By Augustine Octavius
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Lands, Mines and Natural Resources has expressed skepticism about the implementation of the agreement giving 300,000 acres of land to the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) by the government.
LAC is a foreign company and it operates in Liberia’s southeastern Grand Bassa County.
Representative Willie disclosed that already, the entire forest has been taken over by the company, with just 20% of the deal implemented.
The Liberian lawmaker was speaking at the launch of the multi stakeholders partnership code named: “Land for Life” in Monrovia at the weekend.
He assured stakeholders in the land sector of the 54th Legislature‘s cooperation in ensuring the passage of laws taking into consideration of the land situation.
According to the Liberian lawmaker, the agreement signed between the government and LAC, for almost 90 years, did not take into consideration villages, the rural inhabitants, among others.
Rep Willie said last Tuesday, the House of Representatives discussed the issue of citizenship for non Negros and its impact on land rights.
Performing the launching of the Multi Stakeholders Partnership on land, an independent consultant, Attorney Vulate Hage warned Liberians to be very careful on how they go about amending the laws going land, because a vast majority of people do not have land.
The Liberian female lawyer urged the stakeholders not to be discouraged in the advocacy for the land rights in the country, because they need to think about the succeeding generation.
The program was graced by a cross-section of people from the Liberia Land Authority, the Rights and Rice Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, among others.