Garbage fee row in Margibi

Fulani businessmen and women in Margibi County, especially Kakata City have allegedly defied the county’s authorities over order to comply with a waste disposal firm (NC Sanitors and Services) in ensuring that the city remains clean.

According to Margibi authorities, members of the Fulani business community have allegedly refused to pay monthly waste collection fees of US$10 and $20, respectively. Margibi County Superintendent, John ZubahBuway, who made the disclosure in an interview with reporters at the C.H. Rennie Hospital Wednesday, September 30, said the matter has left the county authorities with no alternative but to take the entire Fulani community to court for defying government order and to make sure it complies accordingly.

“The fees vary, depending on the amount of dirt a businessman or woman has as well as individuals in communities with waste for cleaning.” According to the superintendent, there is a Memorandum of Understanding signed with NC Sanitors and Services to clean the streets of Kakata and surrounding communities, and that those, who produce the dirt, will be charged certain amount on a monthly basis.

He narrated further that all other residents of the county were complying with the mandate except the Fulani business community. Superintendent Buway continued that some businesspeople like the Lebanese pay US$65 and even more monthly for the same purpose.

He recalled that at a particular time, members of Fulani business community claimed they were being discriminating against so they would not pay a dime. Mr. Buway added that the Fula community took a formal complaint to the Liberia Senate and they were instructed to go back and work with the county authorities, but they have allegedly refused to comply.

When contacted, several Fulani businessmen in Kakata, declined to comment on grounds that they were not prepared to speak to the press.

By Ramsey N. Singbeh, Jr. in Margibi – Edited by Jonathan Browne