Published: September 29, 2025
BUSHROD ISLAND — The United Seamen, Ports, and General Workers’ Union of Liberia (USPOGUL) has issued a sharp ultimatum to the government, demanding that Liberians be guaranteed jobs aboard vessels flying the Liberian flag by Oct. 15 — or risk a global blockade of those ships.
The threat came during a fiery World Maritime Day program Sept. 25 on Bushrod Island, where USPOGUL President-General Freeman Trokon Gueh accused Liberian authorities of locking citizens out of an industry they should rightfully benefit from.
“This union is among the richest in the world, but we are very poor because the facilities of the union are diverted,” Gueh told the gathering. “The government is wicked; the leadership of the Liberia Maritime Authority is wicked.”
“We Are Denied Our Own Sea”
Gueh said more than 77,000 crew members work on 5,600 ships under the Liberian flag — yet not a single Liberian serves on board.
He accused the Labor and Foreign Affairs ministries of issuing Liberian seafarers’ documents to foreigners and diverting dues intended for Liberians.
He claimed that at previous engagements with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), officials clarified that nothing in international law blocks Liberians from serving aboard these vessels — blaming the exclusion on Liberia’s own policies.
“Why are we wicked to one another? Liberians are being denied the sea that belongs to them,” he said, adding that even foreign offers to build seafarers’ welfare centers had been ignored by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA).
Oct. 15 Deadline: “No Ship Will Discharge”
USPOGUL is demanding that the government require at least two Liberians on each of the 5,600 Liberian-flagged vessels by mid-October.
“Any ship flying Liberia’s flag, any country they go in, they will not load and they won’t discharge,” Gueh warned. “If our demands are not met after Oct. 15, you put down two foreigners and replace them with two Liberians.”
Women Leaders Join Criticism
Jackie N.W. Doe, Women’s Chair for the International Transport Federation (ITF), blasted LiMA for favoring foreign workers over trained Liberians.
“Internationally, Liberia comes first — they fly our flag on ships, but not a single Liberian is on board,” she said. “The government is giving passports to Indians, Ghanaians and Chinese while Liberians sit idle.”
Doe urged the government to prioritize jobs for Liberians, especially those trained in Ghana under government sponsorship, warning that youth unemployment is fueling crime and instability.
Labor Ministry Acknowledges Gaps
Dominic J. Wreh, Director of Trade-Union Affairs at the Labor Ministry, admitted that the seafarers’ section of USPOGUL is “totally dormant” but vowed reforms under Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah.
“What the locusts have eaten, this government will restore,” Wreh said.
He disclosed that the cost of foreign work permits had been raised from US$1,000 to US$3,000 to discourage importation of alien workers and urged USPOGUL to submit documentation of all trained Liberians for placement.
Maritime Authority: Training Comes First
Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, Ambassador Robert W. Kpadeh, defended LiMA, saying opportunities exist but require Liberians to show interest and meet global standards.
“We can have all the ships, but if our people don’t express interest in maritime, how do you get there?” he asked.
Kpadeh pointed to enrollment at the Regional Maritime University (RMU), where Liberians can qualify for government-funded training, stressing that “maritime is a global business” that demands discipline and certification.
Jobs vs. Preparedness
The standoff underscores a long-standing paradox: Liberia runs the world’s second-largest shipping registry yet employs no Liberians as seafarers on its own-flagged fleet.
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