GBOR Jimmy Town, Grand Bassa County – Barely two months after demonstrating for the same reason, a community forest in Grand Bassa County, which borders Nimba, has threatened to shut down a logging company’s operations for not completing development projects.
Due to their inability to complete community initiatives, the Grand Bassa District 3 B&C Community Forest has threatened to shut down West Water Group Liberia’s activities. The community leadership headed by Jeremiah Whoe, declared that, Until the community reaps the full advantages, they will stop their operations. He added that, they will seize their machines and stop them from operating in their community.
“We were misled by West Water. They promised to construct a junior high school, maintain the two Bassa-Gio highways, install 25 market tables, and install five hand pumps throughout the first five years, but none of those things ever materialized.”
A 15-year logging deal was reportedly signed between District 3 B&C Community Forest and West Water, a Chinese-owned business, in April 2021. The community gave West Wood a lease over 24,175 hectares of woodland in return for roads, schools, and hand pumps.
West Water hasn’t fulfilled its commitments, though. It owes a significant sum to the community in land rental, educational benefits, and other costs four years after the deal was signed.
Community leaders claim that West Water has only built three of the eight hand pumps since April 2021. In addition to US$17,000 for land leasing, they paid US$4,500 for health and educational benefits, and an unspecified sum for the timber they used.
In around four months, this would be the second protest. In March, after many unsuccessful attempts to receive their benefits, the community protested and shut down West Water’s activities. Following the intervention of county officials, the protest came to an end, and the firm made new promises.
Community leader Jeremiah Whoe stated, “We are demanding that West Water pay the remaining land rental and cubic meter fees, complete all major projects earmarked, and provide all community benefits before it continues operations here.”
Meanwhile, a local pressure group called the Nyuinwein Administrative District Development Association (NADDA) is threatening legal action against West Water as tensions increase.
According to NADDA executive Omega Jimmy, “NADDA is considering pursuing arbitration because the company cannot be trusted.”
One of the most contentious forestry agreements is the District 3 B&C-West Water agreement. It shipped 797 unlawfully obtained logs, according to a 2024 DayLight investigation.
The Community Rights Law of 2009 and the Regulation on Forest Fees are broken when timber is exported without providing benefits to the community. Communities must manage and benefit from forest resources, and businesses must consult with communities before shipping, according to the law and regulations.
Credit: Emmanuel Sherman
