The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

Bong County win in the LoneStar MTN and others sponsored Spelling B competition, the Liberia Electricity power shut down to the people of New Kru Town, Liberians readiness to participate in the 2015 marathon and Liberia’s disqualifier from 2015 AFCON are all dominant stories in our selected local news dailies for today, Monday, June 2, 2014. 

DOMINANT STORIES

In LoneStar Cell MTN Sponsored Spelling B Competition: 3 Crowned Champions

Three students were over the weekend crowned as winners of this year’s Liberia Annual National Spelling Bee Championship organized by the Ministry of Education (MoE).  The grand final of the competition was held at the Monrovia City Hall. The Heritage writes that this year’s competition, which was sponsored by LoneStar Cell MTN, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Liberia Teacher Training Program (LTTP) and International Bank (IB) Liberia Limited, was the 49th edition of the competition. The 49th edition of the competition was held under the Theme: “Promoting Spelling and Reading in Liberia.” The first winner, David Howard Jr., is a student of the Bong Mines Central High School in Bong County, the Second winner, Vera Lah, is a student of the Arcello Mittal School in Nimba County and the third winner, Courage Noring is a student of the Kaytoken Elementary and Junior High School in River Gee County. Thirteen contestants from eight Counties were qualified for the final rounds of the competition and were reduced to three winners after eight rounds of spelling. The first winner walked away with 1,500.00 USD, while the second and third winners received US$1000.00 and 500.00 respectively. Making brief remarks at the occasion, Education Minister Etmonia David-Tarpeh, said the exercise was intended to bring out the talents of Liberian students. According to her, this exercise will help to improve the county’s educational system.

Related Captions: Lonestar Cell MTN Sponsors Spelling Competition(The New Dawn), Bong Wins Spelling Competition-Nimba, River Gee in 2^nd & 3^rd Respectively(Daily Observer),  LoneStar Cell MTN Sponsors Spelling Competition(The New Republic)

MOE Seeks Support For Spelling Bee Contest

The New Dawnreports that the Ministry of Education is calling on the government to support the Liberia National Spelling Bee Competition. Education Minister Madam Etmonia David Tarpeh, said spelling and reading develop intellectual skills of pupils. Speaking over the weekend at the grand final of the 7th Annual Championship of the Liberia National Spelling Bee competition held at the Monrovia City Hall, Minister Tarpeh said reading and spelling among students have posed a serious challenge in the education sector. She disclosed that the Ministry had introduced this innovative program to motivate young people to seek academic excellence, noting that reading and spelling should not just be an annual event; rather it must be an activity in the academic life of students. The competition brought together officials of government and students from the 15 counties, but only 13 students from seven counties made it to the grand final. Counties that qualified for the final included Bong, River Gee, Nimba, Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, Montserrado and Sinoe. Student David Howard of the Bong Central High School in Bong County won the grand prize of $1,500 while student Vera Lah of Arcelormittal High School from Nimba County became winner-up with a grand prize of $1,000 and Courage G. Noring of the Kay Token Elementary and Junior  High School won Third Place with a consolation prize of $500.00.

LEC Alert: New Kru Town Tops Power Theft, Station Shut Down

The FrontPage Africa daily writes that the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has shut down its power supply to the people of New Kru Town on the Bushrod Island. Speaking at a news Conference Friday at its West Point power station, the Executive Director of LEC Vamunyah Sheriff said that New Kru Town alone accounts for 90 percent of power theft and other power related crimes.  “Just within two weeks, of audits, we have removed over 300 meters by-passed or illegally connected to our electricity grid,” said Sheriff. “As I said over 300 meters were removed from over 40 light poles, this translates into 90 percent of revenues loss. And each day in New Kru Town, LEC losses almost US$ 4,000.00 and our meters get damaged in the process.” The LEC stated that it is with the current limited 22Mega Watts power grid that the corporation is still trying to provide electricity to its customers. “So the issue of power theft is causing a major loss of revenue; it is a setback for the company because it would make it difficult to order new equipment from overseas to replace the damaged ones,” said Sheriff. He maintained that the disconnection of New Kru Town remains enforced until LEC completes audit of the Borough but failed to state how long it would last for.

