Despite the last-minute intervention by a Ghanaian based sanitation company Zoom-Lion to clear the volumes of stinking garbage before the Christmas celebrations at the Red-light Market,
up to the eve of the Christmas celebrations, sanitation trucks and other equipment were seen clearing the stench of mountains garbage at the Red-light Market in Paynesville.
As a result of that insufficient intervention by Zoom Lion in the Red-light Market garbage menace, another mountain of garbage awaits New Year shoppers.
Those expected to be affected by the stinking Red-light Market garbage during the New Year include, businessmen, women, petty traders, visitors, residents and the general public.
However, it is not yet cleared and established under what arrangements Zoom-Lion got involved in the disposal of the Red-light Market garbage since the waste management falls under the Municipal Government of Paynesville administrative district.
Urban waste analysts have confided in the Daily Observer that, on many occasions at the back yards (operational areas) of Zoom Lion, garbage stench has been spotted and unattended for several days.
Regrettably and sadly, the analysts pointed out, the regulatory agency of government, Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has allegedly not been proactive to impose fines and other penalties on Zoom Lion.
The analysts also intimated that, the MCC administration has allegedly on several occasions imposed fines and other harsh penalties on other sanitation and waste management companies in Monrovia and its environs.
The urban waste analysts further intimated that, there exists an age-old problem amongst three contending parties claiming ownership of the waste management of the Red-light Market in Paynesville.
The three contending parties, the analysts claimed and disclosed are, Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) and Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).
When contacted, Monrovia City Mayor Madam Mary Broh told the Daily Observer recently that, she had earlier envisaged collaboration and partnership aimed at enhancing the sustainable disposal of the Red-light Market garbage.
She categorically denied ever claiming ownership of the Red-light Market garbage as according to her, that’s not her area of operation.
For the Paynesville City Corporation, Administrative Manager Samson Toe told the Daily Observer last week that garbage disposal was not an event but, rather a sustained process that requires huge logistical support.
“We are indeed committed and ready to keep the Red-light Market area clean, tidy and hygienic at all times, once the requisite logistical support is provided by the Liberian Government,” Manager Toe emphasized.
In its reaction, the Liberia Marketing Association officials shifted all the blames on residents of Paynesville for the huge unattended garbage at the Red-light Market.
“The garbage is being disposed of at several unauthorized sites around the strategic areas of the Red-light Market by residents of Paynesville,” the LMA officials claimed.
When contacted residents of Paynesville vehemently rejected the claims of the LMA officials and argued that the administration of the LMA is only interested in the collection of market dues.
The LMA officials are yet to offer any genuine solution to the Red-light Market garbage menace that continues to affect traders and residents of Paynesville.
Already, at the eight major entry points of the Red-light Market, the stench of garbage stockpiles has engulfed the area.
In a 15-minute tour of the densely commercial center by our sanitation correspondent over the weekend, it was observed several parts of the market were engulfed with unattended garbage stockpiles.
Business people and other residents of the gravely affected entry points have begun to express grave concern about the unsanitary conditions of the Red-light Market in Paynesville.
In separate comments with the Daily Observer over weekend, some of the petty traders and residents expressed grave concern on the health hazard the stench garbage continues to pose to them.
Businessman Solomon B. Richards, 48, told the Daily Observer that the PCC administration must collaborate and work with other urban waste entities and residents of Paynesville and Monrovia to ensure the smooth disposal of the garbage stockpiles.
“We must all work together as a team and determination in order to ensure the practical and sustainable disposal and management of the Red-light Market garbage in Paynesville,” businessman Richards stressed.
He also cautioned that no effort of using manual hand sweeping of the Red-light Market would clean and keep the entire area tidy.
The businessman also added that involving sanitation companies that have the requisite equipment and professional manpower are critical to any sustainable waste disposal process.
Another business person Madam Florence M. Sackie, 40, a dealer in wholesale of cassava and other vegetable produce stressed the need for the PCC administration to decentralize the collection and disposal of the Red-light Market garbage.
“New and realistic programs must be designed by the PCC administration Sanitation and Environmental Department to ensure that disposal and collection of garbage are indeed sustainable,” Madam Sackie asserted.
Meanwhile, several residents and petty traders have expressed grave concern that the New Year would again meet them in the midst of the garbage stench and squalor at the Red-light Market in Paynesville.
