At least, the public was made aware that there were indeed economic saboteurs in the midst, comprising of unscrupulous businessmen and traders themselves, in connivance with some government officials and employees.
But I don’t think the rice hoarders would have enough courage to do what they are doing to create panic in the domestic market, if they didn’t have the connections in the higher echelons of government. And who would believe that the members of the rice cartel don’t know anybody at the agriculture department. I have strong suspicion that some of them do.
Perhaps, repetition of these illegal activities which tend to make it doubly difficult for the people to make both ends meet, could be dealt with strongly with the full force of the law. The law enforcement agencies must be tapped to scour the warehouses, if only to stop rice and oil hoarding in warehouses. These are the two important commodity goods that create so much panic in the domestic markets so that the prices of consumer goods are often affected. And the government should put the blame on the cartels which are presently feasting on the economic situation.
The next move that the government should do is to create a Task Force Against Economic Saboteurs, in order to send the message that it means business. The task force should be composed of individuals, whose reputations are clean and unquestionable. If there is a need to include bishops, the government can do so, if only to ensure its effectiveness in carrying out its mandate and tasks.
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