Hon. Board member, DMDA, DMDO, other line managers, the leadership and members of the National Coordinating committee of Unity Party, family members, members of the fourth estate, other guests, ladies and gentlemen. Today concludes the first year since we took over the National Transit Authority (NTA) management and begins our journey in the second year. Exactly one year ago, we told you that we have come to join you all in rescuing NTA. As you will bear with us, NTA was in the intensive care unit and fighting for survival. Thanks God the Unity Party came to its rescue when H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai appointed us to lead the rescue mission here. On March 1, 2024, the dilapidated condition of the entrance to the compound signals what one would expect to see when they enter. The entire compound was engulfed with bushes and looked like what I consider “an abandoned eighteenth-century fortress”. The front gate was broken down. The fence seems to have not been painted for six years or more. The buses were all broken down, with the five buses we met being off and on, and broken down after every two hours on routes. Employees could hardly come to work because there was no work to be done in the absence of electricity, and a conducive work environment. There was no running water to allow employees to use the restroom freely. The fuel strange facilities were abandoned, and street vendors were the supplier of fuel and lubricant. The tire storage facility was in ruins while the car-wash bay was broken down. The garage was turned into a scrap center after the container that housed equipment and other essential tools was sold. Employees and other contractors’ morale was dead and about to be buried. Salary arrears had accrued to an unimaginable level, and strike became the new normal. Using the banking system to facilitate financial transactions was a taboo. Vendors' debts had accumulated to a record high without any intention of making payment. The entity image was damaged to the point where no one was willing to do business with it. Lawsuit by vendors was the order of the day. Debt had accumulated to about US $500,000.00 with only less than US $ 2,000 in cash available to the entity. The condition of the entity made me wonder as to whether it had a board of directors. Moreover, I wonder where were those who now pretend to speak for workers' rights. However, one year later, we built a new gate at the entrance of the compound, painted the entire fence, and eliminated the bushes and cleaned both in and out of the compound. One year later, we purchased two generators (a 20kVA and a 100kVA), renovated and air-conditioned all offices. One year later, we provided running water to the entire compound, including restroom facilities, and created additional office spaces and furnished them for the employees' comfort. One year later, paid LD 2,876,803.00 to contractors as salary arrears and kept salary payment current. One year later, we reintroduced the use of the banking system as a means of carrying on business transactions and put in place financial systems and procedures, including developing a financial and accounting procedural manual. One year later, we developed a 5-year strategic plan document, a human resource manual, and an employees’ Handbook; that will be distributed very soon, the department's standard Operating Procedure, and other administrative policy documents. One year later, we repaired and put into operations fourteen (14) of the twenty-nine (29) broken-down buses, purchased some specialized tools and equipment, purchased an operations pickup and a technical motorbike. One year later, we purchased three (3) brand new 62-seater TaTa buses from subsidy, registered and put the buses on the Monrovia, Gbranga, Bo-Waterside and Buchanan routes. One year later, we rehabilitated the fuel storage facilities, calibrated the 50,000-gallon fuel tank, and provided a fuel dispenser to electronically fuel the buses. One year later, we began the construction of a bus terminal in the Res-Light area, renovation works on the terminal in Gbranga, and construction of additional restrooms. Let me therefore commend you for a work well done. For without your participation, we would not have celebrated these achievements. (Clap for yourselves). What do we intend to achieve in the new year? 

✓ Complete terminals construction and renovation and restroom construction 

✓ Repair an additional ten (10) of the broken-down buses including two in Harper Maryland County 

✓ Provide health insurance for all employees 

✓ Privatize the security section 

✓ Purchase 35 pieces of 62-seater buses, 20 pieces of 18-seater buses, and 5 pieces of cargo trucks 

✓ Begin the construction of the entity administrative building; 

✓ Purchase additional garage equipment and tools 

✓ Provide training for mechanics, drivers, and other employees across the various departments 

✓ Provide scholarships to employees to acquire special skills at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) 

✓ Construct a new generator room with additional office space 

✓ Recondition the existing water tower 

✓ Negotiate funds for the reconstruction of the bus-wash facility, review compensation across departments for possible upward adjustment 

✓ Begin the construction of a bus terminal on the NTA Gardnersville headquarters compound ✓ Digitize our operations including the cash collection system 

✓ Plant bus stop signs at all NTA Bus stopping Points Let me remind us all as I conclude, we did not come to NTA to violate the rights of anyone. We did not do that and we do not intend to do. We all will work and be treated equally irrespective of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation. Let's continue to work together in the interest of NTA and Liberia