Monrovia – When President Joseph Boakai wrote the Legislature in July that the yellow machine deal has not been signed but negotiation was underway with his “good old friend” who has offered to assist his administration, lawmakers and the anxious public thought that the president was buying time to complete whatever negotiations that were already on the book before forwarding to the Legislature for approval.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
However, FrontPage Africa has been reliably informed as at the time of publication that officials who have been at the center of the yellow machine negotiation have reportedly failed to submit any valid document to the President to inform him how far they have gone with the deal.
As a result, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is said to be refusing to pay US$25 million down payment for the yellow machines.
According to inside sources, President Boakai has instructed Presidential Affairs Minister Sylvester Grigsby to provide documents relating to the ongoing yellow machine negotiation. Grigsby, sources say, asked Mamaka Bility, the Minister of State Without Portfolio, who is the chief negotiator of this questionable deal, but she has not yet made any documents available to Minister Grigsby.
As a result, Grigsby is reportedly asking the Ministry of Finance to request the documents directly from Minister Bility. While there have been no documents presented, sources say what is known to major players of the deal is that the Wologisi Mountain was promised as part of the yellow machines.
Having a second thought
FPA has also learned that given the confusion over the yellow machine saga, and in the wake of Liberia’s 177th Independence orator’s advice, President Boakai is said to be contemplating on canceling the yellow machine negotiation.
In her firebrand address, Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey told the President that he has made some mistakes in some of his decisions including the yellow machine brouhaha.
She said: “Do you want to be remembered for condoning lawlessness or respecting the rule of law? In regards to the former, you have made some mistakes along the way— from the tenured positions debacle, to the appointments of questionable characters in key positions of trust (you know who they are), to the controversy of what I call ‘Yellow machine gate’. I urge you to course correct before you lose the confidence of the Liberian people. Assemble a diverse and nationally- representative team of competent and committed Liberians with integrity; devise mutually agreeable, time-bound deliverables for them to achieve; and hold them accountable. Demand that all appointees roll up their sleeves and get to work or move out of the way of progress.”
Mounting criticisms
The Boakai-Koung has come under increasing criticism over its questionable deal with South Africa’s GUMA Group, owned by South Africa’s millionaire Robert Gumede and SANY Group, a Chinese multinational heavy equipment manufacturing company.
At President Boakai’s first cabinet meeting in May, Minister Bility, to the surprise of many cabinet officials, announced that a deal for 285 pieces of earth-moving equipment was sealed and that the machines were loaded on a ship en route to Monrovia for distribution among Liberia’s 15 counties. This announcement sparked public outcry and raised numerous questions. The government, through Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, later backtracked, denying that an agreement had been consummated and stating that negotiations were ongoing to procure the machines.
However, in July, the government unveiled the first batch of 285 earth-moving machines and dump trucks to the public. Minister of State Without Portfolio Mamaka Bility led the government team at the unveiling ceremony held at the National Port Authority (NPA) compound. The machines were paraded through the streets of Monrovia and taken to the military barrack.
This move sparked concern and prompted the House of Representatives to summon key officials at the center to the machine negotiation. They were Sylvester Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; Mamaka Bility, Minister of State without Portfolio; Retired General Geraldine George, Minister of Defense; Col. Davidson T. Forleh, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia; and Sekou Dukuly, Managing Director of the National Port Authority.
However, on the day of the appearance, the President wrote the Legislature, informing them that no deal has been reached by the government to purchase the yellow machines as is being speculated.
In a communication to the Legislature seen by FrontPage Africa, the president said the initiative originated from a conversation between him and a long-time “friend” who shares a commitment to the ARREST Agenda.
Excerpt: “Negotiation Phase: We are currently in the negotiation phase. No formal agreement or contract has been signed with any party. The discussions are ongoing, and no financial commitment has been made by the Government of Liberia and not a dime paid.
No Public Funds Utilized: To date, no funds from the Liberian treasury have been expended on this project. The first batch of equipment that arrived in the country was shipped at the supplier’s expense. The GOL has not incurred any costs related to the transportation or acquisition of these machines. Contingency for Unsuccessful Negotiations: Should the negotiations fail to yield a mutually beneficial agreement; the supplier retains the right to reclaim the equipment. He may choose to sel them within the Liberian market or re-export them. This ensures that the GOL is not financially burdened or contractually bound.”
However, Executive Mansion sources say President Boakai wants to return to the Legislature to regularize the deal, but first wants to establish the source for the money that will be used for the initial payment. But the Ministry of Finance, citing the irregularities that have marred the arrangement for the machines, is not willing to make the $25 million without procurement documents and contracts.
Additionally, the Chinese company and their South African partner have made it clear to “the Boakai’s people” that they will not export the yellow machines as claimed by Boakai in his letter to the Legislature since they did not derive from any agreement of such.
