Liberia: Mines and Energy, EPA, Health Cited Over Chemical Pollution in Cape Mount

 

— As Plenary Requests MFDP to Submit Copy of 2022 National Budget 

Authorities of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have been cited to appear before the Senate standing committee on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, over reports of major chemical pollution in a river in Grand Cape Mount County. 

The Senate plenary on May 24 authorized its committee to cite the three institutions to address concerns about the spillage of a chemical, allegedly used by Bea Mountain Mining Company (BMMC), that has resulted to the pollution of the Mafa River in Grand Cape Mount County, leaving several species dead, including a dog that ate some of the species.

Based on the Plenary’s mandate, the Chairman of the committee, Grand Cape Mount Senator Simeon B. Taylor, has cited the relevant institutions to a hearing on today, May 25, to institute measures to tackle said emerging environmental crisis.

The Senate's decision to cite the relevant institutions was based on a disclosure made by Cllr. H. Varney G. Sherman during the Senate’s 24th day sitting deliberations. 

Senator Sherman, in his presentation, called on the Senate to immediately launch an investigation into the alleged environmental crisis in his County so as to remedy the situation as it borders on the lives of the citizenry in that part of the country.   

In another development, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated its statutory committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget to ensure that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning makes available the approved copy of the national budget for fiscal period 2022 in keeping with the budget law.

Plenary’s mandate was predicated upon concerns raised yesterday by many Senators in session regarding the failure of the MFDP to provide to Senators the approved copy of the national budget.

The chairman of the Senate committee on Ways, Means and Budget, Bomi County Senator Morris Saytumah, was not definite in an answer to a question posed by Pro Tempore Albert Tugbe Chie about why the Senate is yet to receive a copy of the approved budget submitted to the Executive. 

Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has persistently requested plenary to mandate authorities at the Finance Ministry to submit a copy of the fiscal year 2022 National Budget, arguing that the first quarter has already elapsed without a budget performance report in accordance with budget law.