As Liberia business community and port users complain about the introduction of the CARGO TRACKING NOTE System by the management of the National Port Authority (NPA) hiring the services of Global Transport and Maritime Solution (GTMS) originally of Sierra Leone at the detriment of many who are opting for its contract by the NPA to be cancelled, the Sierra Leone Government as part of its ongoing reform process to reduce the cost of doing business in that Country, a review has been instituted of the CARGO TRACKING NOTE (NTN) Contract between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Transport and Port Management System West Africa Sierra Leone (TMPS-WASL) and Global Transport and Maritime Solution (GTMS).
An Executive Order No 4 issued on February 14, 2019, signed by and approved by the Sierra Leonean President, Julius Maada Bio noted that during the review the Government uncovered substantial breaches of the terms and conditions of the Contract as follow:
1, Nonpayment of Government revenue amounting to US$11,139,58.16 equivalent to 95.8 Billion Leones.
- Unauthorized diversion of funds meant for the Government of Sierra Leone to foreign accounts.
- Failure to provide a performance bond of the of USS300, 000 as required by Article 2 (b) and Article 5.3 (u) of the CTN Agreement.
- Failure to comply with the requirement of Article 4 (4.4) of the said Agreement in respect of the provision of software which will permit the National Commission for Privatization (NPC) or the Authority to review in real time all transactions of services stipulated in the Agreement undertaken by the Company within and outside Sierra Leone.
- Failure to comply with the provision of Article 4 (4.5) of the Agreement requiring TMPS-WASL to make a 12% interest payment in the event TPMS-WASL fails to make payment within the time stipulated in the Agreement.
- Failure to comply with Article 5(5.3) (X) in the Agreement requiring TPMS-WASL to provide monthly management accounts; yearly audited account; weekly customers complaints report; progress report; half yearly monitoring committee report; weekly financial report; Capital expenditure report; and yearly budget and planning report about the CTN project.
- Failure to comply with Article 5(5.3) (W) in the Agreement requiring TPMS-WASL to deposit sums collected under same to the Company’s business account located in Sierra Leone for revenue sharing purpose.
Based on the above breaches of the terms and conditions, the Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA) has terminated the CARGO TRACKING NOTE Contract with Transport and Port Management System, West Africa, Sierra Leone (TPMS-WASL) and Global Transport and maritime Solution (GTMS) effective 15 February 2019
Consequently, Government has directed the management of the SLPA to take over the operations of the CARGO TRACKING NOTE effective 16″‘ February 201g for a period of ninety (90) days. This will allow Government to restructure the operations end management or the CARGO TRACKING NOTE system.
The Ministry of Transport & Aviation (MTA) and the National Commission for Privat1sahon (NCP) are hereby directed to facilitate the transfer of the CARGO TRACKING NOTE operations from Transport and Port Management System. West Africa Sierra Leone (TPMS – WASL) and Global Transport and Maritime Solution (GTMS) to the Management of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority effective 15″‘ February 2019.
Add1t1onaJly, Government has constituted an oversight committee comprising the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Transport and Aviation (MTA). lhe National Commission for Privatization (NCP) and Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) to carry out an open international compe11t1ve bidding process to attract a credible private operator for the CARGO TRACKING NOTE System.
Now with this latest development, the Government of Liberia must now see reason to revisit the contract of the Cargo Tracking Note System by the Global Transport and Maritime Solution (GTMS).
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