Monrovia – On a jammed-pack street, downtown Monrovia, there are probably many sellers than buyers, despite the high exchange rate of U.S Liberian dollars, a few Liberians are doing what they can to celebrate in grand style.
This year celebration coincides with presidential and legislative elections in October but for both consumers and marketers, fluctuating exchange rates coupled with dilapidated local currency which many businesses are refusing to take is making shopping a little bit harder for many this year.
Ma Marie, 56, recalled many Independence Day celebrations and this year compares to none of the past few years.
In her early 20’s, she says the celebrations normally grand as not many U.S. dollars were seen on the market, as compared to now.
“I have seeing many Independence celebrations and this year to me is the hardest because, look on the market, you really don’t find Liberian dollars taking over the market, but every corner is U.S dollars. To me it is spoiling our economy.”
Marie says her grandchildren are mostly concerned about the reopening of schools than the purchasing of new clothing for July 26.
Henry Sumo, a local pharmacist who sells drugs on the streets, says many parents are holding what little money they have for the season due to the reopening of schools.
“Last school year, every school was demanding U.S dollars which is causing serious problems for us.
This is not supposed to be like that. So for me, this is a real bad Independence Day celebration. We are 170 what can the government boast of?
Too many things haven’t been done, so, I see nothing we should be proud of apart from peace,” Sumo said.
Victor Saah agrees: “I can’t feel happy because the economy is bad, Liberia is an old country; Montserrado is congested and should be a commercial hub, but everybody is in this one county all because our leaders stuck all the development in this county.”
Beyond the hardship, Saah expressed gratitude to the government for maintaining the peace and freedom of expression.
Agabus Dennis, a foreign exchange seller says last year’s celebration was much better.
“Sellers are more than buyers. Last year celebration was better as compared to this year.”
Hawa Fayiah, a widow who lost her husband to Ebola in 2014, said since she started selling her African shirts and dresses early Tuesday morning, buyers have been scarce.
“I worked on these clothes, I do this because since my husband died during the Ebola outbreak no one has helped us. We had six children, this is what I do to send them to school and feed them,” she said.