{"id":5437,"date":"2024-10-06T20:52:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T20:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/?p=5437"},"modified":"2024-10-06T20:52:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T20:52:21","slug":"6-gvl-lies-in-the-last-5-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.thedaylight.org\/wp68\/2024\/10\/06\/6-gvl-lies-in-the-last-5-months\/","title":{"rendered":"6 GVL Lies in the Last 5 Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GVL has lied about its operations several times in the last five months. The DayLight\/Harry Browne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

By James Harding Giahyue  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

MONROVIA\u2014In August, The DayLight started a\u00a0series of investigations<\/a>\u00a0into Golden Veroleum Liberia’s (GVL) operations. The newspaper has published over a dozen stories, pinpointing GVL\u2019s abuse of communities\u2019 rights and\u00a0<\/span>degradation of the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amid overwhelming evidence, the newspaper has published\u2014documents, pictures\/videos and interviews\u2014GVL vehemently denies any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But often those denials include false claims in attempts to mislead the public, as the company defends its well-documented, tainted record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behold six of the lies GVL has told in the last five months as the result of The DayLight\u2019s reporting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Must Seek Communities\u2019 Consent to Share MoU<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GVL has a list of MoUs it signed with communities on its website but the documents are not downloadable<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Before that first story, The DayLight asked the company for copies of the MoUs. However, GVL\u2019s spokesman Alphonso Kofi denied the newspaper\u2019s request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In July, Alphonso Kofi, GVL\u2019s spokesman, said that local communities needed to consent before the company could share the documents. \u201cIt can be shared if we obtained written consent for the communities,\u201d wrote Kofi in an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kofi\u2019s claim contradicts the Freedom of Information Act and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil\u2019s rules, known as principles and criteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Under the FOI Act, MoUs arising from concession agreements are public records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Likewise, the first principle and criterion of the RSPO requires GVL to comply with such national law, and such documents are \u201cmade publicly available.\u201d It even mandates GVL to keep records of requests for information and responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Concealing the MoU and GVL\u2019s flawed interpretation of the document appears as a strategy to misinform the public. The DayLight obtained the documents from elsewhere, uncovering the company\u2019s wrongdoings. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/strong>Unclear Responsibility to Maintain Hand Pumps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In response to the first part of The DayLight\u2019s series in August\u2014exposing GVL\u2019s failure to build and maintain hand pumps in Tartweh-Drapoh, Sinoe County\u2014GVL claimed that the MoU with the chiefdom was unclear as to who was responsible for maintaining the facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    A GVL signboard in Tartweh-Drapoh Chiefdom, Sinoe County. The DayLight\/Harry Browne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cGVL acknowledges feedback from communities that some hand pumps that it has constructed are not operating properly and require maintenance,\u201d it said in a press release<\/a>.  \u201cWe also recognize that more clarity is needed to define who is responsible for maintaining pumps built by GVL and other parties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That claim contravenes the MoU. There is no need for clarity as the document plainly obligates GVL to build and repair the pumps, and even train locals to maintain the facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/strong>Environmental Audit Found No Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      In the same August press release, GVL claim that a DayLight report that a routine, independent audit found the company\u2019s operations of a palm oil mill in the Tarjuwon District polluted water sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cWe also ensure that water testing is done annually by an independent party as required by EPA regulations, read the press release. \u201cRecent assessments conducted in 2023 and 2024 did not identify any issues. The results are available to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Turns out, the audit found<\/a> the exact opposite: improper management of wastewater led to pollution of watercourses in the area. It revealed that there was a high risk of runoffs from poorly managed empty palm husks empying into waterways. A University of Liberia laboratory test showed an illegal level of phosphate and other substances in water samples harmful to humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      An elevated view of GVL\u2019s plantation in Tarjuwon, Sinoe County, showing three wastewater ponds \u00a0an environmental audit found to be mismanaged. The DayLight\/Derick Snyder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Also, water quality testing is done once every two years, not once every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A characteristically adamant GVL repeated the false claim<\/a> earlier this month. The company accused The DayLight of inaccuracies and misleading views, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/strong>Environmental Audit \u2018Identified Recommendations\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In a press release earlier this month, GVL made more false claims<\/a>, lessening the magnitude of the report\u2019s findings. \u201cWhile positive of GVL\u2019s overall environmental record, the Tarjuwon [audit] identified a number of recommendations for improvement\u2026,\u201d read the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        On the contrary, audit exposed a long queue of violations of GVL\u2019s environmental permit and the Environmental Protection and Management Law<\/a> of Liberia. It did not merely recommend as GVL implies.  GVL mentioned \u201crecommendation\u201d five times in publication, avoiding the report\u2019s walloping, negative findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The report even found that GVL had backslide on gains in a 2019 audit, and that it had not implemented auditors\u2019 recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/strong>Takes Community Complaints Seriously<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        GVL claims that it takes community grievances seriously, stating a self-styled commitment to addressing complaints. It claimed in a release last month that it welcomed and addressed complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The 2019 audit report supports that claim. However, the Tarjuwon audit report shows that GVL has relapsed in that part of its operations. Auditors graded the company 50-75 percent from a perfect score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"
        An April 2024 environmental audit report found speedy GVL trucks leave dust, a foul odor and dead domestic animals in their wake. It said GVL did not take communities\u2019 complaint seriously, grading the company\u2019s redress mechanism 50 \u2013 75 percent. The DayLight\/James Harding Giahyue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        <\/strong>Land Authority \u2018Decided Results\u2019 of Land Dispute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In a periodic report<\/a> to the RSPO last month, GVL appeared to suggest that the Liberia Land Authority had resolved a boundary dispute between the Du-Wolee Nyennue Township and the Numopoh District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          GVL claimed that the Land Authority would communicate \u201cthe result to both communities\u2026 in [the fourth quarter] of 2024 with new government officials.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          But the Land Authority dismisses<\/a> those claims. The Chairman of the Land Authority Adams Manobah told The DayLight it was far from an outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \u201cWe have not done that yet. The last solution we have is to go back and do the surveying and establish the boundary between the two communities,\u201d Manobah said. \u201cWe are still waiting for the concession to provide the support so that we can have a definitive line between the two communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n\n\n\n

          The Green Livelihood Alliance provided funding for this story. The DayLight maintained editorial independence over the story\u2019s content.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          GVL has lied about its operations several times in the last five months. The DayLight\/Harry Browne By James Harding Giahyue   MONROVIA\u2014In August, The DayLight started a\u00a0series of investigations\u00a0into Golden Veroleum Liberia’s (GVL) operations. The newspaper has published over a dozen stories, pinpointing GVL\u2019s abuse of communities\u2019 rights and\u00a0degradation of the environment. 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