Monrovia – Representative Clarence Massaquoi has requested the Plenary of the House of Representatives to invite the Minister of Commerce and Industry to appear before the august body to provide an explanation on how the recent reduction in the price of rice will benefit every Liberian.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Rep. Massaquoi request was contained in a communication written to his colleagues on Thursday, February 8 during the 8th day sitting of the House of Representatives.
“I would like to crave the indulgence of this august body to invite the Minister of Commerce or person in charge of the Ministry to appear before the full Plenary to state how every Liberian benefit from this reduction,” Rep. Massaquoi stated.
According to Rep. Massaquoi (UP-District 3, Lofa County) Minister Wilson Tarpeh is to answer to inquires as to who bears the cost of the reduction, the magnitude and cost of such adjustments to the economy; and the general welfare of the people.
Rep. Massaquoi also wants the Minister, if he appears, to explain how the drop in the price of rice will benefit the ordinary people who cannot afford to buy bags of rice but purchase per cup.
The concern raised by the lawmaker is grounded on a recent meeting held between President George Weah and the Leadership of the Rice Importers Association of Liberia to negotiate a reduction in the price of the nation stable rice.
At the end of the negotiations, officials of the Association of Liberian Rice Importers consented to effect a reduction of the price.
The Association of Rice Importers headed by their Chairman, John Bestman, agreed to reduce the price of the 25Kg bag of rice by the US $2.00 while the price of a 50kg bag of rice will be reduced by the US $4.00 with immediate effect.
The meeting was attended by Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State, Samuel Tweah, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, the Minister of Commerce-designate, Minister of Finance, Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, and Hon. Archie Bernard, Legal Advisor to the President.
According to the executive in a release President Weah had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 but due to some constraints proffered by rice moguls, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost of a 25kg bag of rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market were addressed and the modalities worked out.
Following the reading and debate on the matter, it was agreed by the Plenary of the House of Representatives that the communication be forwarded to the Committee of Commerce and Industry to review and advice the august body in two weeks’.