Word reaching Nightwatch Press is that the National Revenue Authority (NRA) of the government of Sierra Leone has bowed to public outcry.
It was reported in this medium last week that the authority decided to raise the import duty on arriving 40 foot containers from Le135 million (NLe135, 000) to Le210 million (NLe210, 000).
The resulting outcry from local importers, mostly female compatriots, about the significant rise in the price has not gone unnoticed by the authorities.
Nightwatch was informed by happy lady importers that the NRA has dropped the price down from Le210 million to Le160 million.
“While we appreciate the quick response from government we want to advice and inform them that even at Le135 million the import duty on 40 foot containers was way too high for us. The people that really suffer from the rise in cost are the poor consumers. We are asking the NRA and the government to consider dropping the price below Le135 million if some costs are to come down,” a female importer implored government.
The lady importers who descended on Nightwatch said they still find it hard to afford the Le160 million they are now expected to pay, adding that this will add to the people’s suffering.
They informed that economic hardship and suffering is widespread and government should be aware of this and tailor customs duties to size.
“Right now business is slow. The rains have not been giving us time to trade. Some of our goods coming from upcountry get stuck on the way. Therefore we are not doing much business. The high prices of our goods to offset rising government prices have made it almost impossible to sell anything. People cannot afford our prices. Raising taxes and other costs up on importers will affect the end users of our goods and services. We want to see an end to the people’s sufferings. Dropping prices will help a great deal in this direction,” stated a female trader.
Meanwhile opposition politicians have also praised the NRA and government for responding to the outcries that resulted from raising the import duty on 40 foot containers, but advised that the price drops from Le160 million to below the Le135 million it had risen from to Le210 million.
“Dropping the price from Le210 million to Le160 million is commendable. It shows that government is willing to respond to the people’s complaints. However, the local importers would tell you that even the Le135 million they were being charged was too much for them to afford. The rising costs in prices of goods and services can be blamed on rising charges on importers. The government should consider the current level of hardship and drop the charge to import 40 foot containers below what it was originally. This will no doubt have a rippling effect on the present high prices people are being forced to pay,” an opposition politician advised government.
The female importers suggested that government should make things easy on them by making waivers available to them, not just foreign business people who import strategic or political commodities.
“The government as a matter of urgency should know about our economic situation across the country. People are going to bed hungry every night across the country. The prices and costs have to come down or people will not be able to cope, even us. We need waivers at customs when we bring in our goods. The waiver should not only be for the Indians, Lebanese, Chinese and whites. This government has been a heartless government for not considering our hardships before raising prices and costs on us and the poor people,” the female importer pleaded.
(Developing news story; to be continued)