The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

Today’s dominant stories include, Pres. Sirleaf’s trip to the AU Summit in Malabo, Liberia’s observance of Anti-Drugs Day today, caterpillar’s plague that causes mass evacuation and crop destruction, the Lower House’s passage of two financing legislations, the Chief Justice’s assurance of modern court for Bomi, and Pres. Sirleaf’s donation to Harper erosion victims. Others include Grand Kru and Sinoe being set to host July 26 Celebrations,Bomi, and Sime Darby agree expansion of plantation & AFL Peacekeepers’ returns today.

DOMINANT STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Off To AU Summit

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has departed the country to attend the African Union’s 23rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The Summit runs from June 26 to 27, 2014. Hosted by the President of Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency Teodore Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the Summit is being held under the theme: “Year of Agriculture and Food Security,” with emphasis on “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.” According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf, as Chairperson of the High Level Committee on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, will deliver a report during the Summit. Also, in keeping with tradition, the newly elected Presidents of Malawi, His Excellency Peter Mutharika; His Excellency José Mário Vaz of Guinea Bissau and His Excellency Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt will be welcomed by the Assembly and will address the opening session on June 26, 2014. Special guests of the summit are United Nations Secretary General, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon and Spain’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Mariano Rajoy Brey, along with other invited guests, New Dawn reports.

Related Caption:  Pres. Sirleaf Off To AU Summit In Malabo(INSIGHT), Three New heads Of State Join AU – As President Sirleaf Departs For AU Summit(Daily Observer)

Liberia Observes Anti-Drugs Day

Liberia joins hundreds of countries around the world to observe international Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit trafficking today. “The celebration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a milestone in Liberia, and we will use it to create more public awareness on our new drug law,” Anthony Souh, the Director of the Drug Enforcement  Agency (DEA) stated, the NEWS reports.

Related Caption: Liberia Observes Anti-Drugs Day Today(IN PROFILE DAILY), Liberia Observes Anti-Drugs Day Today(National Chronicle), Liberia Observes Anti-Drugs Day Today(Heritage), Liberia Observes Anti-Drugs Day Thursday(FOCUS)

Caterpillar Plague Causes Mass Evacuation And Crop Destruction

 A plague of caterpillars has forced thousands of people to flee their homes in northern Liberia, as well destroying crops, contaminating water and forcing schools to close. Residents of at least 25 villages and towns in Lofa and Gbarpolu counties have joined a mass exodus so far this month to escape the trail of caterpillar excrement, according to the Voice of America (VOA). It is the second such invasion in five years. A state of emergency was declared in 2009 after tens of millions of caterpillars swept through at least 80 towns and villages in the centre and north of the country. Dr Sizi Subah, deputy agriculture minister for technical services, told Liberia’s The Inquirer that the caterpillars, which travel in huge numbers, have the capacity to destroy large areas since they feed on the leaves of cash crops such as coffee, cocoa and vegetables during the larva stage before developing into butterflies, New Democrat reports.

Related Caption: Liberians Flee Caterpillar Invasion(FOCUS), Caterpillar Plague Causes Mass Evacuation And Crop Destruction(New Democrat)

Lower House Passes Two Financing Legislations

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed into law the Bushrod Power Generation Plant Expansion Project Loan Agreement between the Government of Liberia and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). It also ratified the Financial Agreement between the Government  of Liberia and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) for a Grant and supplementary Loan for a project intended to reduce post conflict poverty and food insecurity and improve the living condition of rural communities. According to the Liberia News Agency, the two instruments were recently submitted to the House of Representatives by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for ratification. The target population of the IFAD grant is the most vulnerable farming households in Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties, Heritage writes.

Related Caption: Lower House Passes Two Financing Legislations(FOCUS), Lower House Passes Two Financing Legislation(INSIGHT)

Chief Justice Assures Modern Court For Bomi

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Cllr. Francis Korkpor, has assured citizens of Bomi of the construction of a modern court house in the county. Chief Justice Korkpor said the new court house is intended to give adequate access and speedy justice to the people of Bomi County, INSIGHT reports.

Related Caption: Chief Justice Assures Modern Court For Bomi(Heritage)

Ellen Donates To Harper Erosion Victims

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has donated a consignment of food and non-food items valued at over L$100, 000 to victims of the recent sea erosion in Harper, Maryland County. The President made the donation recently during her visit to Maryland County where she addressed the first graduation ceremony of the William V.S. Tubman University, Heritage reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Donates To Harper Erosion Victims(INSIGHT)

Grand Kru, Sinoe Set To Host July 26

With barely a month to go before the 167^th Independence Day celebrations in Grand Kru and Sinoe, the two counties are now putting finishing touches on  their various development projects scheduled for  dedication by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Recently, the Minister of Internal Affairs Morris Dukuly revealed to the two counties to ascertain the level of preparations made so far, IN PROFILE DAILY reports.

