-In Buchanan, they want Gov’t to control gas price and US rate
By Alex Piah
Buchanan, Liberia– The tough economic times being experienced nearly a year into the CDC government of President George Weah has begun hitting ordinary Liberians hard, including commercial motorcyclists locally referred to as “phem-phem” riders.
The government came to power on January 22, 2018 on the “Pro-poor” agenda, promising to ease the sufferings of the masss.
Around the country, prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed, as the value of the Liberian dollar remain low against the US dollar, with complaints of hardship here and there ahead of the Christmas celebrations next week.
In the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, commercial motorcyclists are calling on the government of President Weah to control the high inflation so that the price of gasoline and other essential goods can go down.
This will enable them to reduce the high fares they are charging the struggling, who daily commute from one place to another within Grand Bassa County and other surrounding counties.
At the Monrovia Junction, which is the entry point to the city of Buchanan is one of the parking lots of the commercial motorcyclists, where they say they are currently buying gasoline for between $640-$850 Liberian Dollars for one gallon, well above five US dollars. The official price of gas should be 540 Liberian dollars.
As a result of the high cost of gas, they are compelled to charge passengers high fares, which most of them are not willing to do. The commercial motorcyclists are also calling on the government to reduce the US rate and ensure there are stable prices of commodities on the market.
The exchange rate in Buchanan (as of Friday, December 21, 2018) is $158LD to $1USD, while in some area is $159LD to $1USD.
The commercial motorbike riders told the local Magic FM a community radio in Buchanan on Wednesday that the high price of gas is just one of challenges they are faced with daily in trying to make ends meet.
Mr. Obadiah Zeon, who started ridding bike since 2012 said because of the hike in the price of gasoline, they are not achieving anything from the traffic.
“What we are working for is from hand to mouth. Sometime it takes us about 10 months now to pay for a bike on work and pay. Before, we used to take about six or seven months to complete payment. This time, when we get the money to buy another bike, we have to convert the money to USD, so at the end of the day, the money will be less because of the USD rate. So we are appealing to the government to see reason by reducing the gasoline price. Also, we want the government to bring the US rate down because they supposed to have control over prices in the country,” Zeon said.
Another commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Alanzo Johnson said as for him, he runs from Palm Bay (Equatorial Palm Oil Company in Electoral District 5) to Buchanan. According to Alanzo, he started ridding bike from 2013 to present. “In 2013, passengers used to pay $250 to $300 Liberian Dollars to come to Buchanan.
But right now because of gasoline price, passengers are paying $600 to $650LD. Many of the passengers are not willing to pay that amount because of the hardship in the country,” Mr. Alanzo stated.
Jefferson T. Menyongar follow his colleagues in lamenting the current condition they are undergoing.
“I started ridding bike since 2007 up to present but I observe right now that we are facing more difficulties because of the increase in the price of gasoline. In 2005 we used to charge people $1,500LD but right now we are charging people $5,000LD to go to Sinoe County.
“Another problem that is giving us hard time is the US rate in the country, we want the government to solve this problem so we the motorcyclists cannot be facing problem with the passengers on the traffic,” Jefferson recommended.
Alex Chanchan, another motorcycle rider decided not to hide his feeling regarding the present situation..
“I blame the government of Liberia for the present situation because they are the one that supposed to bring the prices of goods down in the country. I lived in Electoral District 4. Since I started ridding bike 2008 up to present, I have not experience what is happening right now as a Motorcyclist. The increase of gasoline price and the US rate are challenges we are facing and passengers do not want to understand when we charge them. Most of the passengers do not want to pay when we charge them. That what giving us hard time right now,” Alex lamented.
It can be recalled that in October 2018 the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI) and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) announced with immediate effect the increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel on the Liberian market.
According to a petroleum price circular issued by the government, the retail pump price for a gallon of gasoline has increased from US$3.55 or its Liberian dollar equivalent of LD$540.00 to US$3.70 or its Liberian equivalent of LD580.00, While the retail pump price for a gallon of diesel fuel has also increased from US$3.70 or its Liberian dollar equivalent of $560.00 to US$3.95 or its Liberian dollar equivalent of LD615.00. The prices in Liberian dollars were calculated using the Central Banks approved exchange rate of 1USD to LRD$156.00, the Daily Observer reported.
The new petroleum price circular, which took effect on October 30,2018 explained that the decision to increase the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel was a result of a shift in the parameters that are frequently used to determine the prices of these products in the country.