Days after disclosing the poor condition of the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, Director Jonathan Lamport Kaipay has called on the Government and development partners to prioritize the need for a coastal defense project.
Speaking with journalists over the weekend in Grand Bassa County, Buchanan Port Director Kaipay said the coastal defense project is a national emergency.
According to Kaipay, the Senate should allocate funds in the upcoming national budget to initiate the project.
He stated that there is a need for President Joseph N. Boakai to bring a proposal to the attention of strategic partners and developing countries that have experience in coastal defense to seek their expertise and assistance to protect Liberia’s vulnerable coastal regions.
“The situation is not only affecting the port of Buchanan but the entire Grand Bassa County. The coastal defense project will mitigate the risks.
Kaipay said during the administration of former President Sirleaf, there was a coastal defense process introduced to collaborate with international partners, investors, and money in the budget to see how they were going to develop a national coastal defense project.
The Director General of the Port of Buchanan indicated that over the years, the coastal defense budget was about US$2 million; adding that the port of Buchanan is a huge investment.
He revealed that if the Port is being described as an emergency, it’s beyond NPA management and financial capacity, because it will cost millions of dollars.
The former Grand Bassa County Senator noted that the Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Sekou H. Dukuly is working with management to reach out to the Legislature, particularly the Senate to visit the Port and carry on some major assessments.
“The management of the Port is also concerned about working with the Legislature to champion this coastal defense allocation whether in the budget or bilateral arrangements,” he stated.
Kaipay said the Management of Port is trying to work with other strategic partners who have technical skills and knowledge in these areas to do a holistic assessment that will capture the coastal defense, expansion and development of the Port.
Kaipay stated “If you do not have the flexibility to study how you are going to protect the Port, the expansion will be needless, because if you expand without the proper protection then of course you are in danger.”
