The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

President George Manneh Weah condoleance  message to the Government and people of South Africa over the loss of Winnie Mandela, the commitment of Iceland to invest in Liberia’s fisheries and the sitting of 33,972 students for the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination are some of the selected stories from today’s newspaper.

Liberia Consoles South Africa’s Over Loss of Winnie Mandela

Liberia has joined the rest of the world in paying tribute to the people of South Africa over the loss of one of the most visible faces of the apartheid era, Madam Winnie Madikezela-Mandela. In a message of consolation Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa, of South Africa, following the unfortunate demise of Madam Mandela, President Weah described the fallen icon as one of South Africa’s strongest advocates. Family spokesman Victor Dlamini said Mrs. Mandela, who was once married to late President Nelson Mandela, the first black President of South Africa, succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones, following a long illness, which had seen her go in and out of hospital since the start of 2018. Madam Madikizela-Mandela, who was born in 1936 in the Eastern Cape - then known as Transkei, was a trained social worker when she met her future husband in the 1950s. They went on to have two daughters’ together, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Winnie Mandela Dies (In Profile Daily)

US$536M Deal For Liberia Southeast Coastal Highway Sealed With Asian Conglomerate

A Liberian delegation to Hong Kong and Japan is due back in the country today after what officials in George Weah-led government are describing as a successful mission aimed at jump starting a key pledge by the new government, the construction of a coastal highway. FrontPage Africa has learned that the delegation comprising Finance and Economic Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, Public Works Minister Mabutu Nyenpan, Minister of State Nathaniel McGill, Justice Minister Musa Dean and Cllr. Archibald Bernard, Legal Advisor to the President, has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a financing group of Asian companies for a reported US$536 million dollar agreement to access funding for the implementation of the coastal road project. The agreement is reportedly in the form of a loan payable over 22 years, according to a source privy to the discussion.

Republic of Iceland Commits to Invest in Liberia’s Fisheries

The Republic of Iceland has made commitment to the development and improvement of the Liberian Fishery Sector. Making the commitment during a power-point presentation over the weekend, World Bank Senior Natural Resource Economist said Iceland has agreed to provide technical assistance towards the development of the sector. Madam Jingjie Chu told a gathering of officials from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture that, Iceland’s assistance is through capacity building of NaFAA Staff, ensuring the improvement of smoking ovens, providing support for the reduction of plastic pollution and technical training in water and sanitation across coastal communities. Communities in Montserrado and its surroundings to benefit include West Point, Banjor, among others. Coastal Communities in Grand Cape Mount County were also highlighted by the World Bank’s Senior Economist, describing them as areas of potential fish deposits. There are also plans by the Bank to support the dredging of the Montserrado pier. Support from Iceland will add value to the local fishermen’s products, ensure livelihood, and create job opportunities as a way of contributing meaningfully to the Liberian economy, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Iceland Commits Technical Assistance To Fisheries Sector (In Profile Daily)

33,972 Senior Students To Sit WASSCE Tuesday

The Head of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Dale Gbotoe, has disclosed that about 33,972 senior students are expected to sit for the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at 216 centers across. Speaking in an exclusive interview with this paper over the weekend at the head office of the WAEC in Monrovia, the Head of WAEC National Office, Mr. Gbotoe noted that exam will last for three weeks. Of the 33,972, Mr. Gbotoe said 17,674 are males and 16,298 females. He said, this is the first time all Senior School students in Liberia will be sitting for WASSCE instead of WAEC, reports the In Profile Daily

Man, 25, Gets 10 Yrs. Imprisonment for Murder

Criminal Court ‘A’ yesterday sentenced defendant Chris Better, 25, to 10 years imprisonment after he was charged for the murder of Kristle Togbah, 31, on November 27, 2016, in the Du-port Road community, Paynesville. Kristle Togbah died immediately after she was stabbed by Better with a kitchen knife in her lower left waist at the Clear View Entertainment Center in the Paynesville Community, where she and some of her friends had gone to celebrate her (victim) 31^st birthday. Togbah was pronounced dead after attempts by doctors at the Benson Hospital in the Paynesville could not stabilize her condition, because she had bled profusely. In his ruling, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie said Better will serve nine years out of the 10 years on grounds that he had already served a year in prison, which started from the day he was arrested up to the court’s judgment yesterday, according to the Daily Observer.

Carter Center’s Mental Health Program Graduates 19 Clinicians

According to In Profile Daily, Nineteen Clinicians specializing in child and adolescent mental health have graduated in Monrovia, from a training developed by the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program in partnership with the Liberia Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, a release has indicated. These graduates, the fourth cohort of clinicians focused on children and youth will provide mental health and psychosocial care schools, clinics and other child and youth-centered settings. The graduates bring the total number of professionals trained to 249 through collaboration between the Carter Center Mental Health Program in Liberia and the Liberian Government to improve access to mental health services in Liberia.

Deputy Health Miniser Recommends Restriction On Illegal Sales of Anti-Biotic

According to the Heritage newspaper, Deputy Health Minister for Policy, Planning and Research, Mr. Vaifee Tulay, wants restrictions on the illegal sales of anti-biotic. Minister Tulay said people were getting increasingly affected from the use of anti-biotic not prescribed by professional medical personnel. He spoke at the official opening of a five day review of Public Health law enacted around the sixties. It can be recalled that four year ago, the Ministry of Health through its legal section initiated the review process and is about to bring the review process to closure. Following the review of the public health law, the document will be submitted to the Minister of Health for onward submission to the National Legislature.

AU Commission Makes Over US$100K Donation To Health Ministry

The African Union (AU) Commission has donated several office furniture and equipment worth over US$100,000 to the Ministry of Health. The AU Commission made the donation on Monday, April 2, 2018 in Monrovia. Speaking at the donation of the furniture and equipment, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU to Liberia, Ambassador Ibrahim M. Kamara, said the gesture was as a result of a mandate from the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pens the Heritage newspaper.