Gardnersville – Mayouba and Sons through the Jim Care Foundation has launched a youth empowerment project ove within the Dust Field Community, which also initiated the involvement of several participating communities during the event.

The Chief Executive Officer of Mayouba and Sons, Mr. Amadu Sheriff is a resident of Gardnersville Townhall Community within the Gardnersville Township and is passionate in collaborating with the Jim Care Foundation aimed at enhancing the youth development drive of communities within the Township and beyond.

Moyouba and Sons’ CEO, Mr. Sheriff of recent has embraced several proposals from the Jim Care Foundation to embark on developments within communities and to also help promote youth development.

As part of kick starting, Mr. Marcus Geeplay, Board Member of Mayouba and Sons, and Mr. JIM Akoi Gawolo, Executive Director of Jim Care Foundation Over the weekend represented their respective institutions during the one-day interactive forum with several youth organizations.

The meeting witnessed several youths from various communities who participated in crafting plans and establishing a framework to impact the youths of the Township and its surroundings.

The program brought together many young people who proposed a robust community sanitation program and youth empowerment projects.

Mr.  Geeplay of Mayouba and Sons committed his institution to providing sanitation materials of diverse kinds in support of the proposed youth-related project.

The Jim Care Foundation of recent has been contacted by several residents of communities within the Township, including other extended communities to have them included in the foundation’s youth development plan.

The foundation is a non-for-profit and humanitarian organization that is focused on bringing social and mental relief to youths and communities.

Mr. Sheriff has stressed the need to collaborate with the JCF that he has observed making impacts in several communities by rehabilitating communities’ playgrounds; rehabilitation and constructing community latrines; rehabilitation of markets; and sponsor of several social and development programs.

In a release issued, both organizations stated there are pending projects in which conclusions are being made to construct a public latrine in the Gardnersville Townhall Community; the absence of which has created stressful situations for pedestrians and others who always visit the Administrative Complex of Gardnersville Township.

During the youth forum, Mr. Geeplay expressed the need for youths to be farsighted and cognizant of the national development agenda of the state and be responsible citizens at all times.

He added that young people should also get involved with voluntary community services, which entails the support that must be given to securing their respective communities and staying away from violence and non-tolerance.

Mayouba and Sons is a merchandise with several conglomerates contributing to the business community of Liberia. It is one of the leading importer of Petroleum products and other commodities.

Monrovia – The Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL), Loretta Pope Kai has called on all CSOs in Liberia to join the Bicentennial celebration which kicks of this Friday, January 7. In reference to Liberia’s formation by the American Colonization Society (ACS) 200 years ago, Mrs. Pope-Kai said: “Civil Society gave birth to Liberia!  She is the foundation around which, however controversial, Liberia would have her free black fore fathers shipped to the shores of the newly found land of the free on the shores of West Africa. ACS as a civil society group in the US made that history possible.”

She said the phrase in the theme of the event, “Liberia: The Land of Return…” exudes to her a very sacred and solemn sense of community and identity as well as patriotism and tribalism. She added, “It exudes to me a strong sense of the Liberian community; the Liberian identity; the Liberian patriots; and the Liberian tribe. I believe this emotive experience is necessary because we often debate, intellectualize, and politicize the issues. This means, Liberia is more in our heads than in our hearts! This year’s Bicentennial celebration calls for our individual and collective involvement.

The NCSC National Chairperson made the comments in a special remarks she delivered at MICAT’s special Bicentennial press briefing at the Ministerial Complex on Tuesday.

She said Civil Society has been that woven fabric of a great nation 200 years old and was happy to share the space in telling their story.

“It is in this light I would like to call upon all civil society organizations in Liberia, including national NGOs, community-based and faith-based organizations, Women groups, Youth groups as well as other forms of non-governmental and non-for-profit establishments to fully participate in the celebration of the Bicentennial celebration.”

