MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Liberia: GVL Makes a U-Turn - Reconciles With Butaw Kpanyan Citizens
Liberia: GVL Makes a U-Turn - Reconciles With Butaw Kpanyan Citizens
11/09/2013 (AllAfrica.com) - Few months ago, it was difficult to hear citizens of Butaw say anything good about Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), a palm oil plantation in Liberia.
This was because there were so much animosity between the locals and GVL.
The people were dissatisfied with the conditions under which the company operated.
They complained of injustice and accused GVL of forcibly seizing their ancestral land without their consent and destroying sacred sites in the county in areas that they operated.
One local told FrontPageAfrica during an assessment by Green Advocate - a local right and pressure group 'that a child who does not hear, will feel', and as in the case of GVL, it was compelled to work with Citizens of Sinoe County to resolve the brewing conflict over land disputes.
"We are happy for Cllr. Brownell because he represented us when the company would not sit and talk with us."
"They used to tell us to go to the President because she sent them to take the land," says Mary Saryea, Chairlady of Butaw during a town hall meeting last week.
She says the company is now listening to more views from citizens, who seemed happy for the fact that GVL treats them with respect unlike before.
"I feel fine that everything is now okay between GVL and the citizen of Butaw," says Mary.
"I am satisfied because we all have come to one common ground and we are willing to work along with GVL."
"We love the oil palm because it will bring development to our district. When women are working they will be able to buy their own lappa and the men would be able to bring food home while the children will go to school and this will bring down the poverty in the county."
The billion-dollar oil palm company was forced to halt its operations in the County by an international body called Roundtable on sustainable Palm oil (RSPO), based on a complaint filed by citizens of the county, through their legal representation Cllr. Alfred Brownell of Green Advocate. Potion of the letter from RSPO to GVL reads:
"Dear Mr. Karinen
Based on the evidence that there is merit in the complaint, there are reasonable doubts that there are issues on free Prior Inform Consent of Communities.
There is a need for validation of the environmental impact scoping study done in December 2010, and environmental and social assessment impact done in February 2011.
The RSPO takes note that GVL was not a member of RSPO when the works started in the concession areas in December 2010. In the meantime we seek your cooperation in ceasing all land clearing activities pending the resolution of the complaint.
This cessation of work however does not restrict the rights of GVL from continuing the on-going program of socialization with the dialogue of the communities with a view of obtaining Free Prior Informed Consent.
Dialogue is key
The GVL stopped all operations on the oil palm plantation, and initiated a process of dialogue with the affected communities in the presence of the Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf, an emissary of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with Cllr. Brownell representing the communities.
In a mass meeting with GVL representatives, the citizens and the community lawyer Cllr. Brownell held at the Chief Compound in Butaw, Deputy Minister Sirleaf said some of the things drawn up from their meeting minutes were that the land be certified and deed issued the people of Butaw, something to which the President agreed.
It was also requested that damaged water sources be restored by building handpumps, and have it tested to make sure it is good for drinking, and that graves sites are identified and fixed by GVL.
The company has also agreed to increase the size of the burial sites for future increase in population.
"We agreed that no other land would be taken from you again apart from the land you have agreed to give GVL," the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs told the locals.
"The mistake we made before, we do not want to make it again because we are going to get back to RSPO who stopped GVL operations in Liberia, to tell them that GVL has agreed to the terms and promised to work with the community."
He told the citizens that the GVL has agreed that the US$5.00 per hectare, which is US$13,550 be given to them. "This money is not to be divided but it will be for the development of the community," says Sirleaf.
"We also discussed that some benefit come to Butaw and value be added to the community, so if you give your land to GVL, GVL should also develop potion of that land that if you get old, there would be something you can hold unto even if you are not working."
He said Butaw cannot be an example for other communities to follow if they collect money and divide it among themselves, but noted that there would be a five member committee from Butaw and a five member team from GVL because the company is giving the money and the communities is receiving it, so they all have to work together with sincerity in developing the communities.
Taking a tour of the site in making sure that GVL followed instructions given by RSPO, it was noticed that the company had installed hand pumps in areas where water sources were damaged and promised to remove the blockage in the creeks for the water to flow. The first town visited was old man Henry Jaryenneh, of Jaryenneh's town whose water source was damage beyond repair.
Water still unsafe
As for old man Bestman, whose creek was also damaged, used to catch rainwater from a rusty piece of zinc outside of his yard for drinking.
He said he and his family are happy for the hand pump constructed by the company but complained that the water is a bit salty.
"I am happy for the well constructed by GVL but I want them to test the water because whenever my children drink the water, their stomach can run."
"I also want them to test the creek that is now blocked, because whenever I step into it, it burns my legs," he says.
