The NEWS (Monrovia)
Bill K. Jarkloh
25 September 2002
Monrovia — Amidst international criticisms and pressure regarding the use of the maritime and forestry funds, the Government of Liberia is beginning to submit the Forestry and Maritime programs of the country of Liberia to what it calls "management assessment audit."
However, Finance Minister Charles Bright, who commissioned the audit, referred to it as a Liberian Government initiative growing out of the desire to improve
and enhance transparency, credibility and integrity in the collection of revenue.
Bright said the audit would also establish a mechanism for evaluation and control, and would be conducted in three phases.
Phase one, he pointed out, will cover recommendations to improve the framework of collection of revenue from the maritime and forestry programs, while phase two is expected to put into effect monitoring mechanism amongst others.
Besides, the National Legislature would review the legislation creating the forestry and the maritime programs in the wake of this development.
Already, three international accounting companies, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst &Young and the KPMG, have responded to the terms of reference developed by the government, by forwarding technical and financial proposals.
Making the disclosure yesterday, Minister Bright, flanked by Central Bank Governor Elie Saleeby, said the proposals would be perused by a government committee comprising the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Planning Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, amongst others, and that which best satisfies the government's term of reference will be selected to conduct the audit.
The audit comes in the wake of allegations that revenues from the maritime and timber industries were being diverted to illegitimate uses.
These allegations have brought forth propositions for the imposition of sanctions on Liberian timber and logs. The country currently suffers United Nations sanctions on diamond exports and travel restrictions on government officials on allegations of their involvement in fueling the now ended civil war in Sierra Leone.
However, Finance Minister Bright said that the 'management assessment audit would go a long way in addressing the concerns by the UN and the international community's call for additional transparency in the collection of revenue from the forestry and maritime programs.
Meanwhile, Minister Bright has regretted the denial of his request to travel to the IMF to defend Liberia's position, at the time that body is contemplating the suspension of Liberia's voting right.
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