BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Today’s edition of our daily summary captures stories about President  George Manneh Weah touring several communities across Monrovia and its environs in continuation of his routine road inspection intended to keep contractors and engineers in check, also, A visiting delegation from the British Parliament is currently  in Liberia as guest of the Liberian Government, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe advancing the case for the establishment of Liberia Tourism Authority to boost tourism in Liberia, as well as the Head of the European Union (EU) Cooperation Project Section in Monrovia, Theodrus Kasper, disclosure  of a  279 million Euros apportioned for National Programs aimed at providing budget support for positive elements of the Liberian Government.

DOMINANT STORIES:  

Weah Tour Projects-Messages Contractors, Residents 

In what seems to be another display of good leadership, President George Manneh Weah drove to several communities across Monrovia and its environs in continuation of his routine road inspection intended to keep contractors and engineers in check, monitor work progress and also to mobilize citizens’ cooperation with contractors. As he has always done, President Weah used the time to hold tete-a-tete with contractors on progress and challenges they face in a bit to motivate them step up the speed and momentum to be able to meet deadlines. The tour, which began with the Gardnerville Freeway Project on Thursday, also took the Liberia leader to the road projects in the Red-light, Soul Clinic and Moses Z. Blah communities, In ProfileDaily asserted.

Related Caption:President Weah Makes Rounds To Project Areas…With Message For Contractors, Residents(The News)Bad Road Medicine’ Hits Sick Ria Highway: The Country’s Roads Giant Step Up Again (the News)

British MP Delegation IN Town….Pays Courtesy Call On Speaker Chambers

A delegation from the British Parliament is in Liberia for as guest of the Liberian Government through the 54^th Legislature, a statement has said. The UK Parliamentarians on Monday, March 2, 20220, toured the ground of the Capital Building and subsequently held talks with several of their Liberian counterparts, especially from the House of Representatives including; Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo of Nimba  County, Rep. Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis of Montserrado, Rep. Edwin M. Snowe of the Bimo County, Rep. Julie Wiah of Lofa County, Rep. Ben Fofana of Margibi County, as well as the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Madam Mildred Saryon, amongst others. The UN Parliamentary Delegation’s discussions were bordered on issues appertaining to shaping Liberia’s Legislature through debates, covering areas in the health sector, education, gender and defense.  In separate engagement, the visiting British Parliamentary Delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, and presented their felicitations from the Speaker of the British Parliament, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who was elected Speaker on 4 November 2019, following the resignation of John Bercow. Speaker Chambers welcomed the British Parliamentary Delegation to the Liberian Legislature. He says Liberia is open to such engagements from her counterparts across the globe. According to the Newsnewspaper, Dr. Chambers, his leadership at the House of Representatives looks forward to strengthening the subsisting relationship between the two law marking bodies, adding that Liberia remains open for business and that both countries have longstanding ties as expressed in the pages of history and today’s reality. The visit of the British Parliament’s Delegation brings to bear a counting level of respectability from around the world for the Liberian Legislature under the stewardship of Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Speaker of the 54^th Legislature.

Related Caption:British MP Delegation Arrives In Liberia(In Profile Daily)

To Respond to changing Security Environment Globally: Ambassador Kemayah Urges Continuous Reform of UN Peacekeeping Approach

Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr, has encouraged the United Nations to approach peacekeeping and management of transition in ways and manner that will respond to the changing security environment and current global realities. Ambassador Kemayah observed that peacekeeping globally is becoming increasingly challenging, especially with increasing threats of terrorism, which has taken a new shap and form, as well the use of chemical weapons. “There are countless number of factors to blame for the hug challenges to peacekeeping; among which are: the growing threats from terrorism and diverse armed groups with different objectives; the inability to establish or properly tackle the root causes of conflicts in a given situation ; the inability to mobilize or garner adequate resources-logistics, and personnel related deployment, especially in a timely manner; and the improper coordination among nations contributing troops and other resources; just name a few, Heritagewrites.

Related Caption:“Reform United Nations Peacekeeping Approach To Respond To Changing Security Environment Globally”  (Hot Pepper)

Liberia Celebrates World Wildlife Day Today

The Forestry Development Authority (FDA), in collaboration with its traditional conservation partners, is expected to execute a befitting program to commemorate World Wildlife Day today, March 3, 2020 in Monrovia. An array of government officials and foreign diplomats will also grace the occasion which official kicks of at the ELWA Junction. It can be recalled that at its 68th Session, the United Nations General Assembly declared 3 March of each year World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness on the world’s wild animals and plants. According, the FDA will collaborate with all relevant government agencies and ministries, local non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral institutions, the media, etc, to raise awareness on the multitude of benefits of wildlife to people particularly to those communities who live in closest proximity to it including employment creation, climate change mitigation, etc, The Newsnewspaper

Related Caption:Liberia Celebrates World Wildlife Day Tomorrow(The Inquirer)

