By Nasratu Kargbo
Member of Parliament from Bombali District, Salieu Osman Sesay, has condemned the restoration of tax on rice and called on President Julius Maada Bio to ensure that the aspect in the Finance Act that speaks on 5% tax on rice be removed.
Sesay during his debate on the bill entitled the Appropriation Act 2024 yesterday said “Mr. President if you have not signed the Finance Act, please listen to your people and remove or expunge that particular tax for now”.
The MP stressed that rice is the country’s staple food, noting that even without the tax, the cost of a bag of rice is high, and adding that with a 5% tax the price will hike further and serve as a burden to the masses.
“With the rapid increase in prices, it will be surprising to the people to see the government that they voted five months ago restore tax on the staple food and also increase the price of fuel in this country,” he said.
He explained that considering the hardship the citizens are going through, they need an effective and robust revenue collection, but not an imposition of taxes on certain commodities, especially rice.
The MP highlighted certain elements which he noted that if not addressed, will make it impossible to address the country’s economy. He mentioned inflation, saying that if is not controlled, the country will find it very difficult to turn the country’s economy around.
Sesay said, “No matter what we do as a government if you cannot maintain a relative exchange rate for our currency, we are doomed”. He stated that for the first time in the country’s history, the Leones have less value as compared to Guinea’s Guinean Franc.
The MP recalled that the opposition had advised and discouraged the then Governor of Sierra Leone not to redenominating the nation’s currency, blaming the dual currency as being a contributing factor for the inflation and depreciation of the Leones.
Many other MPs from the Opposition buttressed what the MP said, citing how difficult it is for some people to afford a bag of rice.
However, the Member of Parliament from Kailahun Hindolo M. Gevao said these taxes were in existence before. “I hold the view that it was but prudent for this nation to reinstate those taxes so that Sierra Leone will benefit from the importation of rice, cement, and iron rod”.
He said the importers are the ones benefiting from the duty, stating that with the restored 5% tax on rice, the government will be able to invest the revenue generated in other areas.
“I will assure you people that the reintroduction will have very little or nothing to do with the cost of those products,” the MP said.
Just like the Opposition, Members of Parliament from the government bench that debated supported the restoration of tax, explaining that despite the duty on rice, the price was still high and that the intended purpose of the duty was to ease the burden on the masses.
The Appropriation Act 2024 is an Act to authorize expenditure from the consolidated fund for the services of Sierra Leone for the year 2024 and for other related matters.
The debate is set to end on Monday 27th November 2023.
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