Experts’ prognosis is that Liberia’s environment remains vulnerable without a systematic approach to protecting it, but a Liberian environmental expert Jerome Sheldon, Jr. says he will avail his services to the Liberian government free of charge to help with the protection of the environment.

• Jerome Sheldon, Jr.

Jerome, founder, and runs the Umbrella Management Group (UMGroup) and has worked as an a Application Database Manager (ADBM) at the Federal Training Center (FLETC) in the Department of Home Services for the United States Government in Brunswick, an entire hazardous minimization program.

He has written an article recently, titled: “I Have Solutions for Potential Hazardous Chemical Disasters in Liberia,” in which he outlined his vision to help his country in the area of environmental protection.

“Major emergencies and disasters, natural or chemical released, have occurred across the globe and as the population grows and resources become more limited, communities are increasingly vulnerable to the hazards that cause disasters,” Mr. Sheldon wrote in his article.

That vulnerability, he said, is where Liberia finds itself and it only requires experts and the proper mechanisms and systems to work ways of protecting the country from hazardous chemicals that could negatively affect the country.

The UMGroup has already written a proposal for “Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act” submitted to the Government of Liberia for study.

The Executive Summary sums up what the project hopes to achieve: “This document offers a proposal to launch the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) project in Liberia to facilitate and promote planning for chemical emergencies at the county and local levels, and also to provide information to the public about the chemicals used, stored and released in their communities.”

Jerome sees a better way to get the communities away from the danger posed by hazardous chemicals, and the way he believes is the way forward is the implementation of the hazardous materials management system in Liberia.

According to the project proposal’s historical perspective, “EPCRA program was created by the US Government to achieve a dual purpose: to facilitate and promote planning for chemical emergencies at the state and local levels, and to provide information to the public about the chemicals used, stored, etc…”

With his wide range of experience, Jerome told President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf recently during one of her visits to the United States that he would offer his services free of charge to assist the government with expertise to protecting the environment.

Gov’t Makes Rape, Corruption, Armed Robbery Cases Premium
By Ebenezer Daygbor

• Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe

Liberia’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe said government attaches premium attention to rape, corruption and armed robbery cases more than it was in the past.

Briefing reporters over the weekend at the Justice Ministry, the results from these cases will enkindle the hopes and aspirations of the public and will also restore dignity to the judiciary.

According to Cllr. Gongloe, the recent sentence of a rapist to seven years jail symbolizes the importance government attaches to such crime, but noted that the sentence term was very short.

He said the government has requested the judge to increase the term of the sentence of life imprisonment, but observers are considering the legal ramifications of the government’s request.

He said minors who are often victimized by rapists, when they are found guilty, the penalty will be life imprisonment, and if the judge fails to revisit the penalty, he will face the wrath of the Justice Ministry.

According to him, there are several corruption cases that government is presently handling such as the Chris Taylor issue with the Central Bank of Liberia, the Public Works Comptroller scandal, J.D. Slanger, the defunct Arm Forces of Liberia (AFL) violent demonstration among others are expected to begin today at the Supreme Court.

He also disclosed government has issued a statement that all individuals who have to undergo investigations will not leave the country until the process is over. He further noted that when ever a former government official has corruption charges before them, they develop a habit to leave the country.

He added that the government, through the Justice Ministry and all security agencies, is committed to track down all those who may have committed offenses and want to leave the country. Cllr. Gongloe said the neighboring countries and Liberia have once more re established that in order to reduce crime rates in the sub-region.

In another development the Solicitor General of Liberia has revealed that some past government officials are expected to face justice for alleged crimes and offenses during their regimes.

Cllr. Gongloe noted that the recent dismissal of some top government officials for alleged corruption practices has not formally reached the Justice Ministry and said if reports are submitted, “the Ministry will pursue the cases.”

Meanwhile, the one time human rights activist, now Solicitor General has condemned the recent attacks on Liberian journalists by Executive Mansion guards assigned to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

He said the Justice Ministry along with some top Special Security Service (SSS) officers will thoroughly investigative the allegations and the doers of the acts will be seriously punished according to the ethics of the security sector.

Cllr. Gongloe has also apologized to the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and individuals who were directly affected.