Merchant believed that “bribes” allegedly offered some of these public officials to abandon their assigned tasks and responsibilities to please foreigners over their own citizens. He said public officials involved in safeguarding wetlands and preventing the construction of stores, dwelling places, or others on alleyways should execute their tasks and responsibilities without fear or favor. Merchant observed that most often, representative and senatorial candidates trooped into flooded communities in the district to make unrealistic promises. Take Flood victims to estatesHe recalled that during past administrations, housing estates were constructed to shelter flood victims in Monrovia and other parts adjacent. Merchant named the Stephen Tolbert and Matadi Estates, among others, as some of the estates that were constructed for the intake of flood victims.
