Monrovia – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Alex Tyler, “helped to get the Sable-friendly legislation through parliament”, Global Witness said.
The same legislature, now mired in bribery allegations, has held on to the Lands Right Act, and there are concerns that the final version will contain loopholes that were not in the original version, which local communities and civil society helped to draft.
“Insecure land rights have driven conflict and war across the region,” said James Yarsiah, of the Rights and Rice Foundation.
“Liberia is the first country to put forth a viable solution. In 2014, I was proud of the progress we had made.
“Now I am scared that this progress may be lost for good. It is up to our legislature to follow through on that solution, or force the country’s citizenry to face years of uncertainty and violence.”
The President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has spoken of her support for the act. For decades, however, the government has granted logging, mining, and agriculture concessions over about 40% of the country, ignoring the communities living there.
“Land grabs in Liberia have effectively turned citizens into refugees in their own country,” said Ali Kaba, of the Sustainable Development Institute.
“We cannot continue on in a state where people’s homes and farms can be sold out from under them without their knowledge or consent, and where those who resist face violence.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alex Tyler, “helped to get the Sable-friendly legislation through parliament”, Global Witness said.
The same legislature, now mired in bribery allegations, has held on to the Lands Right Act, and there are concerns that the final version will contain loopholes that were not in the original version, which local communities and civil society helped to draft.
“Insecure land rights have driven conflict and war across the region,” said James Yarsiah, of the Rights and Rice Foundation.
“Liberia is the first country to put forth a viable solution. In 2014, I was proud of the progress we had made.”
Now I am scared that this progress may be lost for good. It is up to our legislature to follow through on that solution, or force the country’s citizenry to face years of uncertainty and violence.”
The President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has spoken of her support for the act. For decades, however, the government has granted logging, mining, and agriculture concessions over about 40% of the country, ignoring the communities living there.
“Land grabs in Liberia have effectively turned citizens into refugees in their own country,” said Ali Kaba, of the Sustainable Development Institute.
“We cannot continue on in a state where people’s homes and farms can be sold out from under them without their knowledge or consent, and where those who resist face violence.”
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