IPNews-Monrovia: Not until the Independent Probe Newspaper uncovered in a nine part investigation series titled: ‘No respect for Thieves”, all seen very normal between agents of the government of Liberia and the Bulgarian company, Prista Port.
The Independent Probe Newspaper in its Friday, December, 13, 2019, article captioned: ‘No Respect for Thieves”, The Unspoken Concession Secret in Weah’s Gov’t (Part 1), IPNews revealed that the Government of Liberia (GOL) have decided to give the management of the Port of Buchanan to Prista Port. The negotiation process according to the Independent Probe investigation started since June 2019, when some Liberians decided to venture into the international business world to bring investors and investments to Liberia.
According to the investigation, the recently appointed, commissioned and Presidential approved Counsel General of Dubai was very instrumental in finding the Bulgarian company to take over the management of the Buchanan Port. The company is to pour millions of US dollars in the renovation work of the port and employ over 500 persons to begin with, even though there are a lot of rumors about the “intent” of Prista Port Buchanan’s possible money laundering and/or washing bad money clean, but one cannot be judged on mere hearsay or so-called “intent”.
The investigation also detailed that both the United States Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are opposed to Prista Port managing the Port of Buchanan.
Interestingly, on the heels of IPNews investigation, ArcelorMittal has uprightly rejected recent concession agreement entered into by the government of Liberia, through the National Port Authority-NPA and Prista Port Buchanan LLC.
ArcelorMittal in a communication to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Hon. Nathaniel McGill, dated December 12, 2019, a copy of which was obtained by Independent Probe Newspaper, ArcelorMittal objected to the concession on grounds that it includes and overlaps a majority of the current concession area of ArcelorMittal Liberia in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
ArcelorMittal Chief Executive Officer, Scott Lowe, stated that the action by the government of Liberia undermines and creates uncertainty regarding the security of tenure of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s business and future investment.
Mr. Lowe, communication further stated that ArcelorMittal have been advised that some portion of the agreement has been executed by the government of Liberia and Prista Port Buchanan LLC, which is of significant in that most of its iron ore and most of its associated facilities of ArcelorMittal is being awarded to Prista Port Buchanan LLC, contrary to its investment concession with the government of Liberia.
Furthermore, the communication said that recently, representatives of Prista Port Buchanan LLC, approached ArcelorMittal in London and asserted that their concession would come into effect and their company would eventually replace AcelorMittal Liberia (AML), as the concessionaire.
“we reject this assertion by Prista Port Buchanan LLC and maintain that no valid concession can ever be granted that overlaps AML’s concession area.
ArcelorMittal communication additionally stressed the importance it attaches to the inquiry by Prista Port Buchanan LLC, and have taken a decision not to go ahead with phrase two of its investment proposal that is currently underway unless and until this situation is corrected.
“The company requires absolute certainty that its concessions and permits are in good standing as an essential component of its business case for investment and cannot consider an investment where security of tenure is in dispute or at risk”. Scott Lowe, letter stated.
The communication has however called on the government of Liberia to meet to beach marks are guarantee to its confidence in AcelorMittal concession agreement.
“Honorable Minister, with this in mind and given the strong and positive relationship between the government and the company, we respectfully request written confirmation that the government of Liberia:
- Has not ratified, and will not ratify, the Prista Port concession agreement; and
- Will not grant any concession that overlaps or in any way reduces AML’s concession area while it remains valid.
Meanwhile, AcelorMittal is demanding the government of Liberia that a formal letter and commitments be invaluable in assuring its parent company (ArcelorMittal), that the concession is in good standing and not at risk.
Now without executing the demands made by AcelorMittal that the government of Liberia do a formal letter and commitments as invaluable in assuring its parent company (ArcelorMittal), that the concession is in good standing and not at risk, the government of Liberia thorugh the National Port Authority-NPA, has denied entering into any concession with Prista Port for the use of any of the concession area , including the Por of Buchanan.
In a mid-night facebook post by NPA Public Relations Manager, Malcolm Scott Director, the NPA stated that it had not signed or entered into any inch of AcelorMittal’s concession and the communication written by AcelorMittal Chief Executive Office Scott Lowe, a ‘misstep’.
“I’ve read the content of the communication posted herein , listened-to and followed religiously with high antenna, what seems to be trending about an incorrect/false news/reports that the government of Liberia through the National Port Authority has sealed a deal with Prista for the operation of the Port of Buchanan;”
“Contrary to these reports, we wish to state in crystal terms with high emphasis for the records, “that at no time whatsoever did the management of the NPA ever signed , ‘entered into’ and or concession an inch of its territory land or sea space to Prista . Absolutely, no deal of such nature has ever been consummated / signed as it would have gone through the lawful procedures with the routine publicity in keeping with best practices ,polices ad authorities that powered the NPA to function by law.” Malcolm Scott said.
Malcolm Scott further clarified that the NPA will never penned any agreement that overlaps the concession zone or area of another port user as was reported.
“Furthermore, the NPA has/ will never penned any agreement that overlaps the concession zone/area of another port user(s) as it’s being reported. Hence, the NPA’s management through its Public Affairs/Relations Command sees and considers the communication from Arcelormtttal as a misstep.” Malcolm Scott release concluded.
But contrary to the NPA denial, IPNews ongoing investigation has established that the Port of Buchanan and the Management Contract that is being awarded to a Bulgarian company, Prista Port Buchanan Incorporated, has been one of the longest kept secret of the George Weah government and its inner circle.
IPNews investigation further suggested that the process of obtaining the Management Contract by Prista Port Buchanan Incorporated may just be another waste of time as President Weah has sent the Management Contract to the National Legislature to be ratified by the Liberian Senate and concurred by the House of Representatives but unfortunately the Senate may not ratified the Management Contract until it ends ongoing special session as an inside source tells IPNews that President George M. Weah, does not want the Management Contract be concurred with by the House of Representative which is causing a serious uproar among senior government officials, especially those in the Senate.
According to IPNews investigation, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel F. McGill, has instructed the Speaker of the House of Representatives not to concur with the Senate on the Management Contract.
Words within the corridors of the Liberian Senate, have it that many senators have expressed serious disgust about the alleged confidential statement coming out of the Executive Mansion to the House of Representatives. This issue is left with many questions than answers, but predominant among the questions being asked are: Why is President Weah requesting the House of Representatives, through the Ministry of State, that the House of Representatives not to concur with the Liberian Senate? Is it not an interference in the work of another branch of government which is supposed to be separate and independent? Before sending the Management Contract to be ratified by the Liberian Senate, did the Executive Branch not do its due diligence? Is there another act of con government actors trying to milk the Bulgarian company for more money by setting up the scheme to delay the House’s concurrence with the Senate?
One mineral expert has hinted IPNews that in this small corporate world, business owners and preferential stakeholders talk to each other; Liberia is yawning for investors and investments but Liberia has a bad record of duping potential investors—requesting for bribes—which has caused many investors with genuine interest in investing in Liberia to leave the country without turning back.
This paper has an ongoing investigation relative to Prista Port on business dealings. Keep login to www.independentprobe.com for part IV, in a series of “No Respect for Thieves”, The Unspoken Concession Secret in Weah’s Gov’t”
