By Laurina B. Lormia (Cub-Reporter)
The new Commissioner General at the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Stephen Zargo, has promised to work with government to get a new corporate headquarters for the institution.
Commissioner Zargo, who spoke extemporaneously, said that in the long term, his administration wants to relocate the LIS building to its own structure, saying, “We are paying US$85,000 for this building every year, which doesn’t match with the structure.
“I hope we all can work and save government from paying US$85,000 every year. Multiply that amount per 6 years, we are talking about half a million, and half a million can give us a beautiful structure, and we have 5 acres of land at Bentol, so why can’t we relocate there?” he asked.
“We want to enhance operational interoperability, with the security sectors, LNP, LDEA, and LNFS, so that when there is an Immigration, Police, DEA or Fire Service Officer somewhere, and they come across any of the above-mentioned in the absence of them, it’s not your area of work; in our interoperability, you will have to turn the person over.”
“LIS work is not for the cities, it is for borders, we all cannot work in this small building, we all need to work together to make the difference. We all have potential, not many institutions have raised revenue and served a delivery, but you at LIS have been charged by the responsibility of the government to do likewise, so let us do it to our best,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, former Commissioner General, Robert W. Budy, Sr., said it is a good thing always to show that you are prepared and in readiness to serve your country, and it’s always good to ensure that you do your best with whatever responsibility is entrusted to you.
“Today, our administration went through and we have served, we want to tell God thank you for the time and opportunity we had at LIS to serve the country, and we also wish the incoming leadership all of the best as they take over the mantle of authority. We want to assure you that we will always be open and ready in case of any consultation you plan to have with us, our lines are open and we will always cooperate,” Budy stated.
He concluded, “To my LIS family, we have been a family for a very long time. I came to LIS at age 28 and ended at age 57; it is 29 unbroken years in this service. CG Zargo, as we are leaving, there are several policy instruments that we wish to leave with you, the different set of contracts that we are involved with, the Bank statement, personnel listing, and their places of assignment.
