The National Benefit Sharing Trust (NBST) Board has joined the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committee in calling on the Government of Liberia to pay legislated benefits to the affected communities of Logging Companies. 

The board says the non-payment of these funds shows lack of willingness to uphold its obligation required by the National Forestry Reform Law of 2006 and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement signed with the European Union. 

According to the Board since 2017, the government has failed to pay these affected communities in spite of numerous efforts by national and international stakeholders to engage specifically the Ministry of Finance through which the funds should be disbursed to the communities. 

Roberto Kollie is an official of the National Benefit Sharing Trust Board Secretariat.

He has been speaking to WADR about the plight of the affected logging communities.