By Mae Azango

One of Liberia’s oldest companies was over the weekend found liable of polluting waters in Kparnyan Town, Margibi County.

The company in question is the Firestone Rubber Plantation Company (FRPC), which was established in 1926, during the regime of Liberia’s 18th President, William V. S. Tubman.

Since the establishment of Firestone in 1926, workers have lived in appalling condition.

An Inter Ministerial Team headed by Planning Minister Amara Konneh was established to investigate the water samples and come up with findings, of which the rubber company was found guilty of polluting the water bodies with a chemical called orthophosphate.

The water samples which was taken on September 10, 2009 and air lifted for international testing. The results were brought into the Country on September 22, 2009 at 2:00 a.m.

Planning Minister Konneh, who headed the team and also chairman of the EPA board revealed findings of the report. “The results of the test conducted both locally and internationally, show that one of the fourteen critical parameters tested, orthophosphate, had an elevated level that is slightly above the class III water quality standard of Liberia and can associated to be the abnormality of the Ninpu Creek in Kpanyah Town Community. The other thirteen critical parameters were found to be normal. As protocol dictates, the report had to be seen by all members of the inter Agency committee, and share with the president for approval before being released to the public.”

Further reading from the report, minister Konneh listed the committee ground rules conducted: 1. Firestone Plantation Company is encouraged to increase the capacity and efficiency of its waste water treatment methods to minimize effluent discharge into the wetlands; 2 Firestone is encouraged to dialogue with kpanyah Town Community on a regular basis and improve its relations with the inhabitants of its neighboring communities; 3 Firestone is also encourage to buy rubber from smallholder rubber farmers in those communities to improve their economic conditions; 4 Firestone is encouraged to partner with EPA to ensure its compliance with the environmental laws of the republic of Liberia.”

Answering to why Firestone could not be sued because they were guilty during the press conference, minister Konneh said the government could not sue Firestone or any other company, but the Kpanyah Town  Community could sue Firestone if they are not satisfy. “It is not the duty of Planning Ministry to take Firestone to court but Kpanyah town can do so if they don’t feel satisfy. The terms of reference, was to establish the fact, and the fact has been established, so it would be best for Firestone and Kpanyah Town to reconcile and work together, because kpanyah Town Community needs Firestone to buy their rubber and improve their livelihood.”

Internal Affairs Minister Ambuallai Johnson, for his part agreed with Planning Minister Konneh that it is necessary that Firestone rubber plantation and Kpanyah town Community dialogue. “We think we can resolve this issue through a dialogue, because the Kpanyah town Community will always need Firestone to transact business.

Asked as to if Firestone was too big to prosecute, Minister Johnson said no, but government is not the one who is responsible to sue but Kpanyah Town could do so.

Representatives from the Kpanyah Town Community, who were present at the conference, did not comment during the conference but told journalists after the meeting through their women leader Ms. Mai Sackor, that they were satisfy with the result that prove Firestone guilty. “We are satisfied to know that the water is pollution, but during the dialogue, we will come up with our proposal and if Firestone does not abide, we will take it to the law.”

The alleged water pollution was unearth last Year, when resident of Kparnyan’s Town and five other surrounding Towns and Villages  accused the Firestone rubber plantation of polluting their creeks and water bodies used for drinking, fishing and other means of livelihood.

When FPA visited the Kpanyah Town Community to investigate the alleged water pollution at the time, our reporters found out that two major creeks used by over 3,000 inhabitants had lost its colorless value but Firestone denied the water pollution at the time.

The Ninpu-gley creek, which means in the Bassa vernacular, “Pure water” because of its clearness is now black. Based upon the blackness of the water, inhabitants called it”Nikpey” meaning black water. The Ninpu Creek which is the largest water body was said to have been used for drinking, fishing and watering of plans, but the village dwellers had stopped using the water when it changed it color.

The reports that were carried in many local dailies at the time, claimed the President attention to form an inter agency committee headed by Planning Minister Amara Konneh to investigate and come up with findings.

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