THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015

Today’s edition of the media summary highlights the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization’s preparedness to take over national security from the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the U.S. Embassy in Liberia pronouncement on the resumption of medical examination for Visa applicants.  

DOMINANT STORIES

BIN Urged To Be Accountable, Transparent – In Readiness For UNMIL’s Departure

The Deputy Justice Minister for Administration and Public Affairs, Madam Wheatonia Dixon Barnes, last Friday admonished that as Liberia prepares to take over national security from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), security institutions should critically look at accountability and transparency if they are seriously assessing their agenda for the transition. “Self-assessment of every security institution should take into consideration transparency and accountability, promotion of good governance, human rights and respect for rule of law”, Cllr. Barnes declared.  Earlier, BIN Commission Col. Lemuel E.A. Reeves told his officers that “a few months from now UNMIL will leave our country and security will be in our hands and those of other national security actors. We must be able to take up the mantle to perform as credibly as the Liberian people deserve”, Daily Observer reports.

Related Captions: BIN Gears Up For UNMIL Departure…Brainstorms On Strategies, Others(The News), Justice Minister Urges BIN To Promote Good Government(In Profile Daily), BIN Conducts Internal Assessment(The Inquirer), BIN Gears Up For UNMIL Drawdown(New Democrat), Justice Minister Urges BIN To Promote Good Government(Heritage)

US Embassy Resumes Medical Examination For Visa Applicants

The Daily Observer reports that the United States Embassy near Monrovia has announced the resumption of the process, beginning today, February 16.   Visa activities were suspended in Liberia and transferred to Ghana because of the exacerbating Ebola epidemic that affected the country since last year. A medical examination completed by an approved panel of physicians is a requirement for all immigrant and diversity visa applications, a U.S. Embassy release states.  

Related Captions: U.S. Embassy Resumes Medical Exam For Immigrant & Diversity Visas (The New Dawn), U.S. Embassy Resumes Examinations…For Immigrant And Diversity Visas(The News), U.S. Embassy Resumes Visas Processing(In Profile Daily), U.S. Embassy To Resume Medical Examinations For DV, Other Applicants (The Inquirer)

OTHER STORIES

Eradicating Ebola In 60 Days – MRU Countries Adopt Vigorous Approach To end Viral Infection

With Ebola on the decline in the three Mano River Union Countries-leaders from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have adopted a vigorous approach aimed at getting rid of the viral infection within the next 60 days. The three leaders Professor Alpha Conde of Guinea, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone joined by Minister Charles Koffi DIBY representing H.E. Alassane Quattara, President of Ivory Coast following a meeting on February 15 adopted common strategies to end the Ebola virus Disease epidemic in the sub region and also address post Ebola socio-economic development recovery needs. According to a dispatch from the MRU, the February 15 meeting was agreed following a one day working visit on February 10 to Liberia by President Conde to discuss regional efforts to combat the EVD, FrontPage Africa reports.

Several Kenyan Doctors Honored Here

Several Kenyan Doctors under the mission of the African Union support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) have been honored here. AUSEOWA is a support initiated by the African Union Commission (AUC) aimed at contribution to on-going efforts at addressing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. The Kenyan medical team, which comprises of 92 health workers, was honored by the “K-33” or “The Kabeteans” recently in Virginia, Brewerville City, outside Monrovia for their excellent contributions towards the health sector of the country (Liberia). Speaking at the program, a member of the K-33, Mr. Milton Varmah, who gave a historical overview of the organization, explained that the “K-33” is a group of 33 students of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) that went to Kenya and obtained master’s degree at the University of Nairobi, Heritage reports.

