Liberia: Civil Society Coalition Petitions Legislature on New Petroleum Law Taking Away 5% Equity for Liberians

Monrovia – A local civil society group under the banner Coalition for The Restoration of 5% Equity (CORLE) for Liberians has petitioned the Legislature (Both House of Representatives and Senate) calling for a repeal of the recent amendment to the 2014 petroleum law that is believed to be taking away what was constitutionally given to all Liberians.

The group is accusing the current administration of President George Weah of changing the law to benefit close friends and officials of the regime.

The group in their petition Referenced in particular, Section 36 which replaces the provisions of under the 2014 Petroleum Law and grants the 5% Equity in petroleum contracts which belongs to all Liberians and to a few Liberian businesses as the new amendment shows.

The group averred: “We like you to take note of the following: Your 2019 Amendment (section 36) violates Article 7 of the Constitution of Liberia; same states “The Republic shall, consistent with the principles of individual freedom and social justice enshrined in this Constitution, manage the national economy and the natural resources of Liberia in such manner as shall ensure the maximum feasible participation of Liberian citizens under conditions of equality as to advance the general welfare of the Liberian people and the economic development of Liberia.”

The group added: “Your 2019 Amendment, if implemented, will deny Liberians direct access to their petroleum wealth, now and in the future, subject them to a harsher form of poverty, concentrate wealth in the hands of a few Liberians who are well connected to Government officials and by that widen the existing inequality gap between rich Liberians and poor Liberians.

By such action, CORLE believes the government of Liberia, under the current leadership, will be creating more poverty and inequality as opposed to helping the country alleviate poverty, which is believed to be the cornerstone of the Weah Administration’s Pro-poor Agenda.

 “In view of the foregoing, we petition your Honourable Offices to repeal the said Amendment and restore to all Liberians, our 5% equity right as envisaged under the 2014 Law. In effect, we require you to reinstate ALL the provisions of the said section 36 (PART VIII) of the 2014 Petroleum Reform Law as approved on October 5, 2016, and printed into handbills on October 10, 2016.

According to CORLE, the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority is expected to begin issuing petroleum license any time after May 31, 2021, under the 2019 Amendment, and scores of Liberian businesses- some of whom have a link to President Weah and his allies, have already lined up to “steal” away Liberians 5% Equity rights.

“We urge you to take immediate action on our petition or we will seek every available remedy under the law to restore ALL Liberians right to Liberia’s potential petroleum wealth and by that avert the selfish ploy that is poised to concentrate wealth in the hands of few politically privileged Liberians, increase inequality and eventually plunge Liberia into conflict.”

CORLE growing membership currently includes students, youth, teachers, marketers and professionals from the following organizations: Student Unification Party of the University of Liberia, Liberia Youth Initiative for Peace and Sustainable Development Incorporated, National Polit-Bureau of Liberia, South-Eastern Region Youth and Student Organization, Western Region Students Associations and Concerned Teachers for the Equitable Use of Liberia’s Natural Resources.