Rule of Law and the Liberian National Police

In any country you live, work, or travel in there is always an element of adventure. Some countries you have to create adventure, where as others adventure is created for you. Take for example a 'simple' trip into downtown Monrovia, a trip that was supposed to be as simple as riding into town snapping a few pictures to share with you all.

What started out as 'simple' has left me pondering the simpleties of a developing nation and idiosyncrasies that hinder national and international respectability. Power is something that I view as necessary in society. Without the notion of power, anarchy is soon to rear its ugly head. With an abuse of power, the same is often the outcome.

Let me introduce to you the Liberian National Police, otherwise known as the LNP. This is a group of individuals just as desperate as the majority of Liberians, speaking of financial and social stability, and often taken advantage of by the ruling governments of the past. Presently, this problem has receded marginally. According to the Manager of Police Statistics, a member of the LNP himself, and a man I spoke to for twenty odd minutes in Robertsport over the New Years, Liberian National Police Officers earn $90USD/month legitimately. Those who chose to 'earn' extra income through using their position of power illegitimately, earn a fair bit more than that.

If you have lived or worked in Liberia, especially Monrovia, anytime in the last three years, for at least six months, chances are that you've encountered the LNP in some way, shape, or form. This post will outline my recent encounter with the LNP and how it has left me questioning the precedents that the LNP are setting by their actions.

It was a Saturday afternoon and I had just left the Liberian National Museum where I talked to the Curator about tours and various artefacts that the museum has to offer. I headed down Broad Street, leading out of the city, and it wasn't two blocks before I stopped at an intersection while I waited for the traffic police officer to wave me on. He took one look at me and walked towards me. "You na wearin' da helme'! Das a violation a da law."

I do realize that riding motorcycle in Monrovia is a dangerous thing there is no doubt about it. Riding without a helmet can be potentially fatal, just ask my friend Marcel. I decided to not wear a helmet that day due to the fact that I didn't want to deal with taking my lid off and on after shooting pictures. You be the judge how smart that was. I have no comment. I was not aware that it is illegal to not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. There are many states in the USA in which it is perfectly legal to wear a helmet. In its history, Liberia has tried to duplicate a number of American ideas and laws so whether it is legal or illegal to wear a motorcycle helmet is up for debate. If one is to assume that the mass majority of a society actually follows the laws of their country, a quick glance at the Liberian population would lead an outsider to assume that indeed it is legal to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet. Back to the encounter…

Instead of starting a 'palava/palaver', or heated debate, because that never works with a Liberian, I decided to question the officer on these rules, partly to find out what exactly the rules are, and partly to see if he knew what he was talking about. After talking to him I have come to the conclusion that he could very well be making up a lot of what he was passing on to me. Take for example the question, "Officer, does both the driver and the rider have to wear helmets or is it only mandatory for the driver to wear a helmet?" He was adamant that it was only the driver of the motorcycle that was required to wear a helmet. His rationale was that it was my duty as driver of the motorcycle to protect my rider in the event of an accident. That line or reasoning still has me scratching my head. So when I am flying head over heels through the air when I ‘T-bone’ a car that has just inadvertently pulled out into the middle of the road, the first thing I should try to do is play Superman and rescue my rider? Hmm…

What I did find out is that there is an actual book that I can get to learn the rules of the road. I am very curious to get this book and find out how many drivers actually maintain the rules of the road. I’m positive that the bus full of LNP officers driving over the double yellow lines into the oncoming lane in order to pass morning rush hour traffic and then trying to cut back into traffic when they’re about the get into a head-on collision aren’t those actually following the rules. What is it in a person that makes them act so irrationally? Power perhaps?

I tried to convince the LNP officer that I quite frequently see LNP officers riding motorcycles without helmets (see picture at left). If individuals are to look up to the LNP as an example of law-abiding citizens, one would think that they would want to do the best possible job of standing above the average citizen as far as ensuring that laws are being followed. After all, these officers are here to “Serve and Protect”. I would assume they are protecting others from those who harm people by breaking the law.

Society looks to leaders. Whether they be social, academic, spiritual, or political, leaders provide individuals with a focal point in which to aim towards. What will it take for the LNP to become respectable among not only expatriates but Liberians alike. A recently returned Liberian refugee colleague of mine explained to me that before the civil war the Liberian National Police were individuals that the public respected, individuals not looking to squeeze a buck out of an unsuspecting victim, individuals that waited their time in traffic just like the majority of society, and individuals that people were drawn to for help, not driven away from fear of being extorted. After returning to Liberia after 15 years of refugee status in countries such as Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, he was blown away at the current state of affairs within the world of law enforcement in Liberia. I thought maybe it was just me.

On my ride home from work today another sight caught my eye that really got me thinking and drove me to share it with the world - another LNP Officer riding a motorcycle with a helmet - another LNP Officer breaking the laws that are in place for them to patrol. This time I have it on film.

Surfing Robertsport, Liberia - Perfect Waves

Back by popular demand, here is another picture of the waves at Robertsport. This is a rather small one but still unbelievable form.

Surfing Robertsport, Liberia - A Liberian Out in Front of This One

Surfing Robertsport, Liberia - Broken Boards & Broken Dreams

As a way of relaxing for the weekend, I went up to Robertsport with a group of people from Tearfund. Earlier on in the week I had checked the US Navy Website and it was showing a big system moving in from the mid-Atlantic. A lot of 'green' moving towards Liberia so I knew for sure that there would definately be some big surfing in Robertsport, so big in fact that it snapped one of my boards in two. One Liberian surfboard repair coming up!


'Loco' as they call it, a point break with a rocky bottom where the surf is always twice as big as anywhere else in Robertsport, was definately working! What I have discovered is that Liberian kids now have four surfboards which they share amongst maybe ten of them, or whoever is brave enough to venture into the water. I don't think these kids realize what they have on their hands with living in Robertsport and being able to see the surf day in/day out, seeing the best of the best and the worst of the worst days that it has to offer. Alfred, a young kid who has been surfing for approximately two years now has developed some decent skills in such a short period of time. I would expect that from anyone who has the opportunity to surf Robertsport day-in/day-out without fighting anybody for waves - every surfer's dream.


Anyways, enjoy the pictures.