Africa-Press – Liberia. Senator embarks on a campaign to terminate deal with CONTEC Global.
Lofa County Senator Momo Cyrus is calling for the cancellation of a multimillion-dollar resident permit contract between the Government of Liberia and CONTEC Global for reportedly violating the country’s laws.
Addressing legislative reporters following the submission of official communication to Plenary, Senator Cyrus stresses that the US$40 million contract awarded to the company did not pass through the 54th Legislature, especially the Liberian Senate, thus amounting to a gross violation.
“When we took office, we agreed that the Liberian people should feel our impact as senators so that Liberians can benefit. So, I took keen interest in this contract between the Liberian Government and a company called CONTEC Global,” he says.
Senator Cyrus, who chairs the Senate Committee on Defense, Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs, discloses that his investigation revealed concrete reasons why the contract with Contec Global for the Digitization of Alien Resident Permits (CONTEC) should be canceled.
He said during the investigation, to which the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, the Liberia Immigration Service, the Liberia Revenue Authority, and the National Security Agency were invited, it was uncovered that the contract did not involve the LRA, as required by law before being awarded.
“LRA happens to be the revenue arm of our country, but it was not involved, and I think this is grave and very concerning,” he alarms.
The senator also indicates that the contract is supposed to produce 350,000 resident cards for a period of five (5) years, stressing that Liberia can’t produce such a huge number of cards, considering the country’s alien registration document.
The renowned security expert adds that according to his research, 17,000 to 20,000 residents pass through the Liberian borders and reside in the country every year.
Therefore, he maintains that it is beyond his imagination for the country to have signed a contract with the company to produce over 350,000 cards annually, terming such a clause enshrined within the contractual paper as unimaginable and unrealistic.
Cyrus is firm on one of the recommendations contained in his committee investigative report upon reviewing the entire contract that such contract be canceled despite his communication being sent to the committee room to further advise the plenary.
He considers the contract as a matter of national security concern and, as such, is seeking the urgent attention of the plenary of the Liberian Senate to do the needful in the interest of the country and its citizens.
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