Residents of the Srpo National Park headed by Sinoe County District 3 Representative, Alex Noah and the management of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), have held a roundtable fruitful discussion on strengthening FDA and the community dwellers’ relationship.
The meeting was upon the request of the District lawmaker to the FDA to foster common grounds on some concerns raised by the citizens which were not attended to by the past leadership.
In the meeting held Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the residents of the park through their lawmaker presented several requests to FDA for some considerations which included the construction of hand pumps, the provision of scholarship for students of the community, the creation of jobs for community residents and the demarcation of the park.
The group through their chairman and the lawmaker, further re-emphasized their request to the FDA to employ some of their citizens and provide safe drinking water as some of the benefits for hosting the park over the years.
At the meeting, the group also informed the management of FDA about the living conditions of the community dwellers hosting the park and the current situation of the park.
Representative Noah assured the current management of FDA of his people’s commitment in working with them in preserving the Sapo National Park.
The FDA management through its Managing Director, Rudolph Merab, assured residents of the park and the district Representative of a cordial working relationship in the interest of the country.
MD Merab further guaranteed them of constructing hand pumps through assistance from partners and work on the employment of citizens who are qualified and prepared for work.
He also disclosed to the citizens, a rebranding plan that will transform the park thereby solving some of the existing problems within the park, urging the community dwellers living around the park to keep eyes on it like their own property in the best interest of Liberia.
He added that the Sapo National Park, established in 1983, remains the property of the FDA and the rights of wildlife should always be protected.
