Community News

Land, Mines and Energy Minister Eugene Shannon has expressed the need for the implementation of the environmental policy for present and upcoming generations.

Speaking at the close of a weeklong workshop on the Environmental Legislation, Minister Shannon mentioned hoeing of grass, fused gas caused by old vehicles, the dumping and spreading of defective vehicles in swamp and street places as some conditions that pose threats to the environment.

He said Carbon monoxide from old vehicles pollutes the air, thereby, posing threats to humans and animals that live in the environment. He also asserted that grading or hoeing the grass in the environment for a building project was responsible for making the soil to lose its quality; thus, making it to become fragile with different unfavorable colors appearing in it.

Minister Shannon added that after clearing the grass and following the project's completion, it would be better for the grass to be replanted and slashed regularly in order to prevent erosion and sweeping of soil's nutrients.

He noted that old cars dumped in swampy areas or left in street corners also pollute the water system and there was a need to remove them from the streets to be dumped in a particular location where they would not affect the environment.

The Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) has received several educational materials from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for Children who are attending MCSS schools, MCSS Superintendent, Madam Victoria Worlobah Duncan disclosed.
According to the MCSS boss, UNICEF gave 600 book bags, 40 cartoons of copy books, 10 cartoons of pencil, 32 boxes of erasers and recreational items, among others.

About 31 schools under the banner of MCSS will benefit from the UNICEF donated school materials.

Mrs. Duncan explained that in order to equally distribute the items, the MCSS schools have been divided into three categories. All Schools in Central Monrovia will receive their items from the Matilda Newport High school on Newport Street, Monrovia. All MCSS schools on Bushrod Island will also receive their shares from the D. Tweh High School, New Kru Town while all MCSS schools in Sinkor would get theirs from the William V.S. Tubman High School on 12 Street.

The MCSS Superintendent lauded UNICEF and GOL for the initiative. She noted that the items will encourage students to take their lessons seriously as classes begin shortly.

She further stated that UNICEF has assured the Ministry of Education to remain a partner to the Ministry.

A driver died and several passengers got injured after a car fell into a deep creek in District #2, Grand Bassa County, eye witnesses said.

The incident occurred recently when the 4-door pick-up of the late driver, only identified as 'Bomb Blast,' accidentally ran from the motor road into a deep creek on the highway between William Gbordoe Town and Kamara Town in Gee Glan, District #2 'A.'
Our correspondent who visited the accident scene quoted eyewitnesses as saying, prior to the incident, the creek flooded as a result of heavy rainfall on that day, thus posing traffic problem.

Eyewitnesses narrated that while the driver was trying to cross, the pick-up dropped into the creek, leading to his instant death and the injury of several passengers.

They told the Daily Observer the lifeless body of the driver was removed from the creek with his hands, legs, neck and other body parts broken and oozing with blood.

According to eyewitnesses, the car which had the accident usually plied that route from Red-light in Paynesville, Monrovia, for District #2 in Grand Bassa County.

Our correspondent said upon his arrival on the scene of the accident, he did not see any of the survivors as they were reportedly taken to some unknown places for treatment as there exists no health facility in the area.