THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015

Thehosting the Government of Liberia andthe European Union’s3^rd Political Dialogue under the theme “Governance, Security and Justice" and the formal launchthe ‘Paint the University of Liberia’ campaignin Monrovia are stories dominating  our summary of today’s local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

EU, Liberia Hold 3rd Political Dialogue

The In Profile Daily quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying the Government of Liberia  and the European Union will hold the 3^rd Political Dialogue under the theme " Governance, Security and Justice" on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 11:00AM, at the C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the release, the 3^rd Political Dialogue will focus on getting Ebola to zero, and boosting the recovery process; governance, security and justice -United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL) drawdown; and Special Senatorial elections as well as the Universal Periodic Review. Other matters to be discussed include standing issues from previous dialogues - Schengen Visa, and modalities for the holding of the EU - Liberia Political Dialogue. The 3rd  EU – Liberia Political Dialogue will be led on the Liberian side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan with the participation of several ministries and agencies of the Liberian Government to include the Ministries of Finance and Development  Planning,  Justice,  National Elections Commission and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights. Her Excellency Tiina Intelmann, EU Ambassador to Liberia will head the EU delegation which includes Ambassadors of European Union member states accredited to Liberia. The Dialogue is in line with Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement which states that the EU and member states of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries which include Liberia shall regularly engage in a comprehensive, balanced and deep political dialogue leading to commitments on both sides.  The Dialogue aims to enhance development cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Liberia.

Related Captions: EU, Liberia Holds 3^rd Political Dialogue(The New Republic), European Union And Liberia Hold 3^rd Political Dialogue(Heritage)

UL Launches ‘Paint The UL’ Campaign

The Inquirernewspaper reports that the President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Emmet A. Denis, will on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 12 noon formally launch the ‘Paint the UL’ campaign right in front of the Nathaniel H. Cassell Administration Building on the Capitol Hill Campus of the University of Liberia. Dr. Dennis and members of his administration, as well as the leadership of the UL Alumni Association will be on hand to welcome each alumnus as they respond to the call of the UL President.

Related Captions: UL Launches ‘Paint The UL’ Campaign Today(In Profile Daily), UL Launches ‘Paint The UL’ Campaign(FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Ebola Made Vulnerable Liberians To Fall Back Into Poverty…Says Minister Ngafuan

Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has outlined several factors affecting Liberia’s as a result of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the country. He was speaking recently at a news conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia,   According to Min. Ngafuan, the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Liberia has made vulnerable Liberians to fall back into poverty, according to the Heritage newspaper.

Indian Community Pays Tuition For Over 20 Ebola-Orphans

A subsidiary unit of the Indian Community in Liberia named and styled:  ‘The mahatma Cultural Center’ has paid the tuition for over 20 children made orphans by the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The Mahatma Cultural Center is named in honor of Mohandas ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi, one of India’s former National leaders, who was in the struggle for the independence of India, the Heritage newspaper writes.

U.S. Envoy Visits Villagers And U.S.Gov’t-Sponsored Projects

The Heritage newspaper reports that U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac has met with hundreds of Liberian officials, University Administrators, high school faculty, students and beneficiaries of U.S. funded health, education and small business projects during a week-long road trip through Southeastern and Central Liberia. Ambassador Malac visited Maryland, River Gee, Grand Gedeh, Nimba and Bong Counties from April 13-17. She said she wanted to see for herself the challenges faced by Liberians in the Southeast and Central parts of the country, and to meet the people and directly hear their concerns.

Related Caption: U.S. Ambassador Tours Southeast, Central Liberia(The New Dawn)

NEC Begins 2016, 2017 Roadmap

The National Elections Commission has begun a roadmap for the conducts of two separate elections expected in Liberia in 2016 and 2017.  The Commission is holding a five-day workshop at the DEN-L Compound near Gbarnga, Bong County, on Civic and Voter Education Toolkit Development prior to a possible referendum on the 1986 Revised Constitution of Liberia in 2016 and the presidential and legislative elections in 2017. At the opening ceremony held Monday, Acting NEC Chairperson, Cllr. Sarah Jegede Toe disclosed that the workshop was prompted by the Commission’s observation of an increasing voters apathy which tends to undermine NEC’s effort in consolidating the country’s nascent democracy, In Profile Daily reports.

Gov’t, Partners Launch ‘Trace And Go Project’

The Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH & SW) in collaboration with its partners has officially laced a Trace and Go (TAG) project’. TAG is a system intended to tack patients once they enter the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) and to keep family members inform about their relatives and loved ones as they enter the ETUs. The TAG System is currently in place at ELWA II, Old Ministry of Defense, SKD-China German Sittu, IOM Sinje and WAHA Loa ETUs, Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption:Ehealth Africa Launches ‘Trace & Go’(The New Dawn)

Cuttington Gets Microscopes – From American University

According to the New Republic newspaper, Cuttington University has received high-tech electronic microscopes from Tempo University for se by the college of natural sciences to enhance its capacity. Mr. Jackson Dumoe who made the presentation on behalf of Tempo University said it was its way of improving the laboratory department at the university, vowing to continual help.

CSA Unveils New Communication Strategy

The Director-General designate of the Civil Service Agency, Dr. Puchu Leona Bernard, has praised the quality of the five year communication strategy develop by the Consultant, St. Jerome Davis. The CSA’s Director-General designate enthused: “communication is a vital tool in reform and as such the CSA is committed to implementing this strategy while it carries out the reform in the public”, the New Republic newspaper reports.

Nagbe Reaffirms GOL Commitment To Youth

Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe has maintained that the provision of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to Liberian Youth remains a top priority for the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led government. Appearing on the ELBC ‘Super Morning Show’ Friday, Nagbe indicated that although rehabilitation work is ongoing at the MVTC at a slow pace, students are still being trained there in various disciplines, the News newspaper reports.

Bardnesville, Kebbah Road To Be Pave…Public Works Discloses

Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services Claude Langley has disclosed that the Ministry has concluded arrangement for the pavement of the Bardnesville-Kebbah Road in the township of Bardnesville, outside Monrovia. Deputy Mister Langley said decision has already been reached for the pavement of the road. He made the disclosure Monday when a group of citizens representing Bardnesville and Kebbah Road communities petitioned Public Works Minister Gyde Moore to consider paving the road linking the communities to Somalia Drive and Caldwell, the Newsnewspaper reports.

Rivercess Gets First Reading Room

For the first time in the history of Rivercess County, created in 1984, a reading room has been established. The facility was set up on March 17, 2015 and opened to public use on March 19, 2015. The establishment of a reading room is aimed at promoting the culture of reading among students, teachers, community members and professionals in that part of the country, the Inquirer newspaper writes.