Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONROVIA98
2009-01-30 13:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:
LIBERIA: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DRIVER'S LICENSE DURING
how-toVZCZCXRO9267 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHMV #0098 0301315 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301315Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0747 RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000098
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ELTN ECON EAIR EWWT EFIN LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DRIVER'S LICENSE DURING
COURTESY CALL ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION
REF: 07 MONROVIA 345
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000098
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ELTN ECON EAIR EWWT EFIN LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DRIVER'S LICENSE DURING
COURTESY CALL ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION
REF: 07 MONROVIA 345
1. (SBU) During a courtesy call by the Ambassador, Minister of
Transportation Jackson Doe clarified that in addition to land, sea
and air transport, MOT has jurisdiction over the National Port
Authority, meteorology and hydrology functions, and over all
insurance firms. The GOL is working on plans to promulgate a
National Transportation Policy, and Doe expects MOT's functions to
change during a proposed restructuring of Cabinet agencies, with the
Ministry focusing on policy and regulation of independent bodies
such as the LCAA, RIA, and the insurance sector.
2. (SBU) MOT is undertaking commercial audits of all 22 insurance
companies, and plans to make the meteorology and hydrology function
of the ministry autonomous. MOT has 219 employees (many, from our
observations during the visit, apparently underemployed),with 100
of them located at the Spriggs-Payne domestic aviation agency. The
Ministry pays $75,000 a year in rent for its decrepit down-town
building, but is looking into plans to move to an alternative
GOL-owned location.
The Main Focus is Land Transportation
--------------
3. (SBBU) The GOL has submitted legislation that would transform the
Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA) into the National Transportation
Authority (NTA). MTA has worked valiantly to increase the number of
public busses plying Monrovia's streets. As the NTA, it would be
able to expand the public transport network nationwide, including
cross-border charter busses, and be better integrated into national
transportation planning. Doe said MOT is challenged by the Ministry
of Public Works' continued jurisdiction over roads, but that should
change in the cabinet restructuring as well.
4. (SBU) After describing the success of the new driver's license
technology, he demonstrated its speed by commissioning a license for
the Ambassador. In addition to reform of the driver's license
process, the Ministry has been strengthening enforcement of traffic
regulations and is on the brink of introducing new license plates.
Towards the end of the meeting, Deputy Minister Mohamed Sheriff
requested USG assistance in staunching the flow of stolen cars to
Liberia. (Note: The Embassy has been assisting the Ministry of
Finance (Customs) in identifying stolen vehicles that are being
imported from the United States, and will continue to do so. End
note.)
MOT Quiescent on Sea and Air
--------------
5. (SBU) Doe explained that the MOT has jurisdiction over the
National Port Authority (but he has kept an extremely low profile in
that regard). Despite Post's extensive involvement in both the
commercial and security aspects of the National Port Authority, we
were unaware of MOT's role in NPA oversight.
6. (SBU) The Ministry of Transportation has taken a back-seat in
aviation issues as well, with the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority
(LCAA) and the Roberts International Airport (RIA) playing a
dominant role. Doe touched on the fact that the GOL wants to
restore and expand operations at RIA, is in negotiations with
Lockheed-Martin, and is looking forward to the arrival of Delta
Airlines in June (reftel).
We can help with the stolen cars...
--------------
7. (SBU) The Ambassador, responding to Minister Doe's update and
request for assistance with cars, computers, office equipment and
training, said she took note of MOT's challenges and their list of
requirements. She reviewed USG contributions to the airport, the
port and the coast guard, and praised resumption of bus service in
Monrovia. She confirmed the Embassy's willingness to help the GOL
stem the shipment of stolen cars to Liberia, noting we are working
with the Ministry of Finance (Customs) on that problem.
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The Ministry of Transport has not been a dynamic ministry
and Jackson Doe's presence in Cabinet is due more to his stature as
leader of the Krahn tribe and elder brother of former president
Samuel Doe than to his passion for reform. The driver's license
technology is impressive, and is part of the government-wide move to
improve accountability.
THOMAS-GREENFIELD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: ELTN ECON EAIR EWWT EFIN LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DRIVER'S LICENSE DURING
COURTESY CALL ON MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION
REF: 07 MONROVIA 345
1. (SBU) During a courtesy call by the Ambassador, Minister of
Transportation Jackson Doe clarified that in addition to land, sea
and air transport, MOT has jurisdiction over the National Port
Authority, meteorology and hydrology functions, and over all
insurance firms. The GOL is working on plans to promulgate a
National Transportation Policy, and Doe expects MOT's functions to
change during a proposed restructuring of Cabinet agencies, with the
Ministry focusing on policy and regulation of independent bodies
such as the LCAA, RIA, and the insurance sector.
2. (SBU) MOT is undertaking commercial audits of all 22 insurance
companies, and plans to make the meteorology and hydrology function
of the ministry autonomous. MOT has 219 employees (many, from our
observations during the visit, apparently underemployed),with 100
of them located at the Spriggs-Payne domestic aviation agency. The
Ministry pays $75,000 a year in rent for its decrepit down-town
building, but is looking into plans to move to an alternative
GOL-owned location.
The Main Focus is Land Transportation
--------------
3. (SBBU) The GOL has submitted legislation that would transform the
Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA) into the National Transportation
Authority (NTA). MTA has worked valiantly to increase the number of
public busses plying Monrovia's streets. As the NTA, it would be
able to expand the public transport network nationwide, including
cross-border charter busses, and be better integrated into national
transportation planning. Doe said MOT is challenged by the Ministry
of Public Works' continued jurisdiction over roads, but that should
change in the cabinet restructuring as well.
4. (SBU) After describing the success of the new driver's license
technology, he demonstrated its speed by commissioning a license for
the Ambassador. In addition to reform of the driver's license
process, the Ministry has been strengthening enforcement of traffic
regulations and is on the brink of introducing new license plates.
Towards the end of the meeting, Deputy Minister Mohamed Sheriff
requested USG assistance in staunching the flow of stolen cars to
Liberia. (Note: The Embassy has been assisting the Ministry of
Finance (Customs) in identifying stolen vehicles that are being
imported from the United States, and will continue to do so. End
note.)
MOT Quiescent on Sea and Air
--------------
5. (SBU) Doe explained that the MOT has jurisdiction over the
National Port Authority (but he has kept an extremely low profile in
that regard). Despite Post's extensive involvement in both the
commercial and security aspects of the National Port Authority, we
were unaware of MOT's role in NPA oversight.
6. (SBU) The Ministry of Transportation has taken a back-seat in
aviation issues as well, with the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority
(LCAA) and the Roberts International Airport (RIA) playing a
dominant role. Doe touched on the fact that the GOL wants to
restore and expand operations at RIA, is in negotiations with
Lockheed-Martin, and is looking forward to the arrival of Delta
Airlines in June (reftel).
We can help with the stolen cars...
--------------
7. (SBU) The Ambassador, responding to Minister Doe's update and
request for assistance with cars, computers, office equipment and
training, said she took note of MOT's challenges and their list of
requirements. She reviewed USG contributions to the airport, the
port and the coast guard, and praised resumption of bus service in
Monrovia. She confirmed the Embassy's willingness to help the GOL
stem the shipment of stolen cars to Liberia, noting we are working
with the Ministry of Finance (Customs) on that problem.
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The Ministry of Transport has not been a dynamic ministry
and Jackson Doe's presence in Cabinet is due more to his stature as
leader of the Krahn tribe and elder brother of former president
Samuel Doe than to his passion for reform. The driver's license
technology is impressive, and is part of the government-wide move to
improve accountability.
THOMAS-GREENFIELD