The Inquirer (Monrovia)
15 April 2008
The political leader of opposition Liberty Party (LP), Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine has called for a reduction in the price of rice in a bid to ease the hardship faced by ordinary Liberians while expressing a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
Cllr. Brumskine said Liberia's staple food, rice, continues to be a reason of concern among average Liberians.
The Liberty Party political leader said when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as Chairman of the Rice Commission set-up during the administration of Charles Gyude Bryant, she pointed out three reasons for the high price of rice in Liberia.
Cllr. Brumskine said the President at the time named these reasons as the increase in the world market price of rice, profiteering by local business persons; poor condition: inefficiencies and corruption at the Freeport of Monrovia and at other ministries and agencies involved in the processing and monitoring of trade transaction.
Cllr. Brumskine said although the government has no control over world market prices, it can certainly do something about profiteering by local business persons, the inefficiencies and corruption at the port and other government agencies and ministries as the president had repeatedly admitted.
The Liberty Party political leader questioned, "Could the oligopolistic structure of the rice market have something to do with the high price of rice on the Liberian Market?"
Cllr. Brumskine said at the time President Sirleaf was head of the R Commission she reported that the escalation in the price of rice can be traced to the activities of two major rice importers.
Cllr. Brumskine, a former President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate said the internal market structure has not changed, only the players have changed, but now the President blames world market price for the hardship of the people.
He recommended that the government immediately institute measures to alleviate harsh effects of the high price of rice on the Liberian People, one of which the President has already announced a suspension of US$2. 00 tax on a bag of rice.
He recommended that all funds or revenues that have been collected as a result of the rice stabilization fund tax be used to lower the price of rice on the local market.
Cllr. Brumskine said further that if there is no fund account in the Rice Stabilization fund, because of the corruption in government, as the President repeatedly alluded to, then those responsible must be brought to justice and the rice stabilization tax be managed differently.
In another development, the Liberty party has stated that it no longer has confidence in the integrity and ability of the Chairman and members of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to conduct free and fair election in Liberia.
"Regrettably, one is likely to resign, nor would they, as officers of an administrative agency be probed for charging a political party with treason simply because we dare to question the irregular and unfair manner in which elections are conducted." Cllr. Brumskine stated.
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With respect for comments made by Cllr. Brumskine regarding the rice situation in Liberia, I think the reduction in the price of rice is unrealistic, especially when Liberia does not have control of the price established by the global economy. I think Liberia's problem is, most Liberians are unwilling to change their mental outlook into appreciating their own grown rice "country rice". Until we as a people have a paradigm shift in our thinking by showing more appreciation for our locally grown rice, we will always have a problem with pricing.
Politicians, we have come down this road before. Let us not blame any government for the our rice situation when we as a people have failed to address the situation mentally. We need to assisst by giving realistic solutions and participate in its implimentation.
I am sure from the outside, the rice issue is viewed differently compared to being a policy maker. If we continue to allow the rice issue to bring us down as a people, then it is our collective responsiblity to find lasting solution/s. Maybe, the opposition can partner with the government in addressing the rice issue by encouraging local appreciation for our home grown rice. Let us not continue to make this issue political as in the past. We all have equal responsibility in addressing the rice issue in a positive and solution focused way.
Orea Wright USA
With all due respect to all politicians, Liberia need constructive criticism with solution. Cllr.Brumskine, I hope you realized the price of commodity around the world is high. Here are few suggestions:
Cooperative Farming 1.Government assisting with Education, Tools and Technology a)Scholarships b)Train Technician (Rice Technician) 2.Subsidize Small Farms: making Funds/Loans available to Farmers. 3.Incorperating Farmings: Assisting with Tools and Technology, purchasing wholesale from all small farmers and reselling.
If you notice Cllr.Brunskine, it is all about Education, Tools and Technology. You have open the PANDORA BOX step up to the plate and take the lead. Being one of the best Candidate of the past election, I think this is an opportunity for you. SOLUCTIONS!SOLUTIONS!SOLUTIONS!
Cabbie 1199 I agree 100% with your suggestion. I don't know why our leaders don't reason like people like yourself.Do they get blanded by their greed and rash to steal money and forget about what they are sitting in those offices in the first place? I will run for president myself in the future and I will work for free-I don't want any financial rewards.
Emmazoryon, when you run for President and win, look me up. I'll accept the Agricultural Ministry position and will work for free too. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR COUNTRY? NOT WHAT OUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR US.
DR.PELLAR
I am not sure if these guys have been reading. Brumskine had simply said that President Sirleaf should refer to her recommendations, before she became president. Unless she is saying that those recommendations are no longer worthy, as she is now the president.
I am not a member of any party but a Liberian who live outside Monrovia.Cllr. Brumskine, the price reduction for rice is not a bad idea.What I think all Liberians should do is, for us to see how we can produce more rice and other food. Rice is our staple food and it should be grown all over Liberia. We eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.Remember that the Govt. of Liberia is not able to import rice in a large quanity at this moment.What I expect you and others to do is,for you all to explain to our Liberian people about the food situation and other hardship around the world.Liberia is trying to get over the war and it will take time for things to get better.Very few people import rice and it is not small investment.Let us try to find solutions to how we can get over the hardship instead of flaming the rice issue in the country.Let us encourage our people to go back to the soil.We have the land. some of you politicans need to start giving tools to the farmers. You are thinking of running for this high office come 2011 and you need to say or do things that wil make us vote for you.Instead of talking about reducing rice, get the other politicans together for all of you to provide tools seeds and even taking the lead in farming.Let us learn to feed ourselves and stop waiting for imported goods from outside Liberia.