MONROVIA, LIBERIA-An ELBC investigation shows improper and illegal mass burials are taking place at the JCN Howard Cemetery in Voker Mission in Paynesville City.
The investigation revealed burials are ongoing against a notice issued by the former Administration of the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) that the cemetery is congested.
The investigation also obtained photographs of a vehicle with license plate number B11276, offloading several bags with dead bodies at the cemetery on Friday, August 5, 2022.
According to the investigation, the burials are being aided by a man identified as Seh Kamara, believed to be the manager of the graveyard.
When contacted, Mr. Kamara, though refused to be interviewed, admitted to Friday’s mass burial but denied that the number of bodies did not reach fifteen.
Meanwhile, a tour of the site where the bodies were buried on Friday showed less durable casting of old graves where the bodies were accommodated at the cemetery.
At the same time, the Chairman of the Voker Mission Community, Boye Nehwon, has admitted to the congestion of the cemetery.
Mr. Nehwon blamed the PCC for not taking steps to officially close the cemetery to prevent such burials.
He told ELBC that due to the congestion of the graveyard, there is often fight to identify graves on Decoration Day.
The Community Chairman expressed support for the closure of the graveyard to prevent the situation, which poses health risk to residents in the area.
The PCC, however, has admitted to the prevailing situation at the JCN Cemetery, through its Public Relations Officer, Jeremiah Diggen, but stressed that the institution lacks the capacity and manpower to restrict burials at the cemetery.
According to him, only families owning existing plots at the cemetery are authorized to carry on burial.
