By Mark N. Mengonfia –mmenginfia@gmail.com
The House of Representatives has mandated the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Commerce (MOC), and House of Representatives Specialized Committee to do a full report on petroleum importers indebted to government.
They were given the mandate after appearing before plenary on Tuesday to update lawmakers on report by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Works and Rural Development that petroleum importers were indebted to Government in the tone of USD $24, 157, 222.
The Committee named petroleum institutions concerned as CONEX , SRIMEX Mayoubah & Sons Inc, Kailondo Petroleum, Petro Trade and Aminata & Sons
Other institutions include the MOTC, NEXIUM Petroleum, the West Oil Investment, NP Liberia and LPRC.
Dekontee T. King-Sackie of the LRA, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner General confirmed that the total amount owed the Government from the Road Fund is around 24.8 million.
She told the plenary of the House of Representatives that some of the indebted institutions have begun making settlements, while others are yet to.
She said they have started reminding importers on their arrears as part of efforts to collect what is due the Liberian Government, pointing out that they already collected USD 1.265 Million United States Dollars of the total amount outstanding.
Tuesday’s hearing was mostly centered on two of the importers, – CONEX and SRIMEX.
She said the two have made commitment to settle their debts within seven years by paying a million each year.
For his part, Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean made reference to the agreement reached between government and importers, saying it started with the past government, but was paused due to court action, consequently causing importers to lag behind in payment.
“The good thing is that those who owe the money are willing to pay a million per year”, Cllr. Dean said.
G/ Gedeh Students Win National Debate Compilation
-Presents Trophy to Co.Lawmakers
By: Mark N. Mengonfia -mmenginfia@gmail.com
Students from Grand Gedeh County have presented their just ended trophy from the National Debate Championship to their lawmakers in Monrovia.
The presentation was done on Tuesday in the office of Grand Gedeh County district #1 Representative, Zoe E. Pennue when the Bishop Juwle High School debate team of the county visited the Liberian legislature.
Speaking during the presentation of their trophy, the captain of the Bishop Juwle High School, Augustine F. Goe said said out of their six games played, they won five and were defeated in one.
Student Augustine Goe said in his statement appreciated their lawmakers for the level of supports provided them during their stay in the Liberian Capital, Monrovia.
He indicated one of the good things lawmakers of any county can do for it citizens is to ensure that their youthful population are educated.
In a brief remark, the Grand Gedeh lawmaker thanked the students for their high academic performances.
He told the students that as their lawmaker, he will always be in the passion to provide assistance to people of Liberian and his district in particular.
Speaking additional, the lawmaker encouraged the students to always see education as a tool that will help to improve their lives.
Rep. Pennue during his interactions with students of the Bishop Juwle High School debate team said it was the second for student of Grand Gedeh to make presentation of trophy to him.
As part of motivation, the lawmaker presented the amount of One Hundred Thousand (100, 000) Liberian Dollars to the students, promised them a diner at a fabulous hotel in Monrovia and as well provide them with driver to take them back to their county.
“Drivers have already been prepared to take you people back to Grand Gedeh” Rep. Pennue told the students.
He informed the students that the gift presented to them was a good will gesture from Senator Alphonso Gaye, Rep. Alex Grant and him, Rep. Pennue