Member of Parliament from Western Area, Honourable Rosy Rugiatu Kanu from Western Area Urban has stated that the imposition of 5% tax on rice will only compound poverty among the people of Sierra Leone.
Honourable Kanu is not pleased with the 5 per cent tax increase and wanted government remove so that more burden could not be created for the people. She made the disclosure while debating on the 2024 appropriation Act in parliament. The law in question will regulate public expenditure on the provision of social services to the people.
The APC parliamentarian also highlighted the essence of access to water and sanitation in schools.
“Children will not develop their education without access to water and good sanitation,” she submitted while advocating more budgetary allocation to the water sector.
She called for more construction of pre-schools around the country and underscored additional budgetary allocation to the Gender Ministry. She stressed on the popularisation of the gender bill and appeals to the Transport Ministry to supply enough buses for schools and the people in the Western Area Urban.
On her part, Honourable Nenneh Lebbie from Bo District clarified said there was no need for the importation of rice.
“If Sierra Leone used to feed herself and export to other countries why not now,” she wonders as she points out bad governance and politics as the main causes.
Hon Lebbie commended the visionary leadership of President Bio for transforming the agricultural sector and advised colleague law makers not to politicise the budget, but urged all to come together and develop the nation.
On the 5% imposition of tax on rice, the APC said it would not yield divident but however urged Sierra Leoneans to embark on farming.
She also called on citizens to embark on fish farming and advocate more budget allocation to the fisheries sector for effective service delivery. Youth in fishing, she said, had to be given attention to address employment challenges in the country.
In his submission, Honourable John Sartty Kargbo from Western Area Rural district said the budget should be discussed fairly and went on to outline the challenges.
He also said infrastructural development was very important for the development of the nation and called on the State to focus on same.
The law maker called on the Finance Ministry to address taxation and also address the livelihood of Sierra Leoneans.