The Minister of Transport, Mr. Samuel Wlue has trashed local reports that he refused quarantine upon his return from Italy, says his service to the country remains genuine and that at no such time will he endanger the lives of many, but also to include his family.
At a press briefing in Monrovia yesterday, Minister Wlue said there has never been a moment where he has violated or breached protocols because of his position as Minister, emphasizing, “This I have not done, and such I will not do irrespective of my portfolio during these crucial times as a nation.”
The Transport Minister indicated that he finds the report “completely misleading; my travel out of Liberia was an official government trip where I departed Liberia on February 18, 2020 and returned on February 26, 2020 without utilizing the VIP lounge but rather came through as a regular passenger respecting all the rules.”
Noting that March 18 marked over three weeks since he returned home, the Transport Ministry boss accentuated that there are records to validate my participation at 3rd Ministerial Global Conference on Road Safety held in Stockholm, Sweden at which time there were no global threat of over 200 cases of Coronavirus at his host country.
He expressed gratitude that the journalists have honor this invitation because there are critical issues requiring synergy, and pointed out that he firstly applaud President George Manneh Weah for the wisdom and farsighted leadership.
The President, Minister Wlue said, has instituted measures for safety to all Liberians and foreign nationals. “With his lead, I want to use this medium to share light on the Ministry of Transport’s initial role towards awareness and preventative measures against the Corona Virus,” he said
He recalled that the Ministry of Transport has instituted measures for commuters and vehicle operators, to include pen-pen riders, commercial and non-commercial vehicles, buses and keh-keh as well against the spread of the Coronavirus, saying that the Public Relations Unit will provide in-depth information about the Ministry’s initiatives.
Meanwhile, Ministry Wlue encouraged his “dedicated workers” at Transport Ministry to exercise the appropriate preventative measures as they look forward to the Civil Service Agency’s official disclosure on essential and non-essential staff continuation at work.
He also commended the healthcare professionals and staff for efforts to ensure the safety of all Liberians, assuring that the quest as a government to fight this virus is holistic and the nation and its people shall overall prevail.