PHOTO: LINA
By Dorcas T. Gboerreh-Boe
MONROVIA – Amidst the declaration of a state of emergency by President George M. Weah in a bid to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Liberian leader is proposing that the Legislature re-appropriates in 2019/2020 budget an amount of US$25 million to support food distribution to households in the affected counties for the period of 60 days, the Liberian News Agency (LINA) reports.
Among other measures and programs as contained in President Weah request to the Legislature, he is further suggesting that government shoulders the electricity and water bills of households in the affected communities for the duration of the stay-at-home order.
In a communication to the Legislature on Tuesday, President Weah subsequently requested that the government fully pay the loans owed by market women and petty and small traders in affected communities as part of the requested budgetary reallocation.
The affected communities are Montserrado. Margibi, Nimba abd Grand Kru counties, which the President ordered placed under ‘lockdown’ as part of efforts to curd the growing cases of the COVID-19 disease in the country.
Eleven other counties are also under the state of emergency, but residents may move within their communities but are barred from travelling from one county to another, except in the case of Montserrado and Margibi which are under joint quarantine.
Relative to the government’s Tax Policy and Administration Stimulus program, President Weah told the body that the government is suspending for the period of six months the Surcharge Regulation that imposes an additional charge on imported goods that are also manufactured in Liberia.
“The Government is also immediately suspending the Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI) penalty until otherwise notified,” he informed the body.
PSI requires importers to do an assessment of their consignment overseas before importation.
In his communication, President Weah cited as justification for his proposal and action that the imposed State of Emergency has levied unnecessary economic cost on Liberians and the broader economy amid the nation’s quest to achieve its public health and safety objective.
“Depending on the course of events in the coming weeks and months, even our constitutional electoral process may be impacted, an outcome that would require due consideration from your honorable selves,” he said.
The COVID-19 cost, President Weah noted, may well undermine the public health and public safety aims of the State of Emergency if the costs are not addressed.
On government’s plans to support food distribution to household, the Liberian leader noted that the full cost to cover the 60 days period in affected and other areas may add up to about US$40 million, while disclosing that the World Bank has agreed to finance the gap off-budget to the tone of US$10 million, using resources reallocated from existing projects.
According to him, “the Government intends to have the World Food Program implement this program in collaboration with the Government, noting that while as a means of further ensuring the program, he is setting up a COVID-19 Food Support National Steering Committee to play an oversight role.
The President’s request to pay bank loans of market women and small informer petty traders comes against the backdrop and opinion that several of them who have loans with commercial banks and other creditors, are expected to suffer significantly from the loss of a number of selling and trading days due to the stay-at-home mandate.
Among other things, President Weah believes that this will be a strong stimulus to these individuals as they have “built their businesses from scratch with little or no help from the Government.”
He said “they deserve protection during trying times,” and that the program will further aid the banks to increase lending to new borrowers.
President Weah hopes that the Legislature will give due consideration to his request amidst efforts by the Government to flatten the curve of the COVID-19.
LINA DTG/WSG/PTK