Daily Media Summary, 05-12--2014
The Bureau of Public Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Monrovia, Liberia
NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014
President Sirleaf congratulatory message to the European Commission, the European Union decision to support Liberia’s 2017 Presidential and General Elections, the commissioning of hatchery in Liberia, the launching of a reform program by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission and the admitting of 82 Financial Management graduates into Civil Service Agency are among the selected stories for today’s news summary.
Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates European Commission
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Message of Congratulations to the Government and People of the European Commission on the occasion of the observance of the European Day Marking the 64th Anniversary of the Schuman’s Declaration. In her message to President of the European Commission His Excellency Jose Manuel Barroso, President Johnson Sirleaf extended best wishes to the Government and People of the European Commission on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Liberia, and in her own name. According to a Foreign Ministry Release, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf intimated that as the European Union celebrate the attainment of another millstone in its history Liberia is once again reminded of our unwavering obligation to uphold our shared values of equality, Liberty and Justice for all of mankind as well as for the promotion for global peace and security. President Sirleaf noted that she was pleased that this occasion has provided Liberia yet another opportunity for Government to reassure President Barroso of its commitment to continuously forge closer ties with the European Union for the further strengthening of our already excellent relations as Liberia join the EU in commemorating this unique occasion. She then wishes President Barroso continued good health and for the people of Europe peace, unity, sustained economic growth and happiness, INSIGHT Newspaper reports.
Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates EU (New Dawn), and Ellen Congratulates European Commission (Heritage)
EU To Support 2017 Elections, Others
The Daily Observer Newspaper reports that the European Union (EU) has disclosed that it will support, among other things, the 2017 Presidential ad General Elections in Liberia. EU Ambassador to Liberia, Attilio Pacifici made the disclosure on May 9, at his residence in Congo during the Commemoration of European Day. In addition to areas of support for Liberia, the EU Ambassador said, they will also support the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and will finance a new energy project.
Related Caption:EU Pledges More Support To Liberia(The Inquirer Newspaper)
NTAL Gets Teachers Back On Govt. Payroll
The Secretary-General of the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL), Samuel Johnson, has disclosed that several teachers whose names were wrongfully removed from the government payroll have been reinstated. Johnson said this happened as a result of discussions held with authorities of the Ministries of Finance, Education, the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Civil Service Agency (CSA). Mr. Johnson made the disclosure Friday in an interview with journalists at his Capitol Bye-pass office in Monrovia. He also disclosed that more than 100 supplementary teachers, who have been rendering services in the classrooms but are yet to be placed on payroll, are being vetted and regularized as Government employees.
Meanwhile, the NTAL official said efforts are being made to have the name of a teacher identified as Joseph Dorbor, who has been in the teaching field for more than 43 years and assigned at the Lazelemai Public School in Voinjama District in Lofa County, to be placed back on the government payroll after it was removed erroneously, INSIGHT writes.
Related Caption: NTAL Gets Teachers Back On Gov’t Payroll (Heritage)
Gov’t, OFL Commission 95,000 Capacity Hatchery
According to the Daily Observer Newspaper, the dream of former Nigerian President Olusugun Obasanjo, to make Liberia poultry product sufficient and as well an exporter of poultry products rather than being an importer, is on the verge of becoming a reality with the commissioning of a 95,050-capacity hatchery in the country. The commissioning of this hatchery is to help boost the activities of poultry farmers in the country, many of whom over the years have spent thousands of dollars, sometimes at a loss, to import chicks other neighboring country. This new development is also expected to tremendously revitalize the poultry industry in Liberia. According to authorities, the average weekly egg capacity of this hatchery is 31,680. The Obasanjo Farms Liberia (OFL) is expecting 22,000 - 24,000 broiler chicks per week or at least 10,000 pullets (layer chicks) depending on demand. If local poultry farmers take advantage of the initiative, it will help bring an end to the importation o eggs, many of whom are expired, rotten upon arrival, on the Liberian market, authorities said. The OFL was commissioned on July 27, 2013 by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. It was during the inauguration program that an official of OFL disclosed that former President Obbasanjo had approved the building of a hatchery in Liberia in addition to the eggs production facility.
