Monrovia – The National Director of the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Caritas (NCJPC) Rev. Fr. McDonald W. Nah is calling on the government to pass the drug law and place a ban on illicit drugs something he says is on the increase among young people in the country.

The National Commission for Justice, Peace, and Caritas (NCJPC), is the human rights, development and relief arm of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Liberia (CABICOL).

The NCJPC formerly comprised the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and Caritas. These two departments of the church in 2017 merged to form the NCJPC.

Rev. Nah made disclosed to journalists when he presented the report that covers activities of the JPC and Caritas in the Archdiocese of Monrovia, the Diocese of Gbarnga, and the Diocese of Harper. 

The semi-annual report covers initiatives of the Catholic Church in Liberia and the present socio-economic situation, from January 2022 to July 2022. 

Speaking at the Head Office on Old Road, the National Director of the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Caritas said from the semi-annual report, the increase of drugs is the cause of the high crime rate in the country.

According to him, throughout our interventions in various communities across the country, we can safely conclude that the communities and families are overwhelmed with the effects of the sale and use of narcotics and other illicit drugs.

“We urgently appeal and urge policymakers and the Government to consider the passage of the drug law act and the total ban of the sale of narcotics and other illicit drugs. This issue is a national emergency, Rev. Nah said.

“There are people in the community that experience the use of drugs every day. They have told us the story that they cannot walk in the night and even broad day sometimes the young folks will attack them of the aim to get money to buy drugs,” Rev. Nah sad.

He added: “If we don’t as a country, see it as an emergency, we are going to have a problem. As a church, we see it as an emergency because we worked in these communities and we now talk with people and we know the things they are going through. We know how their families are feeling.”

Monrovia – The National Commission for Justice, peace and Caritas (NCJPC) lauds efforts by the Liberian Government and partners to fight the global pandemic Corona Virus Disease or COVID 19 that has infected and affected millions of people and killed over 200,000 people world-wide.

To effectively roll back the spread of the virus in Liberia, President George Weah on April 10, 2020, declared the State of Emergency which was approved by the legislature.

However, since the declaration, there have been gross violations and missteps in the enforcement of the state of Emergency and the measures as announced by the president.

The National Commission of Justice, peace and Caritas do acknowledge that during a state of Emergency certain rights are suspended. The Commission strongly believes that the DIGNITY of every human being is and must be upheld during the state of Emergency.

The Commission would like to draw the Government’s attention to the following:

• On April 23, 2020- A video that went viral on social media, shows security personnel believed to be officers of the Liberian National police (LNP) and Executive Protective Services (EPS), torturing ,stepping, flogging and using sticks to punish Mr. Mohammed Komara, on grounds that he bridged security at the President’s house.
• April 28, 2020-A video posted on social media shows Capitol Building security dragging Mr. Gus Winn, a Contractor who had gone to the Capitol Building to demand money owed him for painting the Capitol building before the 3^rd Sitting of the 54 Legislature.
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers in Kakata manhandled a motorcyclist who was taken a pregnant woman in labor to the C.H. Rennie Hospital, on grounds that, he violated the 3pm curfew. The pregnant woman felt from the bike, got burned on the leg and wounded in the process.
• Statement from the Solicitor General that the government will go after media houses, seized their properties when they report what he calls “fake news”.

All these and other acts of brutalities by law enforcement agencies are totally unacceptable and must stop!

The NCJPC would like to remind the Government and its functionaries, that Constitution has not been suspended. The National Legislature and Judiciary are operating and as such issues of violations must be dealt with in a civilized and legal manner.

While we abhor the heavy handiness of state securities in enforcing the President’s mandate, the NCJPC reminds citizens of their responsibilities in ensuring that the fight against COVID 19 is sustained and won by adhering to laid down protocols ascribed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Public Health Institute (NPHL).

As we continue this fight, it is important to note, that the COVID-19 is a challenge to our very existence and the values that we have adopted. It is a call for a new way of being, a call for a new order, putting the human person at the centre of everything; policy making and law enforcement. Today the coronavirus brings us to the essential dimension of living this unity as human beings. COVID 19 has made us realize that there is one truth, the fact that we exist in common with the others through our human nature, in the image of God.

The trauma created by the Coronavirus brings us to deliver ourselves to hope in faith. Prayers, words of solidarity, sharing whatever we have, respecting the Dignity of each person, have been the antidote during this period of overwhelming and multifaceted crises.

 At a moment when the whole world says that our physical absence and social distancing are needed, prayer, faith and expression of love through our different responsibilities become the Christian message that binds us together in closeness.

The invisible enemy can be conquered through our new vision for humankind, a society that would be built on love, respect and care for our fellow human beings. At the time when we are obliged to take time for ourselves, let us reflect on how to build this communion with God, to build communion with our fellow human beings, to be a great testimony to the presence of God in our care for our neighbors.

In Conclusion, the NCJPC would like to thank all Liberians, International Partners, Health care workers, their families, and the Government, for all the efforts in fighting the Coronavirus pandemic. Together we defeated the Ebola virus Disease; together we can defeat COVID 19. May the souls of those who have died as the result of this virus, rest in perfect peace and God continue to console their families.