The_Open_Door_deel1

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The concession agreement, with a term of 40 years and an option
for an additional term of 40 years, granted the right to engage in
oil palm cultivation and cattle ranching, and all their related
operations, and the right to engage in the production of other
agricultural commodities though the latter was subject to the
prior written approval of the Secretary of Agriculture in case the
area dedicated to such production would exceed 5 acres. Liberian
Operations Inc. (LIBINC) obtained two concessions areas: one area
("Parcel A") of about 4,500 acres of which approximately 320 acres
were already planted with oil palms at the time of the signing of
the agreement, and one area ("Parcel B") of 30,000 acres
contiguous to Parcel A. The use of timber for the operations of
the company was allowed, however, the sales of timber required
prior written approval of the Government establishing the
conditions and terms regulating such commercial exploitation.
The concessionaire obtained an income tax holiday of ten years
from the first year of marketable production whereas "marketable
production" was considered to have begun five years from the
effective date of the agreement, April 14, 1966. This took into
consideration that oil palms generally start producing after 4 to
5 years. No taxes were to be imposed on dividends paid by LIBINC
from income arising as a result of the operations authorized by
the concession agreement. It was also made exempt from import
duties and other charges on imported goods and materials which
were to be used for the purpose of the concession, and whereas
this exemption was granted for 8 years starting from the effective
date of the agreement the exemption granted from export duties or
other levies on its produce was for an unspecified period, only
limited by the term of the concession agreement. Also not
specified was the term of exemption granted to non-Liberian
employees who were exempt from a number of taxes, all named in the
agreement.
LIBINC became entitled under the agreement to the access to and
use of public highways, the construction of communication,
transportation, and power facilities ("Accessory works and
installations") within its concession area, only limited by the
obligation to obtain the permission of the Government prior to
the installation of hydro-electric works. Furthermore it was
granted the right to construct railroads or other works It might
want to build outside the concession area granted, it was entitled
to the access to port facilities, the use of public communications
facilities.(though upon payment of a certain sum), police
protection of the company's employees and the company's interest
in the country, and the use of ground and surface water within its
concession area.
It should be noted that the company was given the exclusive right
to occupy the concession area it had obtained. It was expressly
stated that if this exclusive right would make it necessary to
expropriate any tribally or privately owned lands within this
(concession) area, agreement over the cost of expropriation of
property and crops would have to be reached. If the owner(s) of
these lands and the company were unable to reach agreement over
this issue the good offices of the Secretary of Agriculture would
have to be used to settle this problem (52). The same provision
applied in the case of construction by the company of facilities