A kitchen in the Office of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor at the Capitol has become a business ground for sale of food and drinks, luring office staff. President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Taylor occupies the top floor of the newly constructed annex at the Capitol, where the food and drinks sales are ongoing.
The kitchen is being operated by the Gender Officer in the Office of the Vice President, only identified as Georgia.
Due to the lucrative venture, Gender Officer Georgia, gainfully employed and paid by the Government of Liberia, no longer creates awareness on gender related issues, but strategically uses Vice President Taylor’s Office to sell food and drinks to staff.
A plate of rice and soup is sold for 350 Liberian Dollars, while scratch cards for both Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia cost 170 Liberian Dollars respectively, and locally produced bottle of drink is sold for 50 Liberian Dollars.
Non-staff are restricted from purchasing food and drinks for security purpose, but scratch cards are sold to both staff and outsiders.A source from the office, hinted that staff are allowed to offer food and drinks to personal visitors, but guests can’t put in orders by themselves.
When this paper contacted the Communication Director in the Office of Vice President Taylor, Solomon Ware via mobile, he denies the sales of food and drinks in the office. Mr. Ware says nobody sells food in the Office of the Vice President, explaining that he brings his personal food from home daily while coming to work.
The NewDawn couldn’t establish whether or not, Vice President Taylor herself is in the know of the sale of food and drinks by staff in her office.The annex to the Capitol was constructed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China at the cost US$12.9 Million to help accommodate 73 members of the House of Representatives and 30 senators.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne
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