Monrovia – At least 44 retired employees of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) have been duly honored for their committed services rendered over the years to the Liberian government while in the employ of the institution (FDA).
At an elaborate ceremony to commemorate the occasion October 27, 2017, the FDA management described the retirees as men who had stood the test of time and whose contributions will remain written in the archive of the institution from time to time.
FDA Managing Director Darlington Tuagben in a special statement recounted the numerous gains the retirees had made towards the sustained growth and development of the FDA over the years.
He praised them for the level of patriotism and proven love for country and assured them that the forest sector at large would continue to build upon the foundation they had so sacrificially established.
Mr. Tuagben used the occasion to disclose the creation of thirty vacancies at the FDA as a result of the honorable departure of these men and meanwhile challenged young professional foresters to begin taking advantage of those opportunities.
According to him, the wheel of the entity must keep turning progressively in line with the ongoing exercise including the development of a five- year-strategic plan for the FDA and the forest sector being harnessed by local and international consultants.
“By successfully implementing this retirement scheme, we have together created an opportunity to bring on board young professionals to support the robust and full implementation of the FDA mandate,” the MD noted, adding that FDA was largely bent on unveiling a new page that could realistically define a true sustainable management of the Liberian forest.
The managing director told the retirees that the FDA will always count on them in the event where consultancy becomes necessary saying,” you still possess something we need, in the running of the entity and could revert to you anytime deemed necessary.”
He lauded the government of Liberia in a special way for the level of support she had rendered the process thereby generating the successful conclusion of the exercise.
The occasion was graced by representatives from the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) and the Civil Service Agency (CSA).
The NASSCORP Deputy managing director of public information Mr. Winston Jah and CSA Deputy Director for personal management respectively assured the retirees that they will hence forth reap the benefits of the time they had served their country and hoped others would copy such good examples.
They told the retirees that all is not lost and urged them to muster courage in their retirement period with the conviction that they (retirees) had successfully and honorably done a great job for their country that will remain a long way in the anal of history.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees the out-going Technical Manager for the Conservation Department Mr. Theo Freeman commended the government of Liberia through the FDA management for honorably retiring them after serving their country with distinction.
He called on the FDA management to keep the dream of conservation program burning.
According to him conservation was the crux of forest management without which the intent of forestry would lose its scientific reliance and relevance.