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Written by Our Senior Staff
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Tuesday, 26 June 2012 20:25 |
Liberia joined other nations yesterday June 26, 2012 to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and was marked by statements from concerned stakeholders in the sector.
In presenting the overview of the day, DEA Director Anthony Souh pledged Liberia’s commitment to honor the sacred principles laid down by the UN Resolution 42-122 which mandates all nations to join ranks in fighting dangerous narcotics and their transnational traders.
Souh said Liberia was happy to be a part of the combatants against drug and their traffickers whom he observed were bent on turning Liberia deposit ground for the trafficking of drug. He challenged the DEA employees to be good examples that others can emulate, adding,” You cannot fighting drug while at the same time being its users.” He told the employees to be “guided by your hidden mandate”.
He defined the hidden mandate as demonstrating the natural virtue and value including firm interpersonal relationship, using one’s influence to change the community, being a respecter of others, living within perimeter of the law and doing something worthy that others can emulate. Director Souh used the occasion to reiterate his call for a drug test for those in the employ of the system because in his wisdom a forceful and successful enforcer of the law is one that should and must not be a party to the usage of drug in any form or manner.
He told the gathering that the task of the agency was enormous and challenging in the wake of the UN mandate to make all societies freer and safer domains where peace and happiness are guaranteed for all.
Against this background he said there was unavoidable need for Liberia to join the international bandwagon in a true and realistic manner if it is to cleanse itself and prevent the roots of drug from gaining ground in the country.
The DEA director then extolled President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her undaunted stand against drug in the society. He told the seeming enthusiastic employees that he and his able deputies would do all in their ability to ensure that the aspirations of the president and the general public come to pass.
He went on further to declare that the DEA under his administration was bent on transformation that could see realistic changes in narrowing the existence of drug traffickers, the improvement of employees’ wages and the physical decency the agency deserves.
At the program arrested international drug traffickers were displayed. “The DEA will cooperate with other sister organizations to ensure that our work is successful,” Souh said.
Meanwhile President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on the Liberian public to “say no to drugs”. In a proclamation the president said drug abuse and its illicit trafficking have posed major problems to the human race and millions of people worldwide continue to be directly or indirectly affected. President Sirleaf stressed the significance of sensitizing the public about substance abuse and its devastating effects on individuals, families and communities and to mobilize community and stakeholders against the use of such substances.
For his part UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for the reduction in demand for illicit drugs if we are to fully tackle cultivation, production or trafficking. He said drug dependence is not a crime but a disease, saying the real criminals is the traffickers.
The UN Secretary General concluded in a message read on his behalf that we can succeed if we reinforce our commitment to the basic principles of health and human rights, shared responsibility, a balanced approach to reducing supply and demand and universal access to prevention, treatment and support. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 00:32 |
