IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-16 March 17, 2018:The Minister of Youth and Sports has revealed plan to petition the legislature to impose sin-tax on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages in order to raise funding for sports in the country.
A sin-tax is an excise tax specifically levied on certain goods deemed harmful to society, for example alcohol,tobacco and drugs among others.
Revealing the plan in Monrovia when he recently presented international licenses to four Liberian wrestling athletes from the International Wrestling Federation, Minister Zoegar Wilson said the sin tax on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages is intended to raise money to support the sports sector.
Shortly after the presentation, the Liberian Youth and Sports Minister expressed excitement for the achievement of the Liberia Wrestling Federation to participate in the African championship for the first time to reach the semis since 20 years of existence.
The four, Eric Borkuah, Venecious Juah, Jarius Kollie and Augustine Flomo were qualified by the International Wrestling Federation to receive the 2018 license.
The Liberian athletes represented the country in the just ended African Wrestling Championship held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria where Liberia ended up in the semis, thus, qualifying for the next competition in May 2018.
Minister Wilson congratulated the men for taking the flag of Liberia to an unexpected level in their debut appearance at the continental wrestling competition, noting that the nation is proud of them.
He encouraged the newly international license wrestlers to keep pressing on, as the sports ministry will do all to increase the national budget of sports in order to have all federations and associations in the country get their benefits.
At the recent tournament, Liberian wrestlers fought in two categories, both the free style senior category and Greco- Roman senior.
Meanwhile, the president of the Liberia Wrestling Federation (LWF), George B. Gould commended the new Youth & Sports Minister for his motivational words bestowed on the sportspersons and the LWF in general.
He disclosed that with the good plans of the new ministry, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for wrestlers and other federations in the country; and his federation will give its all to work along with the ministry to achieve the goal in the pro-poor agenda of the government.
Gould asserted that getting to Nigeria was difficult, but through the kind courtesy of Gilbert Moore, a Liberian philanthropist based in Canada, the four wrestlers were able to participate in the continent most renowned wrestling tournament.
The Canadian-based Liberian had committed his support to the LWF to participate in the African Wrestling Championship and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
The former Olympic athlete has shipped wrestling shoes; tracksuits and singlet among others for Liberian wrestlers to enable them participate in the continental competition.
Gilbert Moore asserted that his goal is to provide world class wrestling mat, gymnasium equipment and to galvanize resources for Liberian wrestlers to attend international competitions and fly the national colors of the country.
“My dream is to engage young and talented Liberians who may otherwise be unemployed and give them something positive to work towards”.
