Monrovia – With just three days into 2024, the gateway to Liberia’s economy, the National Port Authority appears to be partly strangulated with the shutting down of major activities within the port facilities.
By: Christopher C.Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
The decision by the Customs Brokers and National Truckers Association, if continued, will greatly affect the revenue envelope of the country. Speaking during day one of its joint official protest action, the President of the National Customs Brokers Association of Liberia, James Hinneh, said the continuous barriers to trade in the country are unacceptable.
According to him, the alleged enforcement of a new policy instituted by the National Port Authority is untimely and unfortunate. The new alleged policy, among other things, he stated, puts an additional bill on each and every container leaving the port facility through the weight bridge.
This, he noted, is unrealistic, especially with the unstable amount currently charged per ton and container, respectively. He also alleged that even if a truck passes the weight bridge but has a normal weight, the amount of $10 USD will be paid, apart from all other previous and agreed expenses; this, he said, is unfair. “We should have had meetings, discussed this issue in depth and agreed upon as one body to ensure effective implementation, but not as abrupt as was done,” he blasted. Moreover, the law he indicated states that before the enforcement of any policy, publication should have been done for at least three months to notify their clients and other key stakeholders in the sector, something he said was not done.
Mr. Hinneh stressed that they will remain engaged and in a non-violent manner and form but at the same time very resolute until the right and needful can be done by the duty bearers. “Our unending protest will continue even though it will directly and indirectly affect the general populace, but we have to do this in order for the right and proper thing to be done,” he maintained.
James also argued that how can you institute a new policy where the national government will not benefit directly but individuals; this should now claim the attention of relevant authorities,” he noted. His statement was buttressed by the President of the National Port Truckers Association, Lamie Kamara, who stated that they are resolved in their protest action and will not rest until their plights are addressed.
However, according to our source, the bridge installation is also affecting the APM Terminals Liberia and has significantly slowed down its operations. “The bridge installation is outside of the APM Terminals facility and was allegedly installed by the Ministry of Transport following meetings with key stakeholders, but customs brokers and the truckers association both claim that they were not part of any initial discussion relative to the new bridge installation,” our source added. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport through the Axle Weigh Bridge Project, according to our source, had a meeting on the issue and will make an official statement on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
As the investigation on the matter continues, major operations at the National Port due to the Port Truckers and Customs Brokers Association unending protest remain at a standstill. Up to press time, no trucks are leaving the port facilities, something that is creating serious problems for trade and commerce thus far.