-Justice Minister urges LIS 500 graduates
By Lincoln G. Peters
Liberia’s Justice Minister, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh has urged and beseeched Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) five hundred graduates to be loyal to their country and people to resist the temptation to be corrupt to exercise illegal and violet influence over others.
Delivering the keynote address at the Graduation Ceremony in Lofa County over the weekend, Cllr. Tweh encouraged the graduates to never resort to violence and defy the established rules of society.
“We admonish, implore, and beseech you to be loyal to your country and people; to resist the temptation to be corrupt, to exercise illegal and violent control over others just because you have the power. Never disrespect your superiors and fellow officers of LIS, and never disregard authority to assert your rights or correct wrongs. Help us to make the present and future of Liberia better,” Cllr. Tweh urged.
The Liberian Immigration Service, on Saturday, December 7, 2024, in Foya, Lofa County, celebrated and graduated 500 remarkable men and women into the service under the theme: “LIS; Spirited Rejuvenated to Serve.”
Those who graduated undergo a six-week intensive training at the Joseph Nyuma Boakai Training Academy, which focuses on general immigration functions, basic investigation and tactical training, and training in legal formalities techniques in law enforcement.
The objective of the training is to empower the recruits and transform the civilian into a para-military officer – placing them in the critical line of thinking: operations, drills, leadership skills, civic responsibilities, and understanding of the chain of command.
The newly trained personnel are to replace more than 300 officers of LIS who have been listed for retirement by the Civil Service Agency. During the recruitment process, LIS received average candidates of over 9,000 applicants but was later reduced to 500 based on other procedures.
However, further motivating the graduates, Cllr. Tweh told the graduates that there would be challenges and disappointments in their new life as an immigration officer.
He stressed that the ceremony serves as a profound reminder of the resilience and determination that has marked their history, adding that Liberia has faced challenges, yet they emerge stronger each time.
Cllr. Tweh narrated that this rejuvenation symbolizes the relentless spirit and commitment of the Liberia Immigration Service to serve the nation with renewed energy and a steadfast vision for a brighter future.
According to him, they have prepared themselves to be a positive part of Liberian society, noting that the benefits they will get out of their lives as immigration officers are dependent on how well they utilize the skills acquired through their training.
“By your training and knowledge acquired during your training, you are prepared and equipped – not only for life as immigration officers but also to be a productive member of society. This graduation should, therefore, be not only the starting point for advancement in your new employment – but also the beginning of a productive life as citizens of Liberia,” he concluded.