Related Caption: Obasanjo Farms Revitalize Poultry Industry…Commission New Hatchery (National Chronicle Newspaper)
SAPEC Project Launched In Cape Mount
The Ministry of Agriculture has launched the Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Commercialization (SAPEC) Project in Grand Cape Mount County.
The SAPEC project valued at US$54.4 million is being launched in 12 of Liberia’s 15 political sub-divisions. Counties not benefitting from the SAPEC Project are Lofa, Nimba and Bong Counties, which are advanced in agriculture. The Deputy Agriculture Minister for Technical Services, Mr. Sizi Subah, who spoke at the program, said the project is intended to empower local farmers in these counties. He said the project has been designed to enhance the productivity of local farmers to encourage them to produce more food to enhance their income from agricultural undertakings. Earlier, Grand Cape Mount County Superintendent Mohammed A. Paasewe, who served as keynote speaker at the launching ceremony, expressed gratitude to authorities of the Agriculture Ministry for their farsightedness in launching a program that will boost agricultural productivity in the county, as well as provide employment opportunities for the citizens. He urged citizens of county to desist from activities that have the propensity to undermine the effort being made by Government to promote agriculture in the county.
Superintendent Paasewe said his administration is prepared to support any groups
Related Caption: SAPC Project Launched In Cape Mount County (Heritage Newpaper)
UNICEF Dedicates Primary School
According to the News Newspaper, UNICEF Liberia last Thursday dedicated a seven classroom school building in Boe Town, Monweh Statutory District, Rivercess County. The Primary School, valued at US$113,896.44 was constructed under the Japanese Government grant to Liberia being managed by UNICEF. UNICEF Country Representative Sheldon Yett said, the school is a result of a partnership among the Ministry of Education, Japanese Government and UNICEF. Mr. Yett disclosed that the modern structure replaces a makeshift school.
Funeral Mass For Bishop Dalieh Today
The remains of the Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas, Most Reverend Boniface Nyema Dalieh, will be removed from the Samuel A. Stryker Funeral Home today, May 12, 2014 at 3PM and taken to the Sacred Heart Cathedral for the Office of the Dead Mass at 6PM. According to communication signed by the Most Reverend Archbishop of Monrovia, Lewis Jerome Zeigler, following the Mass this evening, the remains of the Bishop Emeritus will be taken to Harper on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, where wake keeping will be held at the St. Theresa Cathedral on Thursday, starting from 6PM. On Friday, May 16, at 10AM in the St. Theresa Cathedral, the Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will take place to be followed by interment on the Cathedral grounds, reports the Daily Observer Newspaper.
Procurement Launches Reform Program
As a premier government institution charged with the responsibility to regulate and monitor the implementation of the procurement reform program of Liberia, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has commenced the conduct of its annual procurement plan hearing exercise. The exercise, aimed at reforming the PPCC’s policy on procurement, targets over 130 procuring entities at various government ministries and agencies. It began with a conduct of a two-day workshop, which commenced on Thursday at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville, and ended on Friday, May 9, at the same venue. The workshop among other things strengthened the procurement capacity of its practitioners, to ensure proper and timely preparation of their respective entities annual procurement plans. It also provided guidance to procuring entities for the effective utilization of the procurement plan, and to enable them to ably update the plans during the course of the fiscal period, and created awareness on compliance and related issues. The hearing workshop of the Public Procurement Records Management was held with the objectives to accurately and completely document the policies and transactions of the Procuring entity; to control the quantity and quality of procurement records produced by the entity and users departments, etc.
PPCC Executive Officer, Peggy Varfley Meres told the participants that Procurement Plan Hearing is an annual event introduced in 2009 by the Commission to scrutinize entities annual procurement plans so as to ensure compliance with Section 40 of the PPC Act, pens the Daily Observer Newspaper.
CSA Admits 82 Financial Management Graduates
At Least 82 talented young men and women from the Financial Management Training Program (FMTP) were over the weekend admitted into the Liberian Civil Service Agency (CSA) following a two-year intensive mentoring program. In his Keynote Address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, rated the FMTP as an institution that has never lost its rigor (care) by remaining true to its original vision and objectives in preparing talented college graduates to meet the diverse challenges of the Liberian workforce. Based on the numerous challenges, Minister Ngafuan called for the expansion of the programs across the public sector, not only in government ministries, but also in other state-owned enterprises, writes the Daily Observer Newspaper.
