PHOTO: What supposed to be drainage for the free flow of water has turned into dumpsite
Frank Sainworla, Jr. writes
This is how the soon to be completed Redlight-ELWA Junction road looks now, joining the ranks of the Japan Freeway from the Freeport of Monrovia on the Bushrod Island to the Redlight in Paynesville that the Japanese government built in the tone of nearly US$100M as gift to the Liberian government and people.
Not only that, along a good portion of the stretch of this recently built four-lane modern road are heaps of garbage on the sidewalks, while the beautiful decorations of flowers and grass are all but gone. Just take a tour of some of the sorrowful spots along this Freeway around the Jacob Town, opposite the Stephen Tolbert Estate, etc. When will we ever get our waste management system right–despite what some say are diplomatic insults! “It appears our leaders and society don’t get shame”, as one Liberia Christian cleric asserted some time ago.
To our leaders and many citizens, it seems as though it’s a normal thing and nothing to worry about, but such pervasive state of affairs speaks volumes. As the old adage says, “little things matter”.
FLASHBACK: Last year, the Liberian capital, Monrovia was in the news for the wrong reason—whether or not it is one of the “dirtiest” cities around the world.
The alarming sanitation crisis that Monrovia and other communities in Liberia face can be resolved by no one else other than ourselves—citizens and residents.
Denial of the reality will not do, as was recently seen with the knee-jerk reaction to the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Liberia, Laurent Delahousse’s assertion about dirtiness of Monrovia against the backdrop of tens of millions of Euros and United States dollars international donor partners have invested into solid waste management here.
In 2022, this writer outlined serveral pragmatic ways to clean Monrovia’s sanitation mess.
As a patriotic Liberian citizen, who believes in constructive criticisms colored by advancing a pragmatic way out, this writer therefore advances ten (10) recommendations aimed at keeping the Liberian society clean and hygienic daily not occasionally or periodically, as the newly appointed citizens Board is commissioned:
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Robust/strict enforcement of city ordinances or laws, after a period of heightened public and civic education;
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Community residents must see city cleanliness and sanitation as a way of life, regular/daily exercise—not an event or seasonal;
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Garbage collection and disposal is not free-people must own it and be willing and ready to pay minimum fees to ensure proper and professional waste management; and community people should subscribe to existing Community Based Enterprises (CBEs);
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Enforcement of sanitation and hygiene measures must start from the homes to the neighbourhood and communities and the city;
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Institute practical and workable garbage collection and disposal system must be put in place and sustained, and violators of city ordinances must be penalized irrespective of who is involved (NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS);
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Institute guidelines for market and businesses—cleaning and disposal schedule; stipulated penalties for violation of guidelines;
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Clearly identifying the various stakeholders and duty bearers in central Monrovia (the commercial hub) & their roles and responsibilities, as central Monrovia is like a microcosm—people who live there, people who do business there, people who reside there, and people who both reside and do business there;
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Putting into focus and clearly understanding the demographics of central Monrovia as regards producing of garbage/solid waste—the micro and macro levels Pragmatic Ways To Clean Monrovia’s Sanitation Mess – News Public Trust