The NEWS (Monrovia)
4 September 2008
Monrovia — The Pacific Architectural and Engineering (PAE) Company, an American-based group contracted to assist with the Security Sector Reform (SSR) of the Armed Forces of Liberia has been accused of Economic Sabotage.
The Independent Civil and Human Rights Center in a press statement issued Wednesday said PAE was utilizing its duty free privilege to import goods for some business entities thereby evading legitimate taxes to government.
"We wish to inform the general public and the Government of Liberia that PAE which should be responsible for the Liberia Security Sector Reforms has gone out of its tract and is now involved heavily in what is considered as economic sabotage," Mr. J. Melvin Page Sr. indicated.
He said his organization has documents including bill of laden to prove that PAE is involved in importing goods for top commercial business houses thereby misusing its duty free privileges by commercializing it at the detriment of the Liberian economy.
"We request the Ministries of Finance, Justice along with all government agencies that are responsible for duty and fraud to swiftly investigate and bring to book for necessary prosecution all of those who are participating directly or indirectly in this syndicate," Mr. Page alarmed.
"The center also calls on Mr. Jeff Gouga, Project Manger of PAE to clean up his entity since, according to our investigation, the purpose of its responsibility is to train security and not to get involved in acts which are tantamount to criminality," the human rights campaigner added.
He further noted that PAE has in its employ Americans, Lebanese, Indians and Liberians who should be of good service to Liberia instead of being an institution sent by the U.S. Government to fraud and cheat the Government of Liberia and its people of much needed revenue which could be used for the economic growth of the country.
"The center hereby submits that she will reveal much information to the public as well as the government institution responsible to probe this complaint as our investigation is unfolding," Page added.
Notwithstanding, efforts by this paper to contact Mr. Gouga and the Procurement Officer of PAE only identified as Mr. Ziad proved futile.
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