The Inquirer (Monrovia)
12 December 2008
A Senior Executive of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Mr. Acarous M. Gray says he still feel fearless and have no regret as one of the Executive of the CDC who publicly denounced the inauguration of an unpopular president madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who he claimed election in no uncertain terms remains disputed.
In a four page statement issued to the Inquirer yesterday bearing the name of Mr. Gray indicated that realizing the caricature and bloody past associated with the 1927, 1951, 1995 and 1997 presidential election in Liberia coupled with the CDC aimed of demonstrating political vow for a peaceful Liberia he was moved by the years of suffering of Liberians and chose the patriotic path of abandoning a protest that could reward Liberia another bloodletting.
The statement said that some compatriots may envisage the humble compromise for peace as cowardly but noted that he (Gray) 'CDC action was a clear manifestation of those who bear the true standards of nationalism and patriotism.
"Today I feel more obligated to defend to political death Liberians who are voiceless and those of our people who are victims of corrupt and tyrannical Liberian regimes" the statement lamented.
The statement further said that Mr. Gray commitment to his people, meaning the haves-not, will not wither nor will he kowtow to the political accommodation of the current administration.
The statement continued that as the gap between the rich and the poor deepens, the bad policy on food security keeps hunting the masses coupled with the rhythm of corruption deeply echoes into the spine of the Sirleaf-led administration, backed by imperial pieces of evidence ranging from Knuckles Gate II, the BRE agreement, the ADEX oil deal, the GAC Audit Report, and the Central Bank criminal cartel among others.
The CDC Executive statement further indicated that as the party painstakingly gravitate towards the close of the year 2008 and with a call from impoverished Liberians to champion their economic concern he was gratified to execute their unwavering quest to see an immediate and drastic reduction in the price of Liberia's staple food rice.
The statement also reminded president Sirleaf of her campaign promises of free market, instead of flooding the rice market with what the statement termed as (political midfielders such as: Mr. John Bestman, Abdallah Sherif, and Allen Brown among others.
The statement continued by saying that months ago the Liberian government through the ministry of Commerce and Information strongly justified the astronomical increase in the price of rice on the local market.
According to the government the statement continued it was bad harvest in Asia backed by an increase in the price of rice on the world market indicating that factors that led to the domestic hiking in the price of rice.
According to the statement a metric ton of rice made of twenty rice bags was costing about US$ 650.00 to US$ 860 including shipment to Liberia.
The CDC executive statement also stated that today a metric ton of rice including shipment to Liberia is about US$ 450.00.
The statement added that the above price reduction coupled with other domestic taxes will in no doubt put the cost of US$ 35.00 for a bag of rice to a maximum cost about US$27.00.
Sadly, the statement continued that the price of a bag of rice ranges from US$ 35.00 to US$60.00 on the local market.
The statement said on many occasion this year, the government of Liberia and its propagandists boasted of having the cheapest sale of rice in West Africa, but to the dismay of the Liberian masses the bag of rice sold in Liberia for US$ 35.00 is sold in Sierra Leone for US$ 27.00.
The statement later made reference to president Sirleaf upon taking office where by the ministry of Commerce cruelty introduced a monopoly on the importation of rice to Liberia thus giving an exclusive right to the ephemeral Sinkor Trading Company (STC) to bring in rice.
The CDC executive statement attributed to newspaper reports that these papers were able to establish that Sinkor Trading Company (STC) was operating without an official office site and at the same time proceeds from the rice stabilization funds were use to settled taxes for the company with the hope of a future payment.
Meanwhile, the CDC executive said that with the exception of FOUTA Corporation business the rest of the importers of rice which includes: Harmony Trading Company, SDTM and Group Seven are all new in this establishment in this lucrative business.
The statement also question as to how FOUTA,one of the local importer survive or continued to survive the test of time.
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 The Inquirer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
thanks you mr man, after you have listed all of these voca, what exactly you er trying to say. be sure of urself in making a decision.
Simply put for idiots who do not understand the English Language, MOST OF THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN THE ARTICLE ARE LIES as pointed out by me. "The price for rice on the international market and in Sierre Leone as quoted in the article are mischevious lies" put out to mislead the public. Do you understand me now?
No one points a finger of criticism at another person without pointing three of his own very finger at himself. Therefore we should be very cautious when we criticize others. Some times, it is like spiting against the wind. You know what would happen! Few points to ponder: 1. You alleged that Mr. Gray’s article was, “…ridiculous, full of easily refutable distortions of facts for publication. The quote of the price of rice on the international market is a fabrication; the price as quoted on the Sierre Leone market is a lie.” What’s the fact in this matter? Isn’t it… [Read Full Text]
ok i understand you now, i see why some guys er still liveing in error. becuse you really cant convinced me but only to abuse. i know that you er lacking of words so no problem. kam4
hey guys ,Liberia is not Sierra leone so stop the fussing.if any of you want to help then go make rice farm or suggest solutions to the price increases.
You are right Emmazoyon, they need to stop fussing and go make rice farms. One thing I have observed in the Liberian Population is that, the people who you see or hear being so critical of the progress in Liberia including the rice prizes are the laziest of the population.They did the same thing in 1979, when the Government was multivating farmers to grow more food thus, President Tolbert,proposed an increament in rice price to $12.00. That lead to his dealth.
May God have mercy on our country, and save us from such lazy and big mouth sluggers: who do… [Read Full Text]
thanks alot my bro, i think hitng the points, actually there er some liberian who er still liveing in error after our frustration over decades. i remember in the year 1988 went the late president Doe urges all his officials to get back to the soil, i mean to grow mor food. this also was observed as another issued, people have to things to say about this stament. (get back to the soil) inshort, my… [Read Full Text]
When people submit these ridiculous articles, full of easily refutable distortions of facts for publication, is it not the obligation of reputable,responsible professional news organizations and journa- lists to authenticate the facts before help- ing to spread blatant mis-information? The quote of the price of rice on the international market is a fabrication; the price as quoted on the Sierre Leone market is a lie. There are various qualities of rice on the international market and there are some that Liberians think of as animal feed. The press is very irresponsible in spreading these lies.