President Joseph Nyuman Boakai, has assured the Liberian Senate that he will submit the necessary documentation for the ratification process for the procurement of the yellow Machines to the august body as soon as the negotiation is completed.
In a letter submitted to the Liberian Senate under the subject, “Acquisition Process of the Yallow Machines”, President Boakai said he recognizes and respect the role of the Legislature in the ratification process and as such will do nothing to undermine its authority.
The president told the Liberian Senate that at the moment the Executive Branch of Government is scrupulously pursuing what he calls the acquisition process for the machines guided by principles of transparency and good faith.
The president told the Senate that the initiative of acquiring the machines originated from a conversation between him and a longtime friend who share the commitment to the ARREST agenda.
The Chief Executive says his friend was moved by the spirit of solidarity and strong desire to participate in the implementation and the shortest possible time of the development agenda of the Country and therefore offered to provide equipment in good faith and on a gentleman agreement.
President Boakai further told the Liberian Senate that currently no “financial commitment” has been made by the Government of Liberia and not a dime has been made.
“To date no funds from the Liberian Treasury has been expended on the project, the first batch of the equipment that arrived in the Country was shipped at the expense of the supplier”.
Commenting on what he calls contingency for unsuccessful negotiation, the Liberian Chief Executive said, should the negotiation fail to yield a mutually beneficial agreement, the supplier maintains the right to reclaim the equipment, either to sell them within the Liberian Market or re-export them.
If the negotiation is successful, according to President Boakai, maintenance Zones will be established in each County while each County will receive requisite number of machines for road construction and maintenance, thus guaranteeing the accelerated opening up the entire Country for speedy development.
Meanwhile, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate has mandated the Senate Executive Committee and Senate Pro-tempore, Nyonblee K Lawrence to be in contact with the Executive Branch of Government while the negotiation process is being completed for the notification of the Liberian Senate.