The Resident judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Rivergee County, George W. Smith has called on law enforcers in the country to arrest and forward violators of City Ordinances to court for prosecution.

The Rivergee Resident judge said disposing of garbage such as plastic bags and bottles in the streets, gutters, drainages, creeks, water-course, and other public places in the country does not only spoil, besmear or befoul the beauty of Liberia and endangers a healthy society including marine resources in Liberian waters and undermines the soil and agricultural production of the country.

Judge Smith made the assertion recently in Rivergee County during the official opening of the August term of court.

He said in order to magnify the beauty of Liberia and protect the health of human beings, protect water resources and agriculture and the sovereign people of Liberia through their elected senators and representatives passed a law which was approved President Arthur Barclay since December 19, 1930, as amended, making it unlawful and illegal for people to drop dirt such as plastic bags in the streets and public places.

“As patriotic citizens we are under duty to honor and respect that law along with those City Ordinances issued from time to time by the city or municipal government,” judge Smith said. “That law is called the Environmental Sanitary Law,” he pointed out.

Judge Smith said unfortunately some of residents in the country continuously violate the law without being punished such that the violation of the law and City Ordinances seems to be a normal way of life.

He emphasized Section 5.1 of the Public Health Law that imposes a punishment of US$100 maximum fine on people who drop dirt in the streets and other public places.

Judge Smith added that Section 21.3 of the Environmental Sanitation Law authorizes and mandates the local authorities including city mayors and city councils, the police and law enforcement officers, to arrest and prosecute those who drop garbage, plastic bags or bottles and other refuse in the streets or public places.

He said the Legislature has performed its job by passing the Environmental Sanitation Law to protect the beauty of Liberia and the health of its people, as well as the agricultural and marine resources.

Judge Smith said it is now overdue for the Executive and Judiciary to religiously perform their duties given to them by the people’s representatives, the National Legislature, adding those caught in such habit must be arrested by law enforcement officers and prosecuted.

He said Rule 6 of the Rules for the Governance of the Magistrate and Traffic Courts promulgated by the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia pursuant to Article 75 of the Liberia Constitution authorizes magistrates to set Monday of every week aside to try cases of individuals who violate the environmental sanitation law and City Ordinances and punish them if they are found guilty.