THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015

Today's dominant stories on the newsstand include, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's State of the Nation Address, the turning over of Ma Juah Market, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai's donations of sets of  computers to several schools and the setting up of Land Disputes Center  in Monsterrado by the Land Commission.

Dominant Stories

Ellen Addresses Legislature Today

The  New Dawn newspaper reports that in fulfillment of constitutional duty, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to deliver her 8th Annual Message before the Liberian Legislature today, Monday, January 26, 2015, the fourth working Monday in the New Year. Article 58 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia states: "The President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration's legislative program for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic. In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditures as well as income". House Speaker Alex Tyler, is expected to preside during the Annual Message, which will also be observed by both the president and presiding officer of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and Senator H. Dan Morais; the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and members of the Diplomatic Corps, among other VIPs. Executive Mansion sources have hinted that President Sirleaf's address is expected to be heavily concentrated on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in March last year that took away over 8,000 lives; the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election, reconstruction of the Mount Coffee Hydro in White Plain that is expected to provide electricity for the entire country, and economic challenges and prospects, amongst others. The President is also expected to galvanize hope among Liberians and point a way forward in improving the Liberian economy following devastation caused by the Ebola Virus. Meanwhile, members of the Liberian Senate will, for the first time in recent history, attend the Annual Message without a President Pro-Tempore. The senators have failed to conduct election for a Pro-Tempore since they were certificated by the National Elections Commission as winners of the 20 December poll.

 Related Captions:Ellen Delivers Annual Message Today(The Inquirer), Ellen Delivers Annual Message(New Dawn), and Ellen Delivers 10th State Of Nation Address Today(Daily Observer)

Pres. Sirleaf Officially Turns Over Ma Juah Market

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has officially turned over to the leadership of the Old Ma Juah Market, the newly renovated premises that previously hosted the Liberia Tractor Company (LIBTRACO). Ma Juah marketers temporarily used a spot in Vai Town near the Gabriel Tucker Bridge that connects Monrovia to Bushrod Island. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader admitted that it took a long time to secure a new, secure and long term site but was delighted that this is finally resolved. "For close to eight years we had problem finding that would be really suitable to accommodate the large number of people and to give them a place where they could do their marketing with some comfort, space and facilities including water, latrines," she said, adding, "We had to make sure when we move the marketers, we move them into a better place," President Sirleaf said. President Sirleaf thanked owners of the property for allowing them to rent the premises on a long term basis. In separate remarks earlier, the Monrovia city mayor, Mrs. Clara Doe Mvogo, president of the Liberia Marketing Association, Mrs. Lusu Sloan, and the supervisor of the Ma Juah Market, Dad Sumo Wonkulah thanked President Sirleaf for the sponsoring the initiative and were very appreciative of the new premises. They said that it had been eight years in the making but was happy that it finally became a reality. The building was turned over to President Sirleaf by the head of finance and administration of the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Company, Albert Saingbe, reports New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions:Ellen Fulfills Promise To Ma Juah Marketers(Informer), Pres. Sirleaf Official Turns Over Ma Juah Market(New Dawn), and New Ma Juah Market Dedicated(Daily Observer)

VP Boakai Donates Computers to Schools, Institutions

Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has made a donation of nearly two hundred computers to several educational institutions in the country and at the same time shipped two forty foot containers of Tuna Fish to the Governments and People of Sierra Leone and Guinea to beef up the fight against the deadly Ebola virus that has plagued the Mano River basin since March of 2014. In making the donations Friday, Vice President Boakai gave fifteen pieces of Samsung computers to Sanniequellie High School in Nimba County, ten pieces to Bopolu Central High School in Gbarpolu County, ten pieces to Bomi Youth Center in Bomi County, fifteen pieces to Gboveh High in Bong County. He also donated twenty pieces to Paynesville Community High School in Montserrado County and twenty pieces of computer to the Foya Central High School in Lofa County, the Informer newspapers reports.

Related Captions:VP Boakai Gives To Schools (New Democrat), and Boakai Donates Computers To Several Schools (Daily Observer)

Land Commission Sets Up Dispute Center for Montserrado

The Land Commission (LC) has established a Land Coordination Center (LCC) in Upper Caldwell to handle land disputes through formal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Montserrado County. The center will also pilot formal ADR approaches that deal with land cases originating from deeds and diagrams. Speaking at the launch program Friday, Land Commission Chairman Cecil Brandy said the project forms part of government's efforts to strengthen the settlement of land cases out of court. "We want most land cases to be solved without the use of violence, and as such, we are urging citizens of Montserrado to make use of this center," Brandy said. Funding for the LCC project was provided by the Land Commission and the United Nations Peace Building Fund (UN-PBF) through the United Nations Office for Human Settlements (UN HABITAT). After the consultations, five counties - Bong, Maryland, Margibi, Nimba and Lofa - were observed to be hotspots of land disputes and chosen for the Traditional Alternative Disputes Resolution method that deals with land disputes where deeds and diagrams do not exist to back legal claims. Prior to the establishment of the center, the Land Commission undertook nationwide consultations in 2010 on land disputes, writes the Heritage newspaper.

