The Bureau of Public Affairs   

   Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MAY 28, 2019

Today’s News Summary captures news about a resounding call by Liberia’s Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley for Liberians to keep the peace as the AU commemorates 56th Africa Day, News about President Weah impending nationwide address on Wednesday as well as MICAT suspension of the much publicized 2019-2020 Miss Liberia Organizing Committee and UBA celebration of Africa Day.

Other stories highlighted in the summary include news include CDC Launching of it Campaign Rally June 8 ahead of the Montserrado County Senatorial and Representative Bye-elections and the PPCC and UNDP two-day capacity building workshop for procuring entities among others.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberians Urged To Keep The Peace, Foreign Minister Findley calls 

Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gbehzohngar Milton Findley has underscored the urgent need for Liberians to acknowledge events of the past when the country was at war and strive never to revert to the ugly past. Minister Findley made the call on Saturday, May 25th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at programs marking the 56th anniversary celebration of the African Day. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Africa Day, formerly known as Africa Liberation Day, has been celebrated annually on May 25, to mark the determination of the people of Africa to liberate the continent from foreign domination and exploitation as well as the signing of the Charter establishing the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963. Speaking at the colorful ceremony which took place in the C. Cecil Dennis Jr Auditorium of the Foreign Ministry, Minister Findley noted that the violence of war is opposed to the essence of the African Day celebration; as such Liberians must unify themselves as one Liberia and one Africa. “We must never forget that our struggle for peace during our dark days was always both national and Pan-Africa” he stressed. The Dean of the Liberian cabinet emphasized the importance of working together as Africans to ensure that African citizens live freely, happily and productive. The Liberian Foreign Minister stressed that the African Day celebration invokes the legacy of freedom, a legacy he noted must be protected, cherished and passed on to the future generations. “This is the time for unity as division may take us back to the past of violent conflict which no one among us can afford” Minister Findley noted. Minister Findley on behalf of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah reaffirms Liberia’s commitment to work with other Africans in the region and the rest of the continent to promote the achievement of the goal of African Unity. For his part, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat said Africa is still confronted with many hurdles that need to be overcome before the continent’s independence and unity fully blossom. Ambassador Mahamat highlighted peace, free access to quality and universal education, democratic governance as well as remunerative job as some imperative issues that must be addressed with urgency. The AU head of Mission also called on all member states to safeguard the principles enshrined in the 1969 convention on the specific aspects of African refugees, including the principles of non-refoulement and burden sharing. This year African Day celebration was held under the theme;”Year of Refugees, Returnees and IPDs: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa. The official Celebration of the African Day began with the hosting of the flags in the early morning hours of Saturday May 25th and subsequently followed by a dinner at the C. Cecil Dennis Jr. Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was attended by a host of Ambassadors accredited near Monrovia, NewNews newspaper writes.

Related caption: Liberians Asks To Reflect on the Past (the INQUIRER)

UBA-Liberia Celebrates African Day

The INQUIRER newspaper reports that the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Liberia joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s Africa Day, reiterating its long-held belief that the future belongs to the continent. According to a statement released by the UBA, Africa Day is an annual event commemorating the birth of the African Union on May 25^th, 1963. It is dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the African continent and to highlight the cultural and economic potential that exist on the continent. The celebration which went on concurrently across all of its subsidiaries in Africa as well as in London, Paris and New York had the underlying theme “Healthy Lifestyle Prolongs Life”

Related Caption: UBA-Liberia Celebrates Africa Day In Grand Style (The News Newspaper) Related Caption: UBA Liberia Celebrates Africa Day:(Daily OBERVER)

Other Stories  

President Weah Addresses Nation On Wednesday 

The NewNews newspaper is reporting that President George Maneh Weah will address the nation Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 12:00 noon, an Executive Mansion release has disclosed. According to the release, the President’s address is expected to speak on prevailing national developments, including the state of the economy and the recent report submitted to his office by the General Auditing Commission on the US$25m Mop-up excess. Sources also said it is possible that the Liberian Chief Executive might speak on the planned June 7 protest. Tomorrow’s address will be the president’s first since his state of the nation’s address at the Legislature on January 28, 2019.

MICAT Announces Suspension of Miss Liberia 2019-2020

The Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has announced the immediate suspension of the much talked about Miss Liberia 2019 Organizing Committee and all preparatory activities leading to the hosting of the event. According to a MICAT release, Minister Nagbe indicated that promotional materials for the pageant bearing photographs of President George M, Weah were neither authorized by the president nor approved by MICAT. He therefore called on the general public to totally disregard the all publications of promotional materials, particularly those bearing the photograph of President Weah.