NRC Seeks Women’s Access To Property
The Norwegian Refugee Council has emphasized here that it is the right of every woman to have access or own property, including house and land. It said women often suffer at the hands of men due to their role in the home so they deserve respect and dignity. A new report released by the NRC titled, Violence Against Women and Housing, Land and Property in Monrovia reveals women face greater obstacles to gaining rights to housing, land and property than men, and that most documents providing evidence of rights, including deeds, leases and squatters’ certificates, are written in the names of men. The report notes also that Intimate Partner Violence or IPV is common among women and local communities are unlikely to intervene whenever it o occurs.
The report said women however value relationships with men because they provide security against outsiders and some economic and other forms of assistance. “Because men have more control over and access to housing, land and property, women are often reliant on their relationships with men to access their Housing, Land and Property rights”, it added.
According to the NRC’s findings, most women are in informal relationships so they are often not protected by provisions in formal law or under custom, and that women in unrecognized relationships have insecure HLP rights. Speaking over the weekend at the Mamba Point hotel during the official launch of the report, Liberia’s Gender and Development Minister, Madam Julia Duncan Cassell, said, the issue of women having access to property in the home is to give them the same opportunity that some of their colleagues have, saying, “because once you married to a man, and the two of you don’t have any property at all, it becomes worrisome to that particular woman, New Dawn writes.
11km Road On The Go In Marshall
Some residents along the Marshall Road have expressed happiness for the construction of the road leading their way. The Marshall Road is a US$19.7 million dollars project undertaken by the Government of Liberia. Residents praised the road as contractor (SSF) begins laying asphalt springing out the true beautification of the project. Speaking to the Insight over the weekend, Mr. Abraham Tarr who lives along the road said with the road they can now feel the presence of government. Mr. Tarr said before the pavement of the road, it appeared they were outcast to society. “You see the amount of people that are carrying on construction along the road these days before it was very hard to see construction going on here but since the government through the company started the job, people started pouring in and some are now fighting for land especially front view”. He said the next problem in the area is the issue of land and government should be able to drastically deal with land sellers who are in the business of selling land two times this he said is bringing serious trouble resulting to death. Mr. Tarr said when finish, the road will make Liberia’s newest city on the outskirt of Monrovia. Fofanah Musa, an operator of one of the compactor machines on the Marshall Road the road is about 11km stretch and expected to be completed before the rainy season concludes. He said they were compacting what he calls the ‘Basecoat’ (Crush rock and Crush rock dust) and others were laying asphalt at different ends of the road, INSIGHT Newspaper reports.
‘Buchanan’s Mary Broh’: Mayor Bondo Transforming The Port City
The port city of Buchanan could experience massive transformation in the next couple of years if on-going reforms by the Buchanan City Corporation (BCC) remain consistent. Residents of the city have already started applauding the city corporation for a number of significant improvements. Right now the BCC boss is optimistic about transforming the city despite the limited resources at her disposal. Highlighting the importance of allotting money in the 2014/2015 national budget for Buchanan City, Mayor Bondo said the BCC has to justify how much it deserves the funds. “We have to prove ourselves and people will see our work, because we have to work to make our city look presentable and we cannot do it on our own. We also need the strength of the government behind us,” Mayor Bondo said. She continues: “I think national government has seen it (our work); we have graduated from one stage here in less than two years. The government sees that we have a brand new face-lift and other things are going on here so they definitely know the city needs its own budget.” In an FPA exclusive interview with Mayor Bondo, she boasted of better sanitation in the city with the presence of Zoom Lion Sanitation Company and the effectiveness of the Buchanan City Police. The City Corporation says it solicits its own resources with the support of the county administration. Despite the BCC consistency in recent months, many are concerned about how the public will comprehend the expedient objective of the BCC. Some residents have criticized the BCC for its impromptus approach to implementing the city ordinance. But Mayor Bondo told FPA that residents are gradually cooperating with guidelines that the BCC is instituting. ‘They are beginning to understand that the beauty of the city is nothing but cleanliness,” the Mayor, FrontPage Africa Newspaper pens.
