Monrovia — The Liberian Legislature has repassed the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Act of 2025 after incorporating amendments requested by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, setting the stage for the legislation to take impact [if it is signed by the president] amid rising public debate over its implications for maritime and port governance.
By Jaheim Tumu, [email protected]
President Boakai had earlier vetoed parts of the Act, citing the necessity for readability and authorized consistency. Legislative sources and authorized specialists say these issues have now been absolutely addressed, clearing the best way for the Act’s passage.
Nonetheless, the repassage has reignited controversy, notably claims circulating in public discourse that the brand new legislation strips the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) of its port regulatory powers. Specialists and lawmakers concerned within the course of have rejected these claims as deceptive.
Clarifying the Maritime Authority Query
Critics of the Act have pointed to Part 37 of the Maritime Act to argue that the Inland and Seaport Regulatory Act undermines LiMA’s mandate. Authorized specialists say this interpretation is inaccurate.
A evaluate of Half VIII (Repealers) of the Act exhibits that the provisions amended or repealed relate primarily to the Ministry of Transport, not port regulation beneath LiMA. Particularly, the adjustments take away maritime-related capabilities beforehand lodged inside the Ministry of Transport and vest them within the Authority created beneath the brand new legislation.
These embody the removing of the Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs, the dissolution of the Division of Maritime Affairs inside the Ministry of Transport, and the switch of powers associated to maritime legislation administration, transport negotiations, sea companies coverage, and regulation of waterways and vessels.
Specialists notice that none of those provisions revoke or diminish LiMA’s statutory maritime capabilities. As an alternative, they argue, the amendments streamline institutional roles by separating maritime administration from port regulation.
“There’s nothing in Part 37 that speaks on to port regulation beneath the Maritime Authority,” one authorized analyst mentioned. “The general public narrative suggesting in any other case conflates maritime administration with port regulation, that are distinct beneath Liberian legislation.”
Debate Over Port Property
A second level of rivalry facilities on Part 720(2) of the Inland and Seaport Regulatory Act, which offers for the switch of “rights, property, liabilities, and obligations” of the dissolved ports to the newly established Liberia Seaport Regulatory Company (LSRA).
Opponents have argued that this implies all bodily port property — together with land, buildings, and gear — would robotically belong to the regulatory company as soon as the Act is signed into legislation.
Supporters of the Act dispute this declare, emphasizing that the supply refers to “rights property,” not merely bodily property. They argue that the excellence is crucial and has been misrepresented in public discussions.
Authorized specialists clarify that “rights property” usually check with intangible property, similar to licenses, regulatory rights, concessions, and different authorized entitlements that enable an establishment to train authority and generate financial worth. These differ from tangible property like infrastructure and gear, which stay topic to separate authorized and administrative preparations.
“The suggestion that every one port buildings and lands can be taken over by the regulator just isn’t supported by the textual content of the legislation,” one other professional famous. “The Act clearly speaks to rights and obligations crucial for regulation, not wholesale possession of bodily infrastructure.”
No Authorized Battle, Specialists Say
Supporters of the repassed Act keep that there is no such thing as a authorized contradiction between the Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Regulatory Act and the Liberia Maritime Authority Act. They argue that the 2 legal guidelines function in parallel, with LiMA retaining its maritime oversight position whereas the LSRA focuses on port regulation and supervision.
Because the invoice now awaits the President’s signature, observers say the controversy underscores the necessity for clearer public communication round advanced authorized reforms.
“With the provisions specified by black and white, the problem now just isn’t the legislation itself however how it’s being interpreted and offered to the general public,” a legislative supply mentioned.
Whether or not the clarifications will ease public concern stays to be seen, however for now, the Legislature insists that the repassed Act displays the President’s issues and preserves the integrity of Liberia’s maritime and port governance framework.
