Daily Media Summary (11-20-2020)
BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA
NEWS SUMMARY, Friday, November 20, 2020
Today’s edition of our regular media summary of the local dailies captures captivating stories on the US Congress’ confirmation of its Ambassador to Liberia, President Weah continuous support to the Liberia Broadcasting System, and President Weah’s congratulatory message to Lebanon on 77th Independence Anniversary among other stories.
President Weah Applauds Lebanon On 77 Independence
President Dr. George Manneh Weah has, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name, extended heartfelt congratulations to Michel Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic and through him to the Government and people of the Lebanese Republic on the occasion commemorating the 77th Independence Anniversary of that country. Lebanese Independence Day is the national day of Lebanon celebrated on November 22, in commemoration of the end of the French Mandate over that country in 1943, after 23 years of Mandate rule. On this day in 1943, Lebanon’s constitutionally elected leaders were released from detention by French occupation forces after their commanders backed down and accepted the independence of Lebanon. President Weah emphasized as Liberians joined the people of Lebanon in observing this occasion, it is his keen prayer that the bonds of the two countries and people in the spirit of continued mutual cooperation and friendship will further strengthen. He then prayed that the Almighty Allah will endow President Aoun with abundant wisdom, strength and good health as he leads his compatriots to nobler heights, the Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.
LBS Boss Heaped Praises On Pres. – For Continue Support To The Station
ORANGE LIBERIA ANNOUNCES NEW AND AFFORDABLE HOME INTERNET SERVICE
In furtherance of its commitment of provide affordable and quality telecommunications in Liberia, the Management of Orange Liberia has launched a new product called the “home internet Service.’’ The Service is immediately available to customers and packages range from US$9 to US$59. Mr. Isaac Muthama, Chief Sales Officers for Orange Liberia told a gathering of journalists at the company’s Capitol bypass office on Wednesday that the new service would provide dependable and affordable internet service for the entire family. He explained that a family utilizing the new Home internet Service could save considerably more money than if they use their mobile data for browsing. “We are offering a wide range of service to match any budget,” said Mr. Muthama “there are package from as low as $9 which gives the customer 10 GB of internet at a rapid speed of 3mbps, to larger package like our $29 packages which gives a customer 50GB of internet, Finally, for customers who consume a lot of data on downloading or streaming movies can go for our ultimate package for $59 which give the customer 125GB of data at a mind blowing ultra-rapid speed of 5mbps’’, the FrontPage newspaper reveals.
Related Caption: Orange Liberia Announces New And Affordable Home Internet Service (Hot Pepper)
US Congress Confirms Ambassador To Liberia!
The US House of Senate has confirmed Michael A. McCarty, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Liberia, Ambassador McCarthy was confirmed after undergoing intensive scrutiny from members of the US Congress; writes Sheikh O. Jalloh. Ambassador McCarthy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump a few months ago, was finally confirmed by the Senate's Voice Vote on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. After his nomination by the State Department, Ambassador McCarthy was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations on June 2, 2020, with the committee holding hearings on August 6, 2020. On September 22, 2020, the Committee on Foreign Relations ordered to be reported favorably, which was done by Senator Risch without a printed report on the same day. On the same September 22, 2020 Ambassador McCarthy was placed on the Senate Executive Calendar. No. 884, and was finally considered and confirmed on November 18, 2020, Hot Pepper newspaper writes.
Education Must Be Publicly Funded, Not Privatized COTAE
The Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education (COTAE) has emphasized the need to public-fund education for the education sector, as opposed to privatization. Anderson D. Miamen, National Coordinator, COTAE, at a one-day training workshop to increase stakeholders’ knowledge about the Abidjan Principles and key issues related to fulfillment of the right to education in Liberia, held at Murex Plaza, 10th Street, told the participants that education is a multiplier right, and the need for government to take responsibility to fund the sector cannot be overemphasized. Maiamen quoted Article 6 of the 1986 Constitution, “The Republic shall, because of the vital role assigned to the individual citizen under this Constitution for the social, economic and political wellbeing of Liberia, provide equal access to educational opportunities and facilities for all citizens to the extent of available resources. Emphasis shall be placed on the mass education of the Liberian people and the elimination of illiteracy.” He said this article runs parallel to the Abidjan Principles, which are literally the guiding principles on the human rights obligations of states to provide public education and to regulate private involvement in education. According to the Hot Pepper newspaper, he spoke on the topic, “Understanding the Abidjan Principles: Key Issues and the Roles of the Media and Civil Society in its Implementation and Monitory”.
Duala Market Project Finally Commences
Currently the entire old market building is completely demolished and initial work on the project is ongoing. At the visit on the market site on Thursday, November 17, 2020 and in a cross section interview with some of the happy marketers, they commended the Government for the initiative and expressed the hope that the project will be completed in time as scheduled in order for them to effectively carry out their normal business transactions. The US$3.8 million modern Duala Market Project, upon completion, will be a two-story building with a reservoir, parking lot, playground, handing fans, generator room and a brand new generator, including many other facilities. The project up on completion in 2021 will also give the area a face-lift and also reduce the old age-traffic congestion the people normally experience over the period, including up to present. At the ground breaking ceremony recently, President Dr. George Manneh Weah noted that it is time to bring sanity / decency to the sector, especially market people, Heritage newspaper asserts.
Over 90 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases Recorded in Less Than One Month
Barely after three months of drastic decline in the confirmed cases of the Coronavirus Disease in the country, a second wave of the virus has resurfaced, affecting Montserrado County with over 90 confirmed cases recorded in less than one month. “The second wave of COVID-19 is around the globe and Liberia is no exception to it. In October, we recorded 90 confirmed cases. As today, we’ve recorded 11. All these cases are right from here in Montserrado County, “Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, has disclosed. Minister Jallah told reporters at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing on Thursday, November 19, 2020, in Monrovia that most outgoing travelers are the ones who mainly tested positive for the virus, rather than the incoming travelers. According to her, the outgoing travelers are those individuals who come from the communities and tested positive from the sample collecting center, but have disappeared from the observation centers without completing their three tests, the Heritage newspaper reports.
