"We are Living in Dirt" - Omega Marketers Decried Mounting Wastes

PAYNESVILLE, LIBERIA: Several marketers in the commercial hub of Omega in Paynesville staged a protest on Friday, February 27, 2026, demanding the immediate removal of a huge pile of garbage in the area.

The aggrieved marketers, most of whom are plantain, bitter ball, and pepper sellers, said the mounting wastes at the "Ellen Building" in the market, poses a serious health risk to their well-being.

They narrated that since their relocation from the Red-light Market in 2021, there has been no effort by the market's management or the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to clear the wastes.

Speaking to K-News, the group spokesperson, Bendu Kamara, alleged that each vendor was requested to pay LD$500 to the Omega Market Superintendent, Jallah McClain, for the removal of the garbage, but stated that nothing of such has been done.

Bendu said the superintendent is yet to account for the amount collected. She emphasized that the deteriorating environment is causing customers to go away, leaving their business transactions to move at a slow pace.

"This dirt business started since we came from Red-light and came here in 2021. We are selling, but do not have the chance to do business well. We are not in peace; we are eating at a place where flies are all over, and our health matters".

"Customers are running away from this area because of the dirt. Our businesses are not even going. The market superintendent collected five hundred each from us and said he was going to make sure the garage is removed, but we are not seeing anything like that", the Bendu Kamara noted.

The Omega marketers are now calling on the government through the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to speedily intervene and address their plights.

They vowed to intensify their protest in the coming days if the relevant authorities refuse to remove the piles of dirt in the area.

"Our message to the PCC here is this, we are asking them to come and take the dirt because we are getting sick from it", they sound in a loud voice.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Omega Market Superintendent Jallah McClain denied allegations of collecting money from marketers for the removal of the garbage.

McClain said he has only been conducting follow-ups to determine the cost of facilitating the removal of the wastes. According to him, only regular table fees have been collected.

"Nobody has ever collected five hundred dollars for garbage. Before you collect money, you need to do research or bring people who know about garbage disposal. How will you collect money from people when you do not know the garbage loads that will be carried", he responded.