Liberia: MFDP, Commerce, Agriculture Cited Over US$11M Rice Subsidy

The almost three weeks of rice unavailability on the local market may be in a simmering state for now, but the Liberian Senate is not letting go yet, especially Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan Kaipay, who has accordingly called the august body’s attention to the looming threat.

Sitting in the Senate chambers on Capitol Hill on October 20, the plenary mandated the Senate Secretariat to cite the Ministers of Finance and Development Planning, of Commerce and of Agriculture to appear on October 25, at noon.

The three Ministers are cited to appear and provide clarity on the US$11 million provided to the Commerce Ministry as a subsidy to importers of rice in the 2022 Fiscal Budget. The decision by the Senate plenary was triggered by a communication from Grand Bassa County Senator Kaipay, highlighting the troubling development surrounding the shortage of the nation’s staple food, rice.

Kaipay indicated that a reflection of the country’s political history provides an instructive lesson as to the crippling effects the unavailability or shortage of rice has on the peace and stability of the State. Additionally, the Grand Bassa Lawmaker said with the available amount in the 2022 Fiscal Budget, there should not have been any strangulation of the population considering the fact that the budget is in its full implementation stage and there has been no representation from the Executive Branch regarding the impediments on its implementation. 

According to Kaipay, the appearance of the three principal agencies of Government before the Senate Plenary is the proper and necessary step in the fulfillment of the oversight function of the Senate.

At the same time, the Senate has instructed its Secretary, J. Nanborlor F. Singbeh, to cite the authority of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to appear on October 25 before the Senate as a “Committee of a Whole”. The decision by Plenary yesterday was based on a concern raised by Gbarpolu County Senator, Botoe Kanneh seeking the indulgence of the Senate to make clarity on certain aspects of the Forestry Law.

The female lawmaker has consistently informed the Senate regarding the behavior of the FDA authorities toward women involved in the sale of dried bush meat. Prior to her election as Senator, Madam Kanneh was involved in the sale of dried meat, which immensely contributed to her victory in the 2020 Special Senatorial Elections.