Liberia: 'GVL Must Vacate Our Land'

Feb 20, 2015 | Alloycious David, All Africa Global Media
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Aggrieved citizens of Butaw District in Sinoe County are calling on the management of Golden Veroleum Liberia to pay compensation for villages, crops and ancestral gravesites bulldozed during the cultivation of its oil palm.GVL entered a concession agreement with the Government of Liberia to develop oil palm in five Southeastern counties including Sinoe.The company's operations were halted by its parent organization, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) when it started demolishing villages, crops and gravesites to develop its plantation in Butaw in violation to the RSPO's standard and principles.RSPO at the time called on the company to dialogue with the citizens and pay their compensation, but the company has reportedly failed to do so. As a result, the citizens expressed frustration over the company's action against them.