MONROVIA-The former Manager of the Buchanan Port, Charles Gull has admitted clandestine double deal during his administration.
Mr. Gull refuted claim that he took away three hundred thousand United States Dollars from the National Port Authority.
According to Gull , from a dual deal allegedly involving staffs of Arcelor Mittal and that of the him with the alleged consent of his boss, they generated three hundred thousand United States Dollars that was placed in an extra account to a bank that name was not disclosed. After that he, was given US$30.000( thirty thousand United States Dollars) as his share.
Speaking on the spoon talk show Wednesday Night the former Manager of the Buchanan Port narrated how the double deal transpired.
“When I took over the Job , we took almost a month plus to get to know what we need to do and everything was setup; so why trying to go around to see what to do, I walked on the rack and I saw this vessel that was birth northern miles breakwater; so I called my Port Facility Officer Emmanuel Davids to know what the vessel was doing on the water for the past few months; he said the vessel is own by Arcelor Mittal , it is birth there for transshipment” he noted..
Mr. Gull disclosed that he was informed that the transshipment vessel had been an without paying tariff because it was not in the Concession agreement with Arcelor Mittal
“So I said , I will rise the argument for them to pay tariff , so We wrote Mittal, before writing them, I told my Finance Manager to bill Arcelor Mittal on the regular tariff , like when vessel is on the pear “he said.
Mr.Gull further indicated that a six hundred thousand United States Dollars bill was rise and attach to a communication send to the Management of to Arcelor Mittal.
“ upon the receipt of the communication by Management of to Arcelor Mittal ,Weekly Doe the Operations Manager said they were not going to pay , because it was not in the Concession agreement with the Liberian Government and it was true because such was not in the agreement so I just forget about it because there were nothing to back me in pursuing the argument” Gull indicated .
According to Gull, few weeks he was allegedly call by Mr. Doe for him (Gull) to talk to his boss Bill Twehway so that they at the level of Arcelor Mittal can lobby with their boss , only if his boss could guarantee that ten percent of the amount was going to be given them upon receiving the money.
“I said ok , this is not a bad deal , even at the IMF, at the world Bank , when people are going for a grant or loan people within the system can help them to get the grant but with a percentage , they do that, So I explain to my boss about the entire deal and he consented with the guys” he narrated.
Mr. Gull further said the negotiators at Arcelor Mittal talked to their Boss, the Chief Executive Officer who requested for a meeting with the NPA Management.
“So when I was informed that Arcelor Mittal CEO requested for a meeting , I informed my boss and he told me that he was going out of the country along with the President so I can go on with the meeting ; so Arcelor Mittal CEO came to my office and the meeting was held , and they agreed to pay, but not the six hundred thousand United States Dollars , but to paid 50percent , and we will have an MOU going forward” he said.
He told the public that from the meeting and with the consent from his boss , a team was formulated with the objective of drafting the MOU for such payment.
He said in line with the MOU, the money was put in Buchanan Port Operations account.
“March 4th 2019, US$3000 was paid to the account only I and my Financial Manager were signatories to the account, So when the money came , I informed my boss and he told me that he was going to get back to me” Gull said.
Mr. Gull however disclosed that he had a visit to the United States of America that of which he informed his boss regarding the travel with surprised according to him, his boss Bill Twehway told him to go to the controller of the National Port Authority where he was given five thousands United States Dollars .
“ I was in the states when my boss call me to come back to Liberia and transferred the money to the controller that of which I instructed my Finance Manager to do through a check “he noted.
Additionally Gull disclosed that Arcelor Mittal in line with the agreement paid over a million United States Dollars without the Managing Director of the National Port Authority giving the ten percent those staffs of Mittal who negotiated for the dual.
He further disclosed that the an international inspection team were to inspect the Port of Buchanan that of which he informed the MD, and that of the controller who informed him that there was no money for that work .
Mr. Gull said as a means of keeping the Port up to date before the inspection by the American Cost Guard to keep the Port level at one.
According to him, if the inspection was to be done without upgrading the port , the port was growing to be graded level two that was going to prevent setting vessels from duking that was going to reduce revenue generation.
“ Because of that I instructed the Financial Manger withdrew nine thousands United States Dollars from the account to upgrade the port, when the Controller check the Account he disclosed that such amount were withdrew , so he informed my boss and I told him that I use the money to upgrade the port because the inspection”. He indicated.
According to him, because of such transaction the MD wrote the Arcelor Mittal Management not to depose in the operation account.
He said on June 20, 2020 the vessel left total from the port something that prompted him to engaged his boss regarding those guys percentage according to GULL his got angry with me.
“In November 2020 , the guys when to my financial man so that he could rise a bill of hundred Thousands United States Dollars so that they can get something because my boss did not give them their ten percent from the previous agreement . so I informed my boss and he agreed the money in a check , but the guys said they were not willing for it to go in the NPA Account , so instructed my Financial Manager to open an account as soon as we take the money out , it will be closed, so one from the bank informed my boss that Arcelor Mittal has deposit the money in private account for the port, if he was aware , and he called me and I told it was those guys that I told you about, I was given a shear of 30 thousands united States Dollars , I do not want to lie “he noted.
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