The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has said it's netting about US$350,000 monthly as bills paid by customers. The Chairman of LEC Board, Ian Yhap, said the money is collected from about 800 subscribers who are benefiting from the corporation’s power supply network.

It was an opportunity afforded him to put forth the corporation’s plight to a visiting US Congressional delegation, but instead used the occasion to start huge revenue intake the LEC is presently enjoying.

In a meeting with the delegation yesterday at the entity’s Waterside head office, he recounted series of problems the corporation encountered during the course of the civil war, saying that the corporation had no customers, no electricity, no revenues to effectively operate.

Bragging the success of the corporation under his chairmanship, he told the gathering “today the corporation has 800 customers with 2MW of power, and is collecting about US$350,000 monthly in revenue. He was however quick to state that the money is being used to take care of fuel, operations, and maintenance.

According to him, the corporation is expanding gradually which could enable it increase it customers base. Deputizing for Mr Harry Yuan, Managing Director of the LEC who is presently out of the country, Yhap, also advisor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the delegation for considering the LEC in its plan.

“LEC like other public corporations in the sub-region, wants to move on a private participatory trajectory to the next level of performance as an  efficient and effective public and private  institution” he also added.

He also appreciated the United States government for the generous supports it has given to the government of Liberia, saying that US assistance is greatly impacting on the growth and development of the country.

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador, Donald Booth who accompanied the delegation used the occasion to assure the Liberian people that the US will always support the electrification initiatives of Liberia.

For his part, the head of the US Congressional Delegation, Howard Berman said the US Government and the Congress would do every thing to help in the country’s reconstruction.

Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Dr Eugene Shannon who was present at the meeting thanked the United States for the assistance the nation and its people are receiving to help in the recovery drives.

Cuttington University Justifies US$357.000 Subsidy
By George J. Borteh

In the wake of public debate about government’s allotment of US$357.000 in the 2008 and 2009 national budget as subsidy to the Cuttington University, administration has given justification has stated its position, justifying  the use of the US$357.00.

Speaking at a news conference held last weekend at the Congo Town Campus of the Master Degree Program, the Special Assistant to the President of the University, Mr. Jerry Mwagbe said the Liberian and the Cuttington University signed an agreement, which obligates the government to provide continuous financial support to the CU.

As a result of the agreement signed in 1949, he said 1,500 acres of land was given to the Cuttington University through the Episcopal Church in Liberia. Mr. Mwagbe said Cuttington University is the only institution of higher learning with boarding facilities located in the rural part of Liberia to serve the residents of those areas.

His statement is in reaction to comments attributed to some individuals that the government has allotted huge amount of money in the tone of US$257.000 to the institution.

The CU executive warned that if the government cuts off its financial obligation to the university, the institution would be forced to close down its activities in the country.

Apart from closing down its operations, he also said the University would be forced to increase its tuition. However, he said decisions to close down the University or increase tuitions are not the dreams of the Cuttington’s family.

Justifying the US$357, 000 budgetary allotment, Mr. Mwagbe said CU is the only university that providing housing, electricity, feeding facilities for its professors.

He said the money would also be used to buttress its newly established junior college in Kakata city, Margibi County.

“Money given us by the government is being well expended for its purpose. Therefore, we call upon everyone, both home and abroad and the government to support Cuttington”, he said.