Kevin Godlington

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Kevin Godlington is the CEO of CRAD-L and Director of Sierra Leone Agriculture (SLA).[1]

"Kevin Godlington grew up in state care in Lancashire. Aged 16 he joined the army with no qualifications. Kevin left regular and reserve service in 2003 having served on operations all over the world. Kevin is now the founder and the CEO of an African development company that specializes in working in former conflict nations. He leads investment teams in setting up large scale agricultural projects. Kevin is currently responsable for managing assets of over $100M in four different countries across Africa. In 2010 Kevin set up the Godlington Foundation which operates orphanages in Sierra Leone and provides funding for veterans initiatives in the UK." [2]

Land Grabbing in Africa

Godlington, along with "the Sierra Leone Agriculture (SLA) and its parent company, the UK-based CAPARO Renewable Agriculture Developments (Crad-I), and CAPARO's founder, the British Industrialist Lord Paul of Marylebone" are buying up a large amount of land in Sierra Leone.

According to Business Insider:[3]

"Also, local people in the SLA lease area are under the impression that Tony Blair is linked with the project and with SLA. Godlington says he works “closely” with Hon Angad Paul, the Office of Tony Blair and other investors and sponsors to run this “African development company specializing in former conflict nations” and to lead “investment teams in setting up large scale agricultural, resource and extractive business’s [sic].”
"The land they're buying: 43,000 hectares in the Port Loko region of Sierra Leone
"The future development: Godlington says it's to establish palm oil plantations on the lease to produce palm oil for the local market, and the project will involve mills and processing plants. In 2010, SLA cleared 5 hectares of forest bush to plant palm oil seedlings. It aims to have palm oil plantations in over 40,000 hectares within 7 years.
"The scandal: Godlington hasn't made his plans public in the country, nor is there any documentation that verifies his claims, according to OI [the Oakland Institute]. The chief who granted him the lease says that he insisted SLA build schools, health centers, and resettle any villagers the development displaces. However the chief also says that the lease has to be renewed every 7 years, whereas the SLA director says the lease is not up not for renewal, but for rate re-negotiation every 7 years."

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch articles

References

  1. Courtney Comstock, "Meet The Millionaires And Billionaires Suddenly Buying Tons Of Land In Africa," Business Insider, June 30, 2011, Accessed July 1, 2011.
  2. Tickets for Troops Advisory Board, organizational web page, accessed July 7, 2012.
  3. Courtney Comstock, "Meet The Millionaires And Billionaires Suddenly Buying Tons Of Land In Africa," Business Insider, June 30, 2011, Accessed July 1, 2011.

External Resources

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