Opposition Liberty Party Senator Stephen Zargo of Lofa County is calling on the Government of Liberia to fast track the stimulus package.Speaking from his residence Tuesday, 21 April, Sen. Zargo suggested that Liberia needs to have on hand whatever money it intends to put into the package in advance of what international partners will contribute.
The Lofa Senator says the distribution of the package should be done quickly to enable residents here to have food in their homes before the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia can call for a total lockdown.
According to him, any decision that is to be made during these health crises should be scientific decisions and not political decisions.
He adds that the Legislature will definitely abide by health authorities’ recommendation for a total lockdown, but urges that food and other supplies should be made available for the people, as it would be very fearful to have a total lockdown when government has not yet distributed food to the people.
Senator Zargo says he supports the use of face and nose masks of all citizens in Liberia before getting in public areas for their own safety and the safety of others.
He explains that the Senate recommended 90 days extension of the state of emergency in the best interest of the Liberian people, but the entire Legislature concluded on 60 days as recommended by the House of Representatives.
According to him, Representative Acarous M. Gray, a ruling party lawmaker, was in agreement with the Senate’s 90 days proposal, but other representatives refused.
The Liberty Party Senator continues that a small portion of the opposition was added to the steering committee to distribute the stimulus package.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
President Weah recently set up a steering committee for the distribution of the stimulus package headed by the Ministry of Commerce, and consisted of other stakeholders including political parties, WHO and pressure group Council of Patriots (COP), among others.
By Ethel A. Tweh–Edited by Winston W. Parley
