The House of Representatives has requested its leadership committee to take seizure of clarity provided by Liberian President Joseph N. Boakai, regarding the acquisition of earth-moving equipment, or Yellow Machines, recently brought in the country. A statement issued by the House Press Bureau on Thursday, July 11, 2024, said plenary reached the decision based upon debate among lawmakers following the submission of a communication from President Boakai to the body. President Boakai assured the House of Representatives that the Executive Branch is scrupulously pursuing the acquisition process for the machines guided by the principles of transparency and good faith. “The initiative originated from a conversation between me and a long-time friend who shares a commitment to the ARREST Agenda. This friend was moved by the spirit of solidarity and a strong desire to participate in the implementation, in the shortest possible time, of our development agenda”, he stated. According to the Liberian President, his unnamed friend, offered to provide equipment in good faith and on a gentleman’s agreement. “The disbelief of many members of the Legislature and some in the public may be understandable, considering, nothing on this massive scale has been done before based on trust and confidence in the leadership of the country and certainly not in the last six years”, he noted. Commenting on the negotiation phase, President Joseph Boakai said, the Executive Branch is currently in the negotiation phase and that no formal agreement or contract has been signed with any party. He added that 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 Pres. maintained. The Liberian Leader also said the GOL has not incurred any costs related to the transportation or acquisition of the machines. President Boakai added that should the negotiations fail to yield a mutually beneficial agreement; the supplier retains the right to reclaim the equipment. He may choose to sell them within the Liberian market or re-export them. This ensures that the GOL is not financially burdened or contractually bound. “Legislative Involvement: We recognize and respect the role of the Legislature in ratification process. Once the negotiations are concluded and a formal agreement is being reached, we will promptly submit the necessary documents to the Legislature for consideration/ratification. At that point, we welcome any request for clarifications or discussions to ensure the process remains transparent and accountable”, he narrated. The President said GoL intends to establish maintenance zones in each county. “Each county will receive requisite numbers of machines for road construction and maintenance. This setup will guarantee the accelerated opening up of the entire country for speedy development”, he communicated. Meanwhile, the leadership committee, is expected to further abreast plenary about the next course of action.
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