PHOTO: First ever headquarters owned by RPAL
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
Since its establishment in 1964, the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia, Inc. (RPAL) under the Leadership of its President, Wilhelmina G. Mulbah Siaway has now got a permanent home (modern headquarters).
Liberia is one of the world’s largest producers of natural rubber.
The Association has been operating in rented buildings, but in 2019 the Siaway’s leadership broke grounds for the construction of a multi-purpose building with an estimated cost of US$150,000.00 comprising offices and a resource center.
Since then construction works have been ongoing until finally the project was being dedicated on Friday, February 25, 2022 in Cooper Farm Community, Todee District, Montserrado County.
Speaking during the dedicatory ceremony recently, the President of the Association, Wilhelmina G. Mulbah Siaway said the structure was constructed through contributions made by members of the Association adding that it is not a lease or rental property.
“From 1964 to 2022, today we are proud to have our own building and this building, it is not a lease property and it is not also a rent property. It is your dollars that you are paying as registration to this Association, so it is your own building, so I am happy today Rubber Planters Association will have her own building,” she stated.
RPAL boss, Madam Mulbah-Siaway
Madam Siaway explained that when one has money and he/she does not have home said person is nothing and is not responsible.
According to her, RPAL has become a responsible Association that can be located with a maximum asset.
Meanwhile, the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia has named its conference hall in honor of Firestone Liberia.
Madam Siaway said the hall is being named in honor of the company as remembrance and to continue the relationship between Firestone and the Association.
In addition to that, she furthered that not overlooking the efforts of Firestone especially with the presence of the company and the numerous contribution it is giving to farmers, the Association saw it fit to name the hall after the company.
The existence of Firestone also gave rubber planters the edge, noting that the sector serves as the second largest employer next to the government while the sector is also in the foreign exchange area terming it as a great opportunity, the head of the Association narrated.
She said the rubber sector in Liberia has become the only tree crops that has formal structure because according to her, it has a market and a farm gate price as compared to other tree crops such as the oil palm, cocoa and coffee respectively.
Said Madam Siaway: “So with that alone is an impediment for the farmers, but wherever rubber is being grown you have a hope if you have like one bag of rubber you know that at the end of the month you will be checking for how much Firestone buying this month; you have a place to go”.
Additionally, the RPAL Boss intoned that because of the existence of Firestone, there are over ten thousand Liberians that have invested in the rubber sector in the country.
She at the same time encouraged farmers including small holder farmers, medium holder farmers and large holder farmers to get on board to be able to move along as a team in order to make a difference as they move to transformation.
In a related development, the Association is holding its seventh National Congress under the Theme: “Facing – The Future: Inclusiveness, Sustainability And Growth Of The Liberian Rubber Sector For Value Addition”.
At the Congress, delegates are reviewing progress reports and activities of the Association for the past two years in the Country.
The congressional delegation will also elect new corps of officers and formulate implementable and realizable goals for the overall growth and development of the Liberian Rubber Industry.