Related Caption: Grand Kru, Sinoe Counties Set To Host July 26 Celebrations(INSIGHT)

Bomi, Sime Darby Agree Expansion Of Plantation

Superintendent Samuel Brown has disclosed that Sime Darby Company and Bomi County have reached an agreement to allow the company to expand its operations to Senjeh District in the county. Superintendent Brown said all modalities have been concluded and the company has completed the counting of residents’ crops in the district for compensation. Superintendent Brown said he was satisfied with the current operations of the company in Gbar, Klay District, Bomi County, Heritage reports.

Related Caption: Bomi, Sime Darby Agree Expansion Of Plantation(INSIGHT)

AFL Peacekeepers Return Home Today

The Platoon of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), who departed the country for a peacekeeping  mission in the West African State of Mali, will return to Liberia on Thursday, June 26, via the Roberts International Airport(RIA). The return of the first platoon of Liberian peacekeepers is not the end of the AFL peacekeeping mission in Mali, Rather, it brings to an end a year of peacekeeping duty for the first platoon, INSIGHT reports.

Related Caption: AFL Peacekeepers Return Today(Heritage)

Post MDGS Development Agenda Declared

The Joint Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and EU countries, on Wednesday agreed on a joint declaration for a global development agenda for the time after 2015, once the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reach their target date. The post-2015 agenda is a crucial opportunity to finish the job of eradicating poverty and achieve sustainable development for this and future generations, IN PROFILE DAILY reports.

Ghana Bank Trains 30 West African Bankers In Monrovia

A four day International Trade Finance Program for 30 bankers from four West African countries is underway in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. Organized by the Ghana International Bank (GHIB), the training started Monday in Monrovia. In opening remarks, the Chief Executive and Managing Director of GHIB, Joe Mensah, said the program focuses on the recent issues in International Trade Finance, Risk Management, Money Laundering and Fraud as well as practical problem solving, Heritage reports.

GC Challenges Aspirants

The Governance Commission has challenged senatorial aspirants to focus on its decentralization drive proffered for the new national agenda. GC said it will add the decentralization drive to the debate for senatorial aspirants in order for Liberians and the commission to be in the know of every the position of aspirants as it relates to handling the policy upon election. Speaking to participants and various county senatorial aspirants, Mr. Stephen Manley, the Governance Commissions Executive Director, urged participants to reverse the wrings that led to the Liberian Civil Conflict, including an over centralized political system that bred autocracy, corruption, inefficient public services and a marginalized citizenry in the country,  New Dawn reports.

Official Wants Budget For Tubmanburg Youth Center

The Vice Chairman of the Youth Center in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, Isaac Nyakpah, has said that the lack of direct budgetary support to the center is hindering the effective operations. Nyakpah said the country’s youth center is finding it difficult to carry out youth activities due to the lack of funding from the government, Heritage reports.

US Diplomat Urges Liberians To Take Charge Of Economy

The Charge D’Affaires at the US Embassy in Monrovia, Shelia Paskman, has called on youths and university students attending a to d-day Africa Youths Leadership Development Training in Paynesville to see themselves as agents of change in preserving their economy as the betterment of their nation largely depends on them. Speaking at the Thinker’s Village Hotel in Paynesville outside Monrovia, Madam Paskman told a cross session of youths who assembled in their number for the training that the changing minds and attitudes are very reading aspects of improving their country’s economy that will positively affect the lives of all Liberians, the Inquirer newspaper rites, Inquirer reports.

One Doctor To 75,000 People…In River Gee County

The NEWS has gathered that River Gee County Health Team is facing serious logistical and human resource constraints in the discharge of its duties. A reporter of The News who recently returned from the county said he was informed that there is only one medical doctor and few health workers stationed there with a population of about 75,000 people. Moses Payekar jr., a Physician Assistant working at the county’s newly built hospital, disclosed that there are three Physician Assistants based in Fishtown, the NEWS reports.

UNHCR Official Renews Commitment

The latest world population report from the United Natins High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has recorded that at least 50 million people around the world are displaced either as refugee, asylum-seekers or internally displaced. The UNHCR’s annual global trends report was read over the weekend by the Senior Program Officer for the Liberia  Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Jimmy Toe, at a special World Refugees Day program held in Brewerville outside Monrovia on 20 June 2014, to reflect the plights of thousands of refugees in Liberia, especially those coming from neighboring Guinea, Sierra Leone and La Cote d’Ivoire, FOCUS reports.

LNRCS To Deploy 75 Volunteers In Ebola Prevention Push

The Liberia Natinal Red Cross Society (LNRCS) Grand Cape Mount County branch is expected to deploy 75 volunteers trained in the prevention of the deadly Ebola virus in three districts in the county. This was disclosed by the LNRCS Field officer Konah Paul in an interview with the Liberia News Agency (LINA) Grand Cape Mount County correspondent on Monday in Robertsports, INSIGHT reports.

