Robertsport City, Grand Cape Mount County (ACN ) —Dr. Daniel E. Cassell President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dr. Cassell’s Foundation on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021 presented a check of LD$1,922,700 to aggrieved employees of the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation (LWSC) in Robertsport City, Grand Cape Mount County.
It can be recalled that aggrieved employees at the LWSC site in Robertsport recently staged a go-slow action by shutting down operations at the facility in demand of their over five months’ salary arrears owed them by the corporation.
Their action prevented the supply of water for cooking, drinking, and other purposes to thousands of residents of the city.
Making the presentation, the Liberian humanitarian disclosed that the gesture was intended to bring some level of relief to the striking workers and citizens of the county who trekked long distances to fetch water from nearby creeks and surround streams.
He added that the streams are not safe for citizens to fetch water for cooking, drinking, and other purposes.
He said despite the current situation between authorities of the LWSC and the aggrieved workers, his intervention was prudent to put an end to the growing challenges and difficulties faced by the aggrieved workers and citizens of the county.
Dr. Cassell described water as “life” but blamed the strike action on the delay by the government to find an amicable solution to the issues raised by the aggrieved employees in an adequate and timely manner.
He maintained that the situation-imposed suffering on the citizens in that area since in fact; the wells and streams are not conducive for fetching water.
“This was brought to our attention by our County Chair last night and so, we feel a sense of commitment to our people of Robertsport for the simple fact that they have been out of water for a week now due to some situation between the management and the government. We thought it wise to come and intervene to help resolve the problem. Despite what may be going on internally, it is our citizens who are suffering”.
“This is a noble cause and I’m happy that by the special grace of God, we are in the position to come and help our citizens. We want them to resume services and open the lines for our people to continue to receive safe drinking water because water is life. After we spoke with our officials here and the site manager, we didn’t wait any longer to come and help our people”.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the presentation of the cheque, the PLP Vision Bearer questioned the decision taken by authorities of the LWSC to remain mute on the employees’ plight, even though “water is so vital to life”.
He pointed out that his intervention was based upon his biblical responsibilities to always extend helping hands to those in need.
“God is going to provide the needs of my fellow citizens through me. I am just a messenger. I am the man of my word; I have integrity and character and when I see problems-as God directs me or I am in the position to help, I will help because that’s my biblical responsibility”.
Dr. Cassell noted that it remains the sole responsibility of the government to make its people happy, and as such, problems must be solved through concrete actions in the interest of the citizenry.
Receiving the cheque, the Site Manager of the LWSC’s facility in Robertsport, Roland T. C. Washington commended Dr. Cassell for the gesture
According to Washington, employees of the LWSC assigned in Grand Cape Mount have been faced with numerous constraints due to the delay in the payment of wages by the Liberian government.
He expressed disappointment over the failure of authorities of the LWSC and local government officials in the county to come up with remedies in addressing their grievances.
Washington pointed out that promises were made that their salary arrears could be cleared last February, nothing has been done by the government to live up to this commitment.
He added that though numerous communications were sent out before the strike action, nobody shows any concern to discourage the aggrieved employees from staging the go-slow action.
“We appreciate the foundation coming in to help the situation. We have been working for five months now and we have not received our salaries that rent, current bills, and everything comes from. We are frustrated. I want to say bravo and thank you so much”.
Washington, however, vowed to ensure that his colleagues return to work as soon as possible
Meanwhile, citizens of Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County have lauded Dr. Cassell for “thinking” about them in times of need.
They vowed to remember him in their prayers and help support his dreams and aspirations.
A very big thank to LWSC’spresident(Dr. Cassel) for the road he played by saying thousands of our citizens in Grand Cape Mount County and I would like encourage him to continue with that good gesture. God’s blessings upon you.
I’m Hassan VS Paasewe, I’m proud to be Cape mountains.