The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) through the Land Use and Management Department, with support from the Inclusive Land Administration and Management Project (ILAMP) implemented by Lantmateriet is conducting a two-day regional training in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.
The workshop dubbed: “Capacity building at the national, regional and local levels” is under the training tiled: “Advancing Sustainable Urbanism and Rural Development through Land Use Planning and Management.” It brings together stakeholders from various sectors involved in urban and rural planning activities including City Mayors and Superintendents.
Others are customary land development and management communities, civil society organizations, Liberia Land Authority County Land offices (CLOs) and the land use and management headquarters staff.
The training is intended to educate participants on four (4) legal instruments developed by the LLA and they include the national land use and management policy, urban zoning of (land uses) regulations, the participatory land use planning guidelines and the framework for rural land use regulations.
The above-mentioned instruments will be used to regulate the locations and uses of land, the nature and the extent of the uses of land in accordance with comprehensive plan for the purposes of promoting health, safety, sustainability, and general welfare of the cities and rural communities within the Republic of Liberia.
Additionally, the training will enhance participants’ knowledge on rural and urban land use management and planning activities in cities as well as rural communities.
Deputizing for Bomi County’s Superintendent during the opening ceremony of the workshop on yesterday (Monday) was the county’s Inspector, Varney E. K. McKeevey who emphasized on the importance of land usage and management to the continuous existence of humankind which must be taken seriously.
He stated among many things that the issue of land is a serious matter among Liberians as compared to the past stressing that land must be managed or used properly for the betterment of tomorrow’s future leaders.
Mckeevey said land matter is a delicate issue nowadays in the country to the extent that to find a piece of land is not that easy, and paid tribute to the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), local leaders including civil society organizations, local land officials in those counties together to discuss land issues.
Speaking also was Christopher Byren, Inclusive Land Administration and Management Project Manager from Sweden. He stated that land matter is vital to every humankind to the extent that activities surrounding it should be taken seriously, because for them they see the project by putting decentralization initiative of the Liberian government and its people including LAA important that land issue must be taken to the people.
For her part, Ellen O. Pratt, Commissioner with oversight for Land Use and Management Department, Liberia Land Authority (LLA) said the capacity building exercise for local communities began last year and it is continuing, therefore it must be taking seriously because it is knowledge-sharing for everyone.
She said land is important therefore Liberians should know the use and manage it wisely, stressing the need for the communities’ engagement so as to have better understanding of what land means.