Related Captions: UN Warns Against Selling Disputed Land (The Reporter) and UN Official Warns Against Selling Disputed Lands(Heritage)

 Other Stories

Ellen Extends Condolence To The Government and People of Saudi Arabia

The Informer newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry's release: The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the Government and People of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the sad news of the death of King Abdudllah bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Former King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the message to His Excellency, His Highness King Salman bin Abdulaziz, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President Johnson Sirleaf extended heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of Saudi Arabia, especially the royal family for the irreparable loss sustained, on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name. The Liberian leader furthered that King Abdullah will be remembered as a reformer and for the immense progress achieved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during his reign. A Foreign Ministry release says President Johnson Sirleaf expressed hope and prayed that the Almighty Allah, the Merciful and Magnificent will grant His Highness King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, courage and fortitude as they go through this difficult period of national mourning.

Nimba Youth Volunteers Give County Face-Lift

About 150 youth volunteers under the banner of the Sanniquellie Youth Association (SYA) have embarked on clean-up exercise of government property in Nimba County. The property include administrative buildings, school campuses and principal streets of Sanniquellie. SYA President William Mandinn told the Liberia News Agency Friday that the initiative was organized in conjunction with the municipal council of the county's political capital and with support from prominent Nimbians at home and abroad. The youth volunteers comprised students and youth representatives who came from diverse youth groups, private and public institutions in Sanniquellie and its environs. Mandinn said the motive of the initiative is to ensure that the county political seat is clean and beautified before the resumption of school in February. During the height of the Ebola crisis in the county, public facilities such as schools, clinics and market places were abandoned, giving major parts of cities in the county, especially Sanniquellie, an unusual look. He disclosed that the cleanup campaign is targeting 30 communities in Nimba, and is expected to extend to the six major cities across the county, pens Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption:Nimba Youth Give County Face - Lift (Informer)

VP Boakai Presents Fish To Guinea, Sierra Leone

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has donated two 40 foot  containers of tuna fish to the Governments and Peoples of Sierra Leone and Guinea on behalf of the Government Liberia. A release from the office of the Vice President said, Friday's gift is intended to beef up the fight against the Ebola virus that has plagued the Mano River basin since March of 2014. Vice President Boakai said, "it was important to identify with our closest neighbors in this time of great need". Meanwhile, a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Freetown has confirmed one of the containers with 1,338 cases of the fish was received by the Government of Sierra Leone through its national operations coordinator at the National Ebola Response Centre of Sierra Leone, reports the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption: Two Forty Foot Containers of Tuna Fish Donated to Sierra Leone and Guinea(Informer)

ARCH Launches Accelerated Program for over-aged Children

Winrock-Action to Reduce Child Labor (ARCH) Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has launched the Accelerated Learning Program for over-aged school going children in Goba Town, Todee District, and Montserrado County. The Project Director, James Yekeh said his organization objective is focused on curtailing all forms of child abuse and supporting especially children vulnerable to child labor in the rubber belt counties namely; Nimba, Montserrado and Margibi.  The program also includes a five day capacity building forum for teachers. According to the Liberia News Agency, Mr. Yekeh explained that under the Winrock-Action to Reduce Child Labor project, they intends to identify and support children engaged in the worst form of child labor, says the Informer newspaper.

Senate To Amend Rules In One Month

According to the Informer newspaper, the Liberia Senate has endorsed a recommendation from Nimba County Senator Thomas Grupee calling for amendment of several of its rules. In his letter to plenary, date January 21, Grupee indicated that under Article 47 of the Liberian Constitution and the Senate Rules 19 and 14, there is no provision calling for mid-term election of Pro-temp and Statutory Committees' Chairpersons, but rather their replacement in case of death, expulsion or removal. Article 47 of the Liberian Constitution calls for the election of body's Pro-tempore once every six years and removal from office for cause by resolution of a two-thirds majority of the membership, while Rule 19 calls for election in case the Pro-temp is removed within 30 working days. The Senators agreed to amend the rules in one month, with the Presiding Officer Vice President Joseph Boakai setting up an Ad-hoc Committee to oversee the process.

Related Captions:Senate To Amend Rules In One Month (Heritage), and Senate To Amend Rules (The Reporter)