The Government of Liberia through Ministry of Public Work has suspended Western Cluster’s road user permit. The Government has also threatened to terminate the permit if the company fails to cure the violation within 60 days.
According to a release on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Ministry of Public Works said 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 release quotes the Ministry of Public Works as saying that it has 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.
The Ministry claims that the company has fallen 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, the Ministry recalls that prior to the issuance of this notice suspending Western Cluster’s Road User Permit, a November 6, 2023 suspension was effected against these very violations.
