Grand Bassa – For Liberia to experience the needed changes, concession companies must create jobs and improve the living conditions within their operation areas as part of their corporate social responsibilities as stated in their Concession Agreements.
Based on that background, the Management of LIBINC Oil Palm Incorporated in District #4, Grand Bassa County has announced its implementation of the Community Development Fund to improve and enhance the livelihood of the directly affected communities.
LIBINC Oil Palm Incorporated is a specialized oil palm cultivation and processing company that was started operations in 2011 in Grand Bassa County.
The Country Director of LIBINC Oil Palm Incorporated, Sashi Nambiar, indicated that the company will focus on the annual provision of the community development funds to direct affected Communities as part of its commitment.
He called on all communities to embrace the company into their other areas so that more communities can be benefiting from this community development fund.
Mr. Nambiar emphasized that these funds will be used to provide community development projects for affected communities, noting that it will further strengthen the existing partnership between the Company and residents of the area.
The statements were made on Friday 17th May 2024, when the company presented a symbolic cheque to CDF Committee of the directly affected communities of LIBINC Oil Palm Incorporated operational sites.
“The presentation of this cheque is a milestone achievement for LIBNIC Oil Incorporated, and we want to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Liberian government and the National Bureau of Concessions including our citizens for the planning and creation of the Community Development Fund committee consisting of the affected communities who will be trained to manage their own funds through community development projects” He asserted.
At the same time, the Director General of the National Bureau of Concessions, Attorney Edwin Dennis, is urging residents of Grand Bassa County, to be law abiding and always see dialogue as a means of seeking redress to any would-be grievances.
He also stressed that the community development fund is directly linked to the performance of the company’s revenue, adding that the more the revenue, the more funds affected communities will receive.
Attorney Dennis wants Liberians in concession areas to channel their concerns through the local administration instead of taking matters into their own hands, something he said would undermine the country’s development roadmap.
“If you do anything that will cause this company to leave Liberia, it will not only affect you alone but the entire country at large,” he noted.
The NBC Boss made the call over the ceremony in Grand Bassa County, when LIBNIC Oil Palm Incorporated gave a symbolic cheque, to community development fund committee of its concession.
Attorney Dennis reassured that government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that concession companies improve the quality of life within their concessions.
He also disclosed that the government through the National Bureau of Concessions, has since commissioned Multi Stakeholders Platform (MSP) charged with the sole responsibility to resolve any grievances that would arise between the Company and affected communities.
Additionally, Attorney Dennis noted that Community Development Fund (CDF) committee was also created to be empowering direct affected communities by managing their own funds through community development projects.
According to him, members of the two committees were elected by affected community dwellers of LIBNIC Oil Incorporated in District #4, Grand Bassa County.
Meanwhile, Grand Bassa County Electoral District Five Representative, Thomas Goshua, has assured the Management of LIBNIC Oil Incorporated of his leadership’s commitment, to work along with residents of the district in protecting both the community and company’s interests.
Representative Goshua also pledged to embark on a continued citizens engagement to underscore the crucial role of LIBNIC Oil Incorporated in the development strategic of Grand Bassa County.
“I will be the last Representative to see this company closed. l will make sure they stay here and continue to provide jobs for our people” Representative Goshua noted.
Furthermore, Representative Goshua disclosed that talks are currently ongoing with the management of LIBINC Oil Palm Incorporated and Liberia Agriculture Plantation (LAC), to rehabilitate major roads in the district.