As Liberia celebrates its 178th Independence Day on July 26, Monrovia City Mayor John-Charuk Siafa is collaborating with Paynesville City Mayor Roberts S. Bestman to keep both cities and the nation clean in preparation for the celebration. Mayor Roberts S. Bestman II of Paynesville emphasized the importance of working together with citizens, especially since Monrovia and Paynesville are the major commercial hubs in Liberia. He urged the community to join hands in maintaining cleanliness in the cities.
While acknowledging the financial constraints from the national government, Mayor Bestman II stated that their teams are making significant efforts to keep the major cities clean. This initiative is not solely for the upcoming anniversary; it will continue beyond the Independence Day celebrations.
Additionally, Mayor Bestman II announced a pioneering initiative where Liberia’s major cities and sub-regional areas will collaborate on a collective effort to keep all towns clean. “Mayor John-Charuk Siafa and I are changing the city dynamic and incorporating smaller towns into this initiative, expressing optimism that we will see major transformations in the coming years,” he added.
They are in the process of verifying companies to manage waste and implement a recycling program that will convert waste into useful materials for Liberia. Monrovia’s Mayor John-Charuk Siafa explained that the focus is on raising awareness about city cleanliness. He emphasized that this initiative is not just for Independence Day but is an ongoing effort from the city government every day. This city government has introduced both day and night shifts, which has resulted in cleaner streets, as citizens have noticed the improvements. He expressed excitement about forming a new partnership with Juli Endee, a peace advocate and cultural ambassador who has served Liberia for over 25 years. She brings valuable experience to this unique initiative, and together they aim to educate the public using songs and local vernacular.
These initiatives require the participation of all Liberians. Cleaning the cities and communities is not just the responsibility of the mayors; it is an inclusive effort that involves all citizens. We must consider the roles we each play. Mayor Siafa challenged government officials to support President Joseph N. Boakai’s sanitation agenda by participating in the first Saturday cleanup campaign in their communities. “Let’s put our money where our mouths are,” he said. “Millions have been spent by international partners, yet we still see litter in our cities, adversely affecting our health and well-being. We want to reassure our citizens that we are committed; our actions will speak louder than words.”
He also urged partners to invest in Liberia’s waste management, seeking sustainable solutions that will create a demand for waste management services. With these efforts, citizens will feel motivated to clean their surroundings. He concluded by appealing to the public to stop littering in the streets and instead place waste in plastic bags for MCC agents to collect and dispose of properly. Commenting on the occasion, former cultural ambassador Juli Endee expressed her commitment to working collaboratively to keep the cities clean and to raise awareness to enlighten our citizens.
