In a well-calculated move aimed at tackling Monrovia’s most pressing issue, waste, the City Mayor-designate of Monrovia, John C. Siafa, has declared waste management a national emergency which requires a deliberate, collective effort in tackling; Cynthia Quinisier reports.
At his confirmation hearing on Friday, February 16, 2024 at the Liberian Senate, Siafa appealed to the National Legislature to allot more funding in the budget of MCC to help make Monrovia a green and healthier place for its inhabitants.
“Financial sustainability remains a key challenge for the city, especially for the collection of solid waste,” Siafa told senators.
The appeal for increased budgetary support comes at a critical time when Monrovia is grappling with limited resources and competing priorities.
With overflowing trash bins, clogged drains, and mounting environmental concerns, the Mayor-designate sounded the alarm, emphasizing the urgent need for concerted action, especially financially-driven efforts to mitigate the challenges.
According to a World Bank-funded study, recently done by Poyry, 1,174 tons of garbage are projected to be produced on a daily basis in greater Monrovia alone, yet only 300 tons are collected.
During his presentation, the MCC boss-designate noted that the institution continues to lack the financial tools for taxation and does not possess adequate, timely or reliable municipal revenue sources to fully sustain itself, much less its solid waste management operations.
He thanked the World Bank, EU and other donors for their continued support to the sector, but noted that without increased budgetary support from the government the sector would not be sustainable.
The MCC boss-designate informed members of the Senate’s Internal Affairs Committee Friday that, once confirmed as Mayor, the overarching goal of the City Government Team will be to improve not only the quality of life but also the infrastructure for residents of the city by designing and implementing several much-needed results-oriented programs within the city.