J. Nathaniel Daygbor
28 April 2008
This paper has learnt of the arrest of some Chinese nationals for alleged illegal construction on wetland reportedly belonging to government.
The Deputy Executive Director of the Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Professor Jerome Nyenka said the Chinese are from the China -Liberia Entrepreneur Film.
Authority said the Chinese violated zonal laws of the country by constructing in a wet land without seeking approval of relevant government agencies.
It is not clear whether the concerned Chinese nationals are currently behind bars, but the EPA official informed this paper that they were invited by the Liberian National Police while his agency is contemplating legal action against the film.
The piece of wetland in question is situated behind the home of the late Police Director Col. Joseph B. Teta. He told this paper yesterday at his Sinkor Office that the China-Liberia Entrepreneur was warned 11 months ago by the EPA, the Ministry of Justice, and the Liberian National Police not to carry on the construction on the site but failed to adhere to the instruction.
"The film was told to apply for the Environment Inter Agency (EIA); if granted they could have been given permit before constructing the building. Instead, they challenged the authority. The decision is intended to safe to the ecosystem of the state," he said.
According to him, people, especially residents of Monrovia are misusing the wetland by forcibly drying it while other use it for toilet.
Noting that create environmental hazard and unhealthy for the very people who causing the damage, Professor Nyekan stressed they are preparing especially their manpower capacity to enforce the law any one caught will bear the full responsibility of the law.
He however disclosed that they discharged inspectors in eight of the fifteen sub political divisions of the country. He concluded that the China-Liberia Entrepreneur still has better chance by reconsidering to come back to the EPA seek advice as how to go about other then they risk using the structure.
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