in the leeward counties, noting that this will boost cross-county economic activities and facilitate lawmakers comfortably visiting their people regularly rather than driving long hours on the roads.
MIND emphasized that Senator Chie’s communication should be given serious attention by the relevant Senate Standing Committees on Transport, Public Works, Ways and Means, Finance and Budget to ensure that domestic flights begin operation in the country. MIND acknowledged that the former Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate’s communication revealed the promotion of tourism through domestic flight and strengthening economic activities in the counties.
MIND explained that the Senate Committees should engage the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) to understand issues surrounding domestic flights that would help to address revamping and rehabilitating domestic airports in Liberia. MIND said Senator Chie’s communication highlighted the deplorable status of domestic airport and the need to target them require urgency through national budget allotments. The group cited that this will encourage investors to invest in the domestic airport sector of Liberia and strengthen the tourism sector.
The civil society organization lauded the Grand Kru County Senator for looking in the direction of revamping and rehabilitating local airlines in Liberia, since they have been dysfunctional since the 1990s.
MIND issued the statement in Monrovia over the weekend after Senator Chie’s communication was read in plenary of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday at the Capitol Building.