Africa-Press – Liberia. The House of Representatives of the 54th National Legislature on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, launched the establishment of ‘Legislative Caucus on Illicit Financial Flow and Taxation’.
The Caucus according to the document establishing it, is a ‘Bi-Partisan Legislative Caucus’. The Caucus was born out of a Parliamentary meeting held with ‘Tax Justice Network’ along with its national partner ‘Integrity Watch Liberia’ in Monrovia on August 4, 2021.
“Informed by the grand reality of the massive financial homage, due to illicit financial flowed, and the need to pursue fair and progressive taxation to address structural inequalities, the ‘Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Group’, formally announced their commitment to regularize the formation of a ‘Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Caucus’ based on shared strategic purpose, devoid of the party and national politics, and dedicated to the quest of progressive taxation and boosting domestic revenue mobilization by addressing drivers of illicit financial flows.
The objective of the Caucus is to strengthen its internal capacity to develop laws that will address illicit flows, and fair taxation, and provide robust oversight.
The ‘Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Caucus’ shall comprise of members of the Legislature who share the same strategic purpose for addressing issues of illicit financial flow, and promoting fair taxation, and will be devoid of the party and national politics.” Montserrado County District #16 Representative Dixon W. Seboe gave an overview of the Caucus.
Still giving the overview of the Caucus, Representative Seboe said, for effective management, the Caucus shall comprise of not less than ten, and not more than twenty persons.
“It shall have a permanent secretary who will be responsible to coordinate the affairs of the Caucus and provide technical support.
Integrity Watch Liberia shall serve as permanent Secretary for the ‘Bi-Partisan Legislative Caucus On Illicit Financial Flow and Progressive Taxation. It shall be responsible to provide technical and coordinated support for the National Caucus.
This will include but is not limited to coordinating National Caucus meetings, responsible for meetings and documentation of Caucus meetings, providing evidence-based research data, informing National Caucus advocacy, and Legislative dialogues and debates around illicit financial flows and taxation, and ultimately become the knowledge hub for the Caucus.
The key priority issues that this Caucus is going to be handling are as follows. Review of incentive regime, and development of appropriate Legislative stock gap, export proceeds repatriation issue, lifestyle audit legislation, publication of all concession contracts, as part of contract negotiation.” Representative Seboe concluded.
Present at the launch of the Caucus includes Representatives Francis S. Dopoh, Richard N. Koon, Ellen Attoh-Wreh, P. Mike Jurry, Matthew Zarzar, Dixon W. Seboe, Dowon Gleekia, Ivar Jones, Clarence Garh, Ben A. Fofana, and Isaac B. Roland.
