The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2017

News of the National Elections Commission’s denial and dismissal of complaints of fraud and irregularities in the October 10, 2017 elections filed by the Liberty Party, first complainant and the Unity Party, the interveners is our lone story highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY

Elections Hearing Officer Dismisses Allegations Of Electoral Fraud

Cllr. Muana Ville, Hearing Officer of the National Elections Commission (NEC), has denied and dismissed complaints of fraud and irregularities in the October 10, 2017 elections filed by the Liberty Party, first complainant and the Unity Party, interveners. Cllr. Ville went ahead to mandate NEC to take necessary steps to correct all what they admitted to as difficulties and challenges before any future elections. The NEC Hearing Officer in his ruling said, the first complainant and intervener complainant failed to prove allegations of fraud that warrant the re-run of the October 10, 2017 elections. In keeping with the law the first complainant and interveners have the right to seek appeal to the Board of Commissioners of NEC and if ruling from that body is not satisfactory, the complainants can further appeal to the Supreme Court. The runoff election has been stalled due to suspicion of electoral fraud and irregularities on a mass scale that probably affected the outcome of the October 10th Presidential and Legislative Elections. The opposition Liberty Party took the lead in challenging the results with the National Elections Commission. The party claimed to have overwhelming pieces of evidence to back their claims, read the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: “No Convincing Evidence”-NEC Rules Against LP, UP-Parties File Appeal Before NEC’s Board Of Commissioners (The Analyst), NEC Rules in Favor of NEC; LP, UP Appeal to BOC (Daily Observer), Hearing Officer Denies LP/UP Claims…Says They Failed To Prove Fraud, But…(The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

Joint Arab Mission, GOL Propose Revised Financing Allocation… For Gbarnga-Salayea Road Project

A joint-mission comprising representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has ended a three-day visit to the country during which discussions were held with the relevant authorities in Liberia and an agreement reached after series of technical meetings to propose a revised financing arrangement for each contributing donor. The revision came about upon having a surplus following the winning contractor’s bid offer for the Gbarnga-Salayea Road Project. The Mission also reviewed with the Government the possibility of the usage of the surplus for Section-2 Salayea-Konia 50.2 km stretch of the road. During the Joint Arab Mission to the country from 13th to 15th November, the team reviewed progress made by the GOL in the procurement of the civil works contractor of Phase 1 Gbarnga-Salayea 81 km segment of the road, according to the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Caption: Revised Financing Allocation Prosposed…For Gbargna-Salayea Road Project (The NEWS)

Liberians Urged To Observe Diet, Exercise Regularly

Two visiting Indians doctors from Fortis Hospital, Prem Kumar and Priyank Bhatt, a urologist and cardiologist, respectively, have observed that the lack of dietary observation and exercise among Liberians can contribute to serious health risks. Drs. Kumar and Bhatt, who came to Liberia on an invitation from Dr. Varsay E. Sirleaf, Jr., CEO of Snapper Hill Clinic, noted that after examining more than 250 patients, they saw signs of critical stages of heart disease and urinary tract infections. The doctors added that to curtail the risks of heart disease and urinary tract infections, Liberians have to start seriously observing their diet by trying to reduce salt and oil quantity in food, stop smoking and consuming alcohol, and practicing safe hygiene. The Daily Observer quotes Dr. Sirleaf as saying that the two doctors are part of the first batch of professional doctors they are expected to come in the country to provide a first-class medical diagnosis for Liberians.

25 Schools Get Modern Toilet Facilities

Twenty-five schools in Margibi County are benefitting from modern toilet facilities. The projects were turned over to the schools at program marking the official celebration of World Toilet day. Speaking Tuesday during the program in Weala, Margibi County, Austin Nyanplue, Country Director of Living Water, indicated that his organization with support from international partners saw the need to provide Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities at those institutions. He said following an assessment of the schools, his organization decided to source funding in order to construct the toilet facilities. Nyanplue explained that Living Water helped with water and sanitation projects in the county because when the people are healthy, they will freely go about their activities. He said they made it their duty to ensure that health clubs are also established at the schools so as to see the proper use and maintenance of the projects, reports the NEWS newspaper.

Man Sentence To One Year For Killing Endangered Sea Turtle

A man, identified as Boggay Jones, has been given a one-year prison sentence by the Buchanan City Court for killing a leather back Sea turtle in Grand Bassa County. According to the FrontPage Africa, the animal is listed as one of several protected wildlife species in Liberia by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA). The one-year jailed sentence follows an arrest on November 15, 2017 and subsequent turnover of the perpetrator by the FDA to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation; where he was later charged and sent to court for persecution.

Dr. Samuel Reeves Takes Over-Head Grand Bassa County Community College As Interim President

The Board of Trustees of the Grand Bassa Community College (GBCC) has appointed Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves as interim President for the College. Dr. Joseph Isaac, Chairman of the Board, said that the newly appointed interim President is going to serve for six months. The Board Chairman noted that the interim President shall report directly to the board of trustees and serves as Chief Executive Officer of the College. The FrontPage Africa newspaper, Rev. Samuel Reeves replaces Dr. Nathaniel Gbassaygee who has been suspended for six months due to “administrative and financial problems.

Anusless Baby Cries For Surgery

The Analyst newspaper reads that a three and a half weeks old baby only identified as Knowledge Piah is in dire need of a surgery in order to enable him excrete freely. Little Knowledge the daily quotes the mother, Cariner Piah as saying was born without anus and is said to be defecating through his penis, a situation which is causing so much pain and restless days and nights.