Environment minister Lamin Dibba told Kerr Fatou earlier this week that the company’s water has been tested and found to be harmless to the environment.
A coalition of environmental activists Saturday urged government to contract an independent team of experts to run a periodic test of the waste water coming out of Golden Lead’s pipes.
The Chinese company and youth of Gunjur are not seeing eye-to-eye over suspicions the fish meal company is discharging toxic waste water into the sea. The hodgepodge has spanned almost a year.
However, the company and environmental authorities maintain the company’s activities are within the ambits of the law and harmless to the environment.
Environment minister Lamin Dibba told Kerr Fatou earlier this week that the company’s water has been tested and found to be harmless to the environment.
“We have done our own test in Germany and we have seen results that were not positive. … We would like the Government to share with us their test result of the Golden Lead waste water pipes,” said Lamin Jassey at a press conference at TANGO on Saturday morning.
The presser was organised by Gunjur environmental activists with help from Green Up Gambia and OccupyWestfield.
Jassey said they are also urging the authorities to “periodically test the water coming out of the company’s waste pipes”.
Couple of weeks ago, six youths were arrested in Gunjur for protesting without license against the company.
The activists said they want a communication channel to be open between the community and the Golden Lead, compensation to the community for the environment damages endured, employ an environmental inspector at the company and do a test of the water by an independent player.
Gunjur has initiated litigation against the company at the High Court but the case could not have a day in court.
However, National Environmental Agency has taken a legal action against the company in 2017, a case which was later withdrawn without any explanation.
“Today is supposed to be a protest in Gunjur but we postponed it for dialogue… We are seeking environmental justice and this is not political,” said Kemo Fatty of Green Up Gambia.
The activists also want the company to cease operations until all their demands are met.
“We are not going to allow corporate interest to come to our country and destroy our communities,” said Alieu Bah of OccupyWestfield.
The press conference was also attended by Saikou Janko from All Gambia Forestry Platform.