Ambassador Nyenabo presents first passport to Ms. Dunbar

The Liberian Biometric ECOWAS Passports Application Center (PAC) in the Schengen zone of Europe was officially opened on Saturday at the Liberian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium.

Speaking at the program, Isaac W. Nyenabo II, Liberia’s Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and the European Union, said the center will ease the hardships, frustration and financial cost of Liberians living in the Schengen zone of Europe in obtaining a passport.

Ambassador Nyenabo said Liberians had to either travel to the United Kingdom, the United States or to Monrovia, the Liberian capital, to apply for and obtain a passport, noting that opening the passport center in the heart of Europe, where Liberians in the Schengen zone do not require visas to travel, makes it easier and convenient for them.

Ambassador Nyenabo speaks at the opening ceremony

Ambassador Nyenabo called on Liberians to hold and respect their passport as a national document that must be cared for and protected.

He challenged members of the Liberian communities in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Luxenburg and others to work close together and play an important role in the development of their country.

Also speaking, the Director of Passports and Visas at Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nyanda Finda-Davis said the center has now finally concluded a long discussion that had been taking place in the wake of calls made by Liberians living in the Schengen zone to the Liberian government.

Mrs. Finda-Davis said the center has introduced measures that will ensure that genuine Liberians are processed, screened and issued passports while others who are not Liberians but holding Liberian passports or travel documents will have those documents retrieved.

Passport Director Davis speaks at the program

She called on Liberians to assist and work closely with the center in ensuring the work is done without hinderance.

In remarks, the president of the Liberian community in Belgium, Kingston Wleh commended President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for the opening of the center in Brussels, Belgium.

Mr. Wleh said President Sirleaf and Minister Ngafuan at different times assured them of the opening of the  passport center and the community was pleased that those promises have  been met.

He said, in the past, Liberians living in the Schengen zone had to struggle to obtain visas to either travel to the UK, USA or look for travel documents to go to Liberia and wait for weeks before their passports are issued. He said even with that, there was no assurance of getting their passports.

A group of Liberians poses with Ambassador Nyenabo and Director Davis

He said with a passport center now in Brussels, Liberians from all over Europe will find it very easy and convenient to apply for and get their passports without leaving their jobs and families for weeks.

At the official launching program, a Liberian, Kathy Dunbar was presented her Liberia ECOWAS Biometric passport as the first person to receive her passport at the center. Later 22 other Liberians received their passports amidst joy and jubilation.

Liberia has already opened Biometric Passports Application Centers at the Liberian embassies in Washington, New York ( both in the US) and London, the United Kingdom.

Isaac C. Yeah, Minister Counselor

(Press and Public Affairs)