The Independent Societal Watch Advocacy (ISWA) has called on members of the Liberian Senate to promptly reexamine the Independent Port Autonomy Bills that were recently vetoed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
President Boakai, in a communication to Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, President Pro-Tempore of the Senate, dated Tuesday, July 15, vetoed the Senate Enrolled Bill No. 4 – Liberia Ports Authority Act and Senate Enrolled Bill No. 5 – Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act, citing contradictions and duplications of roles.
The Bills aimed to take away some of the many powers the National Port Authority (NPA) has and decentralize port operations across the country in Liberia by establishing autonomous management for the main ports in Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper, alongside creating a new regulatory agency, the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Authority.
With the President vetoing the bills, ISWA is emphasizing the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the Bills to address any ambiguities, highlighting the economic potential the legislation holds for expanding these facilities and enhancing economic viability in counties.
Advocates of the Bills argue that it seeks to rectify years of centralized mismanagement under the NPA, with a focus on developing underutilized regional ports.
“We want the Legislature to meticulously reassess the Bills so as to clear all the ambiguities, because the legislative instruments, when passed, have economic potentials for the expansion of these facilities and bring in economic viability for these counties,” the group said in a statement on Monday, July 21. “These Bills seek to introduce a corrective measure of decades of centralized port mismanagement under the NPA. Currently, the Freeport of Monrovia receives most of the attention, revenues, and investment, while regional ports in Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper remain underdeveloped and poorly equipped.
ISWA believes that decentralizing port management can foster local governance, encourage reinvestment of revenue, and attract new trade and investment.
“Decentralizing port management would allow each location to reinvest its revenue, improve local governance, and attract new trade and investment. They also proposed creating a Port Development Fund and digitizing port operations through real- time cargo tracking and customs automation,” ISWA said in its statement.
The group suggests establishing a Port Development Fund and implementing digital enhancements like real-time cargo tracking and customs automation.
ISWA urges the Legislature to amend the legislation to address concerns raised by the President and other stakeholders. Additionally, they recommend conducting public hearings on the amended Bill to clarify any uncertainties and ensure a smooth passage of the legislation.
The CSO group also commended President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for vetoing the initial version of the Bills.
