—- Pledges Staff Right-side for Efficiency
IPNEWS: Newly appointed Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Urey has vowed to investigate recently protest and dismissal actions at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Speaking at his formal takeover ceremony, Dr. Urey stated that he will set up a small committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the dismissal of employees-stressing that He will act on the committee’s findings and recommendations to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability at the EPA.
“I have also read the employee handbook. Apart from innovation that will make the EPA second to none among other autonomous agencies of government in Liberia, we will not do anything new but to enforce existing policies, laws and regulations.”
“For us employees’ welfare is key to success at the EPA. Part of this is to ensure that people are properly placed based on qualifications. To end, we will conduct a rigorous employee appraisal to identify key strengths and weaknesses. Findings from this exercise will enable us to reshuffle the staff ensuring proper placement.”
“We will ensure that all employees have their just and rightful benefits (including salaries that are commensurate with qualifications and nature of work) as mandated by the labor law of Liberia and other statutory laws. In the last few weeks, the EPA has been in the news, sometimes for the right or wrong reasons. Dr. Urey stated.
He lauded outgoing Executive Director, Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, for the conduct of the ongoing international environmental conference here in Monrovia, terming it as good news.
Touching on recently dismissed employees, Dr. Urey stated that the dismissal seems controversial.
Dr. Urey: “EPA is a regulator and therefore, it should be an integrity institution. This means that people who work here should have a very high level of integrity.”
“We will therefore employ mechanisms that will ensure a high level of work ethic including coming to work on time, leaving work on time, and tracking employees’ work activities to ensure proper accountability.
The former Vice standard Bearer of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP) extended a warm appreciation to President Joseph Nuyma Boakai for the confidence reposed in him to direct the affairs of the EPA as he awaits the appointment of the National Environmental Policy Council, which has the statutory responsibility to recruit and vet the Executive Director of the EPA.
Dr. Urey also lauded Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, the Liberian People’s Party, his families, friends, and supporters, for their demonstrated love.
He appreciated outgoing Executive Director, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, his management staff, and the entire EPA family for the work done in keeping the EPA alive.
“The purpose of establishing the EPA is to be the principal authority in Liberia responsible for the management of the environment including coordinating, monitoring, supervising, and consulting with relevant stakeholders on all activities that have to do with the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources.”
“The goal is to manage the resources of Liberia in a way that can benefit the current generation and future generations. To this end we are committed. I am grateful that we are not starting from zero. There have been a number of good things done here and we are here not to undo what has been accomplished but to build upon what has been achieved. I have seen the Strategic Plan of the EPA from 2022 to 2026.”
“Over the next few days, we will conduct a thorough review of the plan to see what has been implemented, the ongoing projects, and the parts of the plan that need urgent attention.”
Furthermore, Dr Urey promised to ensure the full implementation of the Act creating the EPA, pledging to recommend to the President to constitute the National Environmental Policy Council and the EPA Board of Directors.
He vows to ensure decentralization of the EPA both at the county and district levels.
“We will increase the revenues of the EPA by closing loopholes and enforcing the ESIA guidelines as well as other revenue generation capacities. The goal will be to make the EPA self-sufficient financially.”
“We will ensure open communication at the EPA. Few ways from now you will see two boxes. One will be labeled innovation box and the other will be labeled grievance box. “
“We will encourage you to write anything that you see fit for the upliftment of the EPA and drop your ideas in the innovation box. Similarly, if you see something say something. Have you noticed corruption, is something not right, put your grievances in the grievance box. In both boxes, you do not have to write your name as we are more interested in the information than the giver of the information.”
“We assure you that information you drop in those boxes will be studied carefully. We only caution you to write truthful pieces of information.” Dr. Urey promised.
The young professional lauded the Transitional Team at the EPA headed Mr. James Flomoyan and his team, under the supervision of Hon. Dr. Louise Kpoto, and stated that part of their recommendation calls for an audit to be conducted, because regular auditing is a good organization practice.
Additionally, he assures both national and international partners that a new day has dawned on the EPA, stressing that within a year from now.
“The EPA will be a force for good not only for Liberia but for the global community. All we ask is that you be transparent with us as well.
“Watch and see the transformation that will occur here. You all will form part of it and together we will be proud of our achievements. Think Liberia, Love Liberia, Build Liberia because a Better Liberia is Possible if and only if Government becomes a place to serve and NOT a place to steal.” Dr. Emmanuel Urey stated.
