House summons MOH, EPA, MCC, others

The House of Representatives has summoned the Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, Monrovia City Corporation, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation and the Ministry of Public Works to jointly appear before that august body on December 1,2016 to answer to complaints filed by Montserrado County District#9 Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood.
According to Rep. Youngblood, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation’ssewage plant is polluting the city with human wastes.  She also accused LIBRA Sanitation, a local firm currently managing a World Bank-sponsored garbage plant of “killing our people with the trash they collect from all around the country.’’ She said the site is not been properly maintained so flies, Mosquitoes and pollution from garbage and sewage lines of LWSC are too much for residents to bear.

She reminded that Article 8 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberiarequires the Republic to direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens without discrimination, opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions and towards promoting safety, health and welfare facilities in employment.
Rep. Youngblood said the people of district#9 are not against development, but the World Bank-sponsored garage plant situated in a residential area is not helping residents, but rather slowly destroying their lives.
“… Therefore, we do not want it in our community anymore. As you all know, concentrated garbage produces a special kind of gas that is not healthy for everyday inhaling. While the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation plant in Fiamah was built in the late 60s, it has served its usefulness and can no longer protect the community from pollution.”
She said the densely populated community hosts over five primary schools and churches with more than 31,000 inhabitants whose lives are being threatened daily by the pollution.
She said wastes collected from around the country are taken to the LWSC compound in the Monrovia suburb of Fiamahandplaced in a digester, left open and running directly into the community drainage line, threatening to the health of residents.
The district#9 lawmaker said while it is true the LWSC was created by an Act of Legislation to carryout said activities,the intent then and now is not to kill the inhabitants around the plant.