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December 15, 2008
Liberia’s Justice Minister promises
expeditious handling of cases
MONROVIA, Liberia, December 15, 2008/African Press Organization
(APO)/ — The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the Liberian Government
and partners have taken another step to strengthen the correctional
system of Liberia with 19 correctional superintendents and senior
officers completing an eight-week senior management training. The
training will equip the officers with the necessary skills and
knowledge in corrections work to enable them embrace best practices
in prison management.
Providing the keynote remarks, Liberia’s Justice Minister and
Attorney General, Counsellor-at-Law Philip A.Z. Banks, said the
Liberian Government is developing programs to ensure that people who
are taken to prisons will have their cases handled expeditiously.
“You know that one of the problems that we have is the lack of
prosecution mobility, to have our prisoners taken to court as
quickly as we would like. Now we are determined on improving that,”
Minister Banks added. He pledged the Liberian Government’s
continuing efforts to ensure that corrections remain an important
component of its operations.
Warning prisoners against jail breaks, Minister Banks said escaping
from prisons does not mean the Government is going to tolerate those
kinds of events. “If anyone escapes from a prison, we have laws to
prosecute him or her further. We will ensure that there are no
attempts to escape from prisons; if you want to be out of prison, do
not to commit crimes,” he cautioned.
The problem of prolonged pre-trial detentions in Liberia has
constantly led to the over-crowding of prisons, eventually leading
to attempted jail breaks. This situation has raised concerns
regarding the right of the accused to a fair trial, including the
right to be tried without undue delay.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule
of Law, Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu called on the Liberian Government
to continue supporting the corrections system and its officers. “I
also urge you corrections officers to keep the Government, through
the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Ministry of
Justice, well informed about the situation in your facilities and
any problems for which their assistance is required,” Ms.
Mensa-Bonsu said. She added that corrections officers must sustain
what has been achieved so far within the corrections system, urging
them to be “agents of progress” in its future development.
The Deputy UN Envoy pointed out that, “the area of prisoners’ rights
remains a great challenge to all of us; prisoners are in prison as
punishment and not for punishment.” She called on corrections
officers to treat prisoners in a way that will enhance their
rehabilitation and facilitate their reintegration into their
communities when they return.
The 19 corrections superintendents and senior officers were provided
instructions in human rights, code of conduct, gender mainstreaming,
and the treatment of juveniles and other vulnerable offenders by
facilitators drawn from the Government of Liberia, UNMIL, and the
International Committee of the Red Cross. Participants were selected
from Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Bassa,
Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties. The training will continue to
cover the remaining counties.
Attending the ceremony were Deputy Justice Minister for
Administration and Public Safety, Ms. Eva Morgan, Assistant Minister
for Corrections and Rehabilitation, Ms. Fatumata Sheriff, Director
of Prisons, Mr. Edwin Volawuolo, Assistant Commissioner/Training and
Development, Liberia National Police, Mr. William Mulbah, Head of
UNMIL Corrections Advisory Unit, Ms. Marjo Callaghan, and other
senior officials of the UN Police and the Liberian Government.
SOURCE : Mission of UN in Liberia