She continued: “The role of the civil society of Liberia is crucial in ensuring not just a successful Bicentennial celebration but in assisting to translate the objectives of the celebration into concrete results. Beyond the celebration, CSOs can play a crucial role in integrating the thematic value chains and objectives of this celebration in the civic programs and activities. All of us have a strong stake and interest in the development of Liberia. The stake of civil society in the development and recovery processes of Liberia is high. Therefore, much depends on our participation in this Bicentennial Celebration.  Let’s do this …Yes it is for the good of the nation to promote peace and reconciliation.

The Liberia Government, along with members of the diaspora community is celebrating the 200 years of Liberian formation by the United States Government through a Non-Governmental Organization, the American Colonization Society. The celebration which has been marked by series of side events will officially be launched this Friday, January 7 in Monrovia.

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the National Investment Commission (NIC) and the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) have ended a day auditioning for the selection of traditional dancers and drummers to represent the country at the upcoming Dubai 2020 expo.

Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled as a World Expo to be hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It was originally scheduled for October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the new dates are October 1 to March 31, 2022. About 190 countries will participate in the world event.

Liberia is expected to participate in the event in November 2021.

In preparedness of the world event, the government and the LCP conducted the selection of talented Liberian drummers and traditional dancers to not only participate in the event, but to also bring accolades back home and make the nation and its people proud.

Speaking shortly after the audition, the Deputy Minister for Cultural Affairs at MICAT, Lance Gbagonyon, commended the participants for forming a part of the event.

He disclosed that the decision by government and the LCP to conduct auditioning was intended to make the selection process open and participatory.

He noted that though all of those who participated in the process will not be accepted, the best would be selected to represent Liberia in Dubai.

Minister Gbagonyon urged the participants to exhibit a high degree of respect for one another as they get prepare to represent their country.

He maintained that the spirit of unity and nationalism should be the hallmark of the delegates as they set the world stage on fire while representing their country.

He, however, pledged government’s commitment and willingness to support its delegation to the world event.

 “We call you here today to make the process more transparent. This is about teamwork and bringing proud to our country. You all were at your best here today. We are not the only ones that will decide your fate. Others will view your performances and you will be selected. Government does not have the resources to carry everybody”.

He encouraged those who may not be selected to represent the motherland during the auditioning to continue to turn out for the practice sessions in a bid to have them added to the delegation just in case of eventuality.

Minister Gbagonyon further stressed the need for new traditional dancers and others to be recruited on the national cultural troupe of Liberia to enable others serve their country through cultural activities and performances.

For her part, the Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), Madam Juli Endee, renewed calls for investment in the arts and entertainment industry of the country.

According to her, many hidden talents would be exposed if the sector is prioritized by national government and others.

She said Liberia would be placed on the world map again if keen attention is given to the arts and entertainment industry.

Madam Endee further stressed that Liberia’s delegation to Dubai will “shine and bring glory” to the nation and its people if government and other corporate entities provide the requisite support to the steering committee and the artists.

“I just want to thank you for what you have done. This is a way of showcasing certain part of our culture which is arts. I am very grateful and everybody was superb. Some of you here travelled with me to Libya, United States, Senegal-and I know that wherever we go, we always bring glory”.

She used the occasion to call on companies, concessionaries and others operating in the country to ensure the adequate representation of Liberia to the event by living up to their corporate social responsibilities.

 “I know that if the government can invest in the arts; with the 190 countries in Dubai, Liberia will shine. We have organizations and companies here that have corporate social responsibilities; so imagine if you can support just two or three artists, the team will make the stage beautiful in Dubai”.

At the event, she disclosed that Liberia will change the Covid-19 era to opportunities for the benefit of the nation and its people.

She said the team performances will also encourage and send a clear message to foreign investors that Liberia is free, ready, safe and open for businesses.

She expressed the hope that Liberia’s performances at the event will also attract investment into eco-tourism in the post-conflict nation.

Madam Endee, however, named President George Manneh Weah as the Chief Sponsor of this year’s world event.

“We are appealing to international partners and the Government of Liberia to support these artists. It is not a long term; we are going for a week to come back”.