NEC Gets US$15M For 2014

The National Elections Commission or NEC has netted US$15.3 million for the conduct of the October 14, 2014 Special Senatorial Election. The funds are expected to be used for the entire Special Senatorial Election of 2014. In recent times, the NEC has complained about the lack, but on Wednesday, the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Joey Kennedy, confirmed in a telephone conversation that the Liberian Government has finally provided the money for the smooth conduct of the senatorial election. Mr. Kennedy told the New Dawn that though the commitment has been made by the government, the necessary paperwork was still ongoing to its conclusion.  “We have received that commitment from the government to fund the election, and as you maybe beware, the total budget for the election is about US$15.3 million; that money includes all preparations toward the Special Senatorial Election from the beginning to the end of it,” he said.

Corporate Manager Wants Liberians Take Over Economy

An inside story of the Daily Observer newspaper reports that A Liberian corporate manager has said that in order for Liberia as a nation to make significant inroads among the comity of nations, it must first take possession and control its economy. Making the disclosures, Archon R. Clinton, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ARC Investment Incorporated, noted that the business and corporate investment climate of Liberia has over the years solely rested within the domain and purview of foreign entrepreneurs.

Former Liberia Solicitor General Wilkins Wright Appointed To ECOWAS Court

Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright, the former Solicitor General of the Republic of Liberia has been named to the bench of The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Wright’s ascendancy to the reconstituted regional court, suggests that Liberia has finally succumbed to recognizing the regional body it once disputed has having jurisdiction over legal causes decided in Liberia, the New Republic writes.

Lofa Health Official Appeals For Logistics

The Director of the Community Health Department (CHD) of the Lofa County Community Health Team has appealed for logistics to help health workers fight the deadly Ebola virus. Mr. Edmond Eisah said health workers in the county also need more training to prepare them to tackle issues relating to the outbreak of the Ebola disease in Lofa County, INSIGHT reports.

LNRCS, BRCS Rene Partnership

A back page story of the Inquirer daily reads that the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) and the British Red Cross Society (BRACS) have renewed their partnership after two years of withdrawal due to lack of accountability in the operations of the society under previous regime. LNRCS Secretary General, Fayiah Tamba made this statement at a recent press conference in Monrovia. SG Tamba said LNRCS is so contented to have a successful renewal with its British counterpart for the recommitment of support from BRCS.

LCL AIDS Program Trains ‘Per  Educators’ –On  SGBV, HIV Linkage

The Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL) HIV & AIDS program has concluded a week long training for over  forty community-based organizations representatives  across the country on the link between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexual gender-based violence (SGBV). The training, conducted from June 16-20, 2014 in Totota, Bong County, was aimed at training the CBOs’ representatives, most of whom are per educators, to use the newly developed manual in creating awareness among the most-at-risk population on the potential link between HIV and SGBV in the country. Speaking to the Anti-AIDS Media Network in Sinkor, the program’s training officer, James Z. Sloan, said the  prevention of SGBV is one key forgotten area in the country’s national HIV and AIDS response, noting that the time has come for attention, National Chronicle writes.

CARI Receives Ne Goats at Quarantine Park for Local Farmers

The Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko, Bong County, has received a shipment of 160 goats imported from Guinea and Ivory Coast. These goats will be key to improve the genetic resilience of Liberia’s goat stocks. The goats are being housed at the Institute’s quarantine facility for at least three weeks before being distributed to local goat farmers. The goat breed, est African Dwarf, is a hardy breed and resistant to diseases in tropical climates. Introducing it into the national goat herd is important to improve the health of goats in Liberia, the Daily Observer reports.

Humility & Treating People with Respect is a Most Important Leadership Attribute U.S. Charge d’Affaires Paskman Tells Youth Leadership Seminar

United States Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Madam Sheila Paskman, has challenged young people to take on leadership roles in their various institutions and communities. Mrs. Paskman made the statement hen she spoke at the African Youth Development Forum, organized by Transformation International and the UNESCO Center for Peace, Liberia. The two day event, which brought together University Students, Youth Groups and Organizations as held at the Thinkers Village Hotel on the Roberts field highway, Daily Observer reports.

West Point, Slipway Benefit from YMCA Project

The YMCA of Liberia has turned over several toilet facilities and hand pumps to the township of West Point and Slipway in Monrovia.  The project, which as carried out with support from COMIC Relief and Y-CARE International, is in continuation of a three-year project under the title “Young People as Agents of Change Helping to Transform Slum Settlements.” At the official turning over ceremony, the YMCA Liberia Slum Project Coordinator, Vivian Beh, explained that the project aims at strengthening community resilience and to improve living conditions of slum communities,  utilizing the energy and drive of young people as catalysts for change, reports the Inquirer newspaper.