Urges Government to Complete 285 Yellow Machine Purchase
IPNEWS: Senator Numene Bartekwa bemoans bad road conditions in the Southeast, especially in counties like Grand Kru. Road conditions in Grand Kru are so bad that the lives of the people are impacted. People are suffering with impact on health, education, agriculture. The senator says the county is completely cut off from the rest of the country. As a result, prices for commodities, such as rice and gasoline in the county are high and the people are stuck in poverty. Even law enforcement is hampered by bad road conditions.
Bad road conditions obstruct the living conditions of the people, and the county cannot develop in the absence of primary roads. As a result of the bad road conditions, Senator Bartekwa is appealing to the government to prioritize upgrading roads in the county by rapidly concluding purchase of the 285 yellow machines announced last May.
The Senator spoke at a press conference in Monrovia. Senator Bartekwa’s comments come amidst rising concerns over delays in the completion of the purchase agreement with GM Earthmoving Equipment, a South African company, owned by Pan Africanist Robert Gumede. The announcement last May of the Government’s intention to purchase 285 yellow machines meant for building and maintaining roads in the country was met with glee and utter joy. Citizens expressed their support and have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the equipment, but until now, only a handful of show pieces were delivered to the happiness of most Liberians.
It is unclear what is holding up completion of the purchase but there is speculation that some officials and local vendors who want in on the acquisition have been erecting roadblocks to obstruct the President’s signature road project. Meanwhile, people close to the transaction say GM Earthmoving Equipment has proposed the best deal, quality, pricing, after market support, warranty for up to 15 years and original equipment parts (OEM) from Sany. Sany is a global Chinese company, the third largest heavy equipment manufacturer in the world. The company is among a group of elite companies on the Financial Times 500 and the Forbes 2000. GM Earthmoving is a certified supplier for Sany products.
Some local vendors claiming they can match the price have proposed to the GOL to do the deal. GM Earthmoving Equipment has made it clear it does not wish to compete with local vendors, and if they can provide the same quality, price, after market support and have established ties with a global manufacturer the government is urged to proceed, but no local company has provided evidentiary ties with any global supplier on the same competence level of Sany.
The words of Senator Bartekwa should push the government of Liberia to accelerate completion of all legal procedures for acquisition of the 285 yellow machines. GM Earthmoving Equipment has made it clear that all procedures should be followed. In the main time citizens in the Southeast and other parts of the country are awaiting with bated breadth the conclusion of the purchase of the 285 yellow machines.
