PHOTO: (L-R) New MD Jero Mends-Cole accepting the gavel of Authority at the LAA and Massaquoi S. Kamara, Board Chairman turning over to him
“We pledge to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the provision of dedicated, reliable, and functional airport services for economic growth while enhancing customer satisfaction, safety and security for our travelling public and clean environment…”
By Austin J. Wisseh, awiss8845@gmail.com
0777891148
The new Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), Jero Mends-Cole has committed himself to leading a transformational drive in Liberia’s Aviation sector.
Mr. Mends-Cole made the commitment Monday, April 15, 2024, during program marking his official take over as head at the LAA. The LAA operates the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County, James Spriggs Payne Airport in Monrovia, and all domestic airports in Liberia.
He said his team will drive a dedicated Airport services that will satisfy customers and enhance economic growth and clean environment among others.
The turning over ceremony, which brought together the sector’s stakeholders and well-wishers, took place at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Lower Margibi County.
Prior to Jero Mends-Cole’s official appointment by President Joseph Boakai after his Senate confirmation, Mr. Massaquoi S. Kamara, Sr. had been serving as the Officer-In-Charge at the LAA.
Mr. Kamara, who is now Board Chair of the LAA, expressed confidence that Mends-Cole and his team will improve Liberia’s Aviation Section.
“As many of those assuming the helm of authority have walked the shores of the LAA in different capacities and they are no strangers to what is needed to be done. In line with national government, I often remember the core value that we must present commitment, compassion, dedication, integrity, stewardship, leadership, and excellence. The patriots of these must resonate with us daily as we serve,” Mr. Kamara said.
Speaking directly to the new LAA Managing Director, the Board Chairman Mr. Kamara said:
“As I’m turning over today, I have all the confidence in you, and I know that you will perform to the best of your ability”, handing over a symbolic gavel at the Liberia Airport Authority.”
Some top officials of the Aviation Sector in Liberia and other stakeholders were in attendance
To a round of applause and chanting… “Zorr” (a local name that describes an experienced professional), Jero Mends-Cole expressed gratitude to Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai for “entrusting me with such a weighty task”. He also praised the support from colleagues and family.
The hew head of the LAA promised that he and his team will transform the Roberts International Airport and domestic airports.
“I’m fully committed to upholding the trust and confidence reposed in me and to working tirelessly to the rescue effort of our nation particularly in enhancing the functionality of our airports; international and domestic, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its management and operations in keeping with standards and recommended practices, industry’s best practice and the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority’s regulation and standards.”
He then unveiled his vision for the LAA. Among other things, he said:
“We pledge to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the provision of dedicated, reliable, and functional airport services for economic growth while enhancing customer satisfaction, safety and security for our travelling public and clean environment. We shall endeavor to develop strategic business plan aimed at promoting government’s ARREST Agenda by improving economic performance of our airport whiles encouraging growth in the overall national economy. We shall embark on a twin mission of rebuilding the Roberts International Airport and upgrading the James Spriggs Payne Airport with five other rural air scripts to provide a dynamic domestic airport transport network and a modern world class International Airport surrounded by a thriving Airport Smart City with state-of-the-art facilities, efficient and professional management team with capabilities for handling approximately three hundred thousand [300,000] passengers annually with the capacity of four Aircrafts and services at the Regional Cargo Hub and providing quality and convenient air services to Airlines in compliance to with international sabs and industry best practice.”
He further promised to focus on securing investments in innovative and edge-cutting solutions and to provide the requisite technical operational and managerial skills of personnel to achieve this goa.
Mr. Mends-Cole also committed to delivering a satisfactory performance, mitigating safety deficiency and security lapses, and laying the ground for future growth.
The new LAA boss described his vision as a “legacy goal to make the Roberts International Airport a Port of Last Call that there will be direct flights from RIA to America and other parts of the World”.
Mr. Mends-Cole outlined with excitements to working with all stakeholders including the Airport Counsel International as he admonished his teammates at the LAA to bring on a renewed mindset; he stressed “No Business as Usual”.
In conclusion, he called on his colleagues and employees at the LAA to commit to what he called the “legacy to come”.
With the RIA still running on high power diesel generators that are consuming at least a thousand gallons of petroleum products a week, many are watching to see how the Mends-Cole’s team solves the issue of providing constant electricity to Liberia’s lone International Airport and generating the needed revenue as well as bringing airport staff on par with the new vision, among others.
Those steering the affairs at the Liberia Airport Authority are Jero Mends-Cole, Managing Director, Helena M. Doe-Knuckles, Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Egon Mark Kuiah, Deputy Managing Director for Operations, among others.
Personalities who attended the takeover ceremony were, Transport Minister, Sirleaf Tyler, Julius Dennis, Director General, Liberia Civil Aviation Authority and Jacob Karba Kollie, Officer-in-Charge of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), among others.