By Solomon T. Gaye
National Rubber Brokers and Farmers Union president, James W. Sayekea, on behalf of his entity, has kicked against the Executive Order 124 moratorium on unprocessed rubber exportation, describing it as worrisome and not in the best interest of the people and farmers of Liberia.
Speaking to this Paper in Ganta over the weekend, the farmers union president disclosed that the Executive Order 124 would cause complete monopoly of unprocessed and, in the process, subject farmers or brokers to adject poverty.
According to him, the order is counterproductive and undermines the national economic growth of Liberia.
“The moratorium on unprocessed rubber exportation is in violation of Section 46, 01A of the Labor Practices Law of Liberia, which provides distinct functions and privileges,” Sayekea said.
He furthered that farmers are not happy over the executive order 124, which, he said, deprives local farmers participation in the rubber industry of Liberia.
As such, Sayekea called on the National Legislature of Liberia to revisit the Executive Order 124 and see reason to lift the ban on the exportation of unprocessed rubber, so as to allow local rubber brokers and farmers to remain in business.
This is the second executive order coming out to affect the rubber industry of Liberia.
During the second term of former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an Executive Order 50 was placed on unprocessed rubber exportation, and authorized Firestone rubber company to be the only recognized rubber-buying company in Liberia.
Speaking on behalf of rubber farmers in Electoral District 8 in Nimba, old man Wilfred Gonnue disclosed that the order is harmful, and called on the President-elect, Ambassador Joseph Boakai, to review the document upon taking office to rescue farmers from the hands of suppressors.
