MONROVIA, October 8 (LINA) –The House of Representatives on Tuesday prematurely adjourned a hearing with Commerce Minister Axel Addy and his deputies due to the ministers’ inability to adequately respond to questions.

Plenary had invited the Commerce Ministry Officials to provide reasons for the sharp increase in the price of rice, the nation’s staple, on the local market less than one week after the ministry said there was sufficient rice in the country.

According to the Liberia News Agency, the lawmakers noted that the manner in which Minister Addy and his team answered questions posed to them suggested that they were not prepared for the interaction.

Montserrado County Representative, Thomas Fallah advanced a motion that Plenary gives the Ministers next week Tuesday to reappear at which time the Commerce Ministry officials should be prepared to address the issues.

Thirty-two lawmakers voted for with two abstentions.

Prior to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country, a bag of 25kg rice, which is currently sold for US$17, cost US$15.

The lawmakers frowned on the Commerce Ministry authorities for the increment, describing it as an attempt to impose more economic hardship on the Liberian people in the face of the health crisis in the country.
LINA HVW/TSS/PTK/JKW