Monrovia – In the midst of economic challenges and diminishing trust in governance occasioned by the hike in the country’s staple food, rice, Liberians find themselves grappling with the harsh realities of soaring living costs and uncertainties. Liberians across the country are worried after Commerce Minister Amin Modad announced an increment in a 25kg bag of rice, the country staple food.
By Francis Boayue, [email protected] and By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
The pronouncement has not only caused panic, but has created a hike in price, something that has resulted into the scarcity of rice in some parts of the country.
FrontPage Africa has been out to speak with some Liberians. In separate voices they called on President Joseph Boakai to reduce the price of rice on the Liberian market.
Sarah Diggs, Mother of 6 and Resident of Saye Town: “I am a single mother, I have six children, I have to sell before I can find a few cups of rice for my children to eat. Let President Boakai bring the rice price down. We voted for him, and so, we are begging him to not make us shame. People are cursing us in our community. We are experiencing embarrassment everywhere. People are saying that we wanted hardship, that was why we voted Boakai.”
Anthony P. Nimeley, Business Manager of Kumbaco Business Center at Rally Town Market: “We are looking at the outcome of the second meeting between the rice importers and the President. The Ministry of Commerce says we should sell the rice for US$18.50 and we are selling it at that price because we have to support government efforts. We are looking forward to the meeting, any feedback we will get from there, we will go by it. However, for now we are going by the Commerce Ministry US$18.50 price. We were selling rice for US$17.50 which is LS$3,400 before the announcement from the Commerce Ministry. This morning, I got a call from my supplier that they have suspended the US$ 18.50 price, but they have not come out with a fixed price yet. The rice importers still have a meeting today. After the meeting they will call us to give us the new price. We are hopeful and we are praying for the best.”
Theodore Jonathan Nana, Street Vendor: “The issue of increment is not a strange thing to us. We expected it to be that way. For Amin Modad to be placed at the Commerce Ministry, what do you expect him to do? Amin Modad coming out with a price without the consent of the President was based on a deal with rice importers. Liberia is an elephant meat and Minister Modad has decided to cut his own. The President needs to come out with a new price because we don’t want the 1979 rice riot to be repeated.”
Lusine Kanneh, Resident of Montserrado County: “Rice was US$17.50 and the pronouncement from the Commerce Minister puts it at US$18.50. So, the increment is causing people to complain about the price of rice. I want the government to intervene and bring the price down so people can buy rice for their family. Most people are not able to buy a bag of rice for now. So, we are asking the government to bring the price down so that people can afford to buy. The increment of rice price every day is not a good sign for our country because we have a negative history when it comes to the increase of rice in this country.”
Felicia Jahkar, Resident of UN Drive: “Yesterday I bought a bag of rice for LS$3,800 in Rally Town Market. I have four children, and it is not easy. Let the government try and bring the price down. The price was LS$3,400 and now, they have put an additional 400 on a bag of rice. Money business is hard in this country.”
Saturdayma Blasay, small business owner, Duport Road market: “[President] Boakai said he was coming to rescue us, but now he is suffering us. Right now, I am feeling bad because when we buy the rice, we are not getting any profit. After all, the price of rice is way too high. Before we used to buy rice L$3,500 but now it is L$4,500.”
Yahweh Stevens, a marketeer of Red Light market: “Since I was born, I have never seen a president sitting down and doing nothing and allowing the rice price to increase high like that. President Boakai promised us to better our lives and now we are seeing the opposite in the price of rice.”
Monica Yogo, small business owner: “I feel disappointed in President Boakai after being president for three months now. The price is LD$4,500. When the price of rice continues like this, President Boakai needs to step down because he seems not able to lead this country. Now, we are selling a cup of rice for LD$70 instead of LD$50 making things difficult for customers to buy.”
Hannah Mulbah, food seller in Duport Road: “The government needs to try hard to talk to the rice importers to reduce the price of the rice because we are not seeing anything (no profit) from the market we are selling.”