Police murmur over elections stipend

There are reports of murmuring among some police officers assigned in various counties to provide elections security, with claims that stipend supposedly being provided by UNDP is yet to come forth since taking up assignments ahead of the first round of the elections of 10 October.

In reaction to claims of delayed stipend payment levied by police officers on condition of anonymity, authorities at the Liberia National Police (LNP) had initially said they were only responsible to forward to UNDP the details of each officer along with their bank account numbers for their stipend to be wired to the banks through which they are paid.

But the NewDawn has received information from anonymous officers from Tubmanburg, Bomi County and other officers assigned in counties in southeastern Liberia that they are yet to receive their stipend for the election.

There are claims by some sources in some quarters that certain officers that are assigned to specifically protect election materials only allegedly received half of certain amount that each of them were supposed to be paid, though they give no evidence to such claims.

While police authorities continue to say election stipend payment is being done by UNDP through officers’ account numbers, some officers are still doubtful of the pronouncement, alleging that the payment is not being fast tracked because it has allegedly been turned over to their bosses.

When contacted on Wednesday, 25 October surrounding the police officers’ claims, Police Spokesman Sam Collins told this paper that authorities are working out modalities to ratify queries coming from banks with respect to delay of payment.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mr. Collins says all officers serving under the National Elections Security Taskforce from LNP who are yet to receive their allowances for the elections will receive the amount due them.

Mr. Collins urges officers to exercise restraints, assuring them that the LNP administration is doing everything to ratify issues with all the banks that they are dealing with. In the same vein, Mr. Collins admonishes police officers to seek [update] from their supervisors other than going to the media.

By Winston W. Parley