Over
80 regional Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members in the Lower River,
North bank, Central River and Upper River Region were recently sensitised on
the 1994 National Environment Management Act (NEMA) by the National Environment
Agency (NEA).
The
activity was conducted during a nationwide sensitisation targeted to safeguard
environmental sustainability to meet the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of the future generations.
The
1994 NEMA Act is an overarching legal framework for environmental management in
The Gambia that creates institutional structures and incorporate international
standard principles for environmental management.
In
his sensitisation lectures at all the regions, NEA`s program officer on
environmental policies and legislation, Lamin Samateh said NEMA aims to assure
all persons living in The Gambia, the fundamental right to an environment that
is adequate for their health and well-being, ensure the integration of
environmental considerations in all development strategies, related activities
and to conserve and promote the rational use of natural resources for the
benefit of present and future generations.
Mr
Samateh pointed out that this environmental tool is designed to protect and
improve the health and quality of life of all Gambians through sound
environmental management, and to preserve and restore the equilibrium of
ecological processes in accordance with the Banjul Declaration of 18th February
1977.
He
told the gatherings that, increased public environmental awareness, promotion
of effective public participation and community involvement are essential to
environmental management and it is also desirous to prevent pollution and where
it occurs, to ensure that the true and total costs of environmental pollution
are borne by the polluter in accordance with the polluter pay’s principle.
According
to him, The Gambia is committed to promote international co-operation in the
protection of the environment by implementing its international commitments,
saying one of NEMA`s duty is to maintain a decent environment where every
person shall have a duty to maintain and enhance the quality of the
environment. This includes the duty to inform the Agency of activities that
affect or are likely to adversely affect the environment.
He
said the Agency may petition the Attorney General and request him to bring a
public interest action if a person have adversely affected or is likely to
adversely affect the environment, likewise every person shall have the capacity
to bring a public interest action to protect the environment provided that the
authorisation of the Attorney General for such action is first obtained.
Commenting
on the functions of the local environment committees, Mr Samateh reiterated
that they can integrate environmental considerations into all plans, projects,
and strategies of the Area, City or Municipal Councils and co-ordinate the
activities of the Agency relating to the management of the environment and
natural resources within their jurisdiction.
he
said the Agency can also initiate and promote by-laws related to the
environment to be adopted by the various municipalities, co-ordinate with the
Agency and other ministries dealing with the environment; and co-ordinate the
village or ward environment Committees to integrate the views of the public
through wide consultation.
On
village and ward environment committees, Mr Samateh explained that the
committees shall carry out public education campaigns, encourage public
participation in making decisions about the environment, mobilize people within
their jurisdiction on the basis of voluntary self-help to identify and restore
degraded resources, introduce and popularize environmentally sound methods of
land use, and report any activity deleterious to the environment to public
officers.