Liberia Roundup: Introduction of electric vehicles, trafficking, protests, deaths
Introduction of electric vehicles
Liberians will begin to use electric vehicles in the country with its introduction into the country's transportation system from March 1. The DENKI Electric vehicles introduced by Tuma Enterprises Inc. were announced on February 29. This forms part of the country’s quest for cleaner, greener future through private sector-driven efforts towards sustainable transportation. It also forms efforts to introduce eco-friendly transportation solutions in Liberia. The vehicles include various models tailored to the needs of Liberian consumers, according to The New Dawn Liberia.
Protests
Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerolinmmek Piah has indicated that a lawmaker led protests that led to the death of one person on February 28. Several persons in Kinjnor Grand Cape Mount County protested against Bea Mountain Mining Company for what they described as bad labour practices and failure to adhere to their 31-count petition. The action led to the death of one person with nine police officers injured. According to GNN Liberia, the minister noted that the name of the said minister will be disclosed.
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Budget delays
The House of Representatives in Liberia extended an invitation to Finance Minister H. Bioma Kamara to appear before the house to provide details about the delay in submitting the draft budget for 2024. This follows a request made by the Bong Country Representative Moima Briggs Mensah who indicated the need for clarifying the cause for the delay, Front Page Africa reports. The President is expected to submit the budget to the Legislature at least two months before the expiration of a current budget however legislature returned the 2024 draft budget to allow for adjustments by the new government. Instead, they allocated US$41.3 million to cover government expenses pending the draft budget.
Deaths over longstanding protests
Three persons are feared dead over a longstanding protest against the operation of commercial gold mining company Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC). The protests which took place in Tawore District, Kinjor, and Grand Cape Mount County turned bloody, The New Dawn Liberia reports. While the Liberia National Police deny reports of the alleged deaths, some legislators from Monrovia said residents of the Grand Cape Mount accused the police Emergency Response Unit of allegedly charging out live bullets.
Trafficking crime investigated
A trafficker who allegedly engages in the trafficking of women to Oman in the Middle East has been picked up by police and detained on the directive of a local court in Monrovia, the Front Page Africa reports. Jones Wilson Saytarkon was reportedly rearrested two weeks after his initial release after prosecutors could not bring a case against him in time. The rearrest came after one of his alleged victims claimed she will not testify against him anymore. Two other victims, a school teacher and a woman named Princess Samuels are expected to testify against Saytarkon.