It was also noticed that GVL had lost 600,000 oil palm, on nursery that is now over grown, and can no longer be used, while there were 800,000 oil palm trees on nursery that if work does not commence, could over grow and be useless as well.
GVL losing money
With tear in his eyes, Prasao Gopalan Nair, GVL Senior Manager on the tour, said the loss the company has sustained because of the dispute is unimaginable, as the company still pays employees for the eight months they've halted operation and that fuel is still being used for cars, engines and maintenance of the compound.
Cllr. Brownell disclosed that he suggested to the Minister that they survey the land and deed be given to the people because they own the land.
He says it is a security for them as their forefathers fought and shed blood for the land and it is their only inheritance.
"I told GVL we don't need another Firestone in Liberia and they agreed. We are not fighting Government. We Want investment and none of us are against oil palm; but we are against how the oil palm company will come and take advantage of the citizens," he said.
"We are tired of the poverty in this country because we want to change our people's life. But you can't sit in Monrovia and make a decision for our land and collect all of the taxes while we suffer here."
Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc., a subsidiary of the Verdant Fund Lp whose major investors include Golden Agri- Resources Ltd entered in to a concession agreement with the Government of Liberia for the development of oil palm plantation in Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, Rivercess and River Gee Counties in Southeastern Liberia.
The signed and ratified concession agreement, which was awarded to GVL, covers a total of approximately 500,000 acres (220,000 hectares). A Liberian smallholder program is to develop 100,000 acres (40,000 hectares) of oil palm in support of local Liberia oil palm initiatives.
GVL has decided to initiate this large-scale oil palm plantation by beginning with the cultivation of 33,000 ha of land in three districts of Sinoe according to the company. GVL says it has already obtained a provisional permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the establishment of a 50 acres nursery.
"It is very good that the community has its deed to the land which comes with extra responsibility. "
"You the citizens will have to decide how you are going to govern that deed," says Matt kerinen, GVL's Director.
"You have to decide how to make decision and have one voice because we all in this room have our own opinions."
"This is the rules we have to follow from RSPO in partnering with the communities."
Bright future ahead
John Powo, another citizen of Butaw, said he was feeling fine that the problem is being resolved and that GVL is able to come down to the community.
"The only problem I have is that our big big people and lawmakers should not just impose companies upon the citizens without informing the community, because if this happens, the county will have problem and won't be developed," he says.
With Scholarship given to their children, Powo and others' dream is to see managers come from the communities to work for GVL.
"If we are trained and build our capacity, we can become managers of GVL tomorrow. We don't hate GVL but we only wanted them to do the right thing for everybody to be happy."
This was because there were so much animosity between the locals and GVL.
The people were dissatisfied with the conditions under which the company operated.
They complained of injustice and accused GVL of forcibly seizing their ancestral land without their consent and destroying sacred sites in the county in areas that they operated.
One local told FrontPageAfrica during an assessment by Green Advocate - a local right and pressure group 'that a child who does not hear, will feel', and as in the case of GVL, it was compelled to work with Citizens of Sinoe County to resolve the brewing conflict over land disputes.
"We are happy for Cllr. Brownell because he represented us when the company would not sit and talk with us."
"They used to tell us to go to the President because she sent them to take the land," says Mary Saryea, Chairlady of Butaw during a town hall meeting last week.
She says the company is now listening to more views from citizens, who seemed happy for the fact that GVL treats them with respect unlike before.
"I feel fine that everything is now okay between GVL and the citizen of Butaw," says Mary.
"I am satisfied because we all have come to one common ground and we are willing to work along with GVL."
"We love the oil palm because it will bring development to our district. When women are working they will be able to buy their own lappa and the men would be able to bring food home while the children will go to school and this will bring down the poverty in the county."
The billion-dollar oil palm company was forced to halt its operations in the County by an international body called Roundtable on sustainable Palm oil (RSPO), based on a complaint filed by citizens of the county, through their legal representation Cllr. Alfred Brownell of Green Advocate. Potion of the letter from RSPO to GVL reads:
"Dear Mr. Karinen
Based on the evidence that there is merit in the complaint, there are reasonable doubts that there are issues on free Prior Inform Consent of Communities.
There is a need for validation of the environmental impact scoping study done in December 2010, and environmental and social assessment impact done in February 2011.
The RSPO takes note that GVL was not a member of RSPO when the works started in the concession areas in December 2010. In the meantime we seek your cooperation in ceasing all land clearing activities pending the resolution of the complaint.
This cessation of work however does not restrict the rights of GVL from continuing the on-going program of socialization with the dialogue of the communities with a view of obtaining Free Prior Informed Consent.
Dialogue is key
The GVL stopped all operations on the oil palm plantation, and initiated a process of dialogue with the affected communities in the presence of the Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf, an emissary of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with Cllr. Brownell representing the communities.
