VZCZCXRO9267
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 
 
¶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