The Senate Joint Committee on Ways, Means Finance and budget as well as Public Accounts and Audit will next week begin a three-day public hearing on the draft special budget. The budget, if passed into law, will run from July 1, 2021 to December 2021.
The Senate Press and Public Affairs says next week’s hearing will target the revenue component.
The budget, which is in the tone of over US$362 million (three hundred and sixty-two million United States dollars), was recently submitted to the Liberian Senate by the House of Representatives for concurrence.
According to a Senate release, on Monday, August 2, 2021, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Liberia Revenue Authority will appear at 10:00 a.m., while the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) will be hosted at 11:00 a.m.
Also appearing on Monday are the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) at 12:00 noon, and the National Port Authority (NPA), the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the National Road Fund of Liberia will appear at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.
On Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will appear at 10:00 a.m. Also appearing on Tuesday morning at 11:00 is the Ministry of Transport, while the Ministry of Labor and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) will appear in the afternoon at 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m., respectively.
Also appearing on Tuesday, in the afternoon, are the ministries of Commerce and Lands and Mines, at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively.
The hearing on the revenue component will come to an end on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, with the appearances of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) at 10:00 a.m. and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) at 11:00 a.m. Those appearing in the afternoon are the National Identification Registry (NIR) and the National Fire Service (LNFS) at 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m., respectively.
Meanwhile, the Senate Joint Committee is requesting the representation of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning throughout the public hearings of the revenue component.
All hearings will take place in the 1st floor conference room of the Chinese Annex.