Monrovia – The Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL), in collaboration with several of its partners has set up a working group to address challenges holding back trade efficiency in Liberia.

The working group, set up at the just ended Liberia Trade Facilitation Forum held in Monrovia under the auspices of PATEL, was organized to address diverse challenges and bottlenecks through the creation of a framework for reducing trade cost.

PATEL is made of Liberian small businesses and entrepreneur groups envision to promote economic self-reliance, capacity development, trade, and general advocacy for the business community.

Speaking to FrontPage Africa at the end of the event on June 8, the President of PATEL, Presley S. Tenwah said the forum contained provisions for expending the movement, release and clearance of goods form the port including goods from cross border. He said the forum was also put in place measures for co-corporation between customs, consignees and appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

Also highlighted include the establishment of single national window system to route all import related formalities including declaration, examination, sampling and clearance, among others.

The forum also called for digital or paperless filing of import/export documentation, simplification of fees and charges for various clearance related activities at every borders and port of entry, publishing of resource information, procedures for import/export laws & regulation.

There have been increasing discontent by importers including Liberian business owners over the huge tariff charged by shipping companies. The situation has caught the attention of the Legislature, and despite several interventions, the tariff keeps climbing.

Mr. Tenwah said the forum sought to explore the entire maritime and shipping sector, and to help policymakers in designing and implementing national laws and regulations regarding trade and transport services in Liberia.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee’s over all task is to sponsor and drive forward a national trade facilitation strategy, monitor progress, and periodically report progress to the government of Liberia.

The committee will document all the details including challenges and recommendations to the Technical Economic Management Team and other relevant partners, according to PATEL. 

It comprised of the Ministries of Commerce, Finance and Justice, as well as the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), PATEL, Liberia Business Association (LIBA) and the Chamber of Commerce. with the aim

The forum was attended by representatives and observers drawn from several government, private and multilateral institutions, including the Ministries of Commerce, Finance, Transport and Justice. Others include the Liberia Better Business Forum, Importers Associations, Shippers Associations, Liberian Chamber of Commerce, National Investment Commission, Customs Brokers, Truckers Association, BIVAC, Shipping Lines in Liberia, APM Terminals, World Bank Group – Investment Climate Advisory

Bomi County – Four years ago, James E. Cooper embarked on revolutionizing Liberia’s lucrative rubber sector – moving away from selling to foreign concessions to processing cup-lump cultivated from his farm for export to Asia and the United States.

Report By: Alpha Daffae Senkpeni / alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

Now, his sight is set on value addition despite the insistent distractions spurting from political and economic uncertainties in the country.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Cooper Rubber Farm in Bomi County, many industry observers perceive him as a tenacious game changer – the kind that is making several international rubber companies in the country edgy.

The former California Police officer returned to Liberia in 2005 after over three decades in the diaspora. His first task was to revive the over 400 acres of rubber farm he inherited from his parents. Illicit tappers had slaughter-tapped almost all the trees, ravaging the farm but he was keen on resuscitating it.

His second task was to nurture what is now a beaming relationship with local farmers across the country. He now buys raw rubber from farmers in 11 counties including Bomi, Nimba, Bong, Margibi, and Grand Cape Mount Counties.

“Part of our relationship is that we provide option – we are the only Liberian rubber processor who is buying, processing and exporting at international standard,” he explains.

By 2012 he began replanting up to 100 acres per year and at the end of 2014, several hundreds of new trees were already replanted. Now, he is also planting Maringa – dubbed the tree of life due to its medicinal content -, oil palm and at the same time intercropping with cocoa.

His farm has employed approximately 150 persons – 25 percent women. He says he places key interest on empowering women.

When major concession companies froze the purchase of rubber products of local farmers in 2017 due to uncertainties on the global market, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning turned to Cooper Farm to fill the void.

That plan included a US$1 million non-interest loan to upgrade his processing facility and augment his purchasing power.

Before that, Cooper had successfully obtained a US$1.3 million loan from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) through the Liberian Enterprise Development and Finance and Finance Company (LEDFC). It was a loan with an 18% interest rate.

