The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018

News of United States President Donald Trump’s extension of the Deferred Enforcement Departure program for Liberia for one more year is the lone story dominating our summary of the local dailies for today.

DOMINANT STORY

DED Extended For Last Time

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered Liberians on the Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) program one final year to prepare for a return to their homeland, bringing relief to some 4,200 who were bracing for the worst. In a statement Tuesday, President Trump decided that the conditions in Liberia no longer warrant a further extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), but that the foreign policy interests of the United States warrant affording an orderly transition (wind down) period to Liberian DED beneficiaries. The designation will terminate on March 31, 2019.  President Trump said DED is not a long-term solution or permanent legal status for foreign nationals in the United States. President Trump’s decision On Tuesday, the Liberian community received the strong backing of some 53 members of the US Congress, who delivered a bicameral letter to President Trump prevailing on him to extend the humanitarian immigration program that has allowed an estimated 4,200 Liberians to escape two successive civil wars in their country.  According to the daily, the program was renewed by President George W. Bush and twice by President Obama. In the letter, the US lawmakers strongly urged President Trump to extend for at least three years Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians residing legally in the United States.

Related Captions: Liberians In USA Granted Reprieve, DED Extended (Daily Observer’), Liberians In US Pressing To Extend DED (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

President Weah Makes More Nominations, Appointments In Government

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has made more nominations and appointments in government affecting the Ministries of Labour, Internal Affairs and Commerce respectively. According to the daily, the nominations and appointments are subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate where applicable.

Related Caption: President Weah Makes More Nominations, Appointments In Government (The INQUIRER)

For Successful Election In Sierra Leone: Heads of International Observation Groups, Development Partners Renew Support

Heads of International Election Observation Missions met with representatives of development partners in Freetown on Tuesday synergies support for a successful presidential run-off vote in Sierra Leone on Saturday, march 31. The meeting stressed the need for all stakeholders to play by the rule and for observers to exercise vigilance on all stages of the electoral process including during the declaration of the poll results, reads the Heritage newspaper.

Traditional Communicators Bid UNMIL PIO Farewell

According to the Daily Observer, with just days to the United Nation’s Mission in Liberia’s (UNMIL) official departure (March 31, 2017), traditional groups of communicators Tuesday held a farewell program in honor of UNMIL and its Public Information Office. The program which took place at the Women in Peace building Network (WIPNET)’s Hut, opposite the Airfield Fish Market, brought together eleven traditional communication groups that had worked with the Community Outreach Unit of UNMIL’s Public Information Office. The traditional groups of communicators include; WIPNET, Liberia Crusaders for Peace, Balawala International Foundation, Musicians Union of Liberia, Traditional Peace Theater, Development Education Network of Liberia, Liberia Youth Network, Lofa Youth, Youth United Against Violence, and Harmonizers of Flomo Theater.

Related Caption: Crusaders For Peace Hails UNMIL (The INQUIRER). The INQUIRER newspaper also reads  under the caption “Inter-Religious Council Commends ERSG” that the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL) is commanding the Special Representative of the Secretary general of the United Nations Ferid Zarif, for the great work of the UN Mission he spearheaded in Liberia, which has come to a successful end. A release quotes the president of the inter faith organization, Bishop, Dr. Kortu K. Browne as saying, as the UNMIL SRSG Zarif departs Liberia the people of Liberia wish him well in future endeavors as he continues to serve the people of the world through the United Nations.

Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah Alludes To Obtaining Drugs Intended For County While in Private Sector

Liberia’s new Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has alluded to taking calls from folks who probably sell drugs intended for the counties, illegally to private hospitals or clinics. “People called me and say I have drugs because I’m coming from the private sector and they will call me and say I have drugs from Gbarpolu.” “Now, I am at the Health Ministry, you will not call me and say I have drugs for sale from Gbarpolu,” she stated when she delivered remarks at her taking over ceremony. The Minister added: “Believe this, when I was in the private sector, this is what we had, but now I’m coming in the public sector, I know all the loopholes. I have the telephone numbers of all the sale persons,” Dr. Jallah said. Dr. Jallah attributed the illegal act to problems within the supply chain management and other areas within the Ministry, including last mile. The Health Minister expressed hope that her team responsible to order and handle drugs in Liberia will put a halt to the illegal act that she once played a key role in. according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the new Health Minister spoke Tuesday when she took office.

Related Caption: I Am Here To Fill The Gap…Says Health As She Takes Over (Heritage)

Liberian Diplomat Completes ‘Peace And Development Training’ In Bangkok

Reverend Tunde Johnson Spencer, the Counselor for Political Affairs at the Liberian Embassy in Abuja has completed an intensive two-weeks training in peace and development in Bangkok, the Kingdom of Thailand. A release from the Liberian embassy in Abuja says Rev. Spencer was among twenty-seven other individuals, drawn from about twelve countries, who successfully completed the training in peace building and conflict transformation that ran from February 28 to March 14, 2018. The training was a cross cultural one; organize by the international Institute of Peace and Development Studies (IIPDS) in Thailand. The INQUIRER newspaper quoting the release says the trainnings highlight focused on international human rights, structure and framework of the United Nations, Geopolitics, among others.

Related Caption: Liberian Diplomat Completed ‘Peace And Development Training” In Bangkok (Heritage)

AfricaRice, SAPEC End Rice Mills Fabrication Training

An intensive 2-week rice mills fabrication training that brought local artisans from across the country ended last weekend in Gbarnga, Bong County, with calls for robust measures that would help elevate the agriculture sector. The training is expected to provide a more vibrant level of agriculture in order to ensure economic growth and employment opportunities.  “This is the only way progress will be sustainable and profitable for the local farmers and Liberian businesses,” AfricaRice Country Director, Dr. Innousa Akintayo, said at a brief program that marked the close of the training on Saturday. The Daily Observer reads that the objective of the training was to build the capacity of Liberians in agricultural equipment fabrication.

Works Minister Issues 48-hour Ultimatum To Zoning Division

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Minister of Public Works, Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan has mandated staf of the Zoning Division of the Ministry to ensure that all complaints are handled in a timely manner that will alleviate all forms o suspicions against the Ministry, adding, all former complaints must be forwarded to his office for review and subsequent administrative and technical actions. The daily says Minister Nyenpan spoke when he met with staff of Zoning Division to assess current constraints and challenges facing the unit.