The National Port Authority (NPA) has frowned at the current agreement involving the Global Tracking Maritime Solutions (GTMS) and the Cargo Tracking Network (CTN) at the Freeport of Monrovia indicating that it is not good for Liberia.
Managing Director, Sekou H. Dukuly said the GTMS and CTN agreement is not benefiting Liberians and their stay in the country will depend on drastic reduction in their fees charged.
According to him, many port users continue to suffer and complain about GTMS and CTN fees, something he believes is not benefiting Liberians and the NPA.
“To admit, we are not comfortable with GTMS and CTN contracts. Fair to say, we are not happy with anything except the contract agreement that we met there because we have a contract law. We do respect contractor agreements that we met there but we are not comfortable with them,” he said.
However, Dukuly said the present government is not one made of gangsters; therefore, it must respect contracts signed by their predecessors and review when necessary, but currently, GTMS and CTN contracts are not good for Liberia and its people.
“We are talking to GTMS and CTN because there are numbers on our desk that are not encouraging at all. If that service will be extended, it has to be improved. They have to lower the fees. We are all port users, and all Liberians. We can’t live in a world where everybody sells something to Liberians but Liberians can’t sell to them,” Dukuly noted.
Explaining his experience with GTMS and CTN, NPA, the Managing Director pointed out that he imported over thirty containers last year for his water factory and paid CTN and GTMS fees which left him unhappy; yet he continues to import materials.
“We don’t want to predict the Senate’s report on GTMS and CTN. If they will stay or be extended, they have to make changes in that agreement with regards to fees that benefit the port and the Liberian people,” Dukuly emphasized.
