Liberian Rice Shortage Looms

When discussions turn to the issue of rice shortage in Liberia, they usually blurt out with equivocation of strong views.

These discussions usually target the power-holders, who are taken as brazen schemers with profiteering merchants to intensify the plight of their hungry population.

Whatever the merit of such categorization, rice remains a cardinal commodity to survival in Liberia.

Any shortage of the commodity or an increment in its price is always tantamount to a declaration of war on the people, a phenomenon that has usually led to popular discontentment.

This was the case of the bloody April 14, 1979 chaos that finally filtered down to the putsch of April 12, 1980.

While these lessons of history remain eternally printed on Liberians memories, the government has given signal to the effect of a looming rice shortage in the country. According to Commerce Minister Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris, a shortage of rice on the Liberian market is imminent and that this shortage must be blamed on international suppliers.

But as The Analyst Reporter J. Ebenezer Daygbor reports, the contending question is what mechanism is understudy to undercut the diabolic plan of the scapegoats?

The newly commissioned Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Minister Cllr. Frances Johnson-Morris, has disclosed that within a time frame of one month, there will be rice shortage on the Liberian market.

In a news conference in Monrovia yesterday, she said the country will face a huge rice shortage in less than a month ecause one of the main suppliers of rice has said it can't no longer import rice into the country.

Though she could not give reasons why the Indian government is stopping the export of rice to the country, Cllr. Johnson-Morris said her ministry received the information on the internet.

She didn't provide details on the website where she got the information, but she said government has received the information as a serious embarrassment, and is yet to find an alternative mechanism to redress the situation.

The ex-Justice Minister didn't give the percentage of rice imported from India, but said the importation of goods to Liberia is growing on a daily basis. She said this trend will greatly influence the prices of commodity on the markets including rice.

But pundits say the declaration by the Commerce Minister is a ploy to increase the price of rice, especially when the shortage occurs and there is no alternative route located to redress the increased demand for rice.

Some of the pundits referred to the pending rice shortage as unnecessary in as much as several Liberian business enterprises have vowed to import the vital commodity into Liberia.

One of their contentions is been that Liberia is noted for receiving rice from Mainland China, Palestine and Vietnam. But the Minister assured the public that they're exercising vigilance on rice price increment within this time frame and will take punitive measures on vialoators.

Already in the country, some importers are selling rice on a ticketing system, which is creating room for increment in the local market.

But Cllr. Johnson-Morris stressed that the 200,000 metric tons of rice enjoyed will be reduced greatly if nothing is done within the month long time frame.

It appears that since the disengagement of gurus like the Lebanese community headed by George Haddad, and the K&K Corporation, the importation of rice on the Liberian market of rice including the shortage and hike in price have become the order of the day.

Sinkor Trading Corporation, Gateway International and Fouta Corporation which took over from the Lebanese Community are now experiencing the full weight of importation. Reports gathered by this paper indicate that Sinkor Trading is no longer interested in importing rice to the country.

The Commerce Minister also disclosed that three businesses are continuing to sell copybooks at the normal price, despite the reduction of tariff from 45% to 5% by the 52nd National Legislature some time ago.

Cllr. Johnson-Morris said businesses involved in what she called "exportation from the Liberian people", include Liberty Trading Hassan Brothers and Arun Brothers.

She stressed that the business houses will be compelled by government to pay the extra tax collected or face legal action from the prosecuting arm of government.