Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia was now at a crossroads in its attainment of lasting peace, the Officer-in-Charge of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Mr. Jordan Ryan said recently during a ceremony in Monrovia to award peacekeeping medals to UN police officers (UNPOL) from Fiji.
Pointing out that UNMIL would not leave Liberia prematurely and risk the gains that had been made so far in securing peace, Mr. Ryan added that, “We have to continue working to ensure that Liberia’s national security is not compromised – not allowing anyone to undermine the country’s still fragile peace and stability, which has been achieved at such high cost.”
He stressed that with the LNP due to reach its target of 3,500 police shortly, UNPOL had “become more crucial in its support to these new recruits as they face different challenges in undertaking their tasks in the varying areas of policing”.
In the course of their duties in Liberia, the Fijian police contingent trained their Liberian colleagues in aspects related to traffic management, among other areas, and assisted in the construction and rebuilding of police stations around the country. They also undertook administrative duties for UNPOL offices both at UNMIL headquarters and in outlying areas in Liberia.
The acting UN Police Commissioner, Generaal Maritz Du Toit and the Fijian contingent commander, Senior Superintendent Isikeli Ligairi, among other senior UN police officers and staff, attended the ceremony.