Liberian Construction Companies Vexed Over Appointment Of Works Minister-designate

Following the appointment of former Deputy Public Works Minister for Administration, Roland Lafayette Giddings by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai as the Minister of Public Works in his government, several Liberian construction companies have expressed disappointment over the decision.

Several stakeholders in the construction and engineering sector have described the appointment of Mr. Giddings to the Public Works top job, as wrong and a “business as usual” contrary to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s pronouncement.

According to critics, Giddings, along with his former boss, Gyude Moore, were the brains behind the establishment of East International Construction Company-a Chinese-owned company that was established as a hardware store, and later metamorphosed as a construction company; and was awarded under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf a whooping US$89.5million; for the construction of the Robert International Airport (RIA) and several community roads.

Despite the then ratification of the contractual agreement by the Legislature, East International could not commence works on the RIA and other community roads due to the company’s inability to secure funding.

According to sources, Giddings is currently serving as a Consultant to East International, under the firm, Imperial Consultancy; hence, critics of the former deputy minister are contending that any nomination of Giddings by President Boakai would amount to a “serious conflict of interest” or the return to the era of “business as usual.”

It can be recalled that controversial Rights Advocate, Martin K.N. Kollie, and three Liberian construction companies, MANDE, Westwood, and African Constructions, lobbied against the awarding of such a lucrative road contract to East International, thus leading to former Minister Moore and Giddings blacklisting these three Liberian construction companies from being awarded road contracts for three years.

Also, former Margibi County Senator, Oscar Cooper, kicked against the awarding of the RIA and other road works to East International. Furthermore, employees of the works ministry have contended that former deputy minister Giddings also had a terrible working relationship at the ministry.

President Joseph Nyumah Boakai in his inaugural message, vowed to kick against corruption and the culture of impunity. Therefore, critics of former deputy minister Giddings are disappointed over the appointment of the former minister back to the works ministry.

Before the ratification of East International contractual agreement by the Legislature, several lawmakers in the 54^th Legislature and Liberians contended that the company, which Mr. Giddings is a consultant, had no prior work history anywhere in world, and that the awarding and amendment of the contractual agreement between East International and the Government of Liberia, amounting to US$101million, was met with stiff resistance.

Recently, while appearing at the Liberian Senate, outgoing Public Works, Madam Ruth Coker-Collins, inform Senators that East International; the company doing construction work on the Roberts International Highway, was unable and technically incapable to do the work in line with the contract.

The outgoing Minister went as far to tell the Senate Committee that East International lacks the technical and financial capability to do the road within the 36-months required by the contract and called on the Senate to review the contract.

East International was establish in 2013, by Kelvin Boumah, a Liberian national, and some Chinese investors. It can also be recalled that while serving as Deputy Minister for Technical Services, former Deputy Minister Victor Smith awarded the company, the Gaye Town road for concrete pavement. However, after the construction of the road, the works ministry, then under the leadership of Former Minister Antoinette Weeks, described the road construction as “substandard and a mess;” thus leading to a fall-off between former deputy minister Smith and Weeks.

Under the leadership of former Minister Gyude Moore and Giddings, the duos, awarded East International 32 feeders roads for concrete pavements, unfortunately, the company could not start implementation of these roads due to lack of funding.

According to sources within the construction sector, East International could not go through, because they had no work history anywhere in the world. At the same time, former Margibi Senator and then-Chairman on Public Works Oscar Cooper even fought against the deal, and due to his stance against the awarding of contract to the company, the former Margibi Senator was replaced from the Committee on Public Works.