Golden Agri's Liberia unit under sustainability fire

Singapore

LAST week's violent demonstrations at Golden Veroleum Liberia's (GVL) plantations in south-east Liberia came after recent criticisms levelled at GVL, and its lead investor Singapore-listed palm oil giant Golden Agri-Resources, for its efforts (or lack thereof) at sustainability.

The blow-ups at GVL's plantations last Tuesday were started by a local group with specific grievances, which included the desire for more jobs to be made available to the community, GVL said on its website. GVL's narrative runs contrary to a Reuters report that had speculated the riots were sparked by the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), a group campaigning for the rights of indigenous people.