A leaked meeting minutes in possession of this paper reveals that a major shakeup is expected to take place at the nation’s only international airport, the RIA.
Major changes are reportedly on the horizon at the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), particularly at Roberts International Airport (RIA), as management prepares for a wave of retirement, downsizing, and internal reshuffling.
This paper has investigated that LAA Managing Director, Jero H. Mends‑Cole, signaled the upcoming reform during a general staff meeting held at the Roberts International Airport compound this gone Friday. The meeting minutes dated Friday, June 27, 2025, with a copy in the possession of Verity News, outlined plans to implement a downscaling process that will affect dozens of employees primarily stationed at the RIA.
The initiative, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks, will focus on retiring employees who have served for over 25 years or are aged 60 and above. However, some staff members have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the process.
“There are growing fears that the exercise could be selective,” Verity News spoke with an employee who asked to remain anonymous. “It appears that employees with close ties to the Managing Director might be allowed to stay on, even if they meet the retirement criteria.”
During the meeting, Mends‑Cole reportedly expressed frustration over what he described as staff bypassing management to communicate directly with the President regarding airport operations.
The restructuring effort, which has been described as both a rightsizing and cost-cutting measure, comes amid broader conversations about operational efficiency and accountability at the country’s foremost international transport hub.
As developments unfold, stakeholders and employees in the aviation sector await further clarification from the LAA leadership.
