Report by Varney Dukuly_favorduke7@gmail.com
Two Committees of the House of Representatives have been charged to work with the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Revenue Authority to establish reasons for delay in payment from petroleum importers on the road fund arrears.
On last Thursday, the lower House reached a decision to invite the Ministries of Justice, Commerce along with the Managing Director of the LPRC and head of the Liberia Revenue Authority to provide reasons why the payment of over US$ 24 million by some petroleum importers have been delayed.
During Tuesday’s deliberations LRA acting Commissioner General Madam Decontee King Sackie told the plenary that the LRA has instituted measures to ensure that petroleum importers in the country pay their road fund arrears.
According to her, following reconciliation with contending importers the LRA was able to collect 1.265 million arrears while mentioning of a 24 million outstanding.
For his part, Justice Minister Musa Dean said the prolonged delay is due to a stipulated legal agreement of seven years of payment, which accounts for a million every year.
He added that the LRA upon final reconciliation with contending petroleum importers will go ahead with the collection of the remaining amount.
Meanwhile, following separate presentations from the Justice Ministry and the Liberia Revenue Authority, the plenary of the House Representatives endorsed a motion mandating the Committees on Ways Means and Finance and Public Works to produce details findings on the matter.
The Motion proffered by Montserrado County Representative Dixon Seboe among other things urged the two Committees to disaggregate the number on the specific amount owed by each petroleum importer.
