According to an Executive Mansion release, the Government is committed to ensuring that the prices of certain basic commodities on the Liberian market are at levels that do not impose unnecessary burden on the population.

The government conducted an assessment and evaluation of the causes of increases in the prices of various commodities and intends to initiate measures to ameliorate the situation.

“Whereas in furtherance of the findings of the assessment, Government has recognized the need to curb the continuous increase in the price of rice, the country’s staple, to make it affordable for public purchase,” the release said.

Executive Order No. 80 further notes that there exists a need for exigent measures to achieve the desired objectives of easing the economic burden on the citizens and residents to enable access to the staple food, and such measures cannot await long processes; and whereas in the Executive Power vested in the President by the Constitution, the President issued Executive Orders No. 11, 19, 45, 61 and 70 suspending import tariffs on rice in the interest of the public and circumstances again necessitate similar measures.”

The release said: “Now therefore, the Government of Liberia in its desire to continue bringing relief to the public hereby extends Executive Order No. 70, suspending the import tariff on rice as classified under tariff No. 1006.30.00 (in packaging of more than 5kg or in bulk); 1006.30.00 (in packaging of at least 5kg); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Revenue Code of Liberia Act 2000 as amended.”