Representative Erol Madison Gwion, Sr. of District #1, Grand Gedeh County, on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, announced that he has fulfilled one of his major electoral promises to remit half of his monthly salaries to his constituency for the sole purpose of undertaking impactful projects that will uplift the living standard of the people and as of date, covering the period of January to July, 2022, he has deposited the amount of USD17,500.00 and LD$698,500.00 in the designated accounts of the Tchien District Development Council at the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment(LBDI) in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County.
According to a press statement issued from the office of the lawmaker and signed by Mr. Justice Randall Clarke, his Chief of Office Staff(COS), the amounts of USD 7,500.00 and LD$298,500 were on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 deposited to account numbers 018-USD408-038816-01 and 018-LRD408-038816-02 covering the months of May, June and July, 2022 which summed up the total amount stated earlier as part of his 50% salary share commitment towards sustainable development within the constituency.
“While in Zwedru in May, Rep. Gwion turned over to TDDC the sums of US$2,500 and LR$99,500 representing such funds for the month of April, 2022. In the lead-up to the November 2021 Representative by-election, unstoppable candidate Gwion promised his People—evidenced by a notarized vow—that when elected, he will remit to the District, through a well-structured development council, half of his monthly salary as a member of the House of Representatives.
“Therefore, in fulfillment of said unprecedented act in the body politic of the County, Rep. Gwion would give back to the District each and every month for the purpose of genuine development the sums of US$2,500 and LR$99,500, constituting half of his monthly pay. This voluntary and patriotic gesture on the part of the Lawmaker will see no interruptions. Thus, analyzing from the month of January, 2022 to July, 2022 (seven months), the amounts so far given to the Development Council by Rep. Gwion for the advancement of the District indicate US$17,500 on the one hand, and on the other hand, LR$696,500”, the release said.
The release further said that the TDDC was set up on 23 April 2022 in Zwedru to coordinate matters of durable, tangible development in all sectors as would be desired by the People. It said the objective is also to, among other things, consolidate peace and harmony in the District, is made up of representatives from the Christian Council, Muslim Council, District Youth, Marketers, the Disabled Community, the Business Community, Tchien District Women, the Civil Society, District Motorcyclist Union, Transport Union, and the Office of Hon. Gwion.
“For the first time in Tchien District’s post-war democracy, such a development council as the TDDC has been established thanks to the innovation of Representative Erol Madison Gwion, Sr. who fulfilled the campaign promise to have such a body in place. Meanwhile, the Office of the Tchien District Deputy would like to state clearly that Hon. Gwion, elected popularly, remains resolute than ever before to work in the interest of his District and People in efforts to attain development that would lead to prosperity”, the release concluded.
Meanwhile, citizens of District #1, Grand Gedeh County have commended Gwion for being so truthful and sincere towards the people by honoring the agreement he willingly signed with the people, stating that since the foundation of the county in 1964, there has no history of lawmakers setting aside a portion of their rightful salaries to address critical needs of the people.
“I am 70 years old today and I can tell you I have lived to see the origin of the county, seen all the lawmakers and leaders from the county but I have not seen a lawmaker or county official or officials from the county in the national government doing what this young man has done. I did not vote for him during the election because he was a poor man and I didn’t want any poor man to be my lawmaker because he may satisfy himself first before looking at the citizens but he has made me very ashamed of the decision I made. I will apologize to him whenever he comes to Zwedru”, an old retired classroom teacher said.
Another lady, a marketer who only gave her name as Ma Martha said she wept on the day the first tranche of the money was delivered to the people in Zwedru and wondered why all these years Mr. Gwion was never given the opportunity to be one of the lawmakers because by now, better and bigger things would have happened for the district.
“My son, where has it happened in this poor county here, where we continue to vote for people and nothing has changed for us. I was crying when that young man brought out all the money and I saw it with my naked eyes. Thank God for bringing the right person for us”, she said.
Meanwhile, preparations are in top gear by Grand Gedeans in the United States to pay host to Mr. Gwion whom they have been showering praises for being a different lawmaker and a leader that they can do business with. It was revealed that as part of his planned visit, he will meet with top US politicians, businesses and humanitarian individuals and institutions with the view of soliciting for material and financial support to undertake meaningful development in the county.