Monrovia – Representative Bhofal Chambers has vowed to resist any attempt by the Executive to submit a bill calling for the ratification of new oil concession.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
“Marylanders are not prepared to mortgage or sell their resources. Marylanders have not benefited from the use of their resources, especially under President Sirleaf.
We see how poor arrangements were made in attracting investment in Maryland County to the disadvantage to Marylanders.
In fact, we have plantation styled slavery being carried out” – Rep. Bhofal Chambers
The Maryland lawmaker was responding speculations within the corridors of the Capitol Building that the Executive was about to seek the ratification of a new oil agreement with Cosmo Oil Company in an attempt to help the government raise money support the FY2016/2017 National Budget.
In an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa, the Maryland lawmaker said he was aware of the speculation.
“Basically there has been lingering information regarding the President’s intention to mortgage the oil bloc in Maryland County,” he said.
“It is a rumor but again, many times we heard rumors about the President, those rumors turned out to be true.”
“Marylanders are not prepared to mortgage or sell their resources. Marylanders have not benefited from the use of their resources, especially under President Sirleaf.”
“We see how poor arrangements were made in attracting investment in Maryland County to the disadvantage of Marylanders.
In fact, we have plantation styled slavery being carri out.”
He said his kinsmen had resolved not to allow President Sirleaf to extend “her arms in grabbing the resources of Marylanders.”
“Not to say it is true but even if it was true, we will resist that and we also got rumors about the Wologizi Mountain; we will also defend the people of Lofa,” he added.
Rep. Chamber accused the President of failing to achieve diversification of economic resources.
“If you have a government that in itself cannot diversify, don’t have multi-dimensional approach to the economic architecture of this country, then the coming of President Sirleaf was a disincentive to Liberia,” he added.
Chambers said in 2006, he told President Sirleaf to ensure that Firestone adds value to the rubber that they produce and sell, but said advice, according to him, was not adhered to by the President.
Measuring the President’s performance by the 66 concession agreements ratified under her administration, Rep. Chambers said the President has failed because the trickledown effect was not being felt by ordinary Liberians.
“How much more concession agreements does Madam President need? She is supposed to be seeing how she can correct those 66 concessions that came to the Liberian people illegally, according to the Moore Stephens.
Her concentration should have been on addressing allegations about how she was allegedly bribed in passing the LISCR deal illegally; how NOCAL money evaporated; how the Japanese grant disappeared,” Rep. Chambers asserted.
Unfortunate statement
Meanwhile, Rep. Chambers said it is “unfortunate” that President Sirleaf would prejudge what U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would do under his administration.
“She should be more concerned about what she has not done”, he asserted.