THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015

Today’s summary of the local dailies highlights President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf call for G7 nations to assist Africa develop its infrastructures, the Liberia Electricity Corporation agreement with DAWNUS International Ltd, for the Rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant among others.

DOMINANT STORIES

“Change The Way You Do Business”… Urges G7 Nations

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has emphasized the need for economically viable nations of the world and international organizations to assist Liberia and Africa develop its infrastructures. She believes that if such assistance is given to Africa, it would improve other aspects of the continent’s development. President Johnson Sirleaf said if the people have infrastructure such as roads and basic social services such as electricity and water, this will give rise to the quality of life on the African continenet and eventually improve other services like education, quality healthcare programs and boost the agriculture sector of each country, according to the News newspaper.

Related Captions: New Paradigm Shift Urgent Pres. Sirleaf Urges World Leaders On African development(The Analyst), Change the Way You Do Business Prez. Sirleaf Gives G-7 Nations New Paradigm For Development(Daily Observer), Pres. Sirleaf Wants G-7 Nations Help Continent’s Dev’t(The New Dawn), President Sirleaf Calls On G-7 Nations To Change the Way They Do Business(INSIGHT), Pres. Sirleaf Stresses Africa’s Infrastructure Development(The Spirit Of Truth)

LEC Signs Contract With DAWNUS International Ltd. Of the UK For Main Civil Works of Mt. Coffee Hydro Power Plant

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) on May 27, 2015 signed a contract with DAWNUS International Ltd, a company based in the United Kingdom, for the Main Civil Works Contract 2A in continuation of the Rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant. This contract includes reconstruction and rehabilitation of the main dam, powerhouse, spillway, and intake; and other infrastructure and roads works, pens the News newspaper.

Related Captions: LEC Signs Contract With DAWNUS Int’l(he News), LEC, DAWNUS Sealed Deal(The New Dawn), UK Company Contracted For Hydro Project(New Democrat)

18,000 License Plates In Town

According to the News newspaper, there are indications that the first consignment of license plates has arrived in the country and they would be distributed this week, an authoritative source hinted this paper. The source revealed that over 18,000 license plates were brought into the country recently through the instrumentality of the Liberian government. The Second consignment of license plates is expected in the country by the end of June, meaning that those who registered in January 2015 are likely to receive the first consignment of license plates.

Related Captions: New License Plates Here…Transport To Begin Distribution(The Inquirer), Deliver Of 18,000 New License Plates Underway In Monrovia(Heritage), 18,000 License Plates In Town…Gov’t Begins Distribution Soon(The Independent)

YES Receives US$11,084

Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), an accredited nonprofit, passionate and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization that is making people problem solvers as well as tolerant and critical thinkers has received its first-ever grant of eleven thousand eighty four United States dollars (USD11,084.00) from the U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Department of State Federal Assistance Award. The grant supports "Building a Sustainable Liberia" project, which is a follow-on project, which is a follow-on project of the U.S. Department of Statement Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' Community Solutions Program that had been piloted on a small scale basis in six schools located in Paynesville and Fendell, writes the Analyst newspaper.

Related Captions: YES Receives Over US$11K Grant From U.S. Embassy (In Profile Daily), Empowering Youth: YES Receives US$11,084 Grant From U.S. Embassy (INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Congratulates Portugal on Observance Of National Day 

The Heritagenewspaper reads that: the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of the Portuguese Republic, on the occasion of that country’s National Day. In her message to His Excellency Mr. Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, President of the Portuguese Republic, President Johnson Sirleaf extended warmest felicitation on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, and in her own name. The Liberian Leader acknowledged that the day is in remembrance of the anniversary of the death of the National Literary Icon Luis de Camôes 1580.  President Johnson Sirleaf noted that as the people of Portugal celebrate this joyous occasion, the ties of friendship and cooperation existing between the two nations and Peoples will be further enhanced to their mutual benefits. President Johnson Sirleaf noted that as a result of Portugal’s support, including those of other members of the International Community, on May 9, 2015, Liberia was declared free from the Ebola Virus transmission. The Liberian leader observed that the end of Ebola in Liberia has ultimately created an enabling environment for the re-launching of the country’s reconstruction efforts. She then wished for President Cavaco Silva good healthand for the people of the Portuguese Republic, a happy festive season.

NHA Earmarks Homes For Health Workers

The Inquirernewspaperreports that in an effort to create a better living condition for citizens across the country, the National Housing Authority has embarked on a program to help health workers in the country have a home of their own.  Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, the Deputy Managing Director of the National Housing Authority, Prince Wreh, said the program is being initiated as his institution's way of expressing gratitude to health workers for their effort in combating the Ebola virus in the country.

