River Cess County Senator, Hon. Wellington Geevon Smith, has strongly condemned the recent attack on the Executive Director of the National Identification Registry (NIR), Mr. Andrew Peters, describing the act as “gangsterism” that has no place in Liberia’s democratic dispensation. Reports indicate that a group of young men, believed to be partisans of the governing Unity Party (UP), stormed the premises of the NIR and physically assaulted Mr. Peters.
The incident allegedly stemmed from a dispute over a swapped appointment for a position within the registry, which some of the partisans claim had been promised to one of their colleagues. Senator Smith, reacting to the incident, expressed disappointment that party supporters would resort to violence as a means of channeling their grievances. He emphasized that any dissatisfaction with appointments or internal party matters should be addressed through the party’s leadership structures and not through attacks on public officials.
“The Executive Director of the NIR is not answerable to any partisan group. He serves under a Board of Directors and operates within the framework of the law. To physically attack him because of a disagreement over an appointment is nothing short of gangsterism,” Senator Smith stated. The River Cess lawmaker further noted that Liberia has made significant democratic and governance gains over the years, gains that must not be reversed by acts of violence and lawlessness. He stressed that physical attacks on government officials or institutions undermine the rule of law and create unnecessary tension in the country.
“We cannot build a stable and prosperous Liberia if we choose violence as the only way of expressing our dissatisfaction. This is unacceptable, and it must stop,” Senator Smith warned. He called on the Unity Party leadership to take swift and decisive action against those responsible for the attack, adding that sending a clear message of zero tolerance for violence will safeguard the credibility of the governing party.
He also urged the Liberia National Police to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that perpetrators face the full weight of the law. Senator Geevon Smith concluded by reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful, democratic, and law-abiding Liberia, warning that “acts of gangsterism, if not curtailed, could derail the country’s progress.”
