….Rubber Planters Association call on Government
By: Leila B. Gbati
The President of the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) says there is no reason for the government of Liberia to lift the ban place on the exportation of unprocessed natural rubber.
The President of the Rubber Planters Association Madam Wilhelmina G. Mulbah Siaway made the disclosure on ELBC Radio, Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in Paynesville.
Addressing the issue on the Executive Order 124 of the Moratorium on the exportation of unprocessed natural rubber, Madam Siaway that they have indicated that the ban is in place and they are in support of it therefore the Government of Liberia should see no reason of uplifting the ban.
According to her, if the ban is lifted it has effect on government revenue and also increase production and cost as well as security for various farmers.
“We are telling the government and stakeholders in the industry that the ban should remain and that we should be able to also have a dialogue with the industry on that these people who are in the business can be able to add value in term of exportation,” she said.
The RPAL President added that the difference between the constituents and the RPAL is that the ban place it rightly because they are illegal people and middle man and National Broker Union as they claim to be.
“These illegal people and group have been ban so with this now they are coming with different names claiming to be different people and group but the RPAL is a legal and was acted in to law in 1996. We are a body of farmers and everyone within this group are rubber planters; it is not the middle people to buy rubber from various farms and along the road and ship it to the illegal dealers so the ban is in place,” she said.
President Weah’s executive order, issued last month, addresses the challenges faced by the sector, including abuse, misuse, and theft. The order aims to develop effective policies and a regulatory framework to ensure sustained industry development and growth.
“From the date of this Executive Order, there shall be no exportation of unprocessed natural rubber from Liberia until otherwise advised,” the executive order declared.
“That within 30 days of the issuance of this Executive Order, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, shall make a special effort to provide access to domestic markets for Liberian rubber farmers in remote areas who rely primarily on cross-border trade in unprocessed natural rubber,” the order said.
