Monrovia – It’s less than a week for the Commission General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Elfrieda Stewart Tamba’s tenure to get expired, but protests in support and against her reinstatement are intensifying in the proximity of the Ministry of Foreign Affair.
Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
A week ago, anti- Tamba protesters began staging peaceful protest both at the head offices of the LRA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling on President George Weah to abandon any possible interest in reappointing her.
On Monday, June 25, another group of protesters in support of Madam Tamba then began a peaceful protest just across the street where the anti-Tamba protesters where.
They are calling on President George Weah to reinstate Tamba when her tenure elapses over the weekend.
With megaphones, the two groups (both Pro and anti) chanted slogans in support and against the LRA boss.
Shouted the anti-Tamba protesters: “Elfrieda Tamba must go; we do not want her;” while the Pro-group responded: “Madam Tamba is the best for the job, she is a woman of integrity.”
Also, protesters on both sides also accused each other of being induced or manipulated to stage the protest.
Protesters rejecting the reappointment of Tamba accused the other side of being paid by some officials of the LRA, while the pro-Tamba protesters claimed that those who are protesting against the reinstatement of Madam Tamba are members of the ruling party (CDC), who think that only members of the party should hold such a position in the Weah-led administration.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa, many protesters against the reinstatement of the Madam Tamba said the LRA Boss is the cause for the price hike of basic commodities on the Liberian market based on the high import tariff.
On the contrary, those protesters, who are calling for the reinstatement of the LRA boss, described her as an “innovative leader”.
J. Richard Holder, one of the anti-Tamba protesters, argues that Madam Tamba is not the only qualify person to head the revenue collection body.
Having spent over a week protesting at the Foreign Affair Ministry, the President temporary office, Holder claims that the LRA boss was the cause of the continued budget shortfalls during the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s administration.
“When it comes to our revenues, the LRA has not been able to give necessary funding to support the national budget,” he said.
Although the LRA has generated US$6.79 million in revenues for the month of May, Holder argues that the figure is “unrealistic”, adding that Madam Tamba wants to impress the President to reinstate her.
“We believed that the President will act in the interest of the Liberian people. Madam Tamba has outlived her usefulness at the LRA, she got to leave,” he said.
On the other hand, the spokesman for the group under the banner Progressive Youth for Promotion, Abu Johnson, says their support for the reappointment of Madam Tamba has no motive behind it.
According to Johnson, while coming from class last week, he saw a group of protesters calling on the President not to reinstate the LRA Boss.
He added that knowing the track record of the LRA Boss fully well, he decided to galvanize like-minded individuals to join him in support of Madam Tamba.
“Liberians never knew how to pay taxes; it is through Madam Elfrieda Tamba people started to pay taxes. This is what we want to see for our country,” he said.
“If we can have 10 Elfrieda Tambas in this country, Liberia will be a better place. We were not paid by anybody. We’re from Progressive Youth for Promotion and will promote anybody that will do the best for Liberia”