THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015

News of Liberia’s confirmation of a new case of Ebola, government’s commitment to make electricity and water available along the Roberts International Airport Highway and the Liberia National Police’s suspension with immediate effect of six officers for the disappearance of a large quantity of single barrel gun ammunitions from its Forensic Evidence Room are stories dominating our summary of today’s local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ebola Wahala Again

Liberia has confirmed a new case of Ebola, undermining growing hopes that the country might soon be declared Ebola-free. The authorities had set April 13, 2015 to meet benchmark set by the World Health Organization (WHO). There had not been a new case in the past 20 days until a woman tested positive on Friday, March 20, 2015 in Monrovia. The World Health Organization requires 42 days to elapse from the last known case before a country can be declared free of the virus. More than 4,000 people in Liberia have died from the disease. The Acting Head for the country’s Incident Management Team, Dr. Francis Kateh, told the media in Monrovia, that a woman, who was taken into a treatment centre in the capital on Thursday had tested positive for the virus. Dr. Kateh said health authorities intended to investigate whether the woman had travelled abroad. On 5 March, Liberia discharged its last known patient, Beatrice Yardolo, from a treatment centre in Monrovia, sparking hopes that the country might be on its way to being officially declared Ebola-free. Meanwhile, a team of international partners Saturday converged at the home of the newest Ebola carrier, an unidentified female, in the Caldwell Community on the outskirts of Monrovia to solicit information on how she contracted the virus. The team comprised representatives of the US Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, the Liberian Health Ministry and the More Than Me Institute. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the infected woman is said to be admitted at the Medecins Sans Frontieres-run ELWA Ebola Treatment Unit near Monrovia. Before the latest outbreak, Liberia had already gone over 21 days without a new case across the country.

Related Captions: 86 Persons Quarantined In New Ebola Virus Emergence(FrontPage Africa), Liberia Investigates How Latest Ebola Patient Got Infected(The News), Ebola Resurfaces In Liberia(FOCUS), Ebola Is Back(INSIGHT)

Ellen Commits Power Supply To Private Estate

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has pledged government’s commitment to make electricity and water available along the Roberts International Airport Highway to supply residents of Gbengbar Town, Paynesville City where she dedicated a multi-million dollar private housing estate on Thursday, March 19, 2015. The Liberian-owned Premier Estate in Gbengbar Town is designed and constructed by Liberian engineers trained and hired by the Premier Developers JV Company, which offers middle-to-high income homes for sale in an ideal place equipped with first class amenities and facilities. In appreciating Premier Developers’ Chief Executive Officer, Floyd A. Thomas, President Sirleaf said, the housing estate was truly a dream come true; as she recalled past wishes expressed that Mr. Thomas could come to Liberia one day and build houses here like he did in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, while both of them lived in that neighboring country. Unlike Mr. Thomas, the President shamed many Liberians during the event, complaining that “we” have too many Liberians, who come home to make money here to buy houses in the United States rather than building something here, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Ellen Dedicates Premier Estate’s Middle Income Homes(The News), Pres. Sirleaf Dedicates Real Estate In Paynesville City(FrontPage Africa), President Sirleaf Dedicates For Middle-To-High Income Homes In Gbengbar’s Town(INSIGHT)

Six Police Officers Suspended For Missing Items

The Administration of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has suspended with immediate effect six of its officers, pending investigation, in connection with the disappearance of a large quantity of single barrel gun ammunitions from its Forensic Evidence Room. The thirteen boxes of missing ammunitions were seized on November 1, 2014 by joint security officers in Ganta, Nimba County and placed at the headquarters of the LNP Forensic Room.  But the ammunitions went missing on March 7, 2015. A Police statement named those suspended as Supt. Vally Sheriff, Chief/Supt. James Moore and Terry N. Kerkula. Others are Inspector Justine B. Bondo, Moses Williams and Detective Varney A. M. Sheriff of the Interpol Section. Five of the suspects, who were assigned in the Forensic Section, had access to the keys of the Forensic Room while one of them was caught interceding on behalf of the suspects at the time of the investigation. The LNP statement said the six suspended officers’ salaries will be withheld, pending the outcome of the investigation which is being conducted by the Crime Services Division of the Liberia National Police, reports the Inquirer newspaper.

Related Captions: Liberian Police Launches Investigation Of Missing Fire Arms (FrontPage Africa), Ammunition Vanished…From LNP Headquarters(The News), Arms Gone Missing (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Lauds UNICEF Goodwill Amb., Orlando Bloom

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has lauded the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador, Orlando Bloom for rallying international support aimed at addressing the needs of the world’s children. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the commendation at her Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia when UNICEF Sheldom Yett paid a courtesy call on her. President Sirleaf acknowledged the spirit of volunteerism and resilience of the young people who demonstrated leadership, empowerment and ownership to significantly reverse the trend amid the outbreak.  Mr. Bloom’s visit took him to Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties as well as the Township of West Point, INSIGHT newspaper reports.

Ganta-Yekepa Road Project Starts Soon

According to the New Dawn newspaper, construction work on the Ganta-Yekepa highway in Nimba County commences shortly as equipment needed to jump start the project have arrived in the country ready for operation, CSE authorities have said. Compagnie Senegaise d’Entre-prises’ (CSE), a Senegalese company with over 40 years of construction experience in several African countries won the bid for the road project to link the commercial city of Ganta to Nimba’s Capital Sanniquellie on to the concession and border entry of Yekepa to the rest of the country.

Related Caption: Ganta-Yekepa Highway Gets Construction Boost(FrontPage Africa)

Fire Destroys University Of Liberia Radio

Fire gutted the University of Liberia radio station – LUX 106.6 FM early Saturday, leaving all equipment and the station burned to the ground. The Manager said the destruction caused the station is not only a blow to students of Journalism, but the entire University student populace. According to him, besides providing useful information for students, the station provides internship opportunities and also training and also served as the source of information for the communities.  The LUX FM Station Manager then called on partners and well-wishers to come to the aid of the station, especially IREX which has been a major partner to the station in providing trainings and equipment for the upkeep of the station. The Manager said the cause of the fire was an electrical fault, but University security unit, said the cause of the fire has not been established, but the investigation is ongoing and findings would be made available within a week, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption:  Fire Guts UL Radio Station(The Inquirer)

PUL Launches Several Initiatives

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has ended its first mini congress under the leaderrship of Abdullah Kamara with several documents launched thereby deriving at a communiqué to direct the media national congress in the next two years. The documents include the Open society of West Africa (OSIWA) project which was launched under the theme Strengthening Media Freedom through Self-regulation and Accountabi8lity as well as the Media Gender Policy. Its objective is to increase media interest and concerns about ethical transgressions to promote the PUL self-regulation process and garner confidence from the public about media accountability as well as track ethical concerns and actions taken to address them to address them and improve ethical practice in the Liberian media, the Inquirer newspaper reports

Liberia Celebrates World Water Day

Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) over the weekend commemorated World Water Day. World Water Day was set aside by a legislation of the United Nations General assembly on March 22, 1993 as a means of addressing issues regarding water. This year’s event was held under the theme, “Water and Sustainable Development”. Speaking at the ceremony, UNICEF Representative to Liberia Sheldon Yett stressed the need for collaborative efforts to ensure safe drinking water for all. He said 50% of community dwellers don’t have access to latrines, 40% with no access to safe drinking water, while 80% lack access to hand washing facilities, the News newspaper writes.