Due to the fact that the rice problem, when not handled correctly, leads to violence, including deaths and injuries, it is most important that it should be handled correctly.
By Togba-Nah Tipoteh
Some statements by GOL officials have appeared in the media recently contending that rice is available. But the concern of the suffering masses of Liberians is not that rice, the staple food of Liberians, is available. However, the concern of the suffering masses of Liberians is not that rice is affordable but that rice is affordable.
This Commentary is to help in providing information on how the rice can be made affordable. This is not the first time that such a Commentary has appeared. But as the rice problem continues to exist, we must not get tired in trying to find solution to the problem.
Liberia continues to import at least two thirds of her rice. India supplies at least 40% of the world’s imported rice. Recently, he Indian government stepped up the tariff on rice by 24%, meaning that the price of imported rice has to be increased. Therefore, the price of imported rice in Liberia was raised from USD16.50 a twenty-five pounds bag to USD18.50 a twenty-five pounds bag. Confusion set in the public space of Liberia over whether or not the price of rice had been increased.
The fact of the matter is that that the price of rice has been increased throughout Liberia. This increase has put pressure on the Representatives of the people in the Legislature and this is the reason for the invitation extended to the Minister of Commerce and Industry to go to the National Legislature to face inquiries.
The facing of inquiries witnessed the emergence of the contradiction between availability and affordability and this led to the Minister being held in contempt, despite the fact that he did not appear when called. The contempt placed on the Minister has been removed but the affordability problem remains. The rising price of rice problem remains. This rising price of rice problem remains with the suffering masses of Liberians and such could lead to violence as has happened in the past. This Commentary is intended to provide knowledge that prevents violence, especially as poverty has become the pretext for violence.
But violence is being prevented through the use of correct knowledge to raise awareness in ways that motivate the people to take actions within the Rule of Law to transform the electoral system from unfair to fair.
The prevailing electoral system is unfair because of the corruption in the system as supervised by the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia. Let us remember that this corruption in NEC is longstanding and widespread. Remember that in 1927, NEC acquired the world record for the most fraudulent election, entering into the Guinness Book of Records.
In 1927 NEC stated that 15,000 Liberians of voting age were registered voters for the Presidential Election. However, the same NEC reported that 243,000 Liberians voted in the 1927 election. NEC representatives at voting centers receive bribes as they collect higher fees from political party representatives. NEC Commissioners are non-Liberians. Non-Liberians are allowed to vote in Liberian elections.
NEC Commissioners take bribes from political parties. Let us recall that recently, the current NEC Chairperson awarded a contract to her Brother and Brother-in-law, violating the Constitution of Liberia by by-passing the Code of Conduct and the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC).
Most fortunately, the raising of awareness is working well, a seen in the non-re-election of nearly all of the Legislators who wanted to be re-elected in the 52nd, 53rd and 54th Legislatures.
This trend is highly likely to continue in the ensuing elections. It is only through the transformation of the prevailing unfair electoral system into the enduring fair electoral system that appropriate change can come.
It is only though this transformation that persons with good records ca get elected to bring in the system of Justice, the indispensable ingredient for Peace and Progress in Liberia and in any other country.