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Written by Our Senior Staff
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Wednesday, 25 July 2012 21:00 |
“ Paying civil servants very close to Liberia’s Independence Day this year means that papa is coming home late and children will keep looking on the road for the black plastic bag…”
Ever since the Liberian Government stopped paying civil servants on the 15 of every month; a sense of uncertainty appears to have developed not only among critics of the regime, but also among civil servants, who on the average are mute to speak out because in the first six years they would receive salary payment on the 15 of every month.
At the moment, 2012/13 Fiscal Budget is still being dragged at the National Legislature for passage, while salary payment before the 26 celebrations is being rumored to have started at a slow pace to be continued up to the eve of Independence Day.
Taking stock of things on the local market, it is observed that goods and services are abundant but the purchasing power is scarcely available as people visit market places and take inventory with the hope that their parents or relatives would be paid to provide 26 gifts.
“ No money, plenty people selling plenty things but no money to buy,” a lady only identified as Gamien who claimed to have come from Gbarnga to visit her brother-in-law said at Redlight market Tuesday morning among a swollen crowd.
At the same time, many civil servants noted that they have heard about salary payment before the 26 celebrations but, as some said, “ paying civil servants very close to the celebration of Liberia’s Independence on July 26 prompts the question- “papa coming home or the children will keep looking on the road for the black plastic bag…?”
Observers have also indicated that this year, no matter the portrait of progress by the government that things are on course ,Liberians will be celebrating a ‘ somber 26’ because of lack of job and money for ordinary citizens to commemorate the national holiday in their own way.
As one observer put it, “ even though the government said it has budgeted US$300,000 to expend on the celebrations ,on grounds that a lot of projects have been implemented and dedicated in Montserrado, the host county, the real reason for the budget being little could be that the Fiscal Budget is still being held at the Capitol Building”.
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