Amid An Upsurge In Narcotic Drugs Trffickng, Use And Abuse
PHOTO: Bishop Quire speaking at the program as rehabilitated youths look on
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Bishop of the United Methodist Church says he foresees that disadvantaged youths will one stage a coup, if nothing is done to urgently address the threat of drugs and insecurity in the country.
Bishop Samuel Quire is therefore, encouraging the parents and the government not to give in efforts aimed at rehabilitating the huge number of disadvantaged youths in Liberia.
The Methodist Bishop’s warning comes in the wake of official reports of an upsurge in narcotic drugs trafficking, use and abuse in Liberia in recent times.
Bishop Quire’s warning was contained in remarks he made at the 19th graduation ceremony organized by the New Life Recovery Program in Monrovia last week.
According to Bishop Quire, the disadvantaged youths, judging from their numerical strength, they round up officials of government and even the religious leaders would be spared.
The UMC Bishop maintained that people always giving sweet speeches about fighting drugs but nothing is being done to solve the impact that the drugs.
“We have to do something about these young people in the streets,” he said; adding: “just imagine, these young people have divided Monrovia in to zones and are now referring to their leaders as generals.”
“Regrettably,” he went on, everyday most of our politicians are making use of the youths; but, they are not helping to rehabilitate the,” the United Methodist Church Bishop added.
Also speaking during the program, the Coordinator of the New Life Recovery Program, Jefferson Knight, disclosed that survey conducted with international partners has revealed that 250, 000 people are hocked on drugs in Liberia
According to Mr. Knight, over one thousand youths have died as a result of taking dangerous substances in Liberia in recent years.
Knight disclosed that there is a scholarship program also awaiting the graduates in computer training, soap making, baking among many others
The graduation ceremony, which was held at the Compound of the United Methodist Church in Sinkor, was graced by Alexander Nuetah, Agriculture Minister; Commany Wesseh, Former Senator of River Gee County, religious leaders and school administrators from Guinea, parents and loved ones, as well as large number of people from the religious and government circles.