Related Caption: NHA Officials Sponsor Home For Health Workers(In Profile Daily)

Sonoe County To Get US$120m Gold Investment

The executive Director of the National Investment Commission (N I C), George Wisner, has disclosed a US 120 million investment in Sinoe County Hummingbird Mining Company. The signing Agreement will be officially held on July 9, 2015, in Greenville, the county’s capital city. At the Ministry of Information regular press briefing yesterday, Mr. Wisner said the investment now by Hummingbird was cardinal due to the current drop in prices of many of Liberia’s major export commodities, including rubber and iron ore, which is ridiculously low on the world market Hummingbird will provide many social benefits to the people of Sinoe County including the establishment of a special fund to be managed by the Government of Liberia and the community, the Daily Observer writes.

Related Caption: US$120m Investment For Sinoe Again(The Independent)

Kofi Annan Supports Cutting Fossil Fuels, Promoting Renewable Investments in Africa

The Africa Progress Panel welcomes the commitment made by the G7 to make deep cuts in emissions and to phase out of fossil fuels by the end of the century. In this year’s  Africa Progress Report, “Power, People, Planet: Seizing Africa’s Energy and Climate Opportunities”, the Panel calls on the countries that emit the most to raise their level of ambition and implement their promises at the December climate summit in Paris, with its 2015 summit communiqué, the G7 has signaled its collective invention to do just that. Governments in the major emitting countries must now place a stringent price on emissions of greenhouse gases by taxing them, instead of continuing effectively to subsidies them, for example by spending billions on subsidies for fossil-fuel exploration, the In Profile Daily reports.

Liberia And Guinea Hold 2^nd Cross-Border Ebola Surveillance Meeting

Leaders from Liberia and Guinea recently met to discuss Ebola surveillance across their shared border. Bong County Superintendent, Selena P. Mappy and Yomou Prefect Mustapha Forowe Conole presided over the meeting, which included Paramount Chiefs, County health Officers and Team Members, Joint Security representatives, community leaders and NGO representatives. This was the second of many monthly meetings, coordinated by Global Communities, to be held between the two counties Bong and Yomou Counties in Liberia and Guinea, respectively to discuss Ebola surveillance at the border crossing. Such dedicated collaboration demonstrates the high priority with which the issue is treated in both countries and the need for wide participation from stakeholders to implement a solution. Since being declared Ebola-free on May 9^th, 2015, and since the last EVD case in Bong County was recorded on December 21, 2014, Liberia has turned its focus to ensuring that the outbreak does not return, the New Democrat writes.

Services Restored at Redemption Hospital

A back page story of the In Profile Daily reads that, the Redemption Hospital in the Borough of New Kru Town, once referred to as the death center during the height of the Ebola crisis, is now up and running. Things are now normal at the Hospital which was used as a holding center for suspected Ebola patients brought in from across the country. During the height of the Ebola Crisis in Liberia, Liberians witnessed the grief-stricken manner in which dead bodies of their compatriots were being pulled out of the hospital like cargoes on a daily basis. Like in the words of Representative Saah H. Joseph during the so called Ebola victory celebrations, at some point during the national emergency, they were expected ‘to pull out about 30-35 dead bodies’ from Redemption.

Government Certificates Grand Bassa County Service Center Staff

A week-long training workshop for the staff of the proposed first County Service Center in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County came to an end in Monrovia over the weekend with certification of the trainees.  About sixty participants drawn from all 14 service delivery Ministries, Agencies and Commissions of Government attended the training exercise, which is in preparation for the opening of Liberia's first ever County Service Center located outside Monrovia. Speaking at the formal closing program, the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Morris M. Dukuly challenged trainees to deliver quality services to the citizenry, pens the Inquirer newspaper.

SOS Children's Villages Liberia Re-dedicates SOS Children's Village Monrovia

On June 8, 2015, hundreds of SOS Children's Villages Liberia staff, prominent government officials former SOS youth, students and parents at the SIK Herman Gmeiner International School System, friends and partners and well wishers of the organization gathered at the SOS Children's Village Monrovia to participate in its formal re-dedication ceremony. The SOS Children's Village Monrovia was first formally dedicated in 1981 when the founder and father of the organization, Dr. Hermann Gmeiner visited the village and subsequently participated in the first formal dedication ceremony of the village, reports the Inquirer newspaper.