By Bill W. Cooper
Authorities of the picturesque Kpatawee Waterfalls are said to be embroiled in a heated dispute with Bong County District 5 Representative, Eugene Kollie, who has allegedly threatened to set ablaze the facility and ruin their investment.
The management of the Kpatawee Waterfalls is accusing Rep. Kollie of threatening to burn down their facilities if the management refuses and denies him ownership of the facility in Bong County.
The stunning waterfall, located in the heart of Bong’s lush rainforest, has long been a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from near and far with its breathtaking beauty and tranquil surroundings.
The fall can be reached from a village in a tolerable time of 45 minutes. The village is positioned amongst high rises and deep valleys.
Many locals who do farming reside in the village, many of which generate income from growing rice and bananas.
Within the site, the Governments of Liberia and China undertook the Kpatawee Rice Project with the objective of introducing new rice farming methods to farmers, to discourage shifting cultivation.
Also, threats to the site include the potential development of a hydropower scheme, as the site is an ideal nature reserve and tourist attraction, but has not officially been recognized for this purpose.
But report has it that there has been existing dissatisfaction on the part of Rep. Kollie over the operations of Kpatawee Waterfalls Ecolodge, which triggered the Saturday demonstration allegedly sponsored by him.
In a conversation with Punch FM radio station yesterday, the management alleged that entrances leading to the tourist site were besieged by some unknown fearful individuals believed to be sponsored by Rep. Kollie.
They also alleged that major structures are now being occupied by community dwellers acting under the instructions of the lawmaker, and has since threatened to set the structures ablaze if his demand is not met.
The management maintained, “Even as we speak, there is huge presence of security personnel on the ground, but our senior management team, including staff has fled for safety, leaving the facility vulnerable.”
Also, information gathered from the county had it that the controversy was triggered when Rep. Kollie aggressively engaged the site management on grounds that he has the right to take control of the facility and manage it as he saw fit without any legal backing.
But the management of the waterfall, a group of local entrepreneurs who has worked tirelessly to maintain and improve the site over the years, vehemently opposed the Representative’s demands, arguing that they have legal rights to operate the facility.
The waterfall management said they are committed to preserving the site and providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all who visit, despite the threats and intimidation from the lawmaker over the weekend.
The management is calling on the community to stand together in solidarity against Rep. Kollie’s attempts to disrupt their operations, and has vowed to fight to protect the waterfall from any harm.
Meanwhile, all efforts exerted to hear from the lawmaker proved futile as his phone was off till press time, but in a Facebook post dated March 15, 2024, Rep. Kollie posted, “A person who sells eggs should not start a fight in the market. Be cautioned, because I will not listen.”
