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NIC Chairman, Others Still in Trouble with Lawmakers as President Sirleaf Nullifies BRE's Agreement
Jul 28, 2008
by Global News Network / Contributor

The Chairman of the National Investment Commisasion (NIC), Dr. Richard Tolbert and two other deputies at the Ministries of Finance and Justice may likely be dismissed after Members of the House of Representatives cast “A Vote of No Confidence" in Dr. Tolbert last week in connection with the alleged violation of the Liberian Investment Incentive Law

The NIC boss is accused of waiving 100 percent duty free privileges to the Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE). Mr. Tolbert who granted a US0 million investment contract to the BRE which is involved in the conversion of rubber trees into wood chips, environmentally friendly non fossil fuels for export.

Speaking on the issue to reporters in Monrovia, the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she has declared the agreement with the Buchanan Renewable Energy null and void.

She openly disclosed that the 150-million United States dollars agreement with a hundred percent tax waiver is not enforceable, and said it is a pity that the NIC boss Dr. Richard Tolbert could not explain the agreement well.

Her statement followed a vote of no confidence in Dr. Tolbert by the House of Representatives.

Madam Sirleaf said the matter is still before the Legislature and she will act when it reaches her officially.

It is however, not clear if the President was not aware of the terms of the contract as she paid a number of visits to the BRE sites and commended their efforts.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress for Democratic Change has called for the arrest of the Chairman of the National Investment Commission Dr. Richard Tolbert.

The party’s Chairman Geraldine Doe-Sheriff wants Dr. Tolbert arrested on the charge of economic sabotage for signing the 150-million U.S. dollars deal with the Buchanan Renewable Energy.

At a news conference Sunday, the CDC also called for the arrest of Acting Finance Minister Tanu Mawulo and Deputy Justice Minister Cianneh Johnson and all others associated with the BRE deal.

The CDC alleged President Sirleaf’s promise of a fundamental departure from the past is a mere mockery as government officials still corrupt the system and go with impunity.

The party believes the current status quo shows nothing other than poverty, frustration and hardship on the ordinary people.

The CDC lauded the House of Representatives for casting a vote of no confidence in Dr. Tolbert and urged it to go further.

Also commenting on the decision of the House, a former chairman of the National Investment Commission called on the House to reverse the decision made against Dr. Richard Tolbert.

Dr. Somah Paygar said though Dr. Richard Tolbert was wrong to do such without the consent of the Legislature, he did it unintentionally.

Dr. Paygar said Dr. Tolbert should have informed the Legislature but he believed he wanted to satisfy the people in terms of job creation.

The former NIC Chairman said there was a need to encourage direct investment into the economy by revising the investment code of the country.

He hopes this will provide incentives for not only small medium Liberian owned businesses but also for multi-million dollar businesses that would provide jobs for Liberians.

As the debate continues, the two deputy ministers linked to the granting of a 150-million US dollars contract to the Buchanan Renewable Energies are to appear before the House Tuesday.

They are to justify why trust should continue to be reposed in them by the House for allegedly violating the Investment Incentive Law.

Mr. Mawolo and Cllr. Johnson affixed their signatures to the 150-million US dollars contract, which granted the BRE a hundred percent tax waiver.

Ministers Mawolo and Cianneh Johnson signed the contract with BRE as proxies of their respective principal Ministers.

According to Legislative reporter, it is likely that a vote of no confidence would be passed in Ministers Mawolo and Cianneh Johnson. N NIC Chairman Fate In Limbo

About the Author:
Global News Network, Inc. (GNN), a local Liberian news agency, and is managed by a Liberian Journalist J. Cholo Brooks. Mr. Brooks served the BBC African Service as its Monrovia Correspondent for over a decade, he is a Senior Staff writer for The Liberian Times (www.theliberiantimes.com). He has been a member of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) since 1972. He is also one of the Contact Persons for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a US based Rights Organization. GNN Contact: Phone: +2316461010/+2315885625

Global News Network may be contacted at jcholobrooks@theliberiantimes..