By: Alieu Jallow
The Vice-chair of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, Hon. Essa Conteh, NAM for Jimara, expressed his dissatisfaction in an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network reporter. He criticized the National Environmental Agency’s (NEA) explanation for delaying the effective implementation of anti-littering laws, particularly their claim of waiting for the President to use public media for the declaration.
Hon. Conteh disclosed that during the committee’s summoning of the agency, their excuse did not resonate with him, considering the agency’s mandate.
“To me, the excuses are not genuine because the former President made the declaration, known to every individual in the country. The agency is mandated to carry it out. However, they argue that since the former President made the declaration, people believe the law belongs to him. They feel the current regime needs to make another declaration for people to recognize its existence.”
Conteh emphasized that the agency should be actively apprehending and prosecuting offenders to make the law’s existence evident, rather than offering flimsy excuses. He admitted that the committee has not taken strict measures against the agency but highlighted the committee’s determination for more stringent actions to ensure the agency’s functionality.
“On our side, I think we haven’t been too assertive with them. It’s about time we focus on these issues to ensure the laws are implemented more effectively.”
When questioned about the timeline for the select committee’s action against the agency to fully implement anti-littering laws, Conteh expressed optimism for swift action. He mentioned plans to draw the committee’s attention to revisit laws, making amendments to outdated ones or repealing them for the development of functional laws addressing environmental challenges.
Conteh acknowledged the lack of capacity among his committee members but stressed the significance of the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY). He noted that it provided him with an opportunity to enhance his knowledge and capacity in understanding a wide range of environmental matters, aiding in the execution of his oversight functions.
