By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
The CDC government reportedly plans to outsource a key component of the Liberia National Police (LNP), the vehicle and Traffic section to a little known group “Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), which is a private company.
The Police Traffic section falls within the Public Safety Division of the state police and the move would mean that this private commercial company will be usurping some of the police powers both given under the Liberian Constitution and the Act establishing the LNP.
The emerging role of the Liberia Traffic Management company was disclosed in Monrovia on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at a formal ceremony, when the LTM made available a large consignment of vehicles, tow trucks, motorbikes and bicycles graced by President George Manneh Weah.
President Weah received the logistics, which value was neither disclosed nor did official say whether the consignment was a gift/grant or will be paid for.
The Liberian leader inspected the traffic operational logistics, which included 24 jeeps, 24 motorbikes, 8 bike cycles and 18 tow trucks.
Speaking briefly at the LTM’s offices in Sinkor, the Liberian leader thanked the Management for collaborating and partnering with the government.
He said the logistics provided would help Liberia in its road safety and traffic control and regulations efforts.
Both LMT and national police officials say the private company will soon take over traffic management in Monrovia and other parts and will shortly train some five hundred police officers.
According to Section 22.72 of the new police Act approved July 12, 2016 and published October 5, 2016, the functions of the Liberia National Police are
“to respond to community security needs and promote community policing; to enforce vehicle and traffic laws on the road,” among other public and road safety issues.
It is believed that by handing over this important state security function to such a private company with commercial interest, it would be usurping parts of the police powers and functions under both the Police Act and the Constitution.
“The Liberia National Police shall exercise police powers, including maintenance of public order, in conformity with the Constitution and laws of Liberia,” says Section 22.73 of the Police Act.
At Tuesday’s ceremony, President Weah also indicated that Government would work with the Liberia Traffic Management to reduce road accidents by training and keeping control on operators of vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles as well as pedestrians and passengers.
“The relieving donation is an outcome of a Public-Private Partnership which the Liberia National Police entered into with the Liberia Traffic Management, a private entity operating under the laws of Liberia,” according to an Executive Mansion press statement release on Wednesday.
It is not clear whether the ongoing deal between the government and the Liberia Traffic Management is a full blown commercial arrangement or what the exact term of the agreement is between the two.
A notice online says the LMT website is under construction.