LIBERIA: WASH Media Network Ends Forum in 4 Counties
…..Welcomes WaterAid Support To Sanitation and Water for All – By: Augustine N. Myers – The WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia has successfully ended series of Interactive Discussions with Legislative and Presidential candidates in four selected Counties of Liberia.
Mr. Augustine N. Myers, Chairman of the WASH R&E Network-Liberia
The discussions held in Montserrado, River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru Counties were successful in that all the candidates interacted with, described the initiative by WASH R&E as significant and in the interest of ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene.
The candidates pledged their unflinching support to the Liberian WASH Sector, and promised that when elected, they will prioritize safe drinking water and better sanitation at both the District, County and National Levels, in the interest of a healthy environment.
Chairman Augustine Myers gives an overview at one of the WASH Discussions, while other foreign guests listen
The candidates also signed the WASH Commitment Document thereby committing themselves to the Sector. This also followed areview of the Liberian Political State of affairs (situation) and Electoral Structures and opportunities regarding the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector of Liberia, by the WASH R&E.
The Discussions known as the WASH Media & Civil Society Forum with Candidates 2011, were held under the theme: “the Road to 2011 National Elections, Focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
A release from the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia (WASH R&E) says the Media Forum on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is equally part of on-going initiatives across Liberia to document candidates’ commitment for the WASH Sector through exclusive interviews and other radio talk shows.
Mr. Tim Brewer (speaking), Policy Support Officer of WaterAid Liberia/Sierra Leone
The special WASH series of panel discussions were aimed at affording candidates (both legislative and presidential) the opportunity to unveil their respective platforms for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector of the Country.
The essence of the Discussions was intended to interact with the candidates face to face, know about their interest in Water, Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) as enshrined in their respective manifestos, and to document their commitment for the WASH Sector.
The discussions are also designed to ensure that Legislative and Presidential Candidates in the 2011 Elections prioritize the initiative of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) by committing themselves to the support of the WASH Sector through their respective 100-day deliverables when they are elected as Law Makers.
The release from the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia further says eight separate panel discussions were held in the four Counties, “two in each County”, from September 21 to October 5, 2011.
The Discussions were respectively in Monrovia, Montserrado County from September 21-22, Fish Town, River Gee County from September 26-27, Pleepo and Harper, Maryland County from September 29-30, and in Barclayville, Grand Kru County from October 4-5, 2011.
The WASH Media & Civil Society Forum with Candidates 2011, is sponsored by WaterAid Liberia and Sierra Leone, as part of a partnership between WaterAid, WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia (WASH R&E), Liberia CSOs WASH Working Group (WWG) and Liberia NGOs Network (LINK).
Round Table WASH Interactive Forum Candidates, “start of the discussions in Montserrado
The four Counties were selected based on the fact that Montserrado County pays host to the Nation’s capital, Monrovia and it has the largest population according to the 2008/2009 National Census conducted by the Liberian government through the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Services (LISGIS), and that the other three (3) Counties, “River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru” of the South Eastern Region of Liberia are operational areas of WaterAid.
For Montserrado County, Candidates considered as potential winners were invited from across the County, from Districts especially referred to as Slum Communities or WASH Sensitive areas.
View of some of the candidates (right)
For the other three Counties in the Southeastern Region of the County “River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru”, the WASH Media & Civil Society Forum with Candidates 2011 brought together the candidates and citizens face to face, and was coordinated by WASH R&E.
The commitment to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene by the candidates, had meanwhile been documented by the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia (WASH R&E), intended to hold the candidates accountable to their pledges when they are elected.