CDC Launches Campaign Rally June 8

The INQUIRERnewspaper is reporting that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) will officially launch its campaign rally for the pending Montserrado County Senatorial and Representative Bye-elections on June 8, 2019, a day after the much talked about June 7, planned protest kickoff in Monrovia and its environs. Making the disclosure on Monday, May 27, 2019, at the CDC, Mulbah Morlu explained that the decision to launch on June 8, 2019, at the slipway sports pitch is approved by the National Elections Commissions (NEC). Chairman Morlu has called on partisans to stay home on June 7, 2019, a day chosen by the would-be protestors to lockdown Monrovia and its surroundings. He said the CDC won 2017 Presidential and Legislative elections because the party was tolerant- admonishing partisans to keep the peace and stability by avoiding conflict-prone zones. Meanwhile, according to the CDC national Chairman, “activities for CDC are approved by NEC, we will start campaigning on June 4. And lunch on June 8 and will officially closed our campaign rally on June 29, 2019 to get ready for the bye-elections on July 2, 2019, Morlu told a news conference.

PPCC Begins Capacity Building W/shop

The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programmer (UNDP) has commenced a two-day capacity building workshop for procuring entities. The weeklong event which got underway Monday, May 27, 2019 at the Monrovia City Hall is expected to climax next week Tuesday, June 4, 2019. According to the organizers, the intent of the workshop is to enhance good governance through transparency, efficiency, and value for money in public procurement. Speaking at the opening program, the Chief Executive Officer of PPCC, Atty. Jargbe Roseline Nagbe Kowo said the workshop is about developing all procurement entities for the implementation of the Pro-Poor agenda and promoting the rules of procurement as a government.

According to her, the training will also promote the pro-poor agenda by ensuring that procurement rules are followed in every sector of the country. For his part, the Resident Representative of UNDP Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai said over the year, UNDP has invested over US$1 million in the area of Procurement for the Liberian Government to have professional procurement institution in the country.According to him, more than 500 professional procurement personnel have been trained toward improving the procurement processes at government institutions. Dr. Beyai thanked the Government of Liberia and PPCC boss for the vision to organize the training for procurement personnel. The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission on May 27, 2019, began a six-day procurement compliance workshop to convey the importance of adherence to the PPCA by public officials and procuring entities. Categories of officials attending the workshop include heads of procurement committees of ministries, agencies & autonomous commissions, state owned enterprises, assistant ministers for administration and procurement directors, the NewNews newspaper writes.

Sea Erosion Threatens Fanti Town in Buchanan.

Sea erosion still threatens residents of Liberia’s second largest county, Grand Bassa; as several homes along the banks of the Atlantic Ocean in Fati Town are being wiped away on a daily basis especially as the rainy season approaches and the tide rises. Fishermen are the worst victims besides residents whose lives are threatened due to the damage done to their canoes when the sea waves evade their communities, According to the INQUIRER newspaper.

Seventeen Rioters Arrested in Cape Mount

The Grand Cape Mount County Police over the weekend arrested and remanded in custody 17 rioters following their alleged involvement in Kinjor Town, Tennieh Township in Gola-Konneh Electoral District #2. The Perpetrators, who are expected to be arranged before court anytime this week, are accused of instigating the violence which resulted in the flogging of a pregnant woman now on admission at the Sinje Health Center, while an immigration officer also suffered from a broken hand during the melee. According to the INQUIRER newspaper, several innocent persons were wounded while private and public properties were damaged in the process as residents of Kinjor Town and its surrounding fled into the bushes for safety. The accused are said to have thrown stones and other missiles at the audience who turned out during the induction ceremony of Adama Haine in Kinjor Town, Tienneh Township. Haine was elected by over 36 elders and chiefs of Kinjhor Town to serve as Town Chief, but that seems not to have gone down well with others who might have taken laws into their own hands.

