UN envoy to Liberia opens workshop series for immigration officers

The senior United Nations envoy to Liberia today opened the first of a series of six workshops aimed at strengthening the skills of immigration officers posted throughout the country, as part of efforts to improve controls in a region renowned for having porous borders.

Alan Doss, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Liberia, called on the 50 participants at the first workshop to carefully control the borders of the country while avoiding corrupt practices and keeping strictly within both domestic laws and the international agreements and commitments made by the Government.

“You are the face of Liberia for most foreign investors and you have to give them a good impression,” he said.

The training workshops, which have been organized in part by the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), are expected to attract about 700 immigration officers, from regional commanders to more junior staff members. Participants will discuss such topics as migration law, interview techniques, the powers and ethical conduct of immigration officers, and their relationship with the court system.