Liberia: ‘Foreign Aid Won't Feed You’ – Senator James Biney Warns Amid Growing Hardship - FrontPageAfrica
by Obediah Johnson · FrontPageAfricaShare
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Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Senator James Biney says foreign aid being provided Liberia by global financial institutions cannot sustainably transform the country.
By Obediah Johnson
Senator Biney is representing the people of Maryland County in the 55th National Legislature.
He stated that though Liberia and its citizens remain grateful to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and friendly countries that continue to support the country’s development agenda, Liberians should realize that aid cannot sustainably transform their country.
He made these assertions while serving as Presiding Officer during the closing of the extraordinary session of the Liberian Senate held at the Capitol Building on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
He observed that foreign aid cannot get rid of the slums in the country or transform the lives of those who live in forest areas.
He maintained that foreign aid will not also put food on the table of Liberians.
“While we remain grateful to the IMF, the World Bank, and friendly countries that continue to provide assistance to support our country’s development agenda, we must all realize that aid cannot sustainably transform our country. It cannot get rid of the slums in our country; it will not transform the lives of those who live in forest areas; and it will not put food on the table of our people,” Senator Biney said.
Senator Biney pointed out that to achieve genuine transformation, the National Legislature must legislate laws that will change the age-old methods of conceding the country’s minerals and forests to its investment partners.
He added that the dividend approach has accrued little or nothing meaningful to Liberia and its citizens.
“Since Liberia is usually not part of the management of these concessions, the royalty method seems the best way to go. Let’s legislate it.”
Senator Biney emphasized that if Liberia does not adopt the royalty method, the country stands to lose billions of dollars that would otherwise be used to change the lives of our people.
“The forest section is another example. Immediately, following the civil war, when electricity was still a major problem in Liberia, the forest sector moved towards industrialization.”
He recalled that forest concessions in River Gee, Maryland, and Bassa were producing plywood for both local and foreign markets.
This, he added, accounted for thousands of employment in this sector.
However, Senator Biney observed that this sector has only been involved in exporting round logs over the last twenty years, noting that, “this will not transform the country.”
He underscored the need for the Liberian to “step up and improve on our oversight responsibility of keeping ourselves, as well as, the Executive, accountable.”
“We must rise above what divides us and put Liberia first. We must strengthen our resolve to legislate laws that will compel a transformative approach in conceding the country’s wealth as a way of improving the lives of our people.”
According to him, the purpose for which the Senate resumed session from break has been achieved.
On August 29th, the Legislature agreed to return from its break to deal with the critical issue of recasting the 2024 Fiscal Budget, on the heels of advice from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get the budget to conform with today’s economic reality in our country.
Senator Biney recalled that following tense deliberation between the Senate and the House of Representatives through their respective conference committees, the Senate passed the recast budget just before a crucial deadline that guaranteed additional budgetary support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Had the Legislature failed to pass the budget within a specific period, he noted that the implementation of key programs in the budget would not have been possible.
He stressed that this compelled the Senate to work about 10 hours daily for several days to achieve this worthy cause.
“On this major accomplishment, I would like to thank you all on behalf of the President Pro-Tempore and the entire Leadership of the Senate.”