Monrovia, Liberia-A brewing clash has surfaced at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) as both Acting Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe and suspended Director General Emma Metieh Glassco claim credit for the arrival of the country’s first-ever semi-industrial fiberglass fishing vessel, S€€ Kↄ (“Sea King”).
In a statement issued over the weekend, Acting Director Saygbe announced that by the end of June, Liberia will officially welcome S€€ Kↄ, a landmark achievement under a World Bank-funded initiative.
The vessel, according to Saygbe, is owned by the Government of Liberia and will be outsourced to a qualified private operator through a transparent, competitive bidding process.
“This initiative marks a strategic leap in diversifying NaFAA’s revenue streams and promoting sustainable fisheries,” Saygbe said.
He emphasized that the vessel is a testament to the public-private collaboration of the government.
“It’s a testament to public-private collaboration and a sign of progress in our commitment to modernize the fishing industry,” he asserted.
However, in a parallel statement, Madam Glassco, who remains under suspension, issued her own congratulatory message while asserting that the groundwork for this success was laid under her leadership.
Glassco congratulated the NaFAA team for the success, noting that it was under her signature in 2023 that the $2.5 million agreement under the $40 million World Bank for the implementation of 50 fiberglass boats of various sizes was signed.
“Congratulations again to the NaFAA team,” Glassco said. “In 2023, I signed a $2.5 million agreement under the $40 million World Bank project for the manufacturing of 50 fiberglass boats of various sizes. I am proud to see the fulfillment of this initiative with the recent arrival of some of these vessels,” she asserted.
Her remarks suggest that the current developments are a continuation of a project initiated during her tenure, hinting at political tensions and competing narratives within the institution. Most social media commenters praised madam Glassco for transforming NaFAA and negotiating most of the projects before her predecessor could take over.
Despite the leadership dispute about who takes the credit, many Liberians have hailed the vessel’s arrival as a transformative step for Liberia’s fishing industry, which has long relied on traditional paddling canoes.
The S€€ Kↄ is expected to boost local fish production, improve food security, and create new opportunities for Liberian-owned fisheries enterprises.
With the vessel set to be handed over to a private operator soon, all eyes are now on how the selection process unfolds, and whether internal friction at NaFAA could threaten the momentum of this historic progress.
