By Gareyson Y. Neufville
MARYLAND COUNTY – Maryland County District #1 Representative P. Mike Jurry has called for a major overhaul of the County Development Fund (CDF) distribution system, arguing that the current approach has failed to deliver meaningful development across the county.
According to the lawmaker, spreading limited development funds across multiple districts through cross-cutting projects has produced little visible impact, leaving many communities without essential infrastructure and public services.
Representative Jurry proposed that the County Development Fund be dedicated to one district each year, allowing major development projects to be completed before resources are shifted elsewhere. Under his proposal, Barrobo District would receive the 2026 allocation, followed by Karluway in 2027, then Pleebo and Harper in subsequent years.
He said the district-by-district approach would promote transparency, accountability, and measurable development, adding that every district could benefit from significant improvements within six years.
The Maryland County lawmaker also raised concerns about the operations of Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) and Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP). He claimed that although the two companies operate under separate concession agreements with the Government of Liberia, they function under the umbrella of SIFCA with a shared management structure, including a single Human Resources Manager.
Representative Jurry argued that the arrangement has limited employment opportunities for Liberians and undermines commitments contained in the companies’ individual concession agreements. He called on the government to review the operational structure of CRC and MOPP and ensure full compliance with their respective agreements.
CRC, MOPP, and SIFCA had not publicly responded to Representative Jurry’s claims at the time of publication.
