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Liberia: Cornomia Appeals to Firestone
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Monrovia
A former lawmaker of the erstwhile National Transitional Legislative Assembly during the Gyude Bryant era, Joseph Cornomia has launched an appeal to the management of the Firestone Rubber Plantation and the Firestone Agriculture Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL) to include the production of rice in Liberia as they go about their negotiations.
In an interview with the Inquirer Newspaper on Monday, he expressed that since the rubber farmers have taken all of the best and fertile lands in the country; it is now a greater responsibility on their part. "Since the Firestone gives rice as an incentive for their employees, it is just better that they produce rice locally," Mr. Cornomia said.
He stated that the local production of rice in the country by the Firestone management would undoubtedly reduce the high unemployment rate; make rice affordable on the local market thereby cutting down the expenses dealers of such commodity would experience when importing and exporting rice into the country.
Mr. Cornomia said that instead of producing the rice outside and bringing it here, the management together with the dealers should be able to produce the commodity locally in order to be able to supply the Liberian market.
"Why can't they do the mass production here instead of doing it overseas? We want the representatives of the workers union to place in their recommendation during the negotiation issues such as rice to be produced here locally," he reiterated.
The former Bong County lawmaker then mentioned that if this happens, the country will have more qualified Liberians employed and more qualified Liberians trained to produce their own rice and that Liberia will also be able to have rice supply on its market for affordable or reasonable prices.
He pointed out that the price of a bag of rice on the world market is too much but on the other hand the rubber farmers have taken huge quantity of lands which they have kept for a long period of time, therefore, he has appealed to the Firestone Rubber Company and the FAWUL to include in their agreement this time around that rice which is a benefit for them and the entire country be produced locally.
"Rice can be among their major food crops while the rubber becomes their cash crops because the food crops will not only be profitable to Liberia or the Liberian market but also the Firestone Rubber Company," Cornomia suggested.
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He concluded that if the Firestone would need additional lands for this venture; they could negotiate with the Liberian government because the government will not also like to see its people suffer for their staple food, rice.
Mr.Cornomia, I read your appeal that was made to Firestone about the rice issue and I don't agree with you on that. Joe,as Liberians, we should learn to start growing our own food instead of depending on others to do it for us.Firestone is dealing with rubber and though rice starts with "R", it does not mean that Firestone should start growing it for us.If Firestone is producing rice for her employees, she cannot do it for the whole country. We have land wasting all over Liberia and it is just a little part that is covered with rubber trees.The... [Read Full Text]
I don't know why our so-called leaders do not invest in the very rich soil we are blessed with, with all the money they are stealing in Liberia. Why don't Govt itself invest in farming and export and sell the produce locally for a profit. That country needs to be managed like a real business. They must put money where it is most needed and let our leaders drop the habit of stealing.
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