Save the Children Establishes Girls’ Center
In an effort to improve the lives of vulnerable girls in the streets, Save the Children-UK has established a girls’ Drop-in Center in Gbarnga, Bong County. The Girls’ Drop-in Center is a transitional approach to promoting the enrollment of girls in schools. According to the supervisor of the Girls’ Drop-in Center Boakai Massalay, the aim of the project is to provide access to basic literacy, life skills and psychosocial support services, self-confidence, improved interpersonal skills to enable the smooth reintegration of the girls into their families, schools and communities. Mr. Massalay
Civil Society Coordinator Supports Tribal Politics
The Chairman of the Bong Citizens Union, George Johnson has rejected statements that the current efforts by some lawmakers, especially from Bong and Margibi Counties, to produce a Kpelle Presidential Candidate are divisive. Mr. Johnson said he did not see such move as tribal politics, but an effort for the Kpelle People of Liberia to ascend to the presidency for the first time in the country’s history. Mr. Johnson wondered why people would continue to argue against such vision as divisive when the people of Lofa County in 2005 and 2011 holistically voted for the Unity Party on grounds that the county was the party’s origin. He noted that the former Liberia Action Party (LAP) originated from Nimba, while the Liberty Party (LP) has its roots in Grand Bassa County. George Johnson, also the Regional Coordinator of the National Civil Society Council for Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties expressed the belief that nothing was wrong with the vision by citizens of Bong and Margibi Counties, mostly especially their lawmakers, but called for the inclusion of all Liberian languages in the country for such endeavor to succeed.
According to the Bong Citizens Union Chairman, nothing was wrong when a group of Kpelle people decide to form a political party with the support of other tribes. Debates have been continuing since a group of lawmakers and prominent citizens from Bong and Margibi Counties voiced out their desire to campaign in producing a Kpelle President in 2017. Many have termed the drive as divisive, but others are of the opinion that the Kpelle people have voted for other tribes, and that it was their time to lead the nation. The Kpelle Tribe is the largest ethnic group in Liberia, and is yet to produce a President since the formation of the nation, New Dawn reports.
‘The Loan-Giver’: CBL’S Jones’ Visit Lures Hundreds In Buchanan
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County - Hundreds of people over the weekend turned out to welcome the Executive Governor of Liberia’s Central Bank, Dr. Mills Jones, to the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Dr. Jones, in less than a year, has enjoyed commendations and exaltation from many Liberian small business organizations, including the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), the Liberia National Tailor Textile, Garment and Allied Workers Union of Liberia, Women in Cross Border Trade, Liberia Business Association (LIBA), National Petit Traders Union of Liberia (NAPETUL), and the Federation of Road Transport Union of Liberia (FRTUL) amongst others. Dr. Jones’ latest visit to Buchanan was at the invitation of the FRTUL and a local saving and credit organization. The two organizations collaborated to hold a program and Dr. Jones, who has defended government’s micro finance loan program through the CBL was best suited to grace the occasion. As was expected, hundreds of traders mostly women stood and cheered along the road for more than five hours before the arrival of Governor Jones. One woman (marketer) standing by the road side told FrontPage Africa, it was her hope that the CBL Boss’ visit attracts more loan to the LMA local branch, which will help grow her business because she didn’t benefit from previous loans. A member of a local saving and credit Union explained to FPA that they have strong confidence that Dr. Jones will help alleviate some of the constraints local businesses are facing through the provision of microloans. For Dr. Jones, he used the occasion to caution the people against selling their loyalty or birth rights to politicians by voting for individuals who offered them money or material things. He urged them to vote people who will be accountable to them, FrontPage Africa Newspaper reports.
Felelah To Get Modern Clinic
Citizens of a densely populated town, Felelah, in Bong County have for many years been out of basic health services to cater to their health needs. But James Solunteh, a prominent son, who began his rural education in Felelah Town, Salala District Bong county has broken ground for the construction of a seven-bed room modern clinic, estimated at US$30,000.00. Mr. Solunteh told scores of citizens, who had come from nearby towns and villages to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. It was unfortunate for people in critical condition to be transported on motorcycles to either Phebe Hospital, or C.H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata Margibi County for medical treatment, Solunteh said. “When I arrived here for the ceremony, I heard that a pregnant was transported last night on motorbike to Margibi, I feel for your, so this project is meant to rescue this kind of situation,” He said. Mr. Solunteh further indicated that the project has no political intent, noting, “It is necessary to make this clear because we are in a political season, the 2014 special Senatorial election. Mr. Solunteh also contributed an amount of LD$40,000.00 as an initial contribution toward LD$80,000.00 scholarship scheme earlier launched by him. Speaking on behalf of his people, Clan Chief Samuel K. Gbilee seized the opportunity to thank Mr. Solunteh for the initiative. “If nothing may have been so significant to us, this clinic when completed will be the most significant development in our community, therefore we are overwhelmed by the first step,” Clan Chief Gbilee noted. The occasion was attended by scores of citizens including, women, children, elders, chief and well-wishers, INSIGHT Newspaper writes.