 ‘Impacting Lives’

President Dr. George Manneh Weah seems to be leaving no stone unturned in his quest to change the lives of Liberians especially those down the ladder. Since the president took over the mantle of leadership of the country, he has embarked on several developmental activities across the country that have direct impact on the people, whose lives he promised during the electoral process to change. The president has re-roofed houses in Gibraltar, a slump community in Clara Town, Monrovia, where he once lived. He has also built road in Doe Community, which has created easy access to the community and is as well paving dozens of community roads across the country. The Liberian leader has also embarked on the construction of housing units around the country, beginning in Grand Kru County where 157 of the more than 200 housing units are expected to be built for the poor. The president has begun renovating and building markets for marketers in Monrovia and its environs. He recently broke ground for the construction of a modern market in Omega Village, Paynesville, with construction work in full swing. Not satisfied with the condition under which marketers are selling in the Duport Road Market, the president has decided to build a brand new market for them. According to the NewDawn, the marketers, who describe the president as “George Blessing Weah said they never thought that he could have chosen to give them a better market building. They said for decades, they have been selling under inhumane condition, without past government doing anything to change their condition. The marketers praised the president for keeping his promises he made to them prior to his election as president. The jubilant marketers said the ‘Blessing’ name given to the president by them is not for nothing, because he is truly a blessed child who loves his people and country, evident by the numerous development activities he has and continues to undertake since his ascendancy. The NewNews newspaper asserts that the Market Superintendent of Duport Road Market recalled that the president visited them in 2017 and promised to unconditionally recondition their market. Superintendent Martha Gborzeo said the gesture of the President will not go unnoticed, adding that there is a planned appreciation program for him. “My market women and I are feeling very happy; we are the happiest among other women in Duport Road for our son coming to our aid; he promised us and he came back, now this is our market he has transformed from old to new market; God will richly bless him,” she said.

DEA Commander Seeks Amendment….Drugs Law

The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Bong County detachment has underscored the need for members of the 54th Legislature to amend the drugs law of the country, something he said is a paramount concern. The NewNews newspaper is reporting that Commander Alex Toweh said if the drugs Law of Liberia is amended, it will help to curtail the high increase of drug trafficking in the country. Mr. Toweh said drug trafficking in Liberia is on the increase because the law is billable, adding that when the law is amended and becomes non-billable, it will serve as a total deterrence for would be drug traffickers. The LDEA Commander further said because the drug law is billable, community dwellers are often causing them to allow drug users to be set free due to what they call bill. Toweh said drug users who the LDEA often arrest are always charged and sent to court, because they don’t have the prosecuting power, adding that their coming back in the community lies in the hands of the court. Commander Toweh said the LDEA remains committed to ensuring that necessary things are put into place in other to curtail drug trafficking, but not to collect medicines or money from people who are legally serving the country. “It will be appropriate for our lawmakers to amend the drugs law, because I strongly believe when that is done, those who see drugs business to be the only market will deist because they will be brought to justice,’ he maintained.

“Make The Gov’t, Nation Proud”…Amb Bundoo Tells Protocol Officers

A two-day protocol training course for over 125 protocol officers has ended with the Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Finda Nora Bundoo encouraging protocol officers to use the lesson learned to make the government and the Liberian nation proud in the discharge of their respective duties in the country. Amb. Bundoo made the statement over the weekend in Paynesville City near the Capital, when she addressed the closing ceremony of a two-day protocol training that bought over 125 participants together from the three branches of the Liberian government.  Amb. Bundoo said the government, through the office of the office of President Weah is interested in building the capacity of protocol officers in the three branches of government, the Legislature, Executive, and the Judiciaryas such, the just ended protocol training was the beginning of several training opportunities that would be organized by President Weah and the Government, the NewNews newspaper says. 

Court reserves decision on Milton Weeks

The New Dawn Newspaper reports that Criminal Court “C” judge Peter W. Gbenewelleh  reserves ruling into prosecution’s efforts to uproot from the trail, lawyers defending indicted formal Central  Bank of Liberia CBL) Executive  Governor Milton Weeks  and to disqualify a bail bond filed for his release by an official heading a state –owned corporation . Deputy Director for Internal Audit in relation to their alleged roles in Liberia’s LRD$16 billion scandal.

YANA BOY ASSOCIATION OF LIBERIA FROWNS ON JUNE 7 PROTEST

Streets Peddlers in Liberia under the banner Yana Boys Association of Liberia”, have frowned on the plan June 7 Protest and are warning members against participating in the demonstration. In a press conference held in Monrovia Monday, the Yana boys’ through their President Prince Kollie expressed fear that the pending June 7 protest might likely create troubles for Liberia and plunge Liberians into hardship, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.