The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRARY 14, 2018

Today’s summary includes stories on President George Manneh Weah’s tour of the Maritime Training Institute, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor’s first official visit to Bong County as Vice President, and Foreign Minister Mr. Gbehzohngar Milton Findley meeting with member of the Diplomat Corps are among other stories selected.

President Weah Tours LMTI Facility Liberia Maritime Training Institute Graduates New Cadets

President George Manneh Weah accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, State, Defense and other dignitaries visited the Liberia Maritime Institute and tour the facilities. Mr. Avi Zaidenberg, General Manager of LISCR and Chairman of the Board of the LMTI welcome President Weah and the cabinet to the premises of LMTI and stated that the institute is presently undergoing a complete rehabilitation and is about two-thirds completed. It is already a state of the art institution with modern equipment, facilities and 24 students/cadets are presently enrolled In his remarks, President Weah spoke about the Liberian Maritime Program, International shipping in general, its uniqueness and how it touches every aspect of mankind but is not easily realized. He called for the protection of the country’s exclusive economic zones for the protection of local fishermen and women, reports the Daily Observer.  

Jewel Howard-Taylor Makes First Official Visit to Bong County…Makes Huge Interventions 

The Vice President of Liberia, Hon. Jewel Howard-Taylor has made her first official visit to her home County, Bong County, since her inauguration, making several interventions in critical areas of interest. Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor prior to her election as Liberia’s first female Vice President, served as Senator of Bong County for twelve years. She thanked the people of the county for the trust and assured that the CDC-Led government under the astute leadership of President George Weah, will do everything possible to perform its role. She averred; ‘It is now time for the Coalition of Democratic Change to perform its part of the agreement reached between it and citizens, and that this government remains fully commitment to said agreement.’ According to a Press release from the Office of the Vice President, VP-Howard- Taylor as part of her initial contributions to addressing some challenges in the county presented one hundred thousand Liberian dollars to a group of high school students project and two hundred and fifty thousand Liberian dollars as scholarship fund for underprivileged students in Bong county, pens the Heritage newspaper.  

Diplomats Accredited to Liberia Meet Foreign Minister in Acquaintance Gathering 

The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release: Twenty-nine representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Liberia Tuesday, February 13, met with His Excellency Mr. Gbehzohngar Milton Findley, Minister of Foreign of Liberia, in an acquaintance gathering in the C. Cecil Dennis Hall at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Formally opening the meeting with the diplomats, Foreign Minister Findley thanked all of them for helping Liberians and Liberia hold a very peaceful election, which ushered in the new Liberian administration being led by His Excellency Mr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia. Foreign Minister Findley, who is also the Dean of the Cabinet, thanked the representatives of foreign missions accredited near Monrovia for the Letters of Congratulations from their various governments to President Weah and from their various foreign ministers to him. Making remarks, the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea, Mr. Abdoulaye Doré, told the Minister that it was an opportunity for all the diplomats to meet and acquaint themselves with him. Also speaking, the ECOWAS Representative at the meeting informed the Minister that as of midnight April 1st, the UN Radio will begin broadcasting ECOWAS activities adding that they intend to begin broadcasting activities on Liberia.  

Weah Launches Measles Campaign Tomorrow 

President George Manneh Weah is expected to launch the first phase of a major Nationwide Measles Campaign tomorrow, Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the Paynesville City Hall outside Monrovia. About 727, 549 children across the country are being targeted for the campaign. The campaign, which is a followed-up on children missed out during the last routine measles vaccination Campaign is 2015, will be held in three phases. A statement from the Ministry of Health signed by its Communication Director, Sorbor George said, Montserrado County is the venue for the first phase of the campaign, which runs from 15 of Feb to 25^th, targeting children from 6 months to 59 months, reports the Heritage newspaper.  

Addy Turns Over; New Team Takes Over Minstry of Commerce & Industry 

Axel Addy, outgoing Minister of Commerce and Industry, has called on President George Weah to appoint economists and technocrats at the ministry because “the Ministry needs economists”.  At his official turning over of authority to his successors, Professor Wilson Tarpeh, Addy said his administration worked over the years to transform the ministry from a political entity into a technical entity. He also encouraged his successor and the new President to buy and build Liberia if they choose Liberalization by “buying and putting Money in the pockets of local business people”. In his takeover speech, the new minister, Wilson Tarpeh, said his administration will operate on four principle pillars which would include: the empowerment, defense, and promotion of Liberian businesses. Tarpeh assured his administration would improve the quality of goods and services prioritize attention to Lab for quality control and the construction of industry, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Judges Disapprove of Weah’s 25% Salary Cut Plan

It seems that President George Weah’s recent pronouncement about the reduction of his salary and other benefits by 25 percent has not gone down well with judges throughout the country. According to the Daily Observer, the judges made known their displeasure Tuesday at the opening of the February 2018 Term of Criminal Courts, A, B, C, D and E at the Temple of Justice, where they argued that any salary cut must take into consideration Article 72 (a) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. Delivering his charge at the opening of the criminal courts, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court ‘A’ clearly showed their disapproval with these words, “Salary and other benefits for judges and magistrates shall not be diminished without a national program enacted by the Legislature as enshrined in Article 72 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.”  

House Studies President Weah’s Salary Cut Proposals 

The House of Representatives is studying a proposal from President George M. Weah calling on them to follow his lead and cut their salary and benefits by 25 percent as part of efforts to address the country’s ailing economy. The Daily Observer says sixty-nine (69) members of the House have established a Joint Committee, comprising the Committees on Ways, Means, Finance & Development Planning and Public Account to review the ‘Salary & Benefits Cut Proposal’ and advise Plenary in due course. According to the Daily Observer, House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers told Plenary on Tuesday, February 13 — during the 9th day sitting — that the Joint Committee was set up during one of the House’s executive (secret) sessions.

Liberian Students in China Hold Fund Raising Program in Beijing

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the Liberian Student Union in China (LSUIC) on Saturday February 10 hosted a historic one-day Mini-Conference and Fund-raising Program in order to help needy Liberians.  FrontPage Africa newspaper, says the program was held under the theme: “Help a scholar today for a positive impact tomorrow”.  As the theme depicts, one of the paramount objectives of the gathering was to generate funds to support needy Liberian students in their academic pursuits. The conference and fund-raising program, which was held in the Chinese capital, Beijing, brought together Liberian students from various regions of China, members of the Liberian Community, and some Chinese business men and women.  The Liberian Embassy near Beijing was also in full attendance.