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Liberia: Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Boss Blames Armed Robberies On Illegal Migrates
November 26, 2007 Garmonyou Wilson

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN), Chris Massaquoi disclosed during a stakeholders meeting on border management in Monrovia this weekend that nine out of ten of the arm robbery cases in the country are committed by illegal migrates.

The stakeholders meeting was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was aimed at gathering input for the development of a comprehensive framework for enhancing the border and migration management capacity of the Liberian government.

The meeting was also geared at strengthening thirty-six of the hundred ad seventy-six border points in the country by working with all relevant international partners to develop recommendations for future Liberian border management.

The BIN Commissioner, Chris Massaquoi said that the US$1.5 million dollars budget in the 2007/2008 fiscal budgets for the Bureau is insufficient to handle the influx of immigrates and for monitoring all border points in the country.

Abla G. Williams, Deputy Commissioner for Naturalization at the BIN told stakeholders at the meeting that infrastructure, training, equipment, data management tools, legal review, development of procedures and accommodations for officers at the various border points are among the major needs the Bureau faces.

She also stressed that the 1956 Immigration Law that was adapted from the United States is obsolete and needs amendment to shape the current times and problems that the Bureau faces.

Phyllis A. Coven technical cooperation specialist for IOM revealed at the meeting that in the interest of building the capacity for migration in Liberia the organization wants to bring a Personal Identification and Registration System (PIRS) to the Robert's International Airport (RIA).

The PIRS is a computerized system that allows security personnel to gain information faster. It would allow security officials to have such information as to how much people are entering the country, Mrs. Coven told stakeholders at the meeting.

She furthered stated that the IOM needs to know the plans of other stakeholders, especially when it comes to their timetable for renovating work being done at the RIA. She also stressed the need for donor support to enable the plans the IOM has to be implemented.

For their parts, Eric Afari head of training for the Ghana Immigration Service told stakeholders that in collaboration with the Netherlands's government, two thousand border guards from Liberia would partake in training in Ghana on law, policy, and anti-corruption among others.

Bronwyn Grieve a representative from the World Bank told stakeholders that the Bank has developed an Infrastructure Fund that is expected to raise 3.6 million U.S. dollars to return the RIA back to international standards.

Commissioner for the United Nations Police in Liberia, Mohammed Al Hassan ensured all stakeholders at the Liberia Border Management Stakeholders Meeting that the reform and restructuring of the BIN is paramount in curtailing crime in the country and that the UN would continue to do everything in its capacity to improve security in the country.


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		Liberia: Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Boss Blames Armed Robberies On Illegal Migrates November 26, 2007 Garmonyou Wilson Chris Massaquoi, Commissioner of BIN The Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN), Chris Massaquoi disclosed during a stakeholders meeting on border management in Monrovia this weekend that nine out of ten of the arm robbery cases in the country are committed by illegal migrates. The stakeholders meeting was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was aimed at gathering input for the development of a comprehensive framework for enhancing the border and migration management capacity of the Liberian government. The meeting was also geared at strengthening thirty-six of the hundred ad seventy-six border points in the country by working with all relevant international partners to develop recommendations for future Liberian border management. The BIN Commissioner, Chris Massaquoi said that the US$1.5 million dollars budget in the 2007/2008 fiscal budgets for the Bureau is insufficient to handle the influx of immigrates and for monitoring all border points in the country. Abla G. Williams, Deputy Commissioner for Naturalization at the BIN told stakeholders at the meeting that infrastructure, training, equipment, data management tools, legal review, development of procedures and accommodations for officers at the various border points are among the major needs the Bureau faces. She also stressed that the 1956 Immigration Law that was adapted from the United States is obsolete and needs amendment to shape the current times and problems that the Bureau faces. Phyllis A. Coven technical cooperation specialist for IOM revealed at the meeting that in the interest of building the capacity for migration in Liberia the organization wants to bring a Personal Identification and Registration System (PIRS) to the Robert's International Airport (RIA). The PIRS is a computerized system that allows security personnel to gain information faster. It would allow security officials to have such information as to how much people are entering the country, Mrs. Coven told stakeholders at the meeting. She furthered stated that the IOM needs to know the plans of other stakeholders, especially when it comes to their timetable for renovating work being done at the RIA. She also stressed the need for donor support to enable the plans the IOM has to be implemented. For their parts, Eric Afari head of training for the Ghana Immigration Service told stakeholders that in collaboration with the Netherlands's government, two thousand border guards from Liberia would partake in training in Ghana on law, policy, and anti-corruption among others. Bronwyn Grieve a representative from the World Bank told stakeholders that the Bank has developed an Infrastructure Fund that is expected to raise 3.6 million U.S. dollars to return the RIA back to international standards. Commissioner for the United Nations Police in Liberia, Mohammed Al Hassan ensured all stakeholders at the Liberia Border Management Stakeholders Meeting that the reform and restructuring of the BIN is paramount in curtailing crime in the country and that the UN would continue to do everything in its capacity to improve security in the country.