Liberia: RIA Management Apologizes Over Staff Go-Slow Action
... Assures public of return to calm, normalcy
The management of Roberts International Airport (RIA), with support from the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), has apologized to the public over the recent go-slow action of some of its staff for arrears owed those (staff) as a new company is making preparations to take over certain services at the Airport.
In a phone interview with the Daily Observer on January 4, and through a brief statement filed via email, Ernest G. Sharpe, head of corporate communications and media services, said the Airport authorities regrets the situation and is making frantic efforts to ensure that the public and partners do not experience a repeat of what occurred on December 30, 2021.
“The Board & Management of the Liberia Airport Authority-RIA regret the unfortunate Go-Slow action carried out by few employees on the 30th of December 2021,” Sharpe said, adding, “Management is appealing to everyone for the inconvenience caused by the strike action and reassures the traveling public, our partner airlines, and international partners that calm was restored on the same day of the incident as workers reported back to work minutes later and took to their duties respectively.”
“The National Aviation Service (NAS) is said to be taking some services of the airport currently rendered by the aggrieved staff but negotiations are said to be ongoing for the settlement of the arrears of the employees and contractors who are expected to be affected by the takeover of the company,” Sharpe said.
"The Liberia Airport Authority remains committed in serving all of its airport users as it is the responsibility of the LAA-RIA to provide you the best,” he continued.
Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, visited the airport and promised the aggrieved staff an amicable solution to their plight but frowned also at them for preventing an aircraft from a different country from taking off after its passengers completed boarding.
The lack of pay rigmarole at the Roberts International Airport has been on for years now, with each administration promising to solve the problem but to no avail.
Since the dismissal of Bishop John Allen Klayee, Martin Hayes, then deputy for administration to Klayee is serving as acting Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport.