Gangway Snarl-up Left Liberia's President Dockside

Liberia's President, set for an afternoon cruise, delayed first by boat's late arrival, then gave up idea when gangway jammed on board.

An embarrassing fiasco occurred at the Free Port of Monrovia recently, causing the President of Liberia to depart disappointingly, after waiting for nearly three hours at the pier (the dock) reports the nation's 'Daily Observer'.

The ship, MV Diallo Macedo, was scheduled to have departed that afternoon for a cruise down the Atlantic [coast] with several guests aboard, who were to have been entertained with dinner and dancing, for a handsome fee.

But two strange things happened that caused serious embarrassment to the guests, including the President.  First, it was only after the President arrived that two tugboats were sent out to bring the waiting vessel on to the pier.

Second, over an hour after the ship had docked, its workers, in the full glare of the President and other guests, tried in vain to open the door to let down the stairs for  boarding.

The article continues to comment that it understood that the President’s eldest son, James Sirleaf, Jr., of First International Bank (Liberia), is connected with the ship’s Cape Verde owners, questioning also the seaworthiness of the vessel for the expedition.