MONROVIA – The highly anticipated arrival of the ‘yellow machines’ has begun, but the secretive nature of their procurement is raising serious concerns. The covert importation of these 285 pieces of equipment, which are arriving in batches, has sparked widespread suspicion that they might be a ‘devil’s gift’, with the murky process only deepening the mistrust.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The machines were brought into the country over the weekend without any known legal framework, constituting a blatant breach of established norms. This disregard for obtaining approval from the Legislature and the Public Procurement Concession Commission is concerning. Typically, the brokering of such agreements involves the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, and other heads of entities aligned with the purpose of the agreement. It is unclear whether the Ministers of Justice and Finance were involved in negotiating this deal.
News about the arrival of the 285 machines, intended to keep the country’s dilapidated roads in good condition year-round, broke during President Joseph Boakai’s first cabinet retreat in May. Deputy Minister of State without Portfolio, Mamaka Bility, announced during the retreat that the equipment was on its way to Liberia, with each county set to receive 19 yellow machines, irrespective of its size.
While her disclosure, accompanied by a video presentation of the already branded equipment, received rousing applause from cabinet members, it also raised many questions among Liberians, including some lawmakers, and sparked media speculation. There were rumors that the 285 pieces of earth-moving equipment were a signature fee that a South African businessman, Robert Gumede of Guma Group, agreed to pay for the exploration of the Wologizi Mountain, an iron ore reserve in Lofa County.
This speculation has not been confirmed or denied by the government. However, during a press conference, the Minister of Information, Mr. Jerelinmek Piah, stated that the government has not consummated any deal regarding the 285 pieces of heavy-duty trucks and earth-moving equipment. He said it was merely a proposal put before the President for consideration.
Meanwhile, The Liberian Investigator has obtained an audio recording in which President Boakai is heard discussing his vision to fix the deplorable roads in the country. In the recording, he says, “When these machines come, let Dorobor Jallah (The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority) tell me he can’t raise the money to pay for them, then the Liberian people would be the ones to decide, but we got to open this country.”
On Saturday, 24 pieces of the 285 equipment were removed from the Freeport of Monrovia, paraded through the principal streets of Monrovia before being taken to the BTC Barracks. The arrival of the machines renewed concerns among some lawmakers, with Rep. Musa Bility taking to Facebook to remind his colleagues of their duty to uphold the reasons for which they were elected. He stated, “We were elected to check the excesses of the Executive, and now is the moment to fulfill that duty. We must act to save our country and safeguard our democracy. We are faced with a request to approve a questionable loan for the purchase of machines. This deal is not in the best interest of our nation, and we must reject it. This is a pivotal moment for us to defend our Constitution and stand up for our country. Let’s seize this opportunity to do what is right for Liberia.”
On the other hand, Montserrado County District 5 lawmaker, Prescilla Abram Cooper, also took to Facebook, suggesting that even though there was a procedural error in how the machines were brought into the country, the Legislature should focus on the greater good of the people by correcting the procedural error. She posted, “Critical analysis and undoing the procedural error, that’s all this requires. The greater good of the people is paramount.”
Adding to the voices of concern, Acarous Gray, former Representative of Montserrado County District 8, highlighted the potential financial implications of the deal, noting that such agreements often place an undue burden on the nation’s economy without clear benefits to the public. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in all government dealings, particularly those involving significant financial commitments.
“Honorable Gentlemen, we are also hearing from the corridors of the Executive about an attempt to backdate procurement processes leading to the purchasing of the machines. Also,from the corridors of the Senate there are reports about a concocted bogus resolution intended to justify the machines’ illegal purchase and imports. These are all concerning rumors and where there is smoke there is fire,” he stated in a Facebook post.
Gray noted that Article 34 of the Liberian Constitution clearly states that no loans shall be raised by the Government without legislative approval. He stated that if the Executive bypassed this constitutional mandate, it represents a direct usurpation of legislative power. He urged the Legislature must investigate whether any loans or guarantees were negotiated without their approval, which would be a blatant constitutional breach.
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