Monrovia – Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman says maintaining post-war peace remains paramount to the Liberia National Police.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, [email protected]
Speaking Monday, when the United States Embassy donated several office supplies to the Police, Col. Coleman said although officers of the LNP have been making inroads with the little at their disposal, the Police continue to exert its energy into improving performance as the 2017 presidential elections draw near.
The LNP chief commended the US Embassy for the donation and pledged that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.
“The LNP appreciate this donation because the United States has been one of our trusted partners over the years and we are committed to sustaining the peace in the country,” Col. Coleman said.
The LNP boss averred that everything is being done to improve access to justice in all parts of the country.
For his part, Mr. Samuel Watson III, chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Monrovia, said it is a risky task serving as Police officer in a post-war environment like Liberia and stressed the importance of having the right equipment at all times to enable the Police officers to do their job properly.
Mr. Wilson added that the US is happy to support the Police at all times and pledged more support to the Police to help them perform professionally.
The donated items included laptops, printers and other office supplies although the chargé d’affaires appear non-committal to the question of whether the US will provide uniforms to the Police, one of the major constraints facing the LNP.
Col. Chris Massaquoi, former Police director, who was present for the ceremony, said at least US$25M was needed to make the Police more effective and efficient and more professional.
He explained that the current budgetary allocation for the Police is insufficient to enhance all the workings of the Police, and further complained that the over US$15M budgeted for the Police for its entire workforce and other logistics, and subtracting US$14.5M, nothing much is left for Police operations.
The Police former boss indicated about US$45M is needed to actually run the Police with efficiency, but said at the moment the Police is urgently in need of at least US$25M for its work.
“We actually need more than US$45M but because of the prevailing constrains being faced with the central government which we are taking into consideration, we can manage with at least US$25M which though may be somehow small but I think we can start from,” he furthered.