IPNews-Monrovia: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme-UNDP, has ended a day long validation workshop gear towards saving coastline areas under the ‘Monrovia Metropolitan Coastal Resilience Project’.
The project which seeks to tackle rapid sea erosion along the coastal areas of Liberia’s capital Monrovia, especially the Township of West Point, home to at least 75,000 inhabitants.
In recent times the Liberian capital city of Monrovia, located on a peninsula which runs into the Atlantic Ocean between the Mesurado and Saint Paul Rivers, has witnessed an unprecedented sea erosion, leaving the government of Liberia to announce an immediate relocation of residents from the West Point community.
The Costal Resilience Project, is expected to save the township of West Point from treats of violent sea waves which has left over 80 homes washed away into the Atlantic Ocean early last month.
Making remarks, during the validation workshop, Thursday, September 5, 2019 at the Millennium Hotel in Congo Town, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Nathaniel T. Blama, Sr. reemphasized the treats of sea erosion and the challenge poised in combating this natural occurrence.
Mr. Blama, said why West Point community was not factored in EPA initial plan to safeguarding coastal communities badly hit by sea erosion, such as Buchanan City, New Kru Town and Hotel Africa, yet, the issue of the West Point sea erosion has now reached a National emergency crisis which must be tackle to saving the Capital City OF Monrovia.
“Things have shifted and have put West Point as a priority. So, we got to act now,” Mr. Blama said.
The EPA Boss stated that unlike Buchanan City and New Kru Town where pilot projects initially started by the EPA in collaboration with other government lines ministries, developmental partners, there continue to be feasibility studies which show that there will be continuing rapid sea erosion in West Point, which remains a matter of urgency.
Blama: “We have all the technical data that are going to change things in West Point. What we did in Buchanan and New Kru Town was pilot projects, we were testing something. To the people of West Point, those of you that have been suffering, help is on the way.”
“It is not only about West Point, it’s about the Mesurado River. If West Point is wiped out; it’s going to affect the Mesurado River and what more about the small, small nearby communities.”
The Environmental Expert, call on members of the National Legislature to see the importance of increasing the budgetary allocation of the EPA to carry out its mandate of safeguarding the environment for future generation.
For his part, the Executive Director of National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Henry O. Williams said disaster management is critical, and requires more attention if the rapid sea erosion in West Point must be tackle.
Williams stated that NDMA, was being blamed may at times when disasters occurred but emphasized the need to give greater attention to the NDMA if the Agency should address many of the challenges of disaster across the country.
Making remarks also was the Assistant Minister for Operation at the Ministry of Public Work Kaustella Kialain, who encourage participants and the government of Liberia to do more in protecting the beautiful coastal line of Liberia from being destroyed, stressing it is something that needs to be addressed and there citizens take the lead.
