09/06/2011 (ISRIA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has cautioned citizens of Sinoe County to desist from unpatriotic and non-nationalistic behavior aimed at undermining investment in the county, and to instead cooperate with companies who brave the storms to go there and invest, so that development can take place in the area.

President Sirleaf made the appeal on Wednesday, June 1, as she took her nationwide tour to Sinoe County, visiting the Golden Veroleum Oil Palm Plantation Company’s Wakefield Nursery Site in the Butaw Statutory District.

Launching the company’s Oil Palm Trees Planting Exercise, the President praised the citizens of Sinoe for peacefully cooperating with Golden Veroleum in actualizing its investment there, by turning over available lands to the company for investment.

However, President Sirleaf was quick to appeal to citizens to desist from unnecessary strike actions over petty issues, as this could create fear in the minds of potential investors interested in fostering development initiatives.

The Liberian leader cautioned Golden Veroleum employees and management to resolve disagreements, now and in the future, through dialogue, peaceful settlement and mutual understanding, instead of engaging in unnecessary strike actions that scare away investors.

The Liberian President told citizens of Sinoe that if they conduct themselves in an orderly and proper manner, Golden Veroleum, which will establish branches in other southeast counties like Grand Kru, Maryland and River Gee, would consider making Sinoe its regional headquarters.

At the company’s Wakefield Nursery, oil palm seeds grow for more than 90 days and are then transplanted to land that has been cleared for agriculture. Since it commenced operations in December 2010, the company, which started with 50 employees, has increased that number to 240. Golden Veroleum expects its total employment to rise to 35,000, and to bring in its first harvest in three to four years.

Speaking at the tree planting program, the company’s Country Director, Matt Kainen, told the President and the people of Sinoe that the methods applied in Indonesia and Malaysia in reducing poverty, through the establishment of oil palm plantations, would also be used to alleviate poverty in Liberia.

Mr. Kainen praised President Sirleaf’s and the other branches of government, and also the Liberian people for affording his company the opportunity to invest in Liberia. He pledged that his company would adhere to all Environmental Protection Agency regulations in ensuring that there was no environmental damage in its areas of operation.

As part of its social development contribution to the people of Sinoe, Golden Veroleum is providing USD 100,000 annually in scholarships to university students studying oil palm agriculture, who could then gain managerial employment along with expatriate staffers.

Among the officials accompanying President Sirleaf to the Golden Veroleum site were: Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea; Agriculture Minister Florence Chenoweth; Commerce & Industry Minister Miata Beysolow; Senators Mobutu Vlah Nyepan and Joseph Nagbe; Sinoe Superintendent J. Milton Teahjay; and other local officials.