President George Manneh Weah has submitted a bill to the Liberian Senate to amend the Firestone Concession Law.The bill is titled “Amendment to the Amended and Restated Concession Agreement between the Government of Liberia and the Firestone Liberia Incorporated.”
Submitting the bill, the president indicates that there have been substantial and unanticipated [decline] in rubber prices since 2013 which threaten the continuous liability of rubber production in Liberia.
The president recalls that government and Firestone Liberia Incorporated entered into an amended concession agreement and it came into law on 31 March 2008.
In the Bill, he says Firestone Liberia remains licensed since the 1990 crisis due to damage of rubber trees [resulting to] inability to re-plant during the Liberian Civil war.
President Weah indicates that the amendment was seeks to amend certain provision of the 2008 Firestone Concession agreement to enable Firestone to consider and commence a process into other Agriculture products, until the replanted trees reach maturity and Firestone can be back full into rubber.
According to President Weah, the bill is to support the Government’s Pro – Poor Agenda to rehabilitate and develop the natural rubber industry to help provide jobs for the Liberian people.The bill to amend the Firestone Concession Law was sponsored by Bong County Senator Henrique Togba.
Senator George Tengeh of Lofa County made a motion that the communication from President Weah be received and sent to the appropriate committees to report to plenary within two weeks.By Ethel A. Tweh–Edited by Winston W. Parley
