(December 20, 2010) -Liberia Maritime Authority Honors Its Employees
On Monday, the Liberia Maritime Authority hosted a Christmas Party and Honoring Program for its employees at the Liberia Marine Training Institute in Marshall City, Margibi County.
During the program, seven employees were honored, certificated and awarded cash prizes for their long years of service rendered the former Bureau of Maritime Affairs (the “BMA”),. Among them were Mrs. Leona Dennis, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, who has served for 37 unbroken years, while the others, Arthur Scell, Mark Massaquoi, Segbe Weah and Lowah Kennedy were honored for 15 years of service. Saylee Dennis, George Kemokai and Edwin Willie were honored for 10 years of service. Each of the honorees were giving cash packages in amounts between 5% - 10% of their gross annual salary.
Addressing more than one hundred LMA employees, including officers, Commissioner Kesselly underscored the need for the business community to take advantage of maritime opportunities which will soon become available. He reiterated LMA’s commitment to creating about 5000 new jobs to clean Liberia’s Waterways and transform them into tourists’ attractions.
He also disclosed plans to pave the 13-mile road leading to the LMTI in Marshall City. According to the Commissioner, the money for the project will be made available thru the 2011/2012 LMA budget. When this project is realized, it will be a major boost to the tourism potential around Marshall and will attract thousands of people to visit the area on holidays and weekends.
Commissioner Kesselly, who is an experienced Strategic Planner has vowed to position the authority as “a driving force for the growth of the Liberian economy and said nothing will stop the LMA from achieving this goal, now that it has been transformed from the Bureau of Maritime Affairs (the “BMA”) into the Liberia Maritime Authority (the “LMA”).
He praised the LMA staff and said he was deeply honored to be the leader of his courageous team because, never in the history of Liberia has maritime ever had such a group of hardworking employees, whose confidence he enjoys today and they are making a difference in the economic viability of the country.
He reflected on the difficult road to enacting the Act of the Liberia Maritime Authority which gives financial autonomy to the LMA, following strong criticisms from some segments of the public the international community, local government officials and human rights organizations over the granting of financial autonomy to the LMA.
Commissioner Kesselly pointed out that the LMA is successful because its workers are methodical in the way they operate. He also spoke about progress being made thus at the LMTI, and mentioned how his administration had renovated damaged facilities of the LMTI.
The maritime boss also named the restoration of electricity and pipe-borne water as some of the accomplishments recorded, and disclosed that the LMA’s 2011/2012 budget will address critical issues, such as the construction of the LMA’s estimated US$ 3 million headquarters.
The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime, Hon. Eugene Fallah Kparkar who attended the program, presented certificates to the honorees and challenged them to continue the hard and honest work. He encouraged them to adopt a new vigor in the execution of their work.
Another attraction was a boat race with four (4) teams competing. Cash prizes were awarded to all of the teams with the first place winner carrying the highest amount. The celebration was climaxed by a football match between the various departments of the LMA. In the soccer category, the Administration Department won on a penalty shootout. The volleyball competition was won by the Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection Department.
All in all, the program was very successful and relaxing.
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