In a mass meeting with GVL representatives, the citizens and the community lawyer Cllr. Brownell held at the Chief Compound in Butaw, Deputy Minister Sirleaf said some of the things drawn up from their meeting minutes were that the land be certified and deed issued the people of Butaw, something to which the President agreed.
It was also requested that damaged water sources be restored by building handpumps, and have it tested to make sure it is good for drinking, and that graves sites are identified and fixed by GVL.
The company has also agreed to increase the size of the burial sites for future increase in population.
"We agreed that no other land would be taken from you again apart from the land you have agreed to give GVL," the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs told the locals.
"The mistake we made before, we do not want to make it again because we are going to get back to RSPO who stopped GVL operations in Liberia, to tell them that GVL has agreed to the terms and promised to work with the community."
He told the citizens that the GVL has agreed that the US$5.00 per hectare, which is US$13,550 be given to them. "This money is not to be divided but it will be for the development of the community," says Sirleaf.
"We also discussed that some benefit come to Butaw and value be added to the community, so if you give your land to GVL, GVL should also develop potion of that land that if you get old, there would be something you can hold unto even if you are not working."
He said Butaw cannot be an example for other communities to follow if they collect money and divide it among themselves, but noted that there would be a five member committee from Butaw and a five member team from GVL because the company is giving the money and the communities is receiving it, so they all have to work together with sincerity in developing the communities.
Taking a tour of the site in making sure that GVL followed instructions given by RSPO, it was noticed that the company had installed hand pumps in areas where water sources were damaged and promised to remove the blockage in the creeks for the water to flow. The first town visited was old man Henry Jaryenneh, of Jaryenneh's town whose water source was damage beyond repair.
Water still unsafe
As for old man Bestman, whose creek was also damaged, used to catch rainwater from a rusty piece of zinc outside of his yard for drinking.
He said he and his family are happy for the hand pump constructed by the company but complained that the water is a bit salty.
"I am happy for the well constructed by GVL but I want them to test the water because whenever my children drink the water, their stomach can run."
"I also want them to test the creek that is now blocked, because whenever I step into it, it burns my legs," he says.
It was also noticed that GVL had lost 600,000 oil palm, on nursery that is now over grown, and can no longer be used, while there were 800,000 oil palm trees on nursery that if work does not commence, could over grow and be useless as well.
GVL losing money
With tear in his eyes, Prasao Gopalan Nair, GVL Senior Manager on the tour, said the loss the company has sustained because of the dispute is unimaginable, as the company still pays employees for the eight months they've halted operation and that fuel is still being used for cars, engines and maintenance of the compound.
Cllr. Brownell disclosed that he suggested to the Minister that they survey the land and deed be given to the people because they own the land.
He says it is a security for them as their forefathers fought and shed blood for the land and it is their only inheritance.
"I told GVL we don't need another Firestone in Liberia and they agreed. We are not fighting Government. We Want investment and none of us are against oil palm; but we are against how the oil palm company will come and take advantage of the citizens," he said.
"We are tired of the poverty in this country because we want to change our people's life. But you can't sit in Monrovia and make a decision for our land and collect all of the taxes while we suffer here."
Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc., a subsidiary of the Verdant Fund Lp whose major investors include Golden Agri- Resources Ltd entered in to a concession agreement with the Government of Liberia for the development of oil palm plantation in Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland, Rivercess and River Gee Counties in Southeastern Liberia.
The signed and ratified concession agreement, which was awarded to GVL, covers a total of approximately 500,000 acres (220,000 hectares). A Liberian smallholder program is to develop 100,000 acres (40,000 hectares) of oil palm in support of local Liberia oil palm initiatives.
GVL has decided to initiate this large-scale oil palm plantation by beginning with the cultivation of 33,000 ha of land in three districts of Sinoe according to the company. GVL says it has already obtained a provisional permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the establishment of a 50 acres nursery.
"It is very good that the community has its deed to the land which comes with extra responsibility. "
"You the citizens will have to decide how you are going to govern that deed," says Matt kerinen, GVL's Director.
"You have to decide how to make decision and have one voice because we all in this room have our own opinions."
"This is the rules we have to follow from RSPO in partnering with the communities."
Bright future ahead
John Powo, another citizen of Butaw, said he was feeling fine that the problem is being resolved and that GVL is able to come down to the community.
"The only problem I have is that our big big people and lawmakers should not just impose companies upon the citizens without informing the community, because if this happens, the county will have problem and won't be developed," he says.
With Scholarship given to their children, Powo and others' dream is to see managers come from the communities to work for GVL.
"If we are trained and build our capacity, we can become managers of GVL tomorrow. We don't hate GVL but we only wanted them to do the right thing for everybody to be happy."