As the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) gradually reduces its troop strength, progressively handing over security responsibilities to Liberians, it has made the capacity-building of Liberian security agencies a major focus, training and mentoring security personnel, and providing them with the needed infrastructure to enable them efficiently carry out their duties.

 
One of such infrastructure, a police depot, was recently turned-over to the Liberia National Police in Suakoko, about 17 kilometers from Bong County administrative capital, Gbarnga.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, UN Police Commissioner John Nielsen described the new depot, constructed through UNMIL Quick Impact Projects, as an indicator of the major developments in the rule of law sector across Liberia.
 
He mentioned the Gbarnga Regional Justice Security Hub constructed through the UN Peace-building Fund, which is intended to bring justice and security to the doorsteps of the people of Central Liberia, as one of the landmark achievements in the sector.
 
Commissioner Nielsen acknowledged that the lack of manpower and logistics was the greatest challenge facing the police in Liberia, and said the UN and other partners would continue to support the government to build the capacity of the security agencies.

“This is the problem that Liberia faces all over; your government is aware of the challenge, and it is trying to deal with it; and we in the United Nations will continue to support the government tackle it,” Commissioner Nielsen said.

For his part, LNP Commissioner of Police for Administration Gbor Phil Tougbay commended UNMIL for the construction of many such police depots in different parts of the country, and pledged that the new depot would be used to bring peace and development to the people of Suakoko District.

Sited at the Suakoko Market, where tens of hundreds of sellers and buyers converge every Friday to do business, the inauguration of the new community-friendly police depot, which has holding cells for men and women, is welcome news to the more than 30,000 residents of Suakoko District.