MONROVIA – The government’s yellow machine program will prioritize technical competence over political connections, with National Coordinator Brownie J. Samukai declaring that individuals recommended by politicians will not automatically receive jobs operating the heavy equipment.
Samukai, former Liberian Defense Minister and current Chairperson of the coordinating committee for the Yellow Machines Board of Authority, made the disclosure Thursday at the Ministry of Information press briefing.
He said the government requires qualified personnel to operate the heavy equipment and will not compromise technical standards to accommodate political recommendations.
Samukai revealed that politicians had attempted to recommend individuals for machine-operator positions, but he rejected recommendations involving people without the necessary technical experience.
“How can you recommend somebody to operate a front-end loader who has a degree in accounting, never been in a mechanic shop or any one of the three?” Samukai asked.
His comments expose one of the challenges confronting the government as it moves to deploy the yellow machines across Liberia: ensuring that the equipment is operated by trained personnel rather than individuals selected through political influence.
Samukai said operating heavy machinery is a practical responsibility requiring specialized skills and experience.
He dismissed the idea that individuals lacking the required qualifications could simply be assigned alternative positions to accommodate political recommendations.
“They find a small office to put them in. There is no small office to build roads,” he said.
“We need operators to do so. If you can do it, the job is yours.”
Samukai said the government has already begun investing in training operators, disclosing that the first group brought into the program in April underwent three months of training focused on the movement and operation of the machines.
He also confirmed that operators will be compensated under formal contracts.
“Now you want to know whether the girls are going to get paid? Yes, they’re going to get paid,” Samukai said.
“All of them are under contract.”
The disclosure provides a glimpse into the government’s effort to build a trained workforce around the massive equipment program rather than simply distributing machines without the personnel needed to operate and maintain them.
Beyond operator recruitment, Samukai said the government is also establishing a county-level system to control the movement and deployment of the machines.
He said the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee will announce individuals nominated to serve as county coordinators.
The county coordinators will represent the committee at the local level and work with county authorities and local engineers on approved projects.
According to Samukai, the machines will not be moved based on informal requests from politicians or individuals.
Instead, movement will require authorization through the designated county coordination structure, with instructions originating from Monrovia.
He said county leadership, including elected and appointed officials, will play a role in determining priorities based on projects already presented, while the Ministry of Public Works will have a key responsibility in implementing the approved works.
Samukai was particularly direct about attempts by politicians to influence the deployment process.
“Those machines will not go to politicians’ private farms,” he said.
“They will not go to any individual private farm.”
He stressed that politicians would not be allowed to determine where machines are sent or how they are used for personal purposes.
