LIBERIA – The Minister of Commerce Mawine Diggs is said to have allegedly distorted information on the price of rice on the local market, which has caused two rice importers in the country to exploit the suffering masses.
A member of the rice stabilization task force name withheld has raised serious concerns about a distorted press statement from the minister of commerce Mawine Diggs, regarding the price of rice on the local market.
In a letter written to the chairman of the task force Minister of State Wesseh Blamoh, the member said SWAT and Fouani Brothers Corporation seem not to understand in simple terms what the US$17 (wholesale) price ceiling is.
He told Mr. Blamoh that the price ceiling is a buffer that allows for a shifting pendulum in the price regime. The task force member said it is a check valve or a tool that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry can use to properly monitor, regulate and control the Nation’s Staple without reverting to the RST or the Chief Executive for an upward price adjustment.
He added that for SWAT and Fouani Brother Corporation to begin selling rice at US$17 per a 25KG Bag, is somewhat a blanket authorization to exploit the suffering massive.
He pointed out that the import data/ average cost driver for the two importers has not gone beyond US$16 for now.
The task force member is demanding the two rice importers adjust downward their wholesale price to US$16, and give a US$1.00 refund to the rice retailers that have purchased rice at US$17 with a receipt.
He explained that the import costs for the two entities as analyzed, are yet to pass US$16 per bag, adding that they can only sell at US$17 if and only if, their import cost drivers go beyond US$16.75.
The dissatisfied task force member, called on the chairman of the RST, Mr. Blamoh, to immediately cite major rice importers and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to an urgent meeting to reach a common ground moving forward.
“The issue of the Rice Price ceiling needs to be explained in the communication strategies, in the Jingo and any other public awareness and sensitization campaign messages. To this end, I would like to recommend that these importers share the cost of the communication strategies”, he said.
Minister Diggs and the two importers could not be reached for comment. Mobile phone calls placed to Minister Wesseh Blamoh were not responded to.
