The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

News of the World Bank’s approval of the supplemental financing of US$16.36 million for the Third Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy Operation is the lone story dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY

World Bank Approves US$16.36M to Support Reforms and Poverty Reduction Efforts in Liberia

The World Bank has approved supplemental financing of US$16.36 million for the Third Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy Operation (PRSDPOOO-III) for Liberia. this operation will help respond quickly to the country’s urgent needs generated by the twin shocks of the Ebola and the sustained slump in global commodity prices, in addition to the impact of withdrawal of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). These factors have worsened the already sharp economic downturn, with severe adverse consequences for employment and fiscal revenues. “The World Bank Group has been an active partner in supporting Liberia through the times of crises. It mobilized financial and technical assistance in close coordination and cooperation with other development partners, the Heritage newspaper writes.

Related Captions: World Bank Approves US$16.36m (Daily Observer), World Bank Approves US$16M To Support Poverty Reduction In Liberia (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

House Passes Financing Agreement

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, 27 June passed into law the Financing Agreement for the Third Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy Operation (PRSDPIII) to help government realizes its goals and objectives in the effective implementation of the Economic Stabilization Recovery Plan. A communication from President Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf says the Financing Agreement was entered into between the Government of Liberia and the International Development Association. The Liberian chief executive says the purpose of this Financing Agreement is to help government realize its goals and objectives in the effective implementation of the Economic Stabilization Recovery Plan that was adopted after the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak and mitigation of the fiscal gap for fiscal year 2016/2017. She notes that this financing when ratified into law will enable the government achieve these adjectives and improve the economic conditions that will help to alleviate poverty and make citizens self - efficient. After President Sirleaf sent the bill to the House of Representatives for ratification, it was overwhelmingly passed by majority members of the House, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: Poverty Reduction Law Ratified (Daily Observer)

Pressing For Land Rights Passage…Liberia Law Society Urges President Sirleaf, National Legislature

The Liberia Law Society welcomes President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s recent statement in regards to the urgent passage of the Land Rights Act. She made the statement when she met with Mr. Olof Skoog, the Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission when he visited Liberia recently. She had similarly indicated in her 2017 Annual Message that the passage of the Land Rights Act was among her priority in so far as her legislative agenda was concerned. To date, the Land Rights Act has not passed. The Law Society believes that the passage of the Land Rights Act will prove to be a landmark achievement of this Administration, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Stanley Toe Appointed LLA Executive Director

According to the Daily Observer, the Board of Commissioners of the newly established Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has appointed Stanley N. Toe as the first Executive Director. According to a press release, Mr. Toe’s duties will include, among others, assisting the chairman in the day-to-day operations of the authority and ensuring the effective implementation of LLA’s programs in coordination with the Board. In his letter of appointment, the Board through its chairman, Dr. Cecil T. O. Brandy, said it looks forward to working with Mr. Toe as the authority begins tackling the challenges ahead. Prior to this position, Mr. Toe served as acting executive director of the former Land Commission and held positions of increasing responsibilities, including program officer for land policy, senior program officer, acting director of the technical secretariat, and director of the Interim Land Task Force.

Louis Arthur Grimes Hosts One-Day Media Symposium

The Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia (UL) today hosts a one-day Media and Law Symposium in the auditorium of UL on Capitol Hill in Monrovia. According to statement, the symposium is intended to reflect and strengthen the duty, roles and responsibilities of legal and media practitioners in the context of Liberia’s democratic transition, with the goal of generation new thoughts and ideology in the context of media law, journalism ethics and defamation. The symposium brings together journalists, lawyers, students and faculty of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law to discuss several topics which include: Freedom of Information: Rights & Limitations; and Upholding the Ethics & Safeguards against Defamation/Libel Litigation, the In Profile Daily reads.