MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Commerce, Ways and Means and Contracts to establish the link between BIVAC and APM Terminals within a week.

According to ELBC Legislative Reporter, the Committees will further verify BIVAC’s link to APM Terminals’ tariff increment by nine-point-six-seven percent and the truthfulness of their contract agreement.

Plenary’s decision on last Friday, January 28, 2021, followed BIVAC Deputy Managing Director, Henry Bernard’s opposition to APM Terminals’ tariff increment.

Mr. Bernard added that both BIVAC and APM Terminals have separate leaderships and do not function for each other.

He further confirmed an extension of BIVAC’s agreement by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Commerce Minister for a period-January to June 2021.

At the same time, the leadership of the House of Representatives is calling on aggrieved staff to exercise restraint as their seventeen month salary claim is looked into, in consultation with relevant agencies of the Liberian Government.

According to a recent release issued, the House’s Leadership expressed serious concern about the situation affecting the wellbeing of the staff, but cautioned them to be civil in their agitation.

The Leadership said the civility of the staff in their approach to the issue will uphold the dignity of the First Branch of Government.

It maintains that it is the right of any citizen to advocate for perceived benefit due him or her, but such advocacy must be done in accordance with laws to avoid the culture of violence.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House’s Committee on Ways, Means and Finance, Thomas Fallah, said the leadership has mandated the House of Representatives’ Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon, to invite Authorities of the Ministry of Finance and Civil Service Agency to appear before its Plenary on Thursday, February, 4, 2021, to provide insights on the Staff’s claim