Margibi County – Former House Speaker and Margibi County Senator, J. Emmanuel Nuquay has donated more than 50 megaphones to members of the Kakata Minutes Sellers Association, a gesture intended to boost petty businesses but one that has also raised questions about compliance with Liberia’s environmental regulations on noise pollution.
The donation, presented in Kakata, is aimed at assisting street vendors and market traders, particularly those selling phone minutes and mobile data, to better advertise their products in busy commercial areas.
The donation, however, comes amid ongoing efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) to curb excessive noise pollution. The EPA has regulations governing the use of loudspeakers and amplified sound in public and private spaces, while the LNP has in recent months confiscated and destroyed loud audio devices seized from commercial motorcyclists during noise pollution enforcement exercises.
The donation has generated mixed reactions, with some residents questioning whether distributing megaphones to street vendors could undermine the government’s campaign against excessive public noise. Others argue that the devices could be used responsibly if vendors comply with existing EPA regulations.
Neither Senator Nuquay’s office nor the EPA has publicly commented on whether the donated megaphones are subject to any restrictions or guidelines regarding their use.
