Oil palm company Golden Verolume Liberia says its contracts are not subjected to the Freedom of Information Act.
Monrovia, Liberia, October 17, 2024—Golden Verolume Liberia (GVL) says the Freedom of Information Act does not automatically cover private contracts between parties. It notes that MoUs between communities and GVL fall under this category, along with other commercial contracts entered into between the company and other entities in the conduct of its business and operations.
GVL says it is ready to share its MoUs if requested by interested parties, with the consent of communities that are party to the agreement.
GVL says it is committed to fulfilling obligations contained in its Concession Agreement and the Principles and Criteria of the Roundtable on Sustainable Oil Palm (RSPO), which includes protecting water sources and ensuring that communities have access to clean and safe drinking water.
The company notes that its environmental performance is independently audited every year in accordance with Environmental Permits granted by the Liberian government. These permits, including for the Tarjuowon mill, have been renewed every year, most recently following the submission of GVL’s Environmental Audit Reports (EAR) in May 2024.
“These reports may highlight risks and include recommendations to prevent or reduce environmental impact. GVL has reviewed these recommendations and followed up with action plans to remedy issues and reduce risks. These plans have been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)”, the company says in a release.
It reiterates that the specific case of elevated phosphate levels quoted in media reports refers to water in POME ponds. It explains that POME is used as a fertilizer and is not a water source intended for human consumption.
Media reports also chose to ignore the overwhelming conclusions of the 3rd party report, which commends “GVL‘s commitment to maintaining a high level of compliance and environmental performance.”
Management says commitments to communities are outlined in the MoUs agreed with these groups, including an agreement to build hand pumps for each population between 25 and 150 people affected by its operations.
The company reveals that it has constructed over 40 hand pumps and rehabilitated more than 70 existing hand pumps in six communities in Sinoe County. “We believe we have exceeded our MoU obligations, in some cases building hand pumps for areas below the population threshold outlined in these agreements.”
At the same time, it acknowledges feedback from communities that some hand pumps it has constructed are not operating properly and require maintenance, saying, “We are working to provide additional support for maintenance and upkeep. Improvements to this process will be reflected in revised MoUs that are currently being negotiated with communities.”
GVL continues to work closely with communities through regular community meetings and engagement with local stakeholders, including the communities’ chosen Community Development Fund Committee, which is deemed to represent local interests.
“GVL contributes to Community Development Funds (CDF), which aligns with our MoU commitments and supports communities in administering these funds. The CDF is one of the mechanisms through which infrastructure and other community development initiatives are funded”, Management explains in the press release.
The company says its response followed concerns raised by a local daily (The DayLight) that was the subject of a complaint lodged against it with the RSPO, assuring that GVL has and continues to work to comply with the RSPO’s decisions and recommendations to resolve the complaint, which is currently closed for monitoring. Press Release
