Date of publication: April 19, 2007
Source: Public Agenda
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says its investigation team sent to Margibi County to probe reports of pollution in the area has returned confirming the report.
According to the head of the EPA, Ben Donnie, his team reported certain level of pollution in the Farmington River and said there was also air pollution in the Firestone area.
Mr. Donnie told journalists that the air in the Firestone area contains the smell of ammonia which he said is dangerous to the eyes.
The EPA boss was however mindful of the choice of words when he said “We will still have to do some investigative testing of the water and invite the management of Firestone here to discuss the issue”.
He pointed out that there was no need to be hasty about the investigation, stating that the problem has been in the area for over thirty years now.
Donnie indicated that Firestone is an international partner of government and, “we will make sure we do proper verification investigation to be sure of what is exactly happening in the area”.
Resident in the Firestone Plantation area have been complaining of pollution of the air and water in the area and asked the EPA to do an investigation to stop their environmental degradation.
Some residents of the area are demanding damages for the destruction of their environment by Firestone. Some of them indicated that some of the illnesses in the area could be the result of the pollution caused by the rubber company.
Donnie also said that further test will require borrowing some equipment from other institution in the country to have a correct idea of what is taking place in the area.
Firestone was established in Liberia in 1926. In 2006, the Firestone Natural Rubber Company celebrated 80 years of what the President of the Firestone Natural Rubber Company, called partnership with the people of Liberia .
It has been an amazing journey of both accomplishment and struggle, said Daniel J. Adomitis. Beginning with little more than unclear jungle and swamps, Adomitis said Firestone has built a 200 square mile oasis of rubber trees, industry, rural electrification, schools, housing, roads and healthcare in Liberia .
He said much of this was destroyed during the civil war that occurred in Liberia from 1989 to 1996 and its aftermath.
Today, the Firestone President went on, Firestone and the people of Liberia celebrate a new era of re-birth. Literally starting on the foundations of earlier accomplishments, we are beginning the slow process of replanting and rebuilding.
It is not clear what the Firestone President called rural electrification when laborers are striking to demand better wages and living. They said they lack electric power in their homes, saying, “Only the big people enjoy the facilities here at Firestone”.
The laborers have also complained of lack of high schools in the area for their children except for the government high school. There is also the issue of poor housing for workers of the company.
It is not known what will happen if the investigative test to be carried out by EPA fines Firestone guilty of unleashing pollution on the people of Margibi County. Investigation continues.