ArcelorMittal said it donated vehicles to the government of Liberia in response to “an urgent appeal for logistical support from the government to manage the challenges associated with food crisis currently impacting Liberia and much of the developing world.”

The company in a press statement apparently intended to clear the air of misconception created as a result of the donation, said in light of the appeal, it pledged 100 vehicles in support of the rural development agenda to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Detailing reasons that led to the donation, the company quoted statement made by Internal Affairs Minister Ambullai Johnson during a press conference in August that the government’s ability to implement its agriculture development agenda, on schedule, would be constrained by lack of logistical capacity.

“In light of the pending food crisis, the president of Liberia requested that major foreign investors currently operating in Liberia consider donating vehicles that would support the government’s immediate and medium term rural development plans,” the ArcelorMittal statement quoted Minister Johnson as saying.

ArcelorMittal Cars Are Not “Free Gifts”
By J. Nathaniel Daygbor

A Presidential aspirant from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in the 2005 elections in the country, Mr. David Farhat, has disclosed that the 100 pick-ups recently donated to government by Arcelor Mittal Steel Company are not free gifts.

Mr. Farhat, a former Finance Minister of Liberia and an accounting expert, hinted that the cars and other activities being conducted by the company would be reflected in its financial reports that may eventually end up been deducted from revenues to be accrued by government.

He noted that the rehabilitation of the various highways in the country and subsequent provision of the brand new pickups by Arcelor Mittal were free and that no one should think that it was a form of bribery.

Speaking to the Analyst Wednesday at his Old Road residence, Mr. Farhat said that Mittal came to do business and not as a missionary intending to get good name from Liberian government.

He opined that that the presentation of the cars may cause one to think that it is bribery, especially one who does not have the deepest understanding of business, adding, “I can tell that those are not gifts; let one fool you.”

Mr. Farhat stressed that receiving of the cars by the Executive branch which later landed into the “honest” hands of members of the 52nd Legislature of Liberia has been a terrible thing, noting that “in a developed world, it is not taken lightly for an international company to offer such huge provision to government, since it could have terrible effect for both the recipient and the giver.”.

He suggested that the best way to have done it was to give cash to the government, with the latter determining how to expend it, especially with the huge economic challenges facing the nation, rather than having the lawmakers to take possession of the donation when they can afford to buy cars from the salaries earned.

The FDP Standard Bearer however frowned on those who continue to describe the donation as a sign of pepperbush, drawing into the picture past administrations.

“I can show you that Firestone used to pay their taxes because I was Chief Tax Collector for government. In fact, Firestone was audited and free of tax invasion.

If Firestone and other companies were not paying legitimate taxes, how then did government operate,” he asked. Mr. Farhat concluded by urging Liberians to desist from shifting blames on past regimes and instead help in the rebuilding process of the country.