BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

Today’s edition of our news summary highlights stories about The Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission stressing the need for Public Procurement Training Impacts to be assessed ; LEC organizing Community Leadership Conference as well as the launching of the third distribution of teaching and learning materials by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Education among other stories.

DOMINANT STORIES

PPCC Boss Wants Public Procurement Training Impacts Assessed   

The Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Atty. Jargbe Roseline Nagbe Kowo, says the Commission would endeavor to develop a comprehensive directory/database to track the impacts of CIPS training program in Liberia. She said such initiative will also provide analysis to determine the achievements and challenges of CIPS program since its inception in Liberia. Atty. Kowo made the assertions Monday, August 26, 2019, at the start of CIPS Level 3 back-to-back training sessions in Sinkor, Monrovia. The training targets 70 participants drawn mainly from government ministries, agencies and autonomous commissions. The participants have been grouped into two sessions, pens the News newspaper.

Related Caption: PPCC Boss Wants Public Procurement Training Impacts Assessed (Daily Observer) PPCC Boss Cautions Procurement Officer to Adhere To Good Practices(The Heritage)                                                                                                                                           

LEC Holds Community Leadership Confab

A first one day Community Leadership Conference under the Liberia Electricity Corporation ‘Transformers Replacement Program’, held at the Mamba Point Hotel has ended in Monrovia, with a call to community leaders to explain to their constituents the importance of residents of Monrovia taking ownership of all LEC equipment provided to them within its Network areas across Montserrado County. A release said the first one day meeting which brought together about 60 (sixty) community leaders was aimed at informing and educating community leaders to take charge of LEC installations as a means of combating power theft and putting power thieves out of business through a robust community driven approach, having them fully involved in this fight against theft of power which is depriving the corporation of its lawful revenue and to strengthen cordiality between the corporation and community dwellers thru their leaders , pens the News newspaper.

Related Caption: LEC Holds ‘Transformers Replacement Program “Workshop (Hot Pepper)

USAID, MOE Launch TLMs Read Liberia Activity 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Education on Monday, August 26, 2019, launched the third distribution of teaching and learning materials Read Liberia Activity. The program which brought together teachers and delegates from both USAID and MOE was held at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center in Paynesville, near Monrovia.

Speaking at the program, the Assistant Minister of Ministry of Education, Felecia Doe-Sumah said she is exultant for the partnership the ministry has with USAID for the program. She disclosed that the Ministry of Education recently brought in supplementary materials for teachers in order to make their teaching easy. Madam Doe-Sumah said teachers have to go through series of trainings so they can be knowledgeable of materials and lessons they are giving out to students, the News newspaper relates 

Related Caption: At the Launch of Distribution of Teaching, Learning materials: USAID Liberia Mission Director Underscores Importance of Early reading (TheHeritage)                                                                                                                                           

Other stories  

President Weah Warns Political Leaders Says They Will Be Held Accountable 

Political leaders will be held accountable for disruptive behaviors regardless of their political affiliations,” President George Weah has warned in his latest statement in the wake of the recent elections related violent incidents in District Number 15, Montserrado County. In a speech broadcast on state radio last Friday, the Liberian leader emphatically spoke of the importance for the populace to keep the society peaceful at all times, as every citizen enjoys fundamental and constitutional rights, including the right to choose their leaders in electoral processes. “As I said recently, electoral violence in any form will not be tolerated. Any individual who disrupts the peace will face the full weight of the law. This includes not only the perpetrators but also those who incite and promote hatred and violence because they bear the greater responsibility, therefore they are equally culpable for ensuring mayhem and destruction,” he added. Some unwholesome incidents have ensued in District Number 15 over by-election between people loyal to main rival candidates Abu Kamara of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Telia Urey of the All Liberian Party (ALP), the News newspaper writes

30 Liberian Students Leave for Studies to China

Thirty Liberian students on Thursday, August 22, 2019 departed the country to pursue various degree programs in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the two countries seek to enhance educational exchanges and cooperation. The scholarship is part of China-Liberia Bilateral Education Agreement where students will be allowed to obtain masters and PhDs. “Tonight, I am happy to host the reception to see off the Liberian students, and to present the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship to related Liberian universities,” Ambassador FU Jijun said. “I have the honor and pleasure to welcome all of you to be here at the reception at the Chinese Embassy,” Ambassador FU Jijun added,Daily Observer newspaper writes  

Liberia: NPHIL Holds 2nd Emmet A. Dennis National Science Conference Today                                                                                                            

The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) will on Tuesday, August 27 host the second phase of the Emmet A. Dennis National Science Conference in Monrovia with focus on the theme: Strengthening Global Health Security – the Liberian Experience. The Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference is an annual event that showcases local capacity for public health research and practice, as well as features outstanding international researchers. Dr. Dennis is a world-renowned scientist and former president of the University of Liberia. He is also the founder of the Liberia Institute of Biomedical Research  The conference will encapsulate sub-themes, including – One Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Non-zoonotic infectious diseases, Non-communicable diseases, social science health research, and health systems research , the Newsnewspaper writes.                                                                                                                                                                    

FDA Leaps With Flying Colors…Obtains EU EURO 3.4M Support to VIP

MOROVIA: The Independent writes, the European Union (EU) has provided EURO 3.4 to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) through the government of Liberia in support of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), a trade arrangement that has existed between the two parties since 2013. This gesture, representing the EU’s support to the forestry sector is a long term Technical Assistance aimed at implementing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement/ Forestry Law Enforcement Government and Trade (VPA-FLEGT).  EU Ambassador to Liberia Hélène Cavé made the disclosure Tuesday August 20, 2019 in Monrovia darning program marking the official launch of Phase II of the agreement which has a lifespan of three years.  She said basically this technical assistance will support the Forestry Development Authority as lead agency as well other actors in the Forestry sector including the Liberia Implementation Committee, the National Multi Stakeholder Monitoring Committee, and the VPA Secretariat, amongst others.  According to her, the EU’s commitment towards that goal remains the same after more than five years of working hand in hand with the government of Liberia.

Commerce Quarantines Harmful Liquor Processing Facility

MONROVIA: According to the Independent release, the Ministry of Commerce Ministry release, the ministry took the decision following a rigorous inspection exercise executed by the Inspectorate division of the institution along with the Liberia National Police (LNP). The release furthered that over 900 (nine hundred) cartons of illegally processed alcoholic beverages were discovered in a warehouse in the Vai Town area during the inspection exercise. The over nine hundred cartons contained variety of the alcoholic beverages which are said to be harmful. Some of the ‘contaminated’ beverages includes: E-Roberts Dry Gin, Legacy Bitters and duplicated Mandingo Bitters. At the same time, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry removed and subsequently transferred over 13, 55gallons barrels of ethanol to the National Standards Laboratory at the Public Works Ministry yard in Monrovia for testing. A Commerce Ministry release says through the business is a registered entity; there are no available records to show its importation information. Moreover, the quarantined illegal processing facility does not meet distillery requirements.