Monrovia — The office of River Gee County District #3 Representative Johnson S.N. Williams has organized and sponsored what it terms as a Land Dispute Resolution Mechanism Retreat to put an end to the long-standing land disputes that have engulfed the entire district.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
The two-day retreat, held in Monrovia, aimed to unite, resolve, and promote inter-tribal peaceful coexistence among residents of River Gee County, according to the office of Representative Williams.
At the start of the retreat, Cllr. Kula Jackson from the Department of Legal Affairs at the Liberia Land Authority and D. Emmanuel Wheinyue, Assistant Minister for Research & Planning of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, educated participants on the rules and regulations for resolving land issues in their respective towns and villages.
By the end of the first day, an Inter-tribal Land Disputes Resolution Committee was established, with Mr. Daniel Wilson of the Webbo Development Association appointed as chairman. This committee is tasked with settling land issues and ensuring harmonious living among residents.
Resolution Signed
The delegates unanimously signed a resolution, agreeing that every tribe in Electoral District #3 is a member of the committee. However, only one member per tribe will coordinate between his or her tribal association and the Resolution Committee.
Participants reached several key decisions, including the review of the status of all aliens in District #3, River Gee County, and the stipulation that only natural-born Liberians are eligible to own land. Additionally, no customary land disputes should be taken to court for any reason.
On the final day of the retreat, participant Solie George, with the consent of his colleagues, led the adoption of the slogan “Touch One Touch All,” after which the resolution was signed and adopted.
Response From Participants
Participants praised Representative Williams for addressing the land disputes. Daniel H. Davison Sr., from Nyenebo Town, expressed his hope for total peace in Webbo District, noting the resolution as a key step in solving land issues. Darius Natt Gbaquie from the Klibo Area appreciated efforts to resolve land conflicts and emphasized the importance of peaceful coordination and education. Martina T. Collins from Webbo highlighted the agreement among the 12 tribes to work together and stressed the need for awareness about land ownership laws.
Representative Williams Receives the Resolution Document
After receiving the resolution, Representative Johnson S.N. Williams expressed his satisfaction with the progress made towards resolving the land conflicts in his district. He acknowledged that the journey to lasting peace is challenging but emphasized the importance of the agreed-upon process.
“I believe that there is light after the thunder,” he said. “Even if I don’t resolve one conflict during my time, I am happy that we have agreed on how to proceed because the person who will come after me has somewhere to start from.”
Representative Williams committed to supporting the process and announced plans to reach out to relevant institutions for further support. He also looked forward to explaining the outcomes of the retreat to his constituents during his annual visit back home.