Sarnor Wants Liberians Venture Into Business
Former representative candidate of district #16 in Montserrado County, Archie I. Sarnor S, has called on the government to encourage Liberians to venture into business lengthwise foreign investments.
Sarnor said, foreign companies should not be allowed to establish their own transport system, thus producing cement, and other things that Liberian businesses can accomplished.
He made the statement in an interview over the weekend in Monrovia with reporters.
Sarnor called on the government to prioritize the Liberianalization policy in the concessions agreement to prevent concession companies, including Bea Mountain, Western Cluster and ArcelorMittal-Liberia from establishing their own transport system and cement factory.
He rhetorically told journalists that if concession companies continue to engage into basic services that Liberian companies can do; how will Liberian businesses be empowered?
According to Sarnor, there should be equity participation of Liberian businesses with the concession companies to enhance liquidation of money in the economy.
He said the lack of equal participation of Liberian-owned businesses into the economy, it will be difficult to produce middle income earners.
Sarnor told reporters that government cannot employ all qualified persons to work, but those who have the ability to invest in other sectors in the economy should be protected and prioritized in the concession agreement.
He noted that if these measures are not put into place, Liberians will find it difficult to leave the poverty line, which has affected the citizens over the years.
“Salaries cannot make any individual rich, but investment can provide the opportunity for individual riches; if anybody gets rich from salaries, that person could be forced to steal public money,” he said.
Sarnor meanwhile, called on the government to also consider reducing high taxes on imported goods on Liberian businesses.
He noted that the high taxes on imported goods will actually affect the ordinary citizens and sometimes the people can think that government is not working in their interest.
He said, to remove Liberians from the poverty level, government should implement strong measures with concession companies to promote local context in their operation in the country.
He said, foreign investors should be allowed to do things, which will not help empower domestic investments.
Sarnor: “This is about government to ensure that concession companies prioritize Liberian businesses to transform the socio-economic development of the people and the nation.”
On the contrary, he disagreed with the government to ascribe the function of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to Liberia Transport Management (LTM), which some public official interest with a foreign-based business with an alleged interest of a ‘terrorist group.’