Monrovia, Liberia – Through its vice president, T. Bannies Brown, a group known as the “Rubber Planters Association,” has revealed that exporting rubber without adding value deprives the government of money, creates unemployment for its people, and prevents the Liberian Rubber Industry from reaching its full potential. As a result, the sector is ranked lower among rubber-producing nations and falls short of the requirements set forth by the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) and the Global Platform of Sustainable Natural Rubber.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in Monrovia, Bannies said that following the group’s successful petition to the government for permission to ship their rubber that was stored in containers at the Free Port of Monrovia, the government granted the Exporters of Unprocessed Rubber a dispensation of two months for June and July 2024.
He claimed that it has been reported that unprocessed natural rubber exporters are abusing their right to transport unprocessed rubber that is objectionable and detrimental to the moratorium’s effects.
The vice president of the Rubber Planters Association clarified that the last two weeks have seen a return of natural rubber exports, which has resulted in increased theft on nearby plantations, a decrease in processors’ daily purchases of coagulated rubber, and threats to farmers’ nightly security. He also noted that production losses on private farms are growing and the amount of illicit trade is rising.
He said that the legal collection of funds held by the Rubber Development Fund is being undermined by these economic saboteurs and their allies’ evasion of government sale withholding tax payments.
the Rubber Planters Association has advised the Liberian government, via the Ministries of Agriculture, Justice, and Commerce, as well as the Liberia Revenue Authority, to issue an alert in order to eradicate saboteurs, crack down on lawbreakers, and punish those who break the law.
He maintained that in order for Liberian farmers to receive a fair market price for their produce, the country’s rubber industry had to adhere to international norms.
In November 2023, President George Weah’s administration issued an Executive Order, which is still in effect today, requiring the rubber industry to be regulated and protected in accordance with Article 5 of the Liberian Constitution.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