Related Caption: LEC Disconnects New Kru Town Time Indefinitely(National Chronicle), Power Theft Plunges New Kru Town in Darkness –Redemption Hospital Not Affected(Daily Observer), LEC Disconnects New Kru Town  (The News), LEC Disconnects New Kru Town(The Inquirer)

Youth & Sports Launches Annual Marathon

The 2014 running and walking marathon competition has been launched in Monrovia. The acting Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation or MCC, Clara Mvogo, said the hosting of marathons attracts tourists and also enable host country showcase its best talents. She made the statement Saturday, at the official opening of registration for the Liberia Marathon completion for 2014, held at the Monrovia City Hall. Mayor Mvogo stressed the need to prioritize the annual marathon competition because it helps to strengthen and expose young talents in the country. She said the official date for this year’s marathon is August 31. The Chairperson of the 2014 organizing Committee, Eunice Dahn, said previous marathons involved about thousand runners, ranging from local and international participants, but this year’s marathon is targeting 3,000 registered runners, asserts the New Dawn daily.

Related Captions: “Marathon Brings Tourists” MCC Mayor(In Profile Daily), Hundreds Rush to Register for 3^rd Liberia Marathon(Daily Observer)

Lone Star out again

The Liberian national football team, the Lone Star has been sent out of the qualifying rounds of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 by the Crocodiles of Lesotho. The Lone star was sent out of the competition on a 2-1 goal aggregate after the second leg in Lesotho Sunday. The Liberia national football team was taken over by the Italian coach Robert Landi with just four days to the game, replacing Thomas Kojo who handled the first home match.  The southern African nation which managed a slim defeat in Monrovia some two weeks ago are now set to meet Kenya or the Comoros island before being place in the Group C with Angola, Burkina Faso, and Gabon for 2015 (AFCON), according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Liberia Eliminated By Lesotho (FOCUS),Lesotho Advance With Historic Win Over Liberia (INSIGHT), Liberia Out of AFCON (FrontPage Africa), Lesotho Shocks Liberia 2-0 (Daily Observer). In a related story under the caption Laffor Ends International Career, theFOCUS newspaper writes that Anthony Laffor has painfully ended his national team career following Liberia’s exit from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Liberia on Sunday lost 2-0 to the crocodiles of Lesotho. The result means Liberia lost on 3-1 on aggregate. Laffor said that the time has come for him to end his national team career and focus on club football. Laffor lamented that he is quitting the Lone Star because the government of Liberia and the Liberia Football Association has failed to fully support the nation`s proud and joy, the Lone Star in international competitions. "The LFA needs to look for new captain. My days are over. I have suffered for too long. I have done my part. I am not getting anything." Laffor said he is leaving to give other young players the chance to play for their motherland.

Related Caption: Lesotho Defeat Causes Laffor to Hang International Boots(INSIGHT)

Gov’t Builds 20 Public Toilets for Monrovia”

The General Services Agency (GSA) has completed the construction of 20 public toilets in several communities in the capital, Monrovia. The project implemented under the “Quick Impact Water and Sanitation Project” was started in February, 2014 and completed May, 2014. The project according to the FOCUS newspaper was carried out in collaboration with the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Finance Ministry and the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC). GSA Executive General, Mary Broh said the committee received US$ 325,000 to construct 22 toilets, but  constructed only 20 toilet s at a total cost of  US$313,000 while the balance US$12,000 was sent back  to government’s coffers.

