Rural Development & Community Services, Creating Dept. of (Amending Title 12)

Rural Development & Community Services, Creating Dept. of (Amending Title 12) An Act to create/establish within the Ministry of Public Works, a department to be known as the Department of Rural Development and Community Services Whereas the Act Amending Chapter 52 of the Executive Law to create and establish in the Executive Branch of Government; a Ministry of Rural Development is hereby repealed to create the Department of Rural Development and Community Services within the Ministry of Public Works; Whereas the 14 years of civil conflict has left an unimaginable devastation of every sector of our society; thereby given rise to the need for providing services and support for rural development; Whereas the activities of the NGOS (both local and international) in our rural communities throughout the country are gradually fading out due to donor fatigue leaving huge vacuum in terms of basic services to rural dwellers; Whereas the Government being cognizant of its responsibilities to provide employment opportunities for its war weary citizens has made provisions for employees of the dissolved Ministry of Rural Development to be redeployed and absorbed by the Ministry of Public Works. Section 1 The Executive Law Chapter XXXVIII of Section 401 of 1961-1962 with respect to the functions of the Ministry of Public Works is hereby further amended by adding thereto four (4) New Sections from Chapter 52 of the Executive Law to be section 401-E, 401-F, 401-G, and 401-H to be read as follows: That from and immediately after the passage of the Act, there shall be established in the Ministry of Public Works a Department to be known and styled the Department of Rural Development and Community Services, with two Bureaus, Rural and Community Services to cater to the rural communities dwellers for speedy development. Section 401-F: Appointment of Officers Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Community, Services The President of the Republic of Liberia shall appoint with the consent of the Senate, a Deputy Minister for Rural Development who shall head the Department and such Assistant Ministers as may be required to supervise and manage the affairs of the Department. 401-G: Functions of the Department The Department of Rural Development and Community Services shall in consultation and under supervision of the Minister of Public Works identify, initiate plan and implement policies and programs geared towards the achievement of integrated rural development in Liberia in collaboration with other functionaries of government, public corporations and agencies concerned with rural development. To the accomplishment of these objectives it shall: a) Be responsible for the formulation of plans and programs, supervisions construction and maintenance of all secondary roads including bridges, ferries and similar installation but excluding primary highways; b) Be responsible to associate with rural communities in the formation and execution of self-help projects, such project having being initiated by and involving the full participation of rural communities; c) Be responsible for the planning and implementation of rural water and supply and sanitation schemes for communities (major villages and towns) of population below 5,000 except otherwise mutually agreed upon between the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation; d) Actively participate on all boards and/or governing bodies of all integrated rural development projects as well as rural cooperative, rural communication, rural health, rural electricity, and banking institutions catering primary to rural families; e) Be represented on all boards of rural projects, in the educational and other socio-economic sectors, as well as in the environmental sectors; f) Make services available for the design, construction and maintenance of public buildings and social facilities as well as for the approval of such designs and specifications for commercial and/or private construction projects in the rural areas; g) Execute project focusing on the development of energy-based generating activities; h) Provide impact action for the implementation of planned programs for increased rural trade, transportation and industry in view of industrial developments, crash programs for schools and clinics, farm-to-market and feeder roads, rural towns planning, low cost housing projects, development of clean drinking water systems rural areas. Development and application of appropriate technology in the rural areas, and such other activities to accelerate rural development 401-H: Organization of the Development Section 1. The Department of Rural Development and Community Services shall be organized in such manner with such personnel as shall be determined by the Deputy Minister in consultation with the Minister of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). Section 2. The salaries, expenditures of officials of the Department shall be provided by annual budgetary appropriations under the Ministry of Public Works. Section 3. This Act shall become effective immediately upon publication in handbills. ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY NOT WITHSTANDING Approved: May 22nd, 2008 Published: August 26th, 2008