Govt. ready for motorcyclists

Justice Minister Benedict Sannoh has disclosed that government is contemplating on imposing a moratorium on the importation of motorcycles into Liberia as one of several options to ensure the security of the state.

Minister Sannoh noted that the constant reckless and violent attitudes of motorcyclists, including the destruction of both public and private properties as a means of seeking redress, pose a security threat to the country.

The Attorney General made the disclosure last Thursday when he and Police Director Chris Massaquoi briefed the House of Representatives on the April 16 standoff between officers of the Liberia National Police and motorcyclists.

“This resulted to the death of one person and destruction of properties in the northern Monrovia suburb of Paynesville,” the Justice Minister told lawmakers.

Cllr. Sannoh noted that the government is considering the option to introduce an insurance policy that will compel motorbike operators to be insured and bear license plates, with riders wearing jackets for identification.

He further pointed that the government is also contemplating restricting the movement of motorcycles to feeder roads and communities in which the riders live.

The two senior security officials said they requested the meeting with the lawmakers to solicit their inputs on the proposed new measures, noting that it was a national issue and not just for the Executive Branch of Government alone.    

Following the briefing by Sannoh and Massaquoi, Plenary voted to go into Executive Session to deliberate on the matter, but the outcome of the Executive Session was not made available to Legislative Reporters.