Eviction hangs over hundreds of businesses

Several hundred businesses occupying government-municipal borough lands on Bushrod Island in Montserrado County electoral district #16 risk eviction.

The structures in question are those built in the front view of the entrance of the borough of New Kru Town by private individuals.

The eviction exercise, according to Borough Governor Alice B. Weah, comes in the wake of an investigative survey conducted by the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (LME) following a request from the authorities of New Kru Town.

Most of the structures in question were constructed on the government lands by some Liberian and foreign nationals since 1916.

Governor Weah disclosed that from that time until now, businesses and individuals with structures on the land have allegedly refused to pay municipal taxes for the properties.

She added that structures to be affected range from St. Paul Bridge to Bong Mines Bridge, adding that when removed, government would then construct a long concrete wall from the two points mentioned to protect the front view of the land from intruders.

She indicated that with the support of the Ministries Lands, Mines and Energy, Public Works and Internal Affairs, respectively, the process of demolition would shortly start.

She maintained that officials of the area on many occasions notified those with structures on the front view, informing them about government desirous objectives regarding the land, but most of them have declined to leave, hoping that they would receive money before leaving.

Local government officials and owners of structures used for business purposes, have refused to contribute toward municipal development projects and activities, but continue to generate funds from the land owned by the state.

Governor Weah said that most of the people with structures on the land built them when the Liberia Mining Company (LMC) ceased operation in the country; they started building on the train tracks as though it was private land.

Governor Weah also disclosed that she sees no reason why those with structures on the government land don’t want to vacate the area and at the same time don’t want to pay municipal taxes that are intended to develop the borough.

Other information obtained by this paper further revealed that most of those with houses on the government land have died or no longer reside in here, but reportedly sold them to other people without government’s participation in the process.

Most of those who constructed buildings on the land are mainly Lebanese and Fula nationals for the sole purpose of business and residential areas, generating huge sum of money.

Meanwhile, Governor Weah has warned those illegally residing in the areas concerned, without proper documents to leave or they would face future embarrassment.

Written by Newdawn