Former Minister of Public Works, Hon. Ruth Coker Collins, has written an open letter to current Public Works Minister Roland L. Giddings, expressing concern over her exclusion from the national infrastructure dialogue presently underway in Gompa City, Nimba County.
According to Collins, as the immediate past Minister of Public Works and a seasoned career engineer who has served Liberia with dedication, she reasonably expected to be invited to participate in discussions of such national importance. She emphasized that infrastructure development is a continuous national undertaking that transcends political parties and successive administrations and should be guided by collective expertise, institutional memory, and a shared commitment to national development.
In her letter, Collins stated that the Infrastructure Conference, organized by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works, presents a critical platform for knowledge-sharing, reviewing lessons learned, and strengthening professional collaboration across generations of leadership within the sector. She argued that the inclusion of former ministers and senior professionals is essential to ensuring continuity, enriching policy debate, and reinforcing the principle that national development is a shared responsibility.
She clarified that her concern is raised in good faith and not as an attack on the current leadership, expressing hope that future national infrastructure engagements will adopt a more inclusive approach that benefits the country as a whole.
Collins reaffirmed her willingness to support Liberia’s infrastructure development in any capacity where her experience and expertise may be valuable and expressed her readiness to collaborate in the national interest. She concluded by extending assurances of her highest consideration.
