07/26/2010 - Update on the Investigation into the Trade of Carbon Credits involving a UK Company, Carbon Harvesting Corporation and the Forestry Development Authority
Source: FrontPage Africa
Monrovia –
In June 2010 the President of the Republic of Liberia, her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf set up a three-member Committee to investigate a proposed Carbon Concession agreement between a UK Company, Carbon Harvesting Corporation, initiated and the Forestry Development Authority. The committee members include Ms. Rose Stryker of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. William N. Massaquoi, a local Development Expert and myself, Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner as Chair.
The President’s communication to the Committee suggested that certain procedural requirements relative to the granting of such concession might not have been followed. For example, the proposal was recommended to the Inter-ministerial committee without any open competitive bidding process. The President expressed concern that the FDA and other relevant government agencies may have violated the PPCC Act.
The Committee was therefore mandated to investigate this issue with a particular emphasis on:
Determining whether specific procedures of the PPCC Act were duly followed in the conduct of this concession agreement.
Determining the basis upon which the deal was structured and the reasons for single sourcing this proposed concession to Carbon Harvesting Corporation.
Determining whether any act of impropriety, such as corruption, conflict of Interest; bribery or any form of irregular payment was made directly or indirectly to any official of FDA, members of the inter-ministerial concessions committee, the Board of Directors of FDA or any official of Government.
Accordingly, the committee has since started a rigorous review of all procedures and circumstances surrounding the awarding of the proposed Carbon Credit Concession, including allegations of bribery and other improprieties.
I am pleased to report that since the committee started its work, we have made tremendous progress. Specifically, the committee has achieved the following results:
The committee has established contacts with nearly all persons involved with the award and negotiation of the proposed Concession;
The Committee has interviewed several individuals within various government institutions including the Forestry Development Authority, the Liberian Senate, the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), the National Investment Commission (NIC), and other persons;
The committee has interviewed several ex-officials of the FDA including the former GEMAP Comptroller that worked with FDA spanning the period during which this concession negotiation was taking place.
The committee has also interviewed or received information and documents from several local and international civil society organizations , which has strengthened the committee’s understanding of the Carbon industry and the settings within which the subject Concession was awarded and negotiated.
The Committee wants to assure the public that it is making steady progress in unraveling this case. But the committee would also like to inform the public that due to the complicated and complex nature of this case, there are still some serious challenges that the committee has to overcome. For example, certain key individuals implicated in this deal, who apparently hold significant information, are currently out of the country. The committed has established contacts with these key individuals and is making all efforts to receive their statement and have same considered and reflected in its final report. Certainly, this effort cannot be for an indefinite period.
The Committee believes that much work has been done, and that its investigation is likely to be concluded by the end of August 2010.
Finally, the committee regrets that it is not in the position to relate any specific details of this ongoing investigation but assures the public that as soon as the investigation is complete a full and comprehensive report will be given to the Public.
The Committee members join me in thanking the President and the Liberian people for reposing this confidence in us, and we hope we can justify this confidence by conducting a fair and an impartial investigation.