OPIC is a United States government’s development finance institution that mobilizes private capital to help solve critical development challenges across developing countries.

Eyeing Manufacturing

Inside his processing plant, several high tech equipment are neatly position across the production floor. Two female employees careful arrange pieces of processed rubber along the production chain. Vapor teems from the wood-fuel dryer to aerate coagulated crude rubber stockpiled on several bunkers.

On the other side of the production line, four men packaged loads of brownish processed rubber wrapped in transparent plastics. Thirty-six bales are loaded on a single wooden pallet, and 16 pallets are being loaded into a 20 ft. container, ready to be loaded on a truck and transported to the Freeport of Monrovia for export.

It’s a production installation any Liberian entrepreneur would savor based on the competition it poses to bigger firms in a small economy like Liberia’s.

But Cooper wants more. He wants to turn processed rubber into finished products for export. He wants to begin with the manufacturing of re-treaded tires, gloves and other products.

“All of the crops that we have planted are crops that once they have grown we can do manufacturing. The whole thought process here is to create manufacturing opportunities, sales and exports with the various crops that we have here,” he explains.

Cooper is optimistic that because Liberia produces and exports the highest quality of rubber, it must now transition into value addition – a means of diversifying the economy.

“We are not inventing the wheel, we are simply doing the same thing – pardoning it after those that have successfully built their manufacturing and middle class in their country in the same way here in Liberia,” he picks his words carefully, trying not to sound as an opposition to foreign direct investors.

“We are not saying that we should dishonor the concession agreement [with multinational firms]; what we are saying is that Liberians need jobs, our economy needs revenue – we need to plan for our children and grandchildren’s future.”

He says when the factory is up and running it will create more jobs, raise more revenue for the country and widen the rubber ecosystem.

An initial 250 person would be hired, and hundreds of additional indirect jobs would be created through the purchase of old tires from across the country.

“We will take these tires, re-tread them here, put a tread on them that is safe, competitive in price and we can clean up the environment off all these old tires and at the same time create jobs,” he said.

“Anything that comes from out of there will be re-used and produced into several other rubber products including rubber hoses, gaskets, bumpers, mats, slippers and other rubber products.”

As much as his venture sounds ambitious and new to the country, Cooper is showing no glumness. He is already luring foreign expertise and investors to nurture his plan.

But this would cost him a whooping US$7.5 million to leap into the future of Liberia’s rubber sector, he says.

Challenges

Cooper is pretty aware that being revolutionary comes with a price. His thoughts are already ruffling the feathers of several multinational rubber plantations that have failed to move into value-addition despite staying in the country for decades.

“Big concessions have failed. Big concessions in the country have shown the world that Liberia has quality raw rubber but they have failed to add value but they rather opt to supply and sustain their industries in their country,” he says bluntly.

Liberia’s Commerce Minister Professor Wilson Tarpeh toured Cooper’s Farm couple weeks ago, assuring that government is looking to step in.

Cooper says his fingers are still crossed as he also seeks investors from overseas.

He’s engaging several Asian manufacturers, pitching a plan about the tremendous potential of expanding the rubber sector – which is one of Liberia’s primary exports and revenue generating sector.

“We are telling them to not just come and take our raw product [we are telling them] come partner with us and open manufacturing plants here in partnership with Liberian processors. We want them to do skills and knowledge transfers so that in the long run we can take control of our economy.”

“We don’t have to apologize for that, we need to know that our people are suffering economically and the government needs the revenue… this is how we build our economy and a country for our children and grandchildren.”

The Government of President George Weah has declared its support for Liberian business, something Cooper relishes but with some dubieties.

“Liberian business should be the core, and primary focus, that’s what other countries do; they don’t support foreign business at the detriment of their locally owned businesses, ” he said, while stressing that his business module is in sync with the government’s pro-poor agenda that focuses on “job creation and a Liberian-driven manufacturing”.

“So that’s why it makes so much sense for the government to assist and come along and work with us because they [the government] can’t employ all the people that need jobs.”