1 Sep 2006
Monrovia -- The United Nations has promised to help the Liberian government repossess the Sinoe natural rubber plantation from former rebel soldiers who are squatting there, according to Liberian news sources.
Monrovia newspaper The Analyst said Paulson Gartey, former leader of the rebel force Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, appointed himself the ad hoc manager of the plantation, directing his followers to illegally tap the trees at Sinoe to sell to merchants in the capital.
The Liberian government recently repossessed the Guthrie Rubber Plantation from former fighters and has owned and operated the Cavalla Rubber Plantation, formerly run by Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS), since 1981.
A UN report in May 2006 claimed that child labour and substandard conditions existed on all five Liberian natural rubber plantations.
BFS, however, said it had a zero-tolerance policy for child labour in Liberia and is spending millions of dollars on new houses, schools and hospitals for its workers there.
From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
Already a subscriber? Log in here
