PHOTO: Retired BWI Honorees
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- The Administration of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) has honored about fifty persons who were retired by the institution last year.
The event, which took place at the institution’s auditorium here in the Margibi County capital on Thursday, May 26, 2022, saw the certification of the retirees.
The Vice Principal for Student Services at BWI, Foday K. Rogers gave an overview of the honoring ceremony on behalf of the Principal, Atty. Harris Fomba Tarnue, said the honor is in recognition of the services the retirees rendered the BWI over the years.
Mr. Roger disclosed that in August 2021 the administration received a shocking information from the Government of Liberia (GOL) through the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) to retire the over 50 employees, something he described as being abrupt.
According to him, the information disturbed the administration, but it hit the principal most, as head of the institution and the representative of government on the campus.
He stated that the principal then engaged the Civil Service Agency and the Finance Ministry informing the two government entities that the employees whose retirement was put forth served Liberia through the BWI. And as such, the BWI official said they deserve some level of honor and respect, instead of retiring them in such form and manner.
The retirees appealed that they stay on the job for three months and should be paid.
Mr. Rogers said that through the Principal’s advocacy, the Ministry of Finance and the CSA accepted the Principal’s appeal adding that the three months period went through and ended and the BWI administration unofficially appreciated the retirees.
With this, Mr. Rogers indicated that the administration decided to host an official program for the services the retirees rendered the institution something he added, they deserve.
The BWI Vice Principal for Student Services then said all of them will be retired in various forms and manner expressed, with respect and distinction.
He called on the retirees and those who may face similar situation to not see retirement as a death sentence.
“I know many of you sit over there, you are retired but not tired; we know there are other greater opportunities out there that you can still pursue, but sometimes because of your professionalism BWI might bring you back to serve in other areas,” the BWI Vice Principal for Student Services stated.
For her part, the chairperson of the BWI elder council, Constance Juah lauded the administration of Principal Tarnue for honoring the retirees.
Mrs. Juah noted that Principal Tarnue has proven to be a real leader based on several indicators.
She pointed out that because the Liberian government has disregarded the services of their people who have worked over the years, Atty. Tarnue engaged the MFDP and the CSA to ensure that the dignities of the retirees were restored by extending their retirement time.
That enabled them to remain on the payroll for additional thee months.
Mrs. Juah further explained that as the result of the Principal’s quest for the rules of engagement, information gathered in recent time about planned retirement of another batch, CSA has started following the required procedure.
The CSA has written the administration as a way of notifying personal of BWI who are to be affected shortly indicating that this is in line with labor best practice globally, Mrs. Juah explained.
Notwithstanding, the BWI elder council chairperson said few months back each affected personal of the last retirement was to benefit three hundred and fifty United States dollars but as it stands some of those affected personals are yet to receive said amount.
She appealed to the principal to continue to press on in the interest of his people as he has always done.
Mrs. Juah meanwhile, admonished her colleagues not to worry but should rather continue to explore the potentials they have and move on with life.