Other Stories  

EU Allots 279M Euros…For Liberia’s National Program 

The Head of European Union (EU) Cooperation Project Section in Monrovia, Theodrus Kasper, has said the Union has 279 million Euros apportioned for the National Program aimed at providing budget support for positive elements of the Liberian Government. The EU has observed that there are lots of pressing needs for basic social services in Liberia, he said, adding that Liberia has great opportunities it can explore to reduce poverty, increase income and improve food security if only challenges of sustainable management can be addressed. Kasper made the comments when he briefed the EU-Liberia Young Media Professionals at the European Union Delegation Office in Monrovia recently, stressing that the Funding will be used to support Agriculture, Fisheries and other sectors. He pointed out that the EU Projects have made considerable impact on human resource development, food sustainability, strengthening Government, ensuring good forest governance, among others, the EU Cooperation also Section Head of also said they are passionate about programs that will provide Liberians entry into the job market, setting up concession structures, the expenditure for rural electrification and addressing potential conflicts that surround Land rights, among others.  The News newspaper.

UNICEF Representative to Liberia pays Courtesy Visit On Foreign Minister…Discloses Key Efforts to Tackle Youth, Children Issues

Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Gbehzohngar Milton Findlay, Monday, March 2, 2020 received in audience the UNICEF Representative to Liberia Laila O. Gad when the UN Envoy paid his a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Capital Hills.  According to a Foreign Ministry release, the two officials met on March 2, 2020 in the Holding Room on the 4th floor of the Ministry. During their interaction, the UNICEF Representative to Liberia conveyed her appreciation to the Government of Liberia for the warm reception and also disclosed ongoing efforts by her organization in tackling problems confronting the youth and children in Liberia. While highlighting the number of kids out of school, Madam Gad said UNICEF has among other things embarked on an initiative that seeks to increase the number of children in school and to also ensure increment in the number of teachers in the classroom as well. She said UNICEF is in the process of developing a robust program proposal on youth empowerment and engagement, especially targeting underprivileged and disadvantaged youth in Liberia. “UNICEF is also hoping to record the birth registration for all newborns in Liberia by 2024 wherein the data of every child born in Liberia will be recorded and placed in an archive” the UN Envoy revealed. Madam Gad furthered revealed that UNICEF is partnering with the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection to tackle Gender Based Violence and other gender related issues. In response, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gbehzohngar Milton Findley welcomed the UNICEF Representative and expressed hope that the goals and aspirations of the United Nations Children’s Fund be achieved. Minister Findley reemphasized the significance of prioritizing problems faced by youth in the streets whom he noted must be rehabilitated and reintegrated so that society benefits from their immense potential, Heritage report.

Tourism Will Boost Liberia’s Economy

Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, during a public hearing on the an Act to Amend Chapter 31 of the Executive Law of 1972 to Establishing the Liberia Tourism Authority, noted that when passed, the Act would boost the economy of the country. The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism was by Act of the Legislature in1965 with the statutory responsibility to develop and disseminate factual information about Government of Liberia both home and abroad. In addition to information dissemination, MICAT promotes cultural and tourism activities through institutions such as the National Museum, which is the custodian historical artifact as well as culture villages and the historic Providence Island, says In ProfileDaily.

African Boots Preparation For Possible Spread Of Virus

According to In ProfileDailyrelease, a cross Africa, steps are to prepare for-and to reduce the effects of—the spread of the new coronavirus. Testing laboratories are being supplied, quarantine and hospital treatment facilities are being readied for patients, and public health advisories have been issued. As of March, the continent of 1.2 billion people has just six confirmed cases of COVID-119 three in Algeria, two in Egypt and one in Nigeria. But 13 of Africa’s 54 countries have been identifies by the World Health Organization as at risk of becoming centers for the disease on the basis of volume of traffic between China and weak health surveillance and treatment systems. Nigeria on Friday become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to report a confirmed case when an Italian citizen traveling from Milan on business trip fell ill after arriving at Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city with 20 million people. The African Center for disease Control and Prevention has hurried to train its 54 member’s countries in testing for the virus. At the start of February just two African countries had the capability to test; now the number is more than two dozen

Media Practiioners Get Traning On Coronavirus Reporting

The National Public Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has concluded a day-long training of media practitioners on how to report on issues relating to the coronavirus. The workshop brought together health reporters and editors from several media institutions across Montserrado Country. Participants were trained in the Incident Management System (IMS), Activation and Function, Case Definition and Reporting, Epidemiological Perspective, Health Reporting Emergency News Collection. Speaking at the training the acting Director General of NPHIL, Dr. Mosoka Fallah, thanked the media for the level of coordination and partnership in health preparedness against the virus. Dr. Fallah described the media as assets, especially in coordinating efforts to combat contiguous disease in the country, adding that the media is the source of facts. According to him, extra training has been instituted for medical practitioners as a means of preparedness so that medical practitioners cannot be caught unaware, In Profile Dailywrites.