By: Zazay Kolubah

The Government of Liberia and UNMIL on Tuesday, 14 February 2017 jointly lunched a livelihood skills training program at the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP). The initiative covers tailoring and tie-and-dye, aimed to support of the rehabilitation component of the Bureau of Correction and Rehabilitation (BCR) of the Ministry of Justice.

The six-month training exercise is expected to benefit twenty-six inmates and six correctional officers, to be facilitated by a joint team of BCR and UNMIL Corrections Advisory Unit trainers.

UNMIL Quick Impact (QIP) Project, made available ten sewing machines along with assorted cloths and sewing materials to jump start the program which cost over Twenty two-thousand United States dollars (US$22,000.00).

The training will cover two phases; theory and practical, accompanied by a certificate of completion under the seal of the Education and Justice Ministries along with UNMIL.

Assistant Justice Minister for Corrections Hilary Siakor described the move as a major step toward making inmates better citizens and useful upon their release.

He thanked UNMIL for the support and assured of the Ministry of Justice’s continued partnership with relevant institutions and partners including the Ministries of Education, and Youth and Sports to sustain the program after UNMIL departs.

UNMIL Quick Impact (QIP) Project Manager Navaneethan Vijayakumar said the support by UNMIL is in fulfillment of the mission’s support to cultivating the skills of any Liberian who can contribute to the nation rebuilding process, regardless of his status.

Vijayakumar said a public defenders’ facility was constructed in the facility of the MCP and a training of middle level prison guards are examples of recent efforts by UNMIL in improving Liberia’s correctional system.

The beneficiaries were challenged by Assistant Education Minister for Science and Technology Daku Dukuly to take the training seriously.