The Inquirer (Monrovia)
7 April 2008
The opposition political party, Liberty Party says it foresees more hardship if the Ellen-led government fails to take decisions in the stability of prices.
Liberty party Chairman, Milton Quaye, said every Liberian is aware that market forces are driving prices upward but that taxes and other levies should be reviewed in the interest of the citizens.
Mr. Quaye said his party's observation stems from the hike in transportation fares due to increase in the price of petroleum products noting that civil servants would find it more difficult to pay the fares to work; teachers and students alike might not be able to regularly attend classes because prices of basic commodities have sky-rocketed beyond an already unaffordable level while locally grown food are being priced beyond the means of average Liberians because of the increase in transportation fares.
The party said even the cost of medical treatment will become more unaffordable because hospitals and other medical service providers will be paying higher prices for petroleum products.
It said that the government must consider alternative means in dealing with the issue of petroleum products on the Liberian market thereby enforcing efficiency, transparency and accountability within the Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC).
"There are components of petroleum products priced over and above the CIF value plus the allowed margin of wholesalers and retailers which range between US$0.51 and US$0.76 per gallon imposed by the LPRC and government," the party asserted.
It said depending on the product, import levy on petroleum products range from US$0.20 to US$0.25 per gallon while sales tax is US$0.20 per gallon and that LPRC charges storage fee that ranges from US$0.07 to US$0.27 per gallon while the LPRC also charges an evaporation fee of US$0.02 per gallon.
The party accused the LPRC of giving free of charge petroleum products in addition to quantities budgeted for government officials to selected groups of such officials and personal friends whereas these products can be paid for by Liberians who can at least afford.
Meanwhile, the Liberty Party is calling on government to do something in stabilizing the taxes of petroleum prices by making adjustment in the LPRC's charges on storage and evaporation stressing, "Stop the sinister tax of giving free petroleum products to the big shots that the poor people have to pay for."
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I read the statement by Mr. Quaye of the Liberty Party and I kind of agree with him on one issue(gasoline for big shots). Government officials or big shots should be able to pay for their own petroleum products. They are not babies for the country. They have money and I think it is unfair for them to be spoon fed.The President is doing her best but those greedy ones are embarrassing her so much. What are they doing with their pay checks? Secondly, Mr.Quaye, the cost of living is hard all over the world and even your party's chair… [Read Full Text]