The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013

Today’s dominant stories captured in the papers include the President’s congratulatory message to Angola, adjusted regulations in the police’s restrictions on motorcycles’ plying of Monrovia’s main streets, the National Legislature’s ongoing nationwide oil reforms and Golden Veroleum’s reached deal with some locals.   

DOMINANT STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Angola

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of Angola on the occasion commemorating the 38th Independence Anniversary of that country.  In her message to the Angolan President, His Excellency Mr. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President Sirleaf on behalf of Liberia extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government and People of Angola.  “As the People of Angola commemorate this joyous occasion , I entertain the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation which subsists between our two Countries and Peoples will be  further strengthened”, the President remarked in her message.  She then prayed that as the two countries work together in furtherance of the principles of the Africa Union and the United Nations aimed at promoting international peace, security and cooperation among all nations, the Almighty God will endow President Dos Santos with abundant wisdom and strength as he steers the affairs of his compatriots to greater prosperity, the InProfile, New Dawn, Heritage and others report.

Related Captions:Ellen Congratulates Angola, Renews Commitment To Strengthen Diplomatic Ties(the Heritage),Ellen Congratulates Angola, Renews Commitment To Strengthen Diplomatic Ties( The In Profile Daily)

Motorcyclists Get Relief

The Liberia National Police has announced several adjustments made in the recent restriction placed on motorcyclists from plying main streets in and around Monrovia.  The Police decision followed days of mixed public reactions dominated by opposing views with some alarming difficulties in the transport sector here in the absence of main route motorbike riding.
Appearing on an early morning radio (SK FM) talk show on Monday, Deputy Police Director, Abraham Kromah and Police Spokesman Sam Collins, both informed the public that the main route from the Paynesville Red-light to GSAJunction; Jallah Town route to the former Health Ministry, and Grand Cape Mount County to Bong Mines Bridge were available to motorcyclists.
Making his presentation on the show ahead of Deputy Director Kromah yesterday morning, police spokesman Sam Collins, said the main route beyond the GSA Junction from the Liberia Broadcasting System or LBS Junction in Paynesville of Broad Street, and red-light through Gardnerville to the Freeport of Monrovia are ‘No go zones for the motorcyclists.’
Collins announced that motorcyclists in Central Monrovia will be escorted by the police to a buffer zone they will run traffic and pack their bikes there after knockout before returning to central town. “Those in Central Town will be escorted to buffer zone where they will run traffic; then when they knockout, they will pack their bikes and come to town,” Sam told the radio show yesterday.  But in response to comments, he warned that authorities will deal with any officer caught extorting money from the public, asking residents to take complaints to the Office of Police Director Chris Massaquio for redress.  He finally reechoed that the 10 pm ban earlier placed on motorcyclists in Monrovia remains enforced, urging residents not to ride on the bike at that hour but to call the Police through ‘91’ in case of emergency situations where there are no vehicles, the New Dawn reveals.

Tarjuowon, GVL Sign Social Agreement

The Insight joins other papers in reportingthat Golden Veroleum Liberia and the people of the Tarjuowon Statutory District in Sinoe County have signed a social agreement.  According to a press release, under the agreement, Golden Veroleum Liberia will construct schools, clinics, hand pumps, houses as well as rehabilitate roads, run adult literacy schools and prioritize Tarjuowon citizens for employment opportunities.  Speaking at the program in the Unification City over the weekend, the Secretary General of the Tarjuowon District Development Committee, Wanteh Mayers termed the signing ceremony as a remarkable day in the lives of the Tarjuowon people.  During the signing on Saturday, 9 November 2013, the leaders of the district were represented by various demographic sectors, including Santo Kinston, District Youth President; Mary Nyenpan, District Women’s Leader; Ezekiel Toteh, Tarjuowon University Students Association Vice President; Lasannah Seequah, Chairman of Tarjuowon Monrovia Citizens, Samuel, Chairman, Council of Elders; Annie Pobleh, Chairwoman, Council of Commissioners and District Superintendent Paul Chea.  Golden Veroleum through its Director of Human Resource, Eric Goll, called the move by the Tarjuowon citizens, a bold step to making the lives of their children ten times better than theirs. Goll expressed the company’s commitment to working closely with the county and district leadership.  Sinoe County Superintendent Milton Teahjay, told the gathering that the signing of the social agreement between the citizens and the company has achieved one of his goals.

Related Captions: Tarjuowon Citizens Sign Social Agreement With GVL (In Profile Daily), Tarjuowon Citizens Sign Social Agreement With GVL(New Dawn)

US$1M for Legislative Tour - House Discloses

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has disclosed that the leadership was spending about US$1m for the ongoing tour of the counties to hold consultations with rural Liberians on the Petroleum Laws, as well as their inputs into the bill that would benefit them. The leadership of the House is currently concluding the first leg of the tour intended to gage the opinions of Liberians in the 15 sub political divisions of the country on the newly developed national oil bill sponsored by the National Oil Company of Liberia. Speaking at a news conference on Monday at his Capitol Building office, Grand Bassa County Representative Hans Barchue said the money is being used to facilitate the movement of the Legislative team, which includes some senators and Monrovia-based journalists, the New Dawn newspaper writes.

Related Captions:  About US$1 To Be Spent On Oil Law Discussion ( The Inquirer)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia, Ghana Discuss Land Issues

A delegation from the Land Commission is in Accra, Ghana for seven days to hold discussions with relevant Ghanaian authorities on diverse land matters. The land Commission delegation, while in Ghana will share their experiences on customary lad rights with their Ghanain counterparts and how the land deeds and title registration system in Ghana can be conceptualized to the Liberian deeds registration system. The Liberian delegation includes, Commissioners Lwopu Kandakai, Suzana Vaye, Estelle Liberty, Victor Helb, Director MacArthur Pay-Bayee and Senior Program officer, Stanley Toe, The delegation is headed by the Vice Chairman of the Land Commission, Walter Wisner, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Invest To Save On Domestic Financing For Health

According to the Heritage newspaper, the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the African Development Bank (AfDB) will convene a high-level political meeting on increased domestic funding for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, in Addis Ababa from November 11-12, 2013.  The meeting will advocate for increased innovative domestic resource mobilization following renewed commitments in Abuja by heads of state and governments this year in July, and pledges to support the Global Fund’s fourth replenishment.  The response to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over the last three decades has mobilized unprecedented resources, commitment and action at the national, regional and global levels, a release said.