THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

News of Liberia’s pronouncement of an increment in the price of the ordinary Liberian passport beginning May this year, President Johnson Sirleaf’s quest for constitutional change, Liberian Government’s revelation of no new Ebola case since March 20^th and the call by Liberia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium for Liberians in the diaspora to get involve with the reconstruction of the country are stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberian Passport to cost US$50 by May

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced an increase in the price of the ordinary Liberian passport beginning May this year. According to the Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, Boakai Kanneh, the new biometric passport will cost US$50, replacing the current manual one which costs US$23. Making the disclosureMonday at the Ministry of Information daily press briefing at the ministry, Kanneh indicated that the new measure is part of the ongoing transformation at the ministry’s Bureau of Passport and Visa to enhance service and conform to international standards. Kanneh noted that as part of the Ministry’s transformation agenda, the new bio-metric passport will be issued to applicants free of problems within five working days. He said the Ministry has opened centers for the issuance of bio-metric passports in Washington D.C., New York and Belgium. The Deputy Foreign Minister disclosed that additional centers will be opened in Accra, Ghana, Abuja, Nigeria and other countries as well as introducing a mobile service delivery system.

Related Captions: Gov’t To Increase Passport Fee ((Daily Observer), Passport Fee Goes Up  (FrontPage Africa),Passport Fee Up To US$50.00 (The New Dawn), Passport Fee Increased To US$50 (In Profile Daily)

‘Our Present Age Demands Constitutional Change’ -Prez Sirleaf Urges Delegates at National Constitution Conference

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday reminded delegates at the ongoing National Constitution Conference in Gbarnga, Bong County that the 1986 constitution was designed on what she described as the “traditional approach,” with certain portions now needing to be changed to include the participation of every Liberian citizen. She said the past and the present constitution were made to only suit those that were holding leadership positions, making specific reference to the presidency. According to her, the constitution change should embrace a participatory approach to prevent any notion of any presidential manipulation for their selfish reason that did not happen with the past constitution. She made the assertion when she addressed the opening of a four-day National Constitution Review Conference.  She said the new constitutionalism is transparent and a collaborative forum that provides a task to educate and inform people on proposed changes, and also gather and process their feedback to be incorporated into the final draft for amendment.  The process, which she said, was the first time in the country, would enable all Liberians to discuss about how to change some of the powers of the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary and other rights like the 50 percent women’s participation. The program which was intended to validate over 50,000 views made during the nationwide constitutional forum, was organized by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC). It has brought together heads of the three branches of government, the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. Others include, women, youth and student groups, as well as civil society, political parties disabled community, diplomats and development partners, among others, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Nat’l Conference Key To Decentralization Says Pres. Sirleaf; Urges Actors To Be Keen At View (The Analyst), “No Manipulation In Reform Process”…Pres. Sirleaf Says (The News), Major Changes Expected As Liberians Meet To Review Constitution New Democrat), As Citizens Seek Changes: Gbarnga Debate Intensifies (The New Dawn),Liberians Want Changes In Tenures Of Elected Officials-Scott (INSIGHT)

‘No Confirmed Case’: Liberia Slates Reports On Ebola Return

The Head of the Incident Management System (IMS), the command center responsible to oversee Liberia’s Ebola response, has clarified that contrary to several reports on social media, including Facebook and other sources, Liberia has no other confirmed Ebola case apart from a lady who tested positive for the virus but died last weekend. “Since the 20th, we have one confirmed case. Unfortunately, the case has since died,” he said Monday. “No other confirmed cases since then as of this morning (March 30). I am not saying it will not be (a case) if it is tested positive. But the cases are being followed up, nobody is sick yet”. Nyenswah disclosed that out of 211 contacts that were being monitored by the Ministry of Health team, 26 contacts have been cleared while 185 contacts are still under surveillance. “We still are intensifying our normal contact tracing. We are investigating to see whether or not the people should remain on the contact list or it is fair enough to release them,” he said. Nyenswah, who is also the Assistant Health Minister, reiterated warnings to Ebola survivors to abstain from sex for 90 or more days or observe safe sex practices by use of condoms. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Assistant Health Minister Nyenswah spoke at regular press briefing of the Information Ministry press conference that sexually active Ebola survivors should abstain from sex or observe safe sex practices through correct and consistent use of condoms in order to stop the transmission of the disease.

