PATEL decries Ill-treatment of Liberian Businesses …plans Unspecified Actions Against Next Gov’t

The National Chairman of the Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL), 
Dominic Nimely,  is unpleased with the manner and form Liberian-owned businesses are being treated in their own country. 

Mr. Nimely is hoping that the condition changes soon or else the would-be elected government at the October 10 poll fails to right the wrong. 

In execution of Article 77(b) of the Liberian Constitution, eligible Liberian voters will go to the poll to on October 10 elect a President/Vice President, 73 Representatives and 15 Senators with the two former steering the affairs of the state for the next six years and the latter for nine years. In those elections,
President Weah, standard bearer of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change
(CDC) will contest against 18 opposition candidates for the presidency.

Speaking at a news conference in Monrovia on Monday, September 18, 2023, Mr. Nimely, who is also a top executive of the Liberia Business Association (LIBA), says the organization is hopeful for a peaceful and transparent electoral process, as it waits to see the next course of action that will improve the business climate for Liberian business enterprises. 

“We are going to give 90 days to the person that will win the correct the Liberian wrongs. As things stand, it’s difficult to clear a container from the port. We have asked the Legislature to right the wrongs but it has failed. We had meeting with the EU and it was all about peace. Despite the segregation, we want peace because Liberia must be like before. But after the election, as I indicated, we will launch some unspecified actions in demand for our condition to change,” he pointed out. 

“We have foreign companies that don't take Liberian Dollars this is an abomination. They should respect our currency. APM doesn't accept Liberian Dollars and so when you have your consignment it becomes overly dangerous to clear because you have to get the US Dollars currency. We are calling on the next leader elected to change this narrative. They must speak for public. We can’t have a country where Lebanese and Indians are selling retails like Liberians. We must get retail right. We need a fair playground,” he added.