Monrovia-Following days of conflicting responses from the general public on the nationwide increase in the price of 25kg bags of rice, the House of Representatives acted quickly to take action. Dr. Bhofal Chambers, the speaker of the House, led a delegation to tour the rice importers’ facilities in order to learn how much rice is now in the nation and how it is distributed to wholesalers and retailers.
The lawmakers met with facility administrators and gave them instructions to increase the number of buyers from 200 per day to 500 per day, at a minimum of twenty (20) bags each, in order to meet the enormous demand for rice by citizens, which was observed during the delegation’s day-long tour at Foauni Brothers in Clara Town, where Liberians and other nationals typically purchase the country’s stable food.
The product will be sold at a price of US$13.00, and Foauni Brothers have agreed to start working on it on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. They also vowed to serve 500 people every day. Fouani Brothers took use of the event to alert the public to the impending arrival of a vessel carrying a significant amount of company-owned rice in Liberia in the middle of October. He urged Liberians to be patient as they are in continual contact with the vessel’s operators.
The Supply West Africa Trading (SWAT) informed the lawmakers that they had received a vessel late on Monday, October 10, 2022, from Abidjan and that personnel at the Free Port of Monrovia were offloading the vessel. The Liberian lawmakers also made a quick stop there. The Lawmakers were also informed by SWAT officials that 35 bags of rice will be sold each day. Foueta informed the Lawmakers that they would be receiving 6,000 metric tons, or 250,000 bags, of rice from India on October 22. Based on these importers’ statements, it appears that rice is readily available in the nation.
Speaker Chambers stated during the visit that the purpose of the tour of the importers’ facilities was to make sure that there was enough rice on the Liberian market to prevent panic buying. He also used the occasion to urge people to cooperate with their leaders and wait while they fight to keep the product on the market and allay citizens’ fears, stressing that members of the House of Representatives are also concerned for their welfare.
Speaker Chamber asked importers to cooperate for the benefit of society and to refrain from taking any actions that would place an additional burden on the populace. After the intervention, the citizens thanked the MPs and expressed their hope that the importers would keep their word.
Members of the delegation included; Johnson N. Gwaikolo, Nimba County District #9 Representative, Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, Montserrado County District#4 Representative, Solomon George, Montserrado County District #7 Representative, Byron Zahwea, River cess county Representative and head of the delegation Maryland county Representative Bhofal Chambers.
The delegation toured the facilities on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, in Monrovia.
Reported by: Joseph N. Kerkula
Email: jnkerkula@gmail.com
Contact: +231777376827
