allAfrica.com: Liberia: NPA Commissions New Pilot Boat (Page 1 of 1)

The management of the National Port Authority (NPA) has tightened grip on its operations at the Free Port of Monrovia. Wednesday, NPA Managing Director Mr. George Tubman with the backing of its board commissioned a pilot boat that will be used to provide assistance to incoming vessels.

According to the management, the pilot boat cost about US$190,000 and will is expected to be used by Liberians pilot to escort all vessels entering the port.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Director George Tubman said the pilot boat is essential equipment that would aid the port in carrying out its operations.

Minutes after its commissioning, the pilot boat commenced operation, and according to the NPA boss, the port has put behind the issue no of pilot boat to help pilot get onboard vessels anchoring at deep sea.

MD Tubman then thanked the Board of Directors, management and employees of the system for making use of generated resources to purchase the pilot boat.

Also speaking at the program, NPA Board member, Joseph Arkoi said the pilot boat will beef up the strength of the NPA in the generation of revenue. He said purchasing the pilot boat was timely in the operation of the NPA because it will contribute to the revenue generation of Liberia.

Political Defections Heightened

By George J. Borteh

Sieh Thomas, Bestus P. Davies and George McGill, and many others, all opposition politicians are now in the camp of the ruling Unity Party. They declared their membership with the UP yesterday. As they are joining, the party is to some extent divided over calls for Chairman Charles Clarke to relinquish the position.

Several youths of the party believe the chairman is not up to task and should give way to a more active partisan who can change the course of events in the party. The politicians who defected to the UP numbered five and all of them participated in the just ended by-election for Margibi County.

A debut ceremony was held in their honor at the National Quarters of the party on Broad Street. The former aspirants Sieh Thomas and Bestus P. Davies were members of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) while George Mcgill was with the Liberia Action Party (LAP), former party of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Standard-bearer of the UP.

Declaring their membership to the party, new convert Sieh Thomas said the ruling UP is a responsible party. He said UP has a platform that is clear and in the interest of the suffering Liberian masses.

It may be recalled that all of them did not make it in the recently held by-elections in Mrgibi, which was won by a UP candidate. Observe say they are not heavy though, they have a stake in the political process and that they have given the party numerical strength.

The names are not household names in the country, but some say what matters is the manner in which politics is being played in the country where every opposition wants to be a member of the party in power.

In order for the party to carry on what it envisages for Liberia, Liberians must get around it. The National Chairman, Dr. Charles Clarke thanked the ex-aspirants and promised them that the UP will provide them the working opportunity and better relationship.

He disclosed that it is time for problems in the Party to be pushed aside and allow the cold hands of the Party to work. The UP embattled chairman called on partisans of the party to put the past behind and do everything to achieve the needed results.

According to him, he is proud of the development that is ongoing in the country, which he says the party is behind. He then welcomed the new members and assured them that the party will address some of their requests, but not immediately.

Storm Hits Nimba County Hard

Torrential storm continues to threaten the people of Nimba County over the past months leaving many persons displaced and homeless. The latest storm to hit the county took place recently in Gbehlaygeh District and rendered about 500 residents homeless, and eventually destroyed several towns and villages in the District.

Though reports are being investigated, the Gbehlaygeh District Representative in the National Legislature, Martin Farngalo who claimed to have recently returned from the District told reporters at the Capitol Building yesterday that areas affected include Gbehyounlay Town, Zorgowee Town, Zortapi Town, KehplayTown, Kailay Town and Younlay.

He said the storm destroyed 30 houses in Younlay, 30 in Kerplay, 15 in Zortapi, 30 houses in Zorgowee, 4 in Kailay and destroyed the Kailay Town Public School.

Rep. Farngalo noted that as the result of the storm, over 500 residents from the affected towns and villages, most of whom women and children, are without dwelling places. He said most of them are sheltering in the open field.

The lawmaker disclosed that over 100 students from KailayTown Public School may not end the school year as a result of the destruction done to the building.

Rep. Farngalo who co-chairs the House Committee on Education has appealed to the Liberian Government, local and international non-governmental organizations in the country to come to the rescue of the people and save them from death as well as starvation.

"This is not the first time rough storm has hit Nimba destroying several town and villages and causing mass displacement of Nimbians," he noted. Some times ago, storm hit the District of Garplay and destroyed 15 houses in similar fashion.

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