Swiss-Based NGO Help Forge Police, Motorcyclists Collaboration

Paynesville City – Bowier Trust Foundation Switzerland (BTFS) has expressed keen interest in ensuring that Liberian motorcyclists are aware about traffic safety and rules, by conducting training for over 50 motorcyclists in Paynesville City.

The Swizz based Liberian NGO collaborated with Liberia National Police to hold the one-day training for the commercial motorcyclists about preventing road accidents. 

The session also highlighted possible ways motorcyclist can help in providing community policing. 

During the training session held on Thursday February 8, BTFS President Felix Walz called on motorcyclists in the SD Cooper Road community and other surrounding communities to work with the Police in minimizing crime. 

Mr. Walz said relationship between motorcyclists and the Police is important and would help change the perception of most people in Liberia. 

He assured that his organization is willing to work with the LNP and motorcyclists to ensure the relationship grows stronger and friendly. 

The Bowier Trust Foundation Switzerland boss admonished motorcyclists in SD Cooper Road Community to avoid been used as channel to create chaos in Liberia, while at the same time, called on officers of the LNP to build a friendly relationship with commercial motorcyclists. 

“Officers of the LNP must now change their mentality of only wanting to arrest motorcyclists and try to see them as partners in the field.”

“We should look ahead and find a platform on how can we reach out to the so-called problem areas – the motorcyclists,” Walz said. 

“We should not just always think and rubbish out strategy on how to arrest and harm them; they all have their daily challenges.”

“So, instead of always trying to arrest them we should think on how can we get together and speak together and give a platform to see what are their challenges and then see how can we work together.” 

He said constant education on road safety and accident prevention will help promote a lasting relationship between motorcyclists and the LNP. 

“It is my wish that I will one day see a major headline in one of your local newspapers saying motorcyclists support and enhancing the state of security in Liberia, motorcyclists working alongside the LNP and with the community to make the community a safer place,” Walz said. 

For his part, the commander of the Zone Eight Depot located along the Roberts International Airport Highway, Superintendent Tarnue Kerkula, lauded BTFS for undertaking the initiative by bringing the motorcyclists face-to-face with officers of the LNP. 

Superintendent Kerkula wants motorcyclists in the country to see the Police as their friend and partners in combatting crime. 

“From this (workshop) we will build our capacity and build a better relationship with the motorcyclists and the community, but motorcyclists must know that they and the Police have a common goal, we are there to provide protection for our society at large and they are there to transport our civilians from one point to another point,” he said. 

He warned that the LNP would not work with criminals, while calling on motorcyclists to avoid committing crimes. 

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist who participated in the training, expressed delight over the presentation on safety and accident prevention said the training has given him some broad knowledge about the traffic. 

Joe B. Mallie called on the two institutions to organize more workshops in other parts of the country. 

“Motorcyclists need to learn the no-go zone and be non-violent and through such a training that will help us work with the Police,” he said. 

“Because motorcyclists name have spoiled over the years and some people saying we have been used by criminals to snatch pedestrians’ cell phone at night, I think partnering with the LNP will help put in place measures to control the movement of motorcyclists at night.” 

Report by Jackson F. Kanneh [email protected]/0770195412/0888132331