THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY,MARCH 27, 2015

News of the Government of Liberia and the United Nations Development Program’s conclusion of phase one of a sea erosion project in new Kru Town, Liberian women call for a constitution that protects all persons from discrimination and the tragic death of three casual laborers while offloading a containers are stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Gov’t, UNDP Conclude Sea-Erosion Project Phase-One

The Government of Liberia and its partner, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have concluded phase one of a 100-meter costal defense project in the Monrovia suburban of New Kru Town, according to the government-run Liberia news Agency (LINA). The project funding of US$50,000 came from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) Small Grants Program. It utilized gabion groins and revetment that villagers as well as community people can learn, accept and use with little or no side support. A UNDP press release quotes the General Manager of CEDA, Samuel Wesley, as saying the project also built the capacity of over 10 local community members through training, to help mobilize materials and manpower, the FOCUS newspaper reports.

Related Captions: UNDP, Govt. End Phase One Kru Town Sea Erosion Project(The New Republic), UNDP, Govt. End Sea Erosion Project (The News), UNDP, Govt. End Phase One Of Sea Erosion Project(FrontPage Africa), UNDP, Govt. End Phase One Of Sea Erosion Project(INSIGHT), UNDP, Govt. End Phase One Of Sea Erosion Project In New Kru Town(Heritage), UNDP, Govt. End Phase One New Kru Town Sea Erosion Abatement(Daily Observer), Coastal Defense Project First Phase Ends(In Profile Daily)

Liberian Women Await Constitution Confab – Want More Benefits

Women of Liberia are said to be eagerly awaiting issues they have raised at various constitutional reform gatherings from the nationwide consultation being considered for constitutional amendment. According to a statement signed by Gender Minister Julia Duncan-Cassell, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, Chairperson of the Women Legislative Caucus, Korpo Howard, President of Rural Women Association of Liberia, they want the constitution of the country to reflect a gender responsive language by referring to ‘he and she’ in reference to both men and women, boys and girls respectively. “We want a constitution that protects all persons from discrimination irrespective of gender, marital status, health status, age, disability and circumstance of birth”, the New Republic newspaper reports.

Related Captions: Liberian Women Looking To Use Constitutional Review For Male To Female Parity(FrontPage Africa), Gender Minister Advocates For Women(Heritage), Gender Ministry Seeks Women, Children Protection At Gbarnga Confab(The New Dawn)

Building Glasses Kill Casual Laborers

Building glasses yesterday killed three men instantly opposite CEMEMCO on Bushrod Island while offloading a container. The men are identified as Isaiah Sneah, Friday Brown and Aloysius Stemm were said to be casual laborers who sources disclosed offload containers daily for survival. A survivor of the incident, Sunny-Boy Chea, explained that there were 12 persons offloading the container and three of them got stuck in the container when the glasses slipped on the men thus causing their demise. Also speaking at the scene of the incident, Police Spokesman Sam Collins said the Liberia National Police (LNP) could not confirm the death of the men on grounds that they needed to be taken to a hospital before being declared dead by medical experts. He Revealed that five persons got wounded under critical conditions and were taken to a hospital, the In Profile Daily reports.

Related Captions: Tragedy On The Freeway…3 Casual Workers Killed(The Inquirer), Container Accident Leaves Three Dead(FOCUS), Tragedy!(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Consoles Germany After Tragic Plan Crash

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany following the Germanwings Airbus A302 crash in Southern French Alps, which has claimed the lives of approximately One Hundred and Fifty persons. In her message to her German counterpart, President Joachim Gauck, President Johnson Sirleaf extended her heartfelt condolences to the Germany Leader, and through him, to the Government and People of Germany, especially the bereaved family for the irreparable loss sustained. “We share in your grief and our hearts go out to the families’ of the victims whose hearts are terribly broken,” President Johnson Sirleaf declared with deep sorrow. The Liberian leader further prayed that God will grant the bereaved families the fortitude and the strength to withstand the period of grief, Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Ellen Consoles Germany For Tragic Plane Crash (Daily Observer)

EU Earmarks 279 Million Euros For Liberia

A Liberian Legislative delegation headed by Nimba County District#7 Representative, Worlea Saywah Dunah, has returned to the country from Brussels, Belgium following a week-long ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly with a 279 Million euros proposed development aid for Liberia. The proposed development aid will cover programs marked in the national indicative programs developed by the Liberian Government for the period 2014-2020, In Profile Daily reports.

