PHOTO: Participants and EPA Executive Director Pose for Photo
By Augustine Octavius, Augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Environmental Protection Agency has reportedly developed a number regulatory instruments aimed at protecting the environment in Liberia and empowering grass root defenders.
EPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Yarkpawolo, disclosed that on December 13, 2024, the policy council of the EPA approved several-count environmental regulations in order to protect the environment.
Dr. Yarkpawolo made the disclosure at the opening of a two-day round table discussion organized by the Green Advocates International in partnership with the World Resources International and funding from the United States Department of State in Monrovia recently.
He named the regulations covered air quality, wetland, solid quality, solid waste, radiation, land fill and water quality.
“The problem is many of the people do not know these rights and their ignorance is used as a weapon to abuse them,” he said; adding: “the responsibility of defenders is to inform them. Once this is done, the people make informed decisions.”
“The informed decisions enable people to stand up and speak for themselves, demanding their rights and just benefits both for their livelihoods and the environment in which they live and depend.”
“But the powerful,” he went on, “those who enjoy wealth at the detriment of vulnerable people, do not like the idea of educating people about their rights and making informed decisions.”
“As a result, they target the defenders through suppressions, oppressions, unjustified jail terms and sometimes death.”
In remarks, the Project Lead at the Green Advocates International, Peter Quaqua, disclosed that the training of Grass Root Environmental Defenders will be taken to the 15 sub-political divisions in the country
According to him, 75 Grass Roots Environmental Defenders will be trained throughout the country and each organization will be given a small grant by the US State Department
Mr. Quaqua spoke of companies polluting the creeks that local depends on for years as a source of drinking water yet some of these companies do even care of the impact on the lives of the ordinary people.
He cautioned them take advantage of the training that is providing for the to adopt them as means of championing the rights of their communities.
“You also need to know how these concession people are establishing large farms in your land and disadvantaging the locals of farm land.”
During the two round table deliberation, human rights lawyer, Counselors Taiwon Gongloe lectured on understanding relevant Liberian laws that impacts the rights of the environment, land, water, mining and agriculture as well as customary laws and how is applied to advocacy; while Cllr. Tonia Wiles presented paper on participatory strategies who are the targets and forum for decision.
Attorney Sanwar Fallan delivered paper on how to access grievance, accountability mechanisms and justice, while Cllr. Alphanso Zeon deliberated on communication and media strategies; Teah Doemah spoke on managing communication in times of crisis and Cllr. Lamii Kpargoi lectured on how to the complaint processes works.