MONROVIA, Feb. 18 (LINA) – A specialized committee headed by Sinoe County District #3 Representative Matthew Zarzar has been set up by House Speaker Bhofal Chambers to review and investigate a communication sent to the plenary of the House of Representatives by Montserrado County District#10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah.
The committee is expected to report to the plenary of the House within one week.
Other members of the committee are Representatives Lawrence Morris, Kanie Weaso, P. Mike Jury, Francis Young, and Byron Zahnwea.
In his communication addressed to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers on Tuesday, Representative Kolubah alleged that the « Rice Importers Association » has increased the price of rice by US fifty-cents US$0.50) amidst the dropping of tariff by President George Manneh Weah.
« It is expected that the dropping of tariff on the importation of rice would trigger a significant reduction in the price of rice on the market, but unfortunately this is not the case, » the communication stated
It can be recalled that recently President George Manneh Weah suspended tariff on rice, Liberia’s staple food.
The President’s action, which is contained in Executive Order #98 issued February 4, 2020, manifests his Government’s commitment to reducing the prices of essential commodities, including rice, so as to make them available and affordable on the local market.
According to President Weah, he believes Executive Order 98, is a part of exigent measures intended to achieve the desired objectives of easing the economic burden on citizens and residents, and will enable them to access the nation’s staple at all times.
Furthermore, President Weah stated that the order was necessitated by an assessment and evaluation conducted on the causes of the increase in the prices of various strategic commodities, including rice, and serves as one of many measures meant to ameliorate the situation.