‘This Is The Time To Build’ – SRSG Landgren Says Ahead Of Liberia’s Twin Challenges

SRSG Karin Landgren says now is the time for the Liberian people to strengthen their national institutions to enable them handle efficiently the twin challenges that face the nation. She indentified the twin challenges as the consummation and implementation of the post-Ebola recovery plan now in process and the charge of national security following the drawdown of UNMIL in 15 months. The UNMIL boss’ advice was contained in remarks she delivered at a meeting with media managers of Friday, February 13, 2015, in Monrovia “But just what are the institutions that need beefing up and what are the lessons learnt from the Ebola crisis that can serve as useful tools for addressing the pending national challenges?” is the question many are asking. Describing the year 2014 as “tough year for Liberia”, she noted that throughout the year, the deadly Ebola epidemic terrified the population and left many vital institutions and borders closed, the Analyst reports.

U.S. Defense Department Donates To 37 Kids In Buchanan

The U.S. Department of Defense Program on HIV Prevention in collaboration with the Medical Unit of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has distributed school kits to Ebola and HIV orphans as well as vulnerable children in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County. The Program Manager at the American Embassy in Monrovia, Muna Sankko, said the package was given to 37 children who were identified by personnel of the AFL as they are about to go back to school. Sanko also disclosed that items distributed include school bags, foot wears, copy books, pencils and crayon worth over US$2, 000, noting that Liberia has benefited from this program since 2008, Heritage reports.

President Pledges Support To Technical And Vocational Education

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reiterated her commitment to making technical and vocational education for young people a national priority alongside the improvement of the health system in post-Ebola Liberia. The President referred to the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) and the Monrovia Vocational Training Center as two institutions that should be given the needed push in order to absorb young people in need of technical skills. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader gave the assurance on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 when the president of the BWI Alumni Association, Mr. Jonnathan Paye-Layleh, paid her a visit to talk about the institute. President Sirleaf said the expansion of the facilities at BWI was a matter of necessity so that the institute is able to accommodate more students for training and prepare them for the job market. “Once BWI has been put in a position to train middle level technicians on a large scale”, the Liberian President said, the institute could begin to introduce associate degree programs in various disciplines in preparation for assuming a full college status, New Democrat reports.

Related Caption: Ellen Meets With BWI Alumni President(The News)

US$500,000 For Ebola Orphans

Young people across the globe are raising US$500,000 for children made orphans in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as a result of the Ebola outbreak, Gwendolyn Myers, a member of the Global shapers has disclosed. Global Shapers is a association of 4,000 young people representing 40 cities worldwide. She said the decision to raise the money was reached at a meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, last August when the virus was on the rise in Liberia, the NEWSnewspaper writes.

Liberia Launches Investment Consultancy Firm

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has launched a premier Liberian-owned Investment Consultancy and Advisory firm here, headed by former Grand Kru County Senator, Clatus Wortorson and several retired senior government officials and professionals. The firm named ‘Liberian Investment Consultancy and Advisory Associates Incorporated’ is a combination of professionals from diverse fields, including the oil and gas sectors, legal and political fields, among others, with a vision to provide consultancy to businesses and investors in the country, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

995 Ebola Survivors Receive US$ 200 Each

Authorities at the Liberia National Red Cross (LNRC) have disclosed that about 995 Ebola survivors in Monrovia have received cash benefit from the ELWA Centers Two and Three treatment units. The Red Cross detailed that the 995 survivors were patients, who were tested and confirmed positive of the virus. According to the LNRC, each of the survivors received US$200 to augment their daily sustenance in their respective homes and communities. Speaking over the weekend at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s daily press briefings, the Secretary General for the Liberia National Red Cross Society, Fayiah Tamba, said the decision to give out the cash to survivors is to buttress government’s effort in eradicating Ebola from the country, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Students Back To School Today

The New Republicnewspaper writes that students in Liberia return to class today following a protracted closure of schools as a result of the affliction of the Ebola virus that struck the nation last March.

Related Caption: Schools Reopen Today(Daily Observer)

MOE: No Graduation Before WAEC Exams Results

There will be no graduation exercises for 12^th graders prior to the release of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results, Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Hawah Goll-Kotchi, has said. She said the ministry’s decision is to ensure that those graduating from high school must have passed the WAEC exams before giving them clearance to graduate.  Meanwhile, she has disclosed that any 9^th grader failing the WAEC exams will not be promoted to the 10^th grade, Heritage writes.