The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018

News of the Liberian Senate’s review of its rules governing confirmation is the lone story highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberian Senate Strengthens Guidelines For Confirmation Hearing

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, as President George Weah begins the nomination of individuals to key positions of trust in his new Cabinet in keeping with Article 54 A of the Liberian Constitution, the Senate has seen the need to review its rules governing confirmation. The Senate, through various committees, will shortly begin the confirmation proceedings of government officials as soon as the list of nominees is submitted to the Senate. In pursuance of its constitutional mandate, the Senate in its second sitting of the first session of the 54th Legislature on Thursday, January 18, approved guidelines to guide the process.  In the revised guidelines the Senate announced that all costs associated with confirmation process shall be borne by them and warned against offers or attempts to offer gift(s) to committee member will automatically disqualify said nominee. The Senate has also warned that testimonies given by a nominee should be factual as misstatement or falsification of the truth shall be deemed perjury and prosecutable under the laws of Liberia. Other methods of vetting shall be applied to nominees below the rank of statutory districts superintendents. In the Senate’s revised rules and consistent with the Constitution, Senators have promised that only Liberian citizens will be confirmed. President George Manneh Weah’s late Monday (January 22) evening following his inauguration as Liberia’s 24th President, began to choose members of his Cabinet, some of which are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Related Captions: Senate Sets Special Guidelines For Executive Nominees Confirmation (In Profile Daily), On Confirmation Of New Gov’t Officials: Senate Sets Guidelines (INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

‘Let’s Recommit Our Energies”-Vice President Taylor Urges Senate

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, addressing members of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, days after her inauguration urged the Senate to recommit their energies to working for the fulfillment of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Liberia. Vice President Taylor said her role as President of the Senate epitomizes a significant milestone in the history of the Legislature; as the first ever female President of the Senate, reads the In Profile Daily.

Rep. Fallah Heads House’s Most Lucrative Committee – As Speaker Chambers Makes Additional Appointments

According to the INSIGHT newspaper, the Speaker of the 54th Legislature has made additional appointments affecting the lucrative Ways, Means and Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. Montserrado County District #5 Representative, Thomas P. Fallah takes over the prestigious Ways, Means and Finance Committee from Bong County District #2 Representative, Prince Moye who was elected as Deputy Speaker. Other committees’ heads are Representative Hans Barchue for House’s Modernization, Representative Jay Nagbe Sloh for Information and Broadcasting, and Preventative Julie Wiah for Gender, Children and Social Protection among others.

Two Legislators Take Seats

In consonance with Article 31 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Representatives Joseph Momo Matthew, Jr of Electoral District # 3 Gbarpolu County and Clarence K. Massaquoi of Electoral District #3 Lofa County have been administered the Oath of Affirmation.The initiation of Representatives Matthew and Massaquoi follow their recent victories in a legal battle at the Supreme Court of Liberia. This brings to total 68 members of the House of Representative of the 54th Legislature. The conclusion of Rep. Matthew and Massaquoi cases leave outstanding five electoral districts with ongoing legal disputes, reports the INSIGHT newspaper.

Health Confab Abolishes ‘Home Delivery’ Adopts 22-Count Resolution

Stakeholders at the end of a two-day Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in Lofa County have pledged to collectively intensify their efforts to address major causes of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality as well as improve the health and well-being of the citizens. Conference participants agreed in their declaration to abolish ‘home delivery’ across the country, beginning in Lofa County. According to the Daily Observer, the over 150 participants’ re-commitment was contained in a 22-count resolution adopted at the end of the conference held in Voinjama City from January 19-20. In their 22-count resolution, participants agreed to levy specific fines and penalties for all violators engaging in home delivery, to include  L$2,500 for TTMs or TBAs, who fail to take pregnant women to the facility for delivery; L$2,500 for a pregnant woman who refuses to go to the facility for delivery.

Related Caption: ‘No Home Delivery In Lofa County’ (INSIGHT)