Both sides of the river bank at the St. Paul River in Fofee Town area are cracking down slowly but surely as concerned residents expressed early warnings about what they fear could eventually cause damage to the entire community in the nearby future. The concerns according to them were raised earlier when the sand mining group, a Chinese company named and styled Z & C Investment Company approached the community for operations. The community dwellers were assured by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the company’s operations are under tight monitoring by the agency and will register any danger through a device from EPA’s office, a statement made by the community chairman.
Sekou Masao Kamara a citizen of the community said mining of the sand is essential but also dangerous because the dredge mining is done within closed range at the bank of the river. His family’s property is close to the river and he has been following the river bank breaking down gradually even on the opposite bank of the river and the communities could face disastrous impact few years from now if no action is taken by the government through EPA.
“We expressed fears at the beginning of the company operations we were informed by authorities of EPA that they are closely monitoring and they would know if there is any sign of disaster. Since then we have been observing the river bank wear off and we will take the government to task in the worst case of property damage.”
Kamara never minced his words but urge the swift intervention of national government to implement a ‘river defense project’ using big rocks to safeguard the river from eroding the land surface as it was done with the Coastal Defense Project in New Kru Town.
Another resident Robert Fano is the caretaker of property belonging to the former Director of Police Chris Massaquoi whose house is closer to the bank of the river also mentioned that the situation is troubling. The cracking of the river bank is few feet away from the cornerstones of his boss.
He said the edge of the water is deepening rapidly due to the dredge used to mine the sand and as a result portion of the river bank collapses every raining season. The river banks are no longer place for contemporary swimming an advice to the locals for anyone to venture.
“At first the dredge was brought close to the property and the management was warned by Mr. Massaquoi that there will be a lawsuit filed against the company for destruction of his property in case of any,” Fano concluded.
Furthermore, the mining group would take responsibility in the event of damages on properties affected, community Chairman Joe B. Perry had said the community made a push from the onset of the company’s operations that properties’ owners along the river banks receive monthly benefit from the extractive industry but it did not happen as Commissioner Moses White who also serves as President of Sand Miners in Liberia said they should consider what the company has to offer to the community because the company came through the government approval.
“We were advised by the local authority not to agitate the controversy because it was the government that gave them operational license and the community should accept what was on the plate to offer our community.”
On the basis that the government of Liberia brought in the company to mine sand and they have already paid (10) ten years taxes to the government to operate and craving demands would have disrupted the company’s operations.
Due to the circumstances as it was; the community reached an agreement with the sand mining company and now receives US$5.00 per five blades of truck load and US$2.00 for less than four blades of truck loads, Chairman Perry explained.
These amounts are placed in the community’s coffers that generate close to a thousand or one thousand dollars monthly. The money is used to carry out some of the current development initiatives embarked upon for the community.