The Resident Assigned Circuit Judge of River Gee County, George W. Smith, has called on the Executive and Judiciary branches of government to implement the Environmental Sanitation Law amended on December 19, 1930.
According to Judge Smith, the law was amended by the House of Representatives and Senate who saw the need to keep cities across Liberia clean from plastic wastes, water pollution, in order to protect the health of the Liberian people.
“It is now overdue for the Executive and Judiciary to rigorously perform their duties given to them by the people’s representatives and the National Legislature, while the Judiciary is under legal duty to interpret and enforce this law and impose penalty for the violation.
“Rule 6 of the Rules for the Governance of the Magistrate and Traffic Courts promulgated by the Honourable Supreme Court of Liberia pursuant to Article 75 of the Liberia Constitution authorizes magistrates to set Monday of every week aside to try cases of individuals who violate our environmental sanitation law and City Ordinances and punish them if they are found guilty,” he added.
Judge Smith noted that in order for these laws to be implemented local authorities like the city mayor and city council, the police and law enforcers should arrest and prosecute those who drop dirt/garbage, plastic bags/bottles and other refuse in the streets and public places.
“For instance, disposing of dirt/garbage such as plastic bags/bottles, in our streets, roads, gutters, drainages, creeks, water-course, and other public places in our country, does not only spoil, besmear, befoul the beauty of Liberia and endangers our health, but it also endangers our marine resources, the fishes in our waters, and undermines our soil and agricultural production considering the length of time it takes for plastic bags to dissolve,” he lamented.
Section 21.3 of the Environmental Sanitation Law authorizes and mandates the local authorities, and the police to arrest individuals who are caught disobeying the City Ordinances and upon release, should pay a fine of US$100.
He furthered that Liberians must also learn to be patriotic citizens, urging them to observe the December 19, 1930 law on city ordinance. Judge Smith said patriotism means a citizen’s love for, honour and duty to his or her country.
“One who is patriotic and loves his or her country will not spoil, besmear and befoul its beauty and endanger the health of its people,” he said.
Delivering the Judge’s Charge at the August Term of Court, Judge Smith, said patriotic citizens of Liberia are under duty to honour and respect the law along with City Ordinances issued from time to time by the city’s or municipal government.
He added, “Some of us continuously violate this law without being punished and as such, the violation of this law and City Ordinances seems to be a normal way of life now.”
However, Section 5.1 of the Public Health Law imposes a punishment of US$100 maximum fine on people who drop dirt in the streets and other public places.