Related Captions: Liberians Begin Second Countdown To Becoming Ebola-Free (The Analyst), 2^nd Countdown To Ebola-Free Nation Commences (INSIGHT), Govt. Reports No New Case (The New Dawn)

Ambassador Nyenabo Challenges Diaspora Liberians

Liberia's Ambassador designate to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and the European Union, Ambassador Isaac W. Nyenabo, II has challenged Liberians in the Diaspora, especially those in the Benelux Zone to join the massive  development and reconstruction taking place in their country. Ambassador Nyenabo told members of the Liberian Community residing in the region who had gathered to welcome him as their Ambassador, that since the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the country has transformed in many areas, thus promoting development and infrastructure boost in the country. Ambassador Nyenabo said since 2005 to date, the country has seen massive improvements and huge development in the areas of roads reconstruction, both rural and urban roads, the construction of schools and the rehabilitation of old ones across the country, the construction of health centers and hospitals in nearly all parts of the country and massive housing development in both the private and public sectors. He called on Liberians in the Benelux to be good ambassadors of their country and people by remaining law abiding and taking advantage of the many opportunities available to them by their host countries, as Liberia will one day need their expertise and professional skills. The President of the United Liberians Association in Belgium, ULAB, Kingston Wleh who hosted the program, welcomed Ambassador Nyenabo on behalf of his colleagues and pledged their support and cooperation in working with him as their Chief of Mission and their country's representative to the Benelux countries, the Daily Observer reports.

Related Captions: Ambassador Nyenabo Challenges Diaspora Liberians (The Inquirer), Ambassador Nyenabo Challenges Diaspora Liberians To Join Reconstruction Process (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

US$1.7M Fisheries Project Resumes In Robertsport

According to the Daily Observer, the World Bank’s US$ 1.7 million Robertsport fisheries cluster project has resumed after it was scaled down at its location in Fanti Town community due to the deadly Ebola virus disease. The project started March 20 and according to Consultant Gabriel Kwame Adams of Top International and Phoenicia Architecture Construction Company, it is intended to add “more value to fishing activities in Fanti Town,” the biggest fishing community in Robertsport City. He said the project, when completed, will have spaces for fresh fish handling, cold storage, dry fish market, a community fisheries center, a fisherman changing building, a clinic  and  day care, and a fish smoking site, among others. He praised Fanti Town residents for their cooperation and active engagement in the project, adding, “they are enthusiastic to see the project completed by the end of the year”. The completion of the project, he noted, will create job opportunities for the citizens of his county and will improve their living conditions. The Robertsport Fisheries Cluster is a World Bank funded project through the West Africa Regional Fisheries project (WARFP).

Petroleum Market To Be Decentralized -LPRC Management

The Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), T. Nelson Williams, has said his administration will decentralize the petroleum market in all 15 counties. Mr. Williams gave the assurance recently in Monrovia at a program held in his honor by the Petroleum Importers Association of Liberia (PIAL).  According to him, decentralization of the petroleum market in the country will lead to adequate supply of products to all 15 counties in order to reduce prices and keep them stable. Taking a cue from the maxim that Monrovia alone is not Liberia, Mr. Williams said decentralization will lessen the burden on leeward customers in the price of the commodity and is one of the major initiatives that he is prioritizing. Mr. Williams said that the number of Liberian petroleum importers has increased by 35 percent since 2010, writes the Daily Observer.

EU Fund Monrovia, Ganta Road Project

On Tuesday 24 March 2015, the Ambassador of the European Union, Ms. Tiina Intelmann, participated in a two-day visit to inspect the construction of the road from Monrovia to Ganta and the Guinea border.  The visit was headed by the Minister of Public Works, William Gyude Moore to register progress and interact with contractors and local people along the construction line. A release from the Eu office in Monrovia says the road project is funded from different European nations and other sources. The European Union is the largest contributor at 44% of some of the country’s infrastructural projects,the News newspaper writes.     

Related Caption: EU, Member States Fund Monrovia, Ganta Road (FrontPage Africa)

Rape Confab. Gets Underway Today

Bong County senator Jewel Howard Taylor will deliver the Keynote Address at a National Stakeholders’ Conference designed to engage communities, women advocates, government officials, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders in a dialogue about rape in Liberia. The conference, funded by USAID through IREX, is being held in partnership with the Liberia Women Media Action Committee (LIWOMAC) and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection,the News newspaper reports.