AIDS Victims Beg For Budget Inclusion
Some HIV/AIDS victims want the Executive branch through the Ministry of Finance to allot more funds to prevent the spread of the virus. Speaking in Monrovia, Mr. Barsiah said victims of HIV/AIDS need more local support from government in creating livelihood. According to him, the need for the ruling Unity Party (UP) led government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare along with the National AIDS Commission to support AIDS victims is commendable. He mentioned that victims of the virus are restricted to eat certain foodstuffs and as such, they need more support in reducing death rate in Liberia. The Head of People Living with AIDS said the support from international donors have reduced the death rate of the virus in Liberia. He expressed the belief that inclusion of the group in the 2014/2015 National Budget separately as a line item within the budget will help improve the living condition of AIDS victims. Mr. Barsiah also appealed to the 53rd National Legislature to adhere to the proposal when included by the Ministry of Finance, FOCUS reports.
Police reloads 'Operation Safe Haven'
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has raided criminal hideouts in several parts of Monrovia and arrested 86 suspected drug users and traffickers. According to Police Spokesman Sam Collins, the early morning raids on Thursday were part of “Operation Safe Haven Reload”, a drive to make the city and its surroundings safe ahead of the raining season. He said those arrested were in possession of dangerous substances, including marijuana and other hard drugs.
Speaking in an interview with reporters at the LNP Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia Saturday, Collins said the raid affected ghettos in Paynesville, including Red Light, LBS Community and Vai Town located on the Old Road. Quoting the Senior Inspector of Police, Robert Saah, the police spokesman said the raids will continue until the ghettoes and criminal hideouts are dismantled to maintain a low crime rate in the city. Mr. Collins has, meanwhile, called on community residents to help the police with information that will lead to locating criminal hideouts in the city and its environs. “We will not compromise your security, all we need is your support and cooperation as we strive to make our country a better place to live and do business,” he said. The LNP official said the police was only carrying out its statutory function of protecting life and property, INSIGHT reports.
Lofa Citizens Want District Status
Citizens of hassala and Wanwoma clans in Lofa County Thursday presented a petition to the county’s Legislative caucus for their two clans to be made into an administrative district. Presenting the petition on behalf of the citizens, Al-haji Omaru Kamara, spokesman of the petitioners, said they were presenting the petition because of development purposes, New Democrat reports.
US Marines Finally Locate Kidnapped School Girls
There were indications on Friday that the Special Forces of the United States marines have sited the over 234 school girls that were abducted on April 14 from Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram sect. members of the United States Marines who are already in Maiduguri in fulfillment of the promise of President Barack Obama to assist Nigeria to search and rescue the girls, were said to have located the girls inside the dreaded Sambisa forest, using highly sophisticated Satellite equipment which combed the forest. The abducted girls were part of the 250 students boarded at the school for the West African School Certificate, WASC/Senior Secondary School Certificate, SSSC, examinations. The incident which has triggered world-wide condemnations, led to the arrival of US military officials in Nigeria yesterday to join local officials in the search and rescue of the girls. The UK team had earlier arrived in Abuja to support Nigerian government in its response to the abduction of the school girls, National Chronicle reports.
US Embassy 9th Arts & Crafts Fair Held In Monrovia
The United States Embassy on Saturday, May 10, 2014 held its 9th Arts and Crafts Fair at its Embassy near Monrovia. The fair, which was well-attended, showcase more than 100 vendors selling sculptures and other arts and crafts materials. During the fair, there was tree raffle draw for those who purchased arts and crafts materials. Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Gender and Development, Madam Julia Duncan-Cassell, thanked the US Embassy for undertaking such initiative in the |Liberia, noting that such initiative will help in making Liberia a better place to be, Heritage reports.