Related Caption: Gov’t Builds 20 Public Toilets for Monrovia(INSIGHT)

Paynesville City Council Provides Free Medical Care For Residents

The FrontPage Africa newspaper writes that the Paynesville City Council (PCC) through its organized health fair has successfully completed the provision of free medical care to residents of the area. The Head of the Family Health Center Chessor Samukai one of the centers working with staffers of the PCC said her center formed part of the fair as a way of giving back to the community. "We are offering free services today, people are coming and they are coming to us, we are checking their malaria; their diabetes, this is something that is very, very important to do for the community”.  Dr. Samukai said it is important for people to know their health status adding that this will not be the last time for her center to partake in such a fair. Dr. Samukai explained that blood pressure, diabetes and malaria are the three major tests offered at her center. According to the head of Family Health Center those receiving treatment at the fair who have illness that need follow-up will receive fifty percent discount on their medical bill at the Family Health Center. FPA

Related Caption: Mayor Cyvette Gibson Crusade Continues—Successfully Completes Free Health Fair (National Chronicle)

Buchanan To Get Pipe-Borne Water Soon

According to the INSIGHT newspaper, work gear towards restoring treated pipe-borne water to the city of Buchanan in Grand Bassa Country commenced late last month with authorities of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) and their development partners breaking grounds. The ground breaking happened at the Local Government Administrative Building in the city where the contractors received the facilities to be rehabilitated in the county. The daily writes that at least US$40million has been allocated to Liberia by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the undertaking of water and sanitation across the country with US$6.1million being directly focused toward three cities to include: Buchanan, Kakata, and Zwedru. The rest of the US$40 million funding is expected to be managed to target areas that need the rehabilitation of water and sanitation in the country.

Related Caption: LWSC, AFDB Cut Sod In Buchanan(The Inquirer)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia: UN Begins Withdrawing Troops From Butuo

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Head of Field Office in Nimba County, Gibril A. Turay, has disclosed that the U.N. will today Monday, June 2, 20124 begin withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from Butuo, Nimba County. He made the disclosure at the celebration of International Day of UN Peacekeepers held last Thursday at the William V.S Tubman Hall in Sanniquellie, the provincial capital of Nimba County. Mr. Turay described the withdrawal from Butuo, where the Liberian civil conflict started in December 1989, as a turning point in history, noting that Nimba citizens will have to prove themselves as lovers of peace who hold their leaders accountable not through conflict, but by channeling their grievances based on respect for the rule of law. He urged citizens to liaise with security and public leaders to maintain law and order in the county, reports the Heritage newspaper.

UN official applauds Liberia ‘Blue Helmets’ role

The Heritage daily reports that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG), Karin Landgren, has praised Liberia for the participation of its military forces as ‘Blue Helmets’ in this year's celebration of International Peacekeepers’ Day. She said in June, the Armed Forces of Liberia will complete their first year of deployment to the peacekeeping operation in Mali, adding, “This contribution illustrates Liberia’s evolution from a peacekeeping beneficiary to a contributor to global peace and stability.” According to a press release issued in Monrovia Friday, the UN Special Representative made the commendation at programs marking International Peacekeeping Day held at the UN Compound in Monrovia. This year’s program was celebrated under the theme: “UN Peacekeeping: A Force for Peace, Change, The Future”. The release said Madam Landgren also congratulated the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) for the establishment of the BIN training Centre in Foya District, Lofa County. “As Liberia’s security transition advances steadily, the United Nations Mission in Liberia, (UNMIL), continues to work closely with the Liberia National Police, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary, among others, to strengthen their capacity to provide security to the population, and to strengthen the rule of law in Liberia,” Landgren said.

China Promises New Museum

The Director of the National Museum of Liberia, Albert Markey has disclosed the Government of the People’s Republic of China has offered to construct a new National Museum in Liberia. The New Democrat newspaper quotes as saying that the Chinese Government has requested the Liberian Government to make available a parcel of Land to construct the new museum at an estimated cost of US$1.5 million to be borne by the Chinese Government.