Monrovia-Confusion is growing between the Monrovia City Corporation and the Liberia Services Corporation (LSCI), the group managing the collection of parking fees for vehicles in Monrovia City.
According to documents in the possession of FrontPageAfrica, Monrovia City Mayor Clara Doe Mvogo has instructed City Police officers to remove all parking attendants assigned by the Liberia Services Corporation from the main streets of Monrovia insisting that contract reached with the LSCI has expired.
The decision by the City Mayor comes in the wake of an ongoing legal battle between the two entities a case that is currently before the Supreme Court of Liberia for decision.
Leon Elliot, general manager of the LSCI told reporters that while the two parties are awaiting decision from the high court Mayor Mvogo has ordered City Police to beat and remove parking attendants from the streets putting more 150 Liberians out of job.
The Supreme Court of Liberia Justice in Chambers, Jamesetta Wolokollie issued a writ of Prohibition in the case Monrovia City Corporation by and thru its Mayor, Clara Doe Mvogo of the City of Monrovia petitioner versus the Management of Liberia Services Corporation, thru its president/CEO, Kwaku Addy and all corporate officers acting under the authority of said corporation also of the city of Monrovia, respondent.
The Petitioner, the MCC prayed the Civil law Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit for the fourth time on July 1, 2014 for the cancellation of Contract.
Judge Peter Gbeneweleh ruled on May 23, 2016 in favor of the respondent (the MCC) cancelling the contract and the LSCI took exception and announced an appeal which was granted by Judge Gbeneweleh.
While the Supreme Court is hearing the process with the issuance of a Writ of Prohibition, MCC Mayor Mvogo on May 27, 2016 wrote the President/CEO of LSCI informing him that the contract between the parties has expired and as such the MCC was taking over the city parking.
“We write to inform you that the contract between your corporation and Monrovia City Corporation expired on April 22, 2016. In this regard, we will be taking over the Management of City parking within your assigned area in the City of Monrovia as of Monday, May 30, 2016”, stated a letter from MCC Mayor Mvogo.
In response, the LSCI wrote the Jones & Jones Law Office seeking legal redress to the decision by the MCC announcing that it was taking over the parking within the city.
“We write to inform you on a communication from the Monrovia City Corporation to our Corporation warning us that our contract with their corporation was over and they are taking over our control area of Street parking as of May 30, 2016. Furthermore, we have received complain from our employees that MCC has disrupted our control areas of assignment, and have arrested and detained some of our parking attendant at their MCC prison facility”, stated the letter from the LSCI.
According to a service agreement signed between the MCC and the LSCI dated the 22nd Day of April A.D. 2011 it is stated the contract shall last for a period of five years.
Count seven of the agreement states “this agreement shall have a duration of five (5) years and shall be subject to renewal on terms and conditions agreed by both parties”.
In the agreement, it is indicated that the LSCI shall be entitled to 75% of proceeds obtained from managing services while the MCC gets 25%.
“The parties agreed that for an in consideration of the labor equipment materials and services to be provided by the CONSULTANT, the City Corporation will receive $136,000 USD on an annual basis, before any money is shared. The Consultant shall be paid seventy-five (75) percent of all proceeds obtained from managing services outlined in this agreement. The City Corporation shall in turn receive twenty-five (25) percent of all proceeds generated from these services. Payment to the parties shall be done on a monthly basis”, the proceeds sharing portion of the agreement stated.
Former Acting Monrovia City Mayor Mary T. Broh signed for the MCC while H. Kwaku Addy President/CEO of Liberia Services Corporation Signed for his entity.
The LSCI is contending that during the five years period of its service agreement with the MCC, it has been in court since the Madam Broh was replaced with new Mayor Mvogo.
Also while the Supreme Court’s prohibition is still in place the action by the MCC to begin taking control over the parking area has been described as disrespect to the high court.