In Liberia, Businessman Accuses NPA Of Unlawfully Seizing His Container

A businessman in Monrovia has alleged that the Management of the National Port Authority (NPA) unlawfully confiscated his 40-foot container at the port.
The man,Jesse Garduward further alleged that the Management of the NPA took away all of his goods from the container on grounds that they (goods) overstayed and therefore they have become properties or assets of the port.
He named some of the goods: one Nissan Xterra, one Chevrolet, one Toyota Tercel and barrels.

A businessman in Monrovia has alleged that the Management of the National Port Authority (NPA) unlawfully confiscated his 40-foot container at the port.
The man,Jesse Garduward further alleged that the Management of the NPA took away all of his goods from the container on grounds that they (goods) overstayed and therefore they have become properties or assets of the port.
He named some of the goods: one Nissan Xterra, one Chevrolet, one Toyota Tercel and barrels.
Garduward, who had resided in the United States of America (USA) for several years, claimed that he had completed all financial processes with the shipping line and that it was now left with paying storage fees for his container, but was informed by the Managing Director of the NPA Matilda Parker that the container has now become a port asset.
According to him, the container did not stay for the 90-day period as claimed by the MD of the NPA.
Garduward pointed out that it is an international best practice to make a notification to the owner(s) of whatever goods, and then do a publication in three local dailies for three time times before confiscating the person's goods as port asset.
He said nothing of such was done by the management of the NPA.
"I was told that my container was broken into by the management of the NPA headed by Madam Matilda Parker. When I approached her on the issue, she told me that my container has now become a port asset because I failed to free it within 90-day period as enshrined in the handbook of the port. This is not fair, this is a complete robbery," he said.
Speaking further, Garduward claimed that his Nissan Xterra Jeep is being used by the Deputy Managing Director of the NPA Yekeh Forkpa.
He added that his other car, Chevrolet has been almost strapped and parked at one of the entrances of the Free Port of Monrovia.
But in reaction, the NPA Management in a press statement termed Garduward's claims as "misinformation."
The NPA explained that International Maritime Law and the Act creating the NPA states that the NPA may by the expiration of the reasonable period-which is currently 90 days specified in the port Regulations on abandoned cargoes, sell by public auctions any or all portions of said goods or disposed of same in a manner it deems necessary in order to recoup Port dues and charges.
"The Management of the NPA has, in this manner, disposed of many abandoned goods from time to time after reasonable grace period which has given the individuals or businesses to make good on their obligations to the Authority in keeping with the regulations," the press release noted.
It further noted that the container in question, #ACLU 963392-4(40') arrived on October 7, 2010 on board Ex "Euro Cargo Africa", and that the consignee failed to exert any effort to make payment or arrangements to take delivery of his goods within the 90-day period.
It also pointed out that the container was declared abandoned on January 23, 2011.
But the businessman averred that the dates provided by the NPA are false and misleading, and that the NPA Management's sole intent was to take his goods that he spent thousands of dollars to get to Liberia.
He said his container arrived in Liberia on November 24, 2010 and so January 23, 2011 was not sufficient enough to reach 90 days.
He argued that International Maritime Law states that the 90 days are counted following a 15-day grace period following the arrival of a container or goods into a country, something, which he added, was ignored by the NPA authorities .