-Min. Bility says, as Liberians jubilate arrival of Earth-Moving machines
By Jerromie S. Walters
The convoy’s journey through Monrovia, on Saturday with a batch of the 285 pieces of heavy-duty trucks and earth-moving equipment from the Freeport of Monrovia to the BTC Barracks was met with cheers and praise for President Boakai, with citizens expressing their gratitude for his commitment to connecting Liberia’s counties through improved infrastructure.
Like the Minister of State Without Portfolio, Mamaka Bilitysaid, many Liberians, including government critics have venerated the arrival of these machines, as they believe it is expected to not only enhance road construction but also create job opportunities, stimulate local economies, and ultimately improve the quality of life for Liberians.
Bility: “I’m honestly happy for Liberia. This is a dream come through for any well-meaning Liberia because as I said in the presentation (In the video), (if) you know the conditions of our roads and you know the situation of Liberia. You will be happy that we have these equipment here because half of our country is in the bush. Most of our people don’t have access to roads. Why do you think agriculture is not improving? [It’s] because they don’t have access to roads and they don’t have access to the markets. So this is the hour of the ARREST agenda roads so we are going to open the country.”
She added, “In the package what we are looking at is to have a maintenance contract for a year to two years with the manufacturers and also these equipment will be going into a maintenance zone. We are going to be constructing the maintenance zones and the manufacturers are going to be training over 100 Liberians so imagine the employment opportunities that it’s going to create. So we have the maintenance contracts we are going to set in place before we let these equipment to go into the maintenance zones and training is going to take place as well.”
As optimism and approval sweep through Monrovia, Liberians say the government’s investment in these earth-moving machines signifies a promising step towards a more connected and prosperous Liberia. However, the equipment was brought into the country under a murky agreement with South African billionaire Robert Gumede.
The announcement about the equipment, made during a retreat led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, was initially met with skepticism by some Liberians, particularly those in the opposition. However, Minister Mamaka Bility’s unveiling of the machines at the Freeport of Monrovia has silenced critics and sparked celebration among citizens.
Accompanied by Assistant Minister Karishma Pelham-Raad and other government officials, Minister Bility highlighted the importance of these machines in advancing the nation’s road construction efforts. The equipment, sourced from China, will be stored in Monrovia until the full shipment is received.
The controversy
It is also unclear whether the government adhered to the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission’s requirements for such a significant concession. Minister Bility, along with Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sylvester M. Grigsby and Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings, attended the virtual turnover of the machines weeks ago.
The event featured Mr. Xu Ming, Senior Vice President of SanyGroup, a Chinese multinational heavy equipment manufacturing company, and Robert Gumede, Chairman of the Guma Group based in South Africa. Xu Ming expressed his honor in sharing the handover moment with the Liberian Government, while Robert Gumede highlighted the partnership connecting Liberia with China and South Africa.
Minister Bility emphasized that the arrival of the machines marks a significant step toward improving the lives of Liberians. She stated, “If you know the history of Liberia and the conditions of our roads, this is more than just turning machines over. This is changing the lives of our people completely. We are totally grateful.”
She further mentioned, “For the first time since 1980, the government of Liberia will own its road maintenance equipment, under the Special Presidential Project. In the coming weeks, the Executive Mansion will ask the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of National Defense to build these maintenance zones, adding that the engineering department of the National Defense will help with road maintenance along with the Ministry of Public Works.”
In a press conference addressing the controversy over the secrecy of the agreement, Information Minister JerolinmekMatthew Piah said, “The presentation was intended to showcase how the government intends to rigorously tackle Liberia’s aging road problems by bringing in machines.”
Legislator’s rejection threat
Bong County District #3 Representative and the House of Representatives Chair on Rules and Order, J. Marvin Cole recently threatened to reject the yellow machine loan agreement, which is reportedly set to be submitted to the Liberian Legislature for approval.
He accused the Joseph Boakai-led government of violating Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) regulations. The Bong County Lawmaker described the procurement process for earth-moving equipment as a “mafia operation.”
He said, “As a lawmaker elected with more than 19,500 votes, I would never support allocating money to an institution without proper procedures. This undermines the credibility of our institutions, like the PPCC. The lack of adherence to procurement procedures suggests violations and disrespect for the rule of law. That’s what President Boakai is demonstrating.”
The backdating allegations
A local daily in Monrovia recently reported that the administration is working behind the scenes to create and backdate procurement documents with the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) to address the dissension surrounding the lack of translucency and accountability. “Sources have also confirmed to FPA that funds are being made available to influence lawmakers to gain the national legislature’s approval. FPA gathered that many lawmakers are not in favor of this move and have vowed to expose it,” it reveals.
