Continued debates and resentment creep in Mavasagueh Community Forest since the C&C Logging Company deposited US$45,000 for land rental, cubic meter fees and others, in the forest’s account.
Residents of the Mavasagueh Community Forest do not want the reoccurrence of fund mismanagement by the forest leadership that prompted protest and roadblocks few months ago.
The Mavasagueh Community Forest is an approximately 26,003-hectare forest located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia, spanning parts of the Vambo and Marloi Townships, and Sawbein and Gorzoah Clans.
March this year, a three-day protest occurred in the Mavasagueh Community Forest area by aggrieved residents, most of whom were youths. The residents blocked roads to stop the transport of logs by the logging company C&C Corporation (CCC), demanding accountability and an end to a controversial logging contract and mismanagement of US$6,000.
Recently, the C&C Logging Community deposited US$45,000 in the forest’s account for land rental, cubic meter fees and others. The total amount is US$70,000, but the company has given US$45,000 for the community’s benefits while the balance US$25,000 is pending deposit.
In the US$45,000, Vambo Township has cubic meter fees is US$19,000, which is entitled to the township alone. It is where the longing began, and will last for five years there.
Early part of this year, the company gave US$6,000 to the Community Forest Management Body (CFMB) and the Executive Committee (EC) for medical purpose and forest guard operation.
Without consultation of the 39 towns and villages that form part of the forest, the CFMB’s Chairman, Isaac Tukar, and the EC’s chairman Abraham Sumo misapplied the funds, which caused a three-day protest in Vambo Township.
However, the recent deposit by the company in the Afriland First Bank for the forest is a key discussion in the district, with fear of the forest leadership repeating the same action.
Some residents have alleged that the CFMB and EC’s chairmen will again mismanage the US$45,000—if proper care is not taken because it is their habit.
Representative Clarence C. Banks of Grand Bassa County District #2 closed the forest bank account for the previous funds misapplication by the CFMB and EC. The account was reopened by Superintendent Kaiyou Johnson in August this year, with strong warning to the forest heads.
The primary grievances of the protesters were centered on corruption, lack of transparency, and the company’s failure to honor its commitments under the Commercial Use Contract (CUC).
In the CUC, the company is to construct two bridges and hospital in Marloi and Vambo Townships. But while the company is operating in its second year in the forest, the bridges and others are still pending fulfilment.
The Forestry Development Agency should do all it can to set aside Vambo Township cubic meter fee, and should not allow the CFMB and EC alone to withdraw from the account.
Mostly, hold is on the account and no one is allowed to withdraw until Representative Banks come, election is held and so on.