-Points accusing finger at the Foreign Ministry
By Mark N. Mengonfia
Nimba County District #5 Representative, Samuel G. Korga has pointed accusing fingers at the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for tampering with bills send for printing.
Speaking to Legislative Reporters after Thursday’s regular session at the Capitol, Rep. Korga said that laws that are made by them (lawmakers) are tampered with at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when they are being printed into hand bills.
In the past few years, there have been string of claims by lawmakers, including Maryland County Representative Bohfal Chambers (now House Speaker) that Bills enacted by the Legislature were tampered with before being printed into handbills at the Foreign Ministry.
The Nimba County Lawmaker said “that is why the Plenary which is the highest decision making body of the House of Representatives send our Committee report to the Committees on Judiciary to investigate findings.”
During Thursday’s regular session, the Committee on Commerce, Trade and Industry presented its report on stakeholders’ engagement for a better legislative oversight to the plenary of the House of Representatives.
Within that Committee’s Report, they highlighted 12 findings with 8 recommendations which the plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated its judiciary committee to investigate and report to that body in two weeks.
Among the finding Commerce Committee said that it was discovered during their investigation that the Act repealing the investment and incentive Act of 1073, which was passed by the Legislature on May 15, 2010 is evidentially ambiguous to the extent that there is an addendum.
He said this addendum is not part of the original act as required by policy publication proceedings and or procedure which the committee said is a violation of the constitution.
Among the committee’s 8-count recommendations, the Bill called on government to ensure that there is a policy frame work in place to protect and further enhance empowerment of local businesses as enshrined in Act, establishing the Liberian Business Association (LIBA), that the Ministry of Commerce is empowered. This is to implement regulations between and among importers, wholesaler and retailer respectively.
Part of the committee’s findings said that due to the fragmentation and lack of coordination between the Liberian Business Association and other emerging Liberian business organizations, there seems to be serious administrative and supervisory dysfunctions which must be synchronized.
In their findings, the committee said that the relevant authorities of the government’s refusal and failure to monitor the investment threshold, as set aside in the investment Act of 2010, something according to him is creating embarrassment for the business community.
The committee also found out that entities in the frozen goods sector are importing frozen goods and doing whole sale at the same time retailing, something the committee said is causing serious problems and impeding the growth of Liberian businesses.
It was therefore recommended that the Liberia Business Association be revamped and rebranded, with an annual allotment of not less than fifteen million United States Dollars.