The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Dominant among stories carried in today, Wednesday, February 19, 2014 edition of our news summary is news of the Liberian Government’s quick impact project targeting twenty-two public latrines.

Quick Impact Project Targets 22 Public Latrines, 112 Water Kiosks

The Government of Liberia through a partnership amongst Ministry of Finance, the General Services Agency (GSA) and the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) has begun the rehabilitation of 22 battered public latrines and 112 water kiosks in Monrovia to bring water sanitation and hygiene relief to targeted communities. Under the government’s sponsored “Monrovia Quick Impact Water and Sanitation” project, several existing latrines deplorable and unhealthily conditions will be reconditioned.  The project seeks to develop water kiosks in the target communities to reduce water borne diseases as well as enhance the availability of water and sanitation services to the people.  Breaking grounds for the project President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says due to the extensive destruction of infrastructure caused by years of conflict and the lack of maintenance, many basic public services were discontinued, especially water supply and sanitation.  A Finance Ministry Press Release quotes President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as expressing joy that the “Quick Impact Project” was finally off the ground to bring needed relief to the people.  An elated President Sirleaf thanked Liberia’s Minister of Finance, Amara Konneh for delivering on the project. She called on the community residents to ensure the facilities were properly maintained, FrontPage Africa asserts.

Related Caption: GOL Erects Quick Impact Projects – 9 Communities Get 22 Public Latrines, 112 Water Kiosks As Finance Ministry, others partner (Daily Observer), Quick Impact Project For Nine Communities In Monrovia (INSIGHT),GoL Targets 22 Public Latrines (FOCUS)

Liberians Discuss Flag, Other National Symbols

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently launched the National Symbols Review Project to lead a national discourse on official symbols like the flag, seal, among others. The President urged that more consultations be held to ensure broad-based participation, including the leadership of the three branches of government and the entire citizenry. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the assertion when she launched the Project at the Paynesville City Hall, outside Monrovia, on Thursday, February 6, the FOCUS newspaper reports.

JFK To Get ‘Modern Eye Center’

If the pronouncement that the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor would soon get a modern and up-to-date eye center is anything to go by, than those suffering from treatable eye problems can breathe a sigh of relief as their ‘lights’ are about to be turned on. Authorities of the John F. Kennedy medical Center were elated Tuesday, February 18, when visiting Indian eye specialists made the pronouncement in the conference room of the hospital. Dr. (MD) Gullapali N. Rao, founder of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEL), said his institution would, in 12 to 18 months, get the new and modern eye center at the hospital setup and running, the Daily Observer newspaper reports.

Lower House Concurs With Senate On CBL Act Amendment

In the wake of public criticism from the Public and Civil Society Organizations against the Liberian Senate for the passage of a bill to prevent members of the Board of governors of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) from participating in politics, the House of Representatives have concurred with the Senate in the passage of the bill.  In less than a week following the passage of the controversial bill by the Senate, the House’s Plenary Tuesday suspended their rules and constituted themselves into a committee and took a majority vote in 37 for the passage of the bill while 7 Representatives voted against the bill and 1 abstaining from the process. Plenary of the Liberian Senate Thursday, February 13 voted to pass into law the amended provisions of the March 18, 1999 Act authorizing the Establishment of the Central Bank of Liberia. Sub-Section 3 of Part IV Section 13 of the CBL Act calls for the removal of the board of governors from office upon a bill of impeachment by the House of Representatives, upon a finding by a majority of the Board of Governors and the recommendation of the President, for several reasons which include; Gross Breach of Duty, Misconduct of Office, Conviction of a Felony and Being declared Bankrupt and Violation of paragraph (a) and /or (b) of sub-section 1 of section 13.
In the Senate-amended provision, the bill gives power to the National Legislature to determine whether or not the Executive Governor or a member of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Liberia has committed an impeachable offense.  The bill also gives power to the Legislature to take the necessary action of impeachment in keeping with the relevant provisions of the constitution of the Republic of Liberia.  Part IX Section 44, which prohibits the Central Bank of Liberia from engaging in trade or participating directly, or indirectly on the ownership of any financial, Agriculture, Commercial, Industrial, or enterprises, was also amended. In the senate amended provision, it prohibits the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia and members of the Board of Governors from contesting political office(s) while serving in their respective offices and shall not be qualified to contest any elected office within three years consecutively after the expiration of their tenure with the CBL, the New Dawn newspaper writes.

Minister Nagbe Mandated To Seek Financial Support For BYC and Red Lions

Youth and Sports Minister Len Eugene Nagbe said he has been mandated by Chief Patron of Sports, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to seek financial support for Liberia’s CAF representatives, Barrack Young Controllers, (BYC) and Red Lions. Minister Nagbe said the Liberian leader has asked him to reach public corporations and agencies to see how they can help both clubs in their endeavor to represent the country at the continental level. Both BYC and Red Lions qualified to the second round of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup at the weekend, the INSIGHT newspaper says.

LMI Trains Liberians Against Malaria

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia (ELCL), implementer of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) program, has trained several Liberian Volunteers who are knowledgeable to combat the spread of malaria. The project is sponsored by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Lutheran World Relief (LWR) in partnership with United Nations Foundation. Mr. D. Levi Hinneh, Deputy Head for Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, attended the workshop at LMI office in Paynesville City and encouraged the participants to work tirelessly in buttressing government’s efforts to reduce the spread of malaria, the FOCUS newspaper reports.

Liberian Heads Western Province Of AME Zion Church

The Presiding Prelate of the West Africa Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZC) has been named President of the Board of Bishops of the Church. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Seth O. Lartey was voted recently becoming the 100^th Bishop in the line of succession of AMEZC. He is also the second native Liberian to head the Board of Bishops of the Church. Fifty-three years ago, Dr. Lartey’s grandfather, Solomon Dorme Lartey, deceased was the first native Bishop of the Church, the Daily Observer newspaper reports.

Zonta Delegation Visits Liberia – Tours Fistula Centers In Bomi, Bong Counties

Daily Observer newspaper reports that a delegation from Zonta International, being led by its Vice President, Madam Sonja Honig Schough, is in Liberia. Zonta is the main sponsor of UNFPA, which is the largest supporter of the Liberia Fistula Rehabilitation Project. Madam Schough  Monday, February 17, met with the  Liberia Fistula Management team at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) where she was given a detailed walk-through of what the fistula management team was doing in Liberia with aid that Zonta was giving through UNFPA. Dr. John Mulbah, the lead surgeon on the Liberian team, thanked Zonta for the aid which was helping to transform the lives of many women and girls within and outside Liberia.