Ellen Receives Letters Of Credence From New Swiss Ambassador To Liberia

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received the Letters of Credence from the new Ambassador of Switzerland to Liberia, His Excellency Thomas Listcher. According to an Executive Mansion release, presenting his Letters of Credence during a ceremony at the President’s office at the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Listcher said he assumed his mandate at a time when there is hope, but also huge challenges for Liberia and there is every reason to be confident, that the country in the very near future will be declared Ebola free. The Liberian leader assured the Swiss Ambassador of her support and that Liberia is ever willing, opened and prepared to collaborate with Switzerland on exploring more rewarding areas of mutual benefit to both countries. Through the Ambassador, the Liberian leader conveyed warm greetings to the Swiss Federal Council as well as best wishes to her Excellency Mrs. Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation for her personal well-being, the Heritage newspaper reports

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Receives Letters Of Credence From New Turkish Ambassador To Liberia(INSIGHT)

Resettlement Benefits For Ganta-Guinea Highway Residents

The Government of Liberia has pledged to pay resettlement benefits to residents along the Ganta-Guinea border road whose properties were marked for demolition to pave the way for the expansion of the road. Disclosing this at a meeting he held with residents of Ganta City Wednesday, Public Works Minister William Gyude Moore said following the payment of resettlement benefits to affected residents, the China International Henan Corporation Group (CHICO) will immediately commence construction for the road, New Democrat reports.

Related Caption: Ganta Residents Welcome Demolition Exercise(The Inquirer)

Land Commission Holds Retreat On The Draft Land Rights Bills

The Land Commission will today, March 27, hold a retreat with selected members of the National Legislature on the Draft Land Rights Bill. The retreat, which takes place in Buchannan, will brief members of the house and Senate Standing Committees on Lands, Mines and Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, Internal Affairs, Judiciary as well as the leadership of the Legislature on key provisions of the draft Bill. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in December last year submitted the Land Rights Bill to the National Legislature for review and enactment into law, the INSIGHT newspaper writes.

CNDRA Completes Storage Of 93% Of Land Records

The Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) has disclosed that it has organized and stored 93 percent of land records in Liberia over the last three years. CNDRA Director General P. Bloh Sayeh said this effort is in keeping with its mandate to collect and store all documents for the Government of Liberia as well as register land deeds, marriage certificates and among other vital documents, the INSIGHT newspaper reports.

NEC Qualifies 10 Candidates For R’Cess By-Election – As Campaign Starts

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has qualified ten candidates to contest the April 21, 2015 Rivercess County Electoral District # 2 Representative By-Election. The NEC released the list of the candidates on Wednesday at a press conference held in Yarpah Town, Rivercess County in line with the key dates for the By-election in the County. The Acting Chairman of the NEC, Cllr. Sarah Toe, said candidates qualified to contest the election include nine political parties and one independent candidate. She said there is only one female contesting the election.

Related Caption: 10 In By-Election To Represent Rivercess(Daily Observer)

GVL Revamps Five Schools, Donates School Materials

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that Golden Veroleum Liberia has completed rehabilitation works of five major elementary and junior high schools in Grand Kru County, elevating over one thousands, five hundred students who had earlier sought learning refuge in makeshifts school structures.  A release from the company said the project which worth thousands of dollars is part of a social agreement signed with the citizens and GVL on October 21, 2013. The facilities based in Trembo, Zoloken-Grandcess Wedabo Administrative Districts, include the Geneken, Gblabroken, Newaken, Zoloken, Newaken and Sorroken Elementary and Junior high Schools. According to the daily, GVL has also provided over 100 school desks to school authorities in the area.

Related Caption: Golden Veroleum Investment Below USD1.6b(Daily Observer)