The National leadership of the Community Watch Forum of Liberia (CWFL) has renewed calls for support from national government to remain viable, effective and functional as the country grappled with perennial reports of crimes across the country.
The National Chairman of the CWFL Mr. I. Nyenati Kaffey disclosed that if President George M. Weah can make a formal declaration of government’s support to the organization, beside that support, he is convinced other international partners will see the need to also rally support to the CWFL.
It can be recalled that the organization was few months ago evicted out of its rented national headquarters in Paynesville, as the result of the Liberia National Police leadership failure to settle the organization’s over 13 months arrears as was agreed through a memorandum of understanding with the owner of the property.
According to him, the CWFL has resolved to execute series of programs beginning this year to include the fight or vigorously reporting on human trafficking; the establishment of neighborhood watch teams in crime-breeding communities across the country; the institution of Alternative Resolution Dispute method; and the fight against gender-based and domestic violence.
Kaffey: “To accomplish these programs, we need government support, something that would trigger assistance from international organizations and donor partners,” he averred.
The Community Watch Forum of Liberia which replaced the Community Policing Forum that was established through the instrumentality of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the Ministry of Justice in 2004, comprises of about 600,000 members across the country that are working in close collaboration with national security apparatus including the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Immigration Service to curb criminal activities in communities across the country.
Mr. Kaffey who decried the wanton killings in the country in recent times by unknown individuals, expressed shock and alleged that with the covert manner in which such killings are happening, he suspects that the vicious occurrences could be organized crimes, but did not elaborate further.
The CWFL head is at the same time cautioning parents and others to ensure that their children are in homes or restricted to their community neighborhoods by 10 and 11PM stressing that in a drive to curb crimes in communities, his organization has resolved to arrest anyone including minors seen loitering in communities beyond 12:00 mid-night.
In related news, Mr. Kaffey is admonishing the entire membership of the KAPAO-KAPAO night watch organization to be committed, patience, and patriotic in helping police authorities to fight crimes saying “your involvement in this endeavor requires sacrifices, flexibility and self-denial.”
Serving as keynote speaker recently at program commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the KAPAO-KAPAO organization in Paynesville, Mr. Kaffey reminded members of the organization that they are volunteers and should put the safety of community members above material pursuit saying “There are times you could be arrested, jailed and disrespected by the same people you are helping and affiliating with, so you need to adjust yourselves with these circumstances and remain firm if you are to succeed.”
After lavishing praises on the KAPAO-KAPAO leadership for joining his 17 years old organization (CWFL) in collaborating with Liberian security apparatus to curb criminal activities during mid-night and early morning hours across the country, Mr. Kaffey indicated that the community action to create a vibrant and crime-free environment is firstly in fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number-16 which calls for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
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