The Liberia National Police (LNP) has announced plans to remove market tables from the Waterside commercial district as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion ahead of the construction of the Gabriel Tucker Bridge.
Speaking on the matter, Chief of Traffic of the LNP, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alphonso Bainda, said the clearance exercise is scheduled for Saturday and is in line with Liberia’s traffic management regulations. He noted that the measure is intended to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and reduce congestion during the bridge construction period.
The announcement has sparked concern among affected marketers. On Friday, dozens of Waterside marketeers gathered at the Ministry of Public Works to protest the decision, claiming that several tables had already been removed earlier in the day.
The protesters argued that the clearance exercise threatens their livelihoods, stressing that they have no alternative locations from which to conduct their businesses.
Some of the marketeers also accused ACP Bainda of demanding money from them. They alleged that he initially received LD$60,000 and later requested an additional LD$250,000. According to the protesters, he threatened to remove their tables after they refused to meet the alleged demand.
However, ACP Bainda strongly denied the accusations, describing them as false and unfounded. He maintained that his actions are guided solely by the law and the responsibility entrusted to him as a public official.
“I am a man of integrity and not a corrupt person,” Bainda said, insisting that the planned removal of the tables is part of a lawful traffic management initiative and not motivated by personal interests.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between city authorities and informal traders over efforts to regulate public spaces while protecting livelihoods.
