*Two of the six pipes with openings out of which the polluted acid pours continually into the creeks

*One of the polluted creeks in the area.

By: Our Staff Writer

The Firestone Rubber Plantations, Liberia’s largest plantations and formerly the world’s largest rubber plantations, located in Margibi County was found guilty over the weekend of polluting waters in six towns and villages, endangering the lives of over 3,000 as well as posing potential threats to thousands more Liberians. The six towns and villages include Kparyah’s Town, Brown’s Town, Mazoe’s Town, Kongba’s Town, Yeatoe Brown’s Town & Victory Outreach Town, all located between Divisions 44 and 45 of the Firestone Rubber Plantations Company. Many of Liberians from these villages survive by using water from the Mesurrado River, popularly known as the Du River.

An interministerial team headed by Liberia’s Planning Minister Amara Konneh was established to investigate the water samples and come up with findings following months of wrangling between the residents of the affected towns and villages and the multi-million dollar company. The verdict by the constituted committee said the rubber company was found guilty of polluting the water bodies with a chemical called orthophosphate. The water samples were 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.

In 1926, Firestone Rubber Company leased 1,600 square miles of jungle in Liberia, with the goal of producing its own rubber. Today, Firestone Liberia operates on an area of land with close to 8 million rubber trees planted on 200 square miles at its Harbel location, some 40 miles from the Liberian capital Monrovia.

Planning Minister Konneh, who also chairs the board of directors of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said 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 be associated with the abnormality of the Ninpu Creek in Kpanyah Town Community.  He also stated that the other thirteen critical parameters were found to be normal.

During a recent visit to the affected region in May of this year, this writer could vividly see that the lives of the residents and villagers of the six affected towns and villages were at serious risk as the streams and creeks from which they obtained drinking water have all turned black (as seen in the photos) and were no longer safe for human consumption. A tour of the creeks and streams showed very clearly the dangers being posed by Firestone’s waste site, which the Company constructed in August of last year.

Residents also disclosed during the visit that one of their colleagues died as a result of the pollution. They claimed that Tango, a popular fisherman, died after he complained of drinking from a contaminated creek not knowing that it had been tampered with. The residents said they later discovered that the stream from which he drank had been heavily polluted.

One of the residents of Kparyah’s Town alleged that Firestone has infested their creeks and streams with 29 different, harmful chemicals, which are used in the processing of the rubber at the company’s washing plant. Solomon Toe who claimed to have worked for the company for 19 years and was later laid-off, said there are 30 chemicals used and only one of them is not harmful and can be consumed by humans. He listed them as follows: ammonium sulfate, sulfuric acid (98%), potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, barium hydroxide, potassium hydnfen phtlfate, oxalic acid, benzoyl peroxide, zinc oxide, T.N.T.D, nitroxide, eltsrel, pommel red, yellow inmoxide, redomil, luric acid, formalin acid, D.A.P, beef extm, yeast extm, naclia, B-Pepton, B-B-L Cactoes, indsitol,  dextrose, sodium thiosulfate, iron citrate, and agar granulated.

Minister Konneh then concluded as follows: 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 encouraged to buy rubber from smallholder rubber farmers in those communities to improve their economic conditions; 4. Firestone is encouraged to partner with the EPA to ensure its compliance with the environmental laws of the republic of Liberia.

According to Section 56 of the environmental laws of Liberia, Firestone should pay a US$50,000 fine and or a jail sentence of 20 years while Section 32 states that whoever found responsible of polluting an environment should be made to bear all cost of damages. But it remains unclear if these penalties will be instituted against the giant company which has been operating in Liberia since 1926.

Minister Konneh said the government could not sue Firestone, or any other company, but the Kpanyah Town Community could sue Firestone if they were not satisfied. “It is not the duty of Planning Ministry to take Firestone to court but Kpanyah town can do so if they don’t feel satisfed. 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 for business.

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 leader, Ms. Mai Sackor, that they were satisfied with the result that proves Firestone guilty. “We are satisfied to know that the water is polluted, but during the dialogue, we will come up with our proposal and if Firestone does not abide, we will take it to the law.”