The Liberian Senate is on the verge of passing a bill to establish the Liberia Sea Port Authority.
This Bill, when passed, will provide room for various ports in Liberia to have autonomy that is to: lead, manage, and control their respective operations.
The bill soon to be passed at the Liberian Senate will take away the controlling and managerial power from the National Port Authority, thereby dissolving its existence.
It will also allow for the Free Port of Liberia which is currently known as the Central Port to be operated void of managing other seaports across the country.
On Thursday, October 24, the Liberian Senate’s Chamber was heated will scores of debates as senators provided their perspectives on the matter.
Before the senators deliberated on the matter, the committee responsible for looking and reporting on the matter proffered the passage of said bill, indicating its significance towards the economy.
According to the committee, there will be a regulatory authority that will regulate all the ports just like the energy and other sectors.
The committee believes this will help leeward counties, thereby creating job opportunities.
The committee emphasized the Buchanan Port which according to them has huge potential to raise revenue between US$7 to US$8M annually.
The Liberian Senate Committee on Autonomous Agency believes the bill will create investment opportunities, as well as partner with companies in Bassa interested in investing in the Sea Port of Buchanan.
It was also revealed that more than 10 companies in Buchannan are available and willing to develop the port; something they noted can apply to other seaports.
Meanwhile, other senators during the debate raised genuine concerns; stressing the readiness of Liberia to create a Seaport Authority at the same time decentralize their authorities.
The senators, one of whom is Gbleh-Bo Brown of Maryland County argued that the idea to effect such a change is necessary, but what remains paramount is to have a value-added.
There have also been concerns about why ports outside of Monrovia are not developed and money generated from there is only given to the Freeport of Monrovia.
After the heated debate, the bill was sent to the committee room to incorporate concerns raised by some senates and report back to Plenary.
