The Minister of Public Works, Roland Lafayette Giddings, has committed to authorizing a doubling of night trucking operations for mineral permits to Western Cluster Liberia without conducting essential health and environmental impact assessments.
Originally permitted to transport 100 truckloads of iron ore to the Monrovia Free Port per night, the company’s operations abruptly escalated to 200 truckloads nightly under the Boakai’s administration.
This decision allows Western Cluster Liberia to ferry double the amount of minerals without the necessary evaluations of potential health hazards and environmental consequences.
Iron ore trucking operations typically expose communities along the Bomi and Monrovia Highway to airborne particles, posing significant risks to public health and the environment.
Minister Giddings faced sharp criticism during a Senate committee hearing chaired by Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie, where lawmakers expressed deep concern over the lack of assessments prior to increasing trucking volumes.
The Senate committee rebuked Giddings for what they perceived as disregarding the safety and well-being of citizens residing near the Bomi-Monrovia Highway.
The controversy surrounding Giddings’ decision has intensified amidst ongoing violations of Western Cluster’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Liberian government.
Lawmakers and citizens alike have voiced outrage, citing potential infrastructure damage and heightened safety risks due to the increased trucking operations.
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County condemned the Ministry’s move, highlighting the detrimental impact on the St. Paul Bridge to Bomi Hills Road corridor, already strained by previous trucking volumes.
Snowe emphasized that the road infrastructure, already in dire condition, cannot sustain the additional stress caused by doubling the trucking fleet and trip frequency.
The Western Cluster’s Road User Permit (RJP-220620-004), initially suspended due to non-compliance with its MDA terms, was controversially reinstated by the Ministry of Public Works.
This decision, coupled with the directive to increase fleet capacity and truck load limits, has further fueled public outcry and raised serious questions about governmental accountability and commitment to public safety.
The Senators underscored the gravity of the situation, pointing out the stark contrast between the current government’s decision to double trucking operations and previous public backlash against lesser volumes permitted by the preceding administration.
The escalation in truck trips per night, according to the lawmakers, jeopardizes not only road infrastructure but also poses significant safety hazards to pedestrians and local communities.
As the controversy unfolds, calls for transparency and responsible governance grow louder, with the senators demanding immediate reassessment of the Ministry’s decision and adherence to stringent environmental and safety protocols.
Citizens of that area confidence in the Rescue Mission Government’s commitment to accountable leadership hinges on swift action to mitigate risks posed by Western Cluster’s intensified operations and to safeguard the welfare of all Liberians affected by these developments.
Health and Environmental Assessment
The Minister of Public Works, Roland Lafayette Giddings, has committed to authorizing a doubling of night trucking operations for mineral permits to Western Cluster Liberia without conducting essential health and environmental impact assessments.
Originally permitted to transport 100 truckloads of iron ore to the Monrovia Free Port per night, the company’s operations abruptly escalated to 200 truckloads nightly under the Boakai’s administration.
This decision allows Western Cluster Liberia to ferry double the amount of minerals without the necessary evaluations of potential health hazards and environmental consequences.
Iron ore trucking operations typically expose communities along the Bomi and Monrovia Highway to airborne particles, posing significant risks to public health and the environment.
Minister Giddings faced sharp criticism during a Senate committee hearing chaired by Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie, where lawmakers expressed deep concern over the lack of assessments prior to increasing trucking volumes.
The Senate committee rebuked Giddings for what they perceived as disregarding the safety and well-being of citizens residing near the Bomi-Monrovia Highway.
The controversy surrounding Giddings’ decision has intensified amidst ongoing violations of Western Cluster’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Liberian government.
Lawmakers and citizens alike have voiced outrage, citing potential infrastructure damage and heightened safety risks due to the increased trucking operations.
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi County condemned the Ministry’s move, highlighting the detrimental impact on the St. Paul Bridge to Bomi Hills Road corridor, already strained by previous trucking volumes.
Snowe emphasized that the road infrastructure, already in dire condition, cannot sustain the additional stress caused by doubling the trucking fleet and trip frequency.
The Western Cluster’s Road User Permit (RJP-220620-004), initially suspended due to non-compliance with its MDA terms, was controversially reinstated by the Ministry of Public Works.
This decision, coupled with the directive to increase fleet capacity and truck load limits, has further fueled public outcry and raised serious questions about governmental accountability and commitment to public safety.
The Senators underscored the gravity of the situation, pointing out the stark contrast between the current government’s decision to double trucking operations and previous public backlash against lesser volumes permitted by the preceding administration.
The escalation in truck trips per night, according to the lawmakers, jeopardizes not only road infrastructure but also poses significant safety hazards to pedestrians and local communities.
As the controversy unfolds, calls for transparency and responsible governance grow louder, with the senators demanding immediate reassessment of the Ministry’s decision and adherence to stringent environmental and safety protocols.
Citizens of that area confidence in the Rescue Mission Government’s commitment to accountable leadership hinges on swift action to mitigate risks posed by Western Cluster’s intensified operations and to safeguard the welfare of all Liberians affected by these developments.
