PHOTO: Senate Pro Tempore Albert Chie
The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate Pro has said that foreigners have invaded the sectors aided by some local authorities.
He did not name the local authorities but what has been known for years now and widely reported by the media is that foreigner have been at the helm of actively mining in Liberian rivers and other water bodies using mechanical dredgers.
But some of these individuals boast of having official licenses to engage in the level of mining operations that they have been involved in over the years.
Senator Chie said that though the small and medium scale mining sector have an excellent potential as a source for Government revenue and at the same time improve the lives of the mining communities, there was also a need for reform the sector.
The Senate President Pro Tempore has advanced several reform measures aimed at achieving macroeconomic stability and at the same time create the enabling environment for public sector spending as the Legislature gets prepare for 2023 budget discussion.
According to a Senate press statement, this is setting the Agenda for the final sitting of the fifth Session today, Pro Tempt Chie praised the effort of the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA) for its collection effort, it was important for the LRA to pay key attention to the extractive industry which according to him holds significant potential for revenue generation.
He named mining, logging, Commercial farming in Palm, rubber, Coffee and Fishery.
Senator Chie was however, quick to note that transparency and accountability in the sector is key for Government Revenue generation and at the same time stimulate economic activities in the host communities thus helping then out of poverty.
Pro Tempt Chie also used the occasion to call on inter Agency efforts involving the Security architecture and other relevant Agencies including the LRA to come up with measures to control what he calls widespread illicit mining associated and smuggling of Mineral commodities. He called for the revamping of the department of Mines and Inspectorate of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Commenting on the logging Sector, Pro Tempt Chie said, logging which is a high potential revenue earner has performed poorly over the years and as such there was also a need for a reform. He said it was disappointing to note that while, logging Companies used to maintain feeder roads, the companies now depend on Government to maintain the roles they play.
Meanwhile, Pro Temp Chie is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to prepare to an appropriate legislation to scrap the duty-free privilege on gasoline and diesel fuel for Government Agencies and Institutions, noting there has been reports of widespread misuse of the privilege.