Ellen commits power supply to private estate

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has pledged government’s commitment to make electricity and water available along the Roberts International Airport Highway to supply residents of Gbengbar Town, Paynesville City where she dedicated a multi-million dollar private housing estate on Thursday, March 19, 2015.

The Liberian-owned Premier Estate in Gbengbar Town is designed and constructed by Liberian engineers trained and hired by the Premier Developers JV Company, which offers middle-to-high income homes for sale in an ideal place equipped with first class amenities and facilities.

In appreciating Premier Developers’ Chief Executive Officer, Floyd A. Thomas, President Sirleaf said, the housing estate was truly a dream come true; as she recalled past wishes expressed that Mr. Thomas could come to Liberia one day and build houses here like he did in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, while both of them lived in that neighboring country.

Unlike Mr. Thomas, the President shamed many Liberians during the event, complaining that “we” have too many Liberians, who come home to make money here to buy houses in the United States rather than building something here.

As she expressed pleasure to seeing someone come from the U.S. to build such beautiful estate here, the Liberian leader acknowledged that there was still an obligation on the part of government in building such estate, which includes supply of water and power.

She promised that government was working to be able to bring water and light from ELWA along the RIA Highway so that residents would not have to face difficulties in getting supply.

She concluded by thanking commercial banking institutions, especially the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment or LBDI, which is the preferred mortgage lender of the project; as well as the Central Bank of Liberia  and the National Social Security and Welfare  Corporation for their respective roles in the success of the project.

Mr. Thomas told the gathering that the project to build estates was put together by a hundred percent Liberian team back in 2007, cognizant of the fact that so many people dominate the Liberian economy.

The firm currently operates on 25 acres of land acquired in Gbengbar Town, which he says has its deed from 1927; and hopes to construct about 80 or more housing units there.

Mr. Thomas says an additional 200 acres would be needed after the Gnegbar Town project to do more estates where houses would be sold for $20,000 and $30,000, affordable for low income earners.

The initial nine housing units in the estate dedicated in Gbengbar Town are being sold $150,000 and some $175,000, among others, which are obviously middle and high income level residential areas.

He estimated the cost of the project as between $12 to $15 million, and announced that they have about 45 plus Liberian permanent employees.

Margibi County Senator, Oscar Cooper, has asked Premier Developer to seek the next 200 acres in his county; saying, there was land available there for such project.

LBDI President, John Davis, pledged his bank’s commitment to working and supporting such endeavors and being a strong partner; disclosing that the bank had in its recent board meeting, reaffirmed $5m towards such plans.

By Winston W. Parley