Liberia’s Public Works Deputy Minister for Rural Development, Christian Herbert, has hailed the series of technical and vocational training courses that the Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been offering Liberians, saying manpower capacity-building is very crucial in propelling Liberia’s reconstruction and development.

Speaking at a joint graduation ceremony at UNMIL Sector B2 headquarters at CARI Complex in Bong County for 45 Liberians who received training in various technical skills conducted by Bangladeshi peacekeepers and sponsored by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Herbert noted that “there is a competence deficit” in many institutions in Liberia, which is undermining national development.

The Deputy Minister urged the participants to make effective use of the knowledge they had acquired, and let it have a multiplier effect in their communities and workplaces.

“Go back to your ministries or whatever institution you come from; organize small training and impart the knowledge and skills you have got here to others;  by doing this, you will be able to multiply the number of people who have been trained here today,” the Deputy Minister challenged the participants.

For his part, the Senior Bangladeshi military officer in the Mission, Col. Bashidul Islam, who is also the Commander of BanMed-9, said the string of training programmes Bangladeshi peacekeepers had given Liberians, especially the youth, were intended to build their confidence to enable them effectively contribute to the re-building of their country.

 “Our effort is to impart technical knowledge to the local people so that they gain confidence in taking over their responsibility to make Liberia a successful country in the 21st century,” Col. Islam stressed.

Ten employees of the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) had training in Works Supervisory conducted by BANENGR-18; while the basic computer course held by the Bangladesh Signal Contingent benefited 15 MoPW workers. The First Aid and Medicare course run by BANMED-9 benefited 15 participants drawn from various parts of Liberia.

The participants, who appeared very pleased with the new knowledge and skills they had acquired, promised to use them to enrich themselves, their communities and workplaces, and appealed for the training programmes to be extended to other parts of the country.  

“I strongly believe that with the continuity of such programmes throughout the length and breadth of Liberia, most Liberians will stand prepared for the future,” observed Raymond Weah, a computer course participant from Monrovia.