The Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says concerted efforts are required to address all emerging forms of vulnerabilities and threats to peace in the West African Sub-region.
Dr. Kamil Kamaluddeen said illicit trafficking in arms, drugs, persons, terrorism and other crimes are forms of vulnerabilities and threat to peace that need collaborative efforts.
“If we try to work in a consorted way to curb illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, we’ll be doing ourselves, our society and our economy a whole word of good,” Dr. Kamaluddeen said at the handover of border security management equipment and training workshop of customized electronic arms record keeping software on small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Monrovia.
“Permit me to say a big thank you to the Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA) for providing continuous support to the national efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, not only in Liberia but, in West Africa as a whole…”
The UNDP boss said the turnover of the items and support to the national efforts of the Government of Liberia was critical to the sustenance of peace, curbing criminal activities and also important for building peace and a resilient society.
He stated that in recognition of this, the UNDP has always been and will continue to be a trusted partner to the Government of Liberia in supporting the establishment of national institutions, like LiNCSA and putting into place legal and regulatory frameworks for the control of small arms and light weapons.
Dr. Kamaluddeen added that the UNDP is also helping to equip, not only national institutions, but stakeholders with the requisite skills, techniques, tools and resources to be able to effectively combat the menace of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
He thanked the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for their continuous support.
The Regional Center on Small Arms with funding from the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) Tuesday turned over Customized Electronic Record Keeping Software and Border Security Management Equipment to the Government of Liberia through the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA).
It also coincided with the beginning of a two-day training of national security personnel on the use and maintenance of customized electronic arms record keeping software on small arms and light weapons.
Speaking earlier, the Director of Planning at the Regional Center on Small Arms Kamali Theophilus said the initiative was intended to enhance synergies and cultivate partnership amongst stakeholders across the African Continent.
Responding, the Chairman on Small Arms in Liberia, James Fromayan, thanked RECSA, noting, that the donation comes at a time, Liberia is preparing for the draw- down of the UN Mission in the Country.
The equipment included metal detectors, hand-held metal scanners, desktop computers, UPS, a server etc.