May 18, 2022
Press Release for Immediate Publication
-MPW Clarifies Zoning Matter in Red Light Involving Rep. Yekeh Kolubah
On March 3, 2022 at 10:42AM, the Office of the Acting Minister (then), Hon. Ruth Coker-Collins received a communication from Representative Yekeh Kolubah, informing the Minister that he could not attend a zoning hearing which was scheduled for March 2, 2022 as it was “interfering with his schedule at the House of Representatives”.
It can be recalled that on March 1, 2022 a stop work order was issued by Zoning Officers in fulfillment of their duties as described in the Executive Law, Chapter 27 which vests, in the Zoning Division, the statutory authority to carry out the following:
To design, construct, improve and maintain, directly or by contract all highways, streets, roads, bridges and storm sewers
To be in charge of, either directly or by contract, the construction of sanitary sewers, hospitals, public buildings and other public works, amongst others.
The Report was submitted, and the below finding was made:
• That Representative Kolubah could not produce a copy of his permit, rather a copy of drawings with individual signatures; one of which is still with the Ministry
• That the document presented did not include a payment receipt from the General Revenue Account
• That the land’s original owner was Saye Sipppi in 1986
Drawing from these evidential and authentic information as contained in the Report on the Matter involving Rep. Kolubah, the Ministry expresses dismay over the willful, unwarranted and deliberate acts of violation of the Zoning Laws of Liberia by some citizens, with specific emphasis on public officials who continue to flagrantly circumvent these statues; thereby undermining the works of the Ministry of Public Works and the Government of Liberia by extension.
Therefore, the Ministry calls on the Public to do the needful by contacting the Zoning Division pursuant to Section 102 of the Zoning Law which provides: “zoning permits shall hereafter be secured from the zoning officer prior to the construction, erection, or alteration of any building or structure or parts thereof, any sign larger than three square feet in area”.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public of Works characterizes as reckless, outlandish and disparaging the outburst of Representative Kolubah in Plenary on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 on the person of the Minister-Designate, Hon. Ruth Coker-Collins.
The Office of the Minister-Designate therefore encourages Representative Kolubah to immediately retract his comments within forty-eight hours or risk a lawsuit.
Vermang News 