Bomi County Senator, Edwin M. Snowe has frowned at the Ministry of Public Works for restoring road user permit to Western Cluster. The permit is intended to transport iron ore from the Bomi Hill Mines to the Freeport of Monrovia.
In a communication to Plenary on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Senator Snowe said Western Cluster continues to violate terms and conditions enshrined within its Mineral Development Agreement with the Government of Liberia.
“Madam President Pro-Tempore and Distinguished Colleagues, in addition to the restoration of the Road User Permit, the Ministry of Public Works has instructed Western Cluster Limited to increase its fleet of trucks from fifty to one hundred and twenty five, making double trips each, resulting to two hundred and fifty trips per night, which is totally unacceptable,” Senator Snowe said.
The Bomi County senator told his colleagues that the allowable gross load has increased from 30 to 45 tons per truck using damaged bridges along the road corridor.
He said these grave violations are not only adding damages to the already dire conditions of the St. Paul Bridge to Bomi Hills road corridors, but imposing a serious safety hazard for pedestrians plying the road.
“Therefore, I will like to strongly request that Plenary takes seize of these concerns and mandate its relevant committee to investigate to ensure the safety of our people,” he said.
Snowe said the previous government gave the allowance of 100 trucks and everyone was crying about the negative impact, but new Public Work Minister Roland Giddings says the amount was small and he increased it.
After the reading of the communication, a motion was filed to send it to the Committees on Public Work, Transport and Land, Mines and Energy.
On May 8, 2024, the Government of Liberia through Ministry of Public Work suspended Western Cluster’s road user permit. The Government also threatened to terminate the permit if the company fails to cure the violation within 60 days.
According to a release quotes the Ministry of Public Works as saying that it suspended the Road User Permit (RUP – 220620-004) issued to Western Cluster Limited (WCL) for what it termed as “Violation of the Terms of the Permit”.
The Permit gives Western Cluster the right to carry out commercial hauling of iron ore on the Freeport of Monrovia- Bomi Hills road corridor.
“In the notice sent to the company through its Country Representative, the Ministry noted with specificity that WCL persistently violated Section II (D) (E) of the Permit by employing the use of trucks longer than the permitted 34 feet length, 8.5 feet in weight, and carrying an excess load of about 40 tons- far beyond the allowable 30 tons,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry of Public Works said it observed and documented Western Cluster’s trucking of iron ore throughout the day and night contrary to the limitation stipulated in their permit, which restricts the trucking of iron ore only between 7PM to 6AM.
The Public Works further charged Western Cluster for non-compliance with Section III (A) of the Permit, which requires the company to erect and install weight bridges at the point of departure and at Klay Junction respectively.
According to the Public Works Ministry, the company fell short of upholding this key transparency and accountability measure. Additionally, the Ministry pointed out Western Cluster’s glaring failure to carry out maintenance and repair of the road corridor, thereby eroding pliability and posing challenges to other road users.
However, weeks later Minister Roland Giddings lifted the suspension on Western Cluster, a decision which is infuriating Senator Edwin Snowe.
