A prominent resident of S. K. D. Boulevard, 72nd Community, Paynesville, Blama E. Tulay, has sought the intervention of the Liberian Government, local and international human rights organizations for alleged grave violation of his right by the authorities of the Ministry of Public Works. Speaking in tears to journalists over the weekend at the site of his destroyed homes, Mr. Tulay said on Saturday, August 10, 2024, a group of personnel from the Ministry of Public Works, using bulldozers, accompanied by armed police officers without any court warrant or presence of court officers, broke down his three concrete houses. According to him, this illegal demolition of properties by Mr.Tulay of Ministry was based upon the order of Madam Harriet P. Keamu who is an official of the Ministry of Public Work who accused me of construction in the alley way to her house. “This sad and unfortunate incident started in 2019, when the Ministry of Public Works Zoning Hearing Committee served a Zoning Violation Notice on me and others, for allegedly constructing structures in the alley way. Immediately, after receiving such notification through my legal counsel, we condemned their action and subsequently challenged it to the very Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Tulay averred.” He said there was no official feedback from the Public Works Ministry, despites his repeated outcries for their intervention, up to the demolition of his properties
Despite few follow up engagements with no specific outcome, except on Thursday, August 8, 2024, when he received a communication to his disbelief that the Ministry of Public Works had carried out investigation and findings which indicated that the Division of Land-Use, Planning, and Zoning, Ministry of Public Works had scheduled a “Demolition Exercises” on August, 10, 2024, of his three (3) Concrete Structures. Mr. Tulay said this the situation has left him, family and occupants displaced and traumatized without anywhere to stay, especially this rainy season.
He also said he has written a complaint to the Independent National Human Rights Commission (INHRC), through it Chairman, Cllr. Dempster Brown, complaining Madam Harriet P. Keamu and the Ministry of Public Works for illegally demolishing his properties comprising three houses, without any legal basis. Mr. Tulay has at the same time called on Montserrado County District #5 Lawmaker, Prescilla A. Cooper and all peace- loving Liberians and well-wishers to condemn this human rights violation being meted against him and his family by the Ministry of Public Works in favor of her staff, Madam Harriet P. Keamu. He also wants the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Gregory Coleman, to immediately conduct an investigation in the deployment of armed police officers in carrying the illegal demolition of properties without any court warrant. He expressed disappointment over the participation of police officers in illegal activities such as demolition of home poor and suffering people. At the same time, the prodemocracy organization, The Patriotic Consciousness Association of Liberia (PACA), has condemned the illegal demolition of Mr. Tulay’s properties by an official of the Public Works Ministry. PACA Head of Political and Social Action Committee, Charles Gray, called the demolition of properties of a private citizen by an official of government as “a clear violation of human rights and overuse of public authority that warrants immediate dismissal from public space”. By: Joseph K. Nyandibo/Residence of the Community/Contributor
