By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Consortium of Rubber Sector Actors of Liberia (CORSAL), a duly registered advocacy group has alarmed over their business capital being quickly damaged by the action of the Government of Liberia.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, April 30, 2024, CORSAL Assistant Secretary Clinton Kpozeh said due to the damage to their businesses, they are unable to pay the loans borrowed from the banks.
“Bank loans are in default and banks are about to take our room properties and the Government of Liberia supports this highly,” he explained.
According to him, despite negotiations with the Government, they have observed that some of the officials’ only concern is to protect foreign businesses that have invested in the country and ensure that they (foreign investors) have returns on their investments, even if it is at the detriment of the Liberian people.
Kpozeh stated that the rubber actors of Liberia also invested in their farms and other businesses and also deserve protection and returns on their investments; adding that “this is our country and we have nowhere to go; therefore, we must be involved with the economic activities here.”
He narrated that CORSAL is not against foreign businesses buying and selling rubber but they are against depriving Liberians the opportunity to freely choose who to sell their rubber to, a condition they will not accept.
“The rubber is our private property and the Government of Liberia cannot deny us the right to make sales decisions,” the group Assistant Secretary stated.
Kpozeh alleged that the Government is misapplying the Constitution by using Article 5(c) of the 1986 Constitution which says “The Republic shall take steps by appropriate Legislation and Executive Orders to eliminate sectionalism and tribalism, and such abuses of power as the misuse of government resources, nepotism, and all other corrupt practices” as its reliance for issuing Executive Order #124.
CORSAL, through its Assistant Secretary, disclosed that the rubber is not for the Government of Liberia and all other conditions set in Article 5(c) are not within the rubber sector; saying that the rubber was planted by farmers without assistance from the Government or processors.
“Farmers must be allowed to have access to a market of their choice.
One of the most inhumane and terrible provisions of Executive Order No. 124 is contained in Section 9 which reads thus: “That as of the effective date of this Executive Order, all broker activities relating to purchase, sale, or trade of unprocessed rubber in the Republic of Liberia MUST CEASE and agents of processors shall be the only persons to act on behalf of, or for a processor, or to act as intermediaries between farmers and processors in transporting the unprocessed natural rubber trade,” he indicated.
Accordingly, the group has declared the action of the government as a destruction of the value chain in the rubber sector that seeks to promote the middle class.
However, CORSAL has also declared Section 9 of Executive Order No. 124 as completely heartless, and extremely dreadful as it grossly violates Chapter 2, Article 8 of the 1986 Constitution which provides that “The Republic shall direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens, without discrimination, opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions, and towards promoting safety, health and welfare facilities in employment.”
Kpozeh said that the Executive
Order #124 also violates “The Competition Law of Liberia -2016” which promotes an efficient Free Market System.
He revealed, “The PREAMBLE of the Law states that “Recognizing that it is necessary for the achievement of growth and development, that Liberia’s economy be efficient and transparent, that it is not subject to unfair trade practice or anti-competitive behavior, that free and open competition be effectively enforced for the benefit of Liberian citizens and for all business enterprises operating in Liberia, both domestic and foreign; that small and medium size business enterprises have equitable opportunities to participate in the Liberian economy”
Kpozeh narrated that the abovementioned violations of the 1986 Constitution and The Competition Law of Liberia are clear incentives for citizens mass actions or civil disobedience against the State.