Monrovia – Lack of remittance of social and corporate development fund has sparked up concerns among some key actors in Maryland County, forcing prelates to alarm on the need for concession companies to do so.
Speaking recently with FrontPageAfrica, the President of the Christian Prelate Association Rev. Cyrus W. Tugbe said the lack of remitting social and corporate developments has created setback to developmental activities in the area.
Tugbe alleged that the Cavalla Rubber Cooperation, Maryland Oil Palm Plantation in Pleebo Sodoken district a and Atlantic Resource in Barrob district are yet to remit social and corporate developments, as well as Surface Rental Fees since 2018.
“It is the Social Cooperate Development Funds, which is the sub component of the county development fund that can be used to carry out development and administrative activities in county, so there is no need to delay remittance of these funds,” Rev. Tugbe averred.
“We cannot have these concessioners in the county and then our people suffer from abject poverty. I see this as a bad act and our caucus needs to act as it is one of their cardinal responsibilities, oversight.”
He wants the county Legislators to provide explanation why Maryland has not received its social Development fund since 2018 up to present from companies operating in the county.
Tugbe also wants the Legislative Caucus of Maryland to quickly intervene by ensuring that the companies adhere to their corporate social responsibilities.
“I am using this medium to voice out on behalf of the county, calling on the national government through the county caucus members, that the Social Development Funds be given, for the implementation of development,” Rev. Tugbe stressed.
According to him, the remittance of the social cooperate development fund should be done through the Ministry of Finance and Development planning and then deposited in the county’s account, Rev Tugbe added.
The acting president of the Maryland County Christian Ministers Association further stated that the lack of social and County Development funds in Maryland County Account has resulted to a liability of US$90,000 Liberian dollars for transportation from the just ended National County Sports Meet.
In a related development, Rev. Tugbe is also appealing to government through the Ministry of Justice to rehabilitate the Harper Central Prison that was vandalized by angry protesters due to the gruesome murder of Modicious Nyema.
“Now the May Term of Court has opened, where will government place wound be convict or criminals, I am kindly asking the government to renovate the prison compound,” he said.
Rev. Tugbe at the same time stated that due to debilitated condition of the prison compound, the county is in a serious threat. According to him, criminals will have no place for conviction, but to rather keep hovering in various places.
