IPNEWS: The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Judiciary, Investment and Concession to review a Communication sent by President George Weah submitting for enactment a Bill title: “Amended and Restated Concession Agreement between the Government of Liberia and Mano Palm Oil Industries Limited”.
Plenary’s decision was triggered following a motion proffered by Nimba County District #7 Representative Roger Domah that the committees take seize of the matter and report to the body within two weeks.
In a communication addressed to House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers during the 6TH Day Sitting of the 5th Session of that august body, the Liberian Chief Executive reminded the House that the Amended and Restated Concession Agreement was entered into between the Liberian Government and Sime Darby Plantation for an area of 220,000 hectares of land, in which Sime Darby was granted a Concession for the cultivation of oil palm and rubber trees.
He noted that under the agreement, Sime Darby was also given the go head to produce palm oil and rubber products for use in Liberia, export, and the construction as well as operation of a palm oil refinery.
However, President Weah pointed out that on November 26, 2019 Sime Darby informed the Government of its intent to transfer its interest to Mano Palm Oil Industries Limited and the Government has since approved such transfer in a written consent dated November 29, 2019.
He noted that subsequently, Sime Darby and Mano Palm Oil Industries concluded the terms and conditions of the transfer and that Mano Palm Oil has acquired all rights, privileges, titles, interests and obligations in the Sime Darby Concession area; something President Weah said seeks to amend the Sime Darby Concession Agreement on such terms and conditions as agreed to ensure the viability of the project which will continue for a period of fifty years.
In other Legislative news, two Members of the House of Representatives have written a request to have the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning submit an Outturn Report, a Fiscal Deficiency Report for Fiscal Year 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 and Revenue Generation Report for the last two budget years.
They include; Hanson Kiazolu, of Montserrado District#17 Representative and Rustonlyn Dennis of Montserrado District# 4 Representative.
In a joint communication to Plenary Thursday, January 27, 2022 the lawmakers said reports when submitted to the House will establish that the approved appropriations by the Legislature to Government Ministries and Agencies had been given and cash outlay commensurate with those appropriations.
Representatives Kiazolu and Dennis observed that there have been complaints from some Ministries and Agencies of not receiving what has been appropriated to them by the Legislature.
The lawmakers then argued that as Representatives of the people, they need to know what is happening to the funding that should have been used to liquidate those appropriations.
Meanwhile, Plenary has mandated its Committee on Ways, Means, Finance& Development Planning to take seize of the matter and ensures that the Ministry of Finance make the reports available to members of the House of Representatives within two weeks.
