THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

Dominant stories on today's newsstand include the Legislature's One-Day Modernization Retreat and Bong County Senatorial Re-run.

Dominant Stories  

Legislature Holds One-Day Modernization Retreat 

A one-day retreat for revalidation of the Legislative Modernization Plan organized by the Joint Legislative Modernization Committee (JLMC) took place on Friday, August 28, 2015 at the Golden Key Hotel on ELWA Road, Paynesville. The one-day Joint Legislative Modernization Committee brought together key Senators and members of the House of Representatives and partners, including the Governance Commission, USAID and National Democratic Institute to review the Modernization plan for the Legislature to retake ownership as it had become dormant in the last couple of years. In his opening statement to the participants, the Chair of the Joint Legislative Modernization Committee (JLMC), River Gee County Senator Conmany B. Wesseh said that the retreat is the first step by his committee to ensure the revalidation of the Plan by the National Legislature, emphasizing that the Plan was a blue print for effective representation, law-making and oversight by the Legislature, The Informer newspaper writes.

Related Captions:Legislature Holds One-Day Modernization Retreat (Inquirer), Legislature Holds One-Day Modernization Retreat (Heritage) and Legislature Resumes Modernization Plan (In Profile Daily)

Bong Senatorial Re-run Scheduled for Sept. 29, Dr. Tokpa’s Announcement to Withdraw from Re-run not Necessarily Official

In spite of Dr. Tokpa’s public announcement that he would not participate in a re-run election for the Bong Senatorial seat, the National Elections Commission (NEC) will uphold the Supreme Court’s ruling to conduct a re-run in parts of Bong County on September 29. NEC is under instruction form the Supreme Court to hold a re-run of the Bong County instance of the December 2014 Special Senatorial Election, which was won by incumbent Senator Jewel Howard Taylor. Dr. Tokpa, another candidate in the race, protested the results of the December poll to the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor and mandated the Commission to redo the poll within 60 days following the high court’s August 7 ruling, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Caption:Jewel, Tokpa Re-Run(FrontPage Africa) and NEC Releases Date For Re-Run Of Bong Election(Heritage)

Other Stories  

More Liberians Leave for Education in China 

According to the Insight newspaper, Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Zhan Yue, has disclosed that Education is of great importance to Liberia. He said Liberia's President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has significantly placed emphasis on education as the cornerstone in the rebuilding process of Liberia with youth empowerment remaining the key to Liberia's transformation and prosperity. He made the statement Friday evening at the Chinese Embassy near Monrovia during the farewell reception for Chinese Scholarships beneficiaries 2015/2016 and "Cum Martial Arts", Chinese's Karate performances ceremony.

Related Caption:China Touts Role in Education(Daily Observer)

Gov't Urges To Facilitate Sales of Traditional Medicines

Traditional Medicines Practitioners (TMPs), organized under the banner Traditional Medicine Federation of Liberia (TRAMEDFOL) in Liberia, has called on central government and development partners to facilitate the use of traditional (complementary) medicines in the country. The group's acting President, Mr. Charles Golontay, said that the government should establish a national traditional referral hospital in the country in the same manner as it established the John F. Kennedy Medical Center for conventional medical practices. He spoke at a program marking the 13th commemoration of African Traditional Medicine Day which was observed under the theme: Regulation of Traditional Health Practitioners in WHO African Region, reports the Insight newspaper.

From United States’ MCC Compact: Liberia Poised to Get Over US$250M

Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh has disclosed that Liberia is making significant progress to attaining the United States government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. Speaking to Legislative Reporters at the weekend shortly after a closed door meeting with the leadership of Legislature, Minister Konneh described the MCC compact as significant to US-Liberia relationship. The Finance and Development Minister stated that the compact is intended to support Liberia’s energy and road sectors as well as building the capacity of the country to ensure that investment in those sectors are sustainable, Heritage reports.

Regional Confab on Rice Sufficiency Opens In Liberia

The Informer newspaper asserts that a sub-regional conference aimed at developing a strategy to increase rain-fed and upland rice production in the Mano river union basin opens yesterday August 31, 2015 in Monrovia with delegates from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and host Liberia in attendance. In his keynote address, Agriculture Minister designate, Dr. Moses Zinnah lauded leaders of the MRU basin for making agriculture a priority issue in their respective countries saying the production of rice has declined over the last few years in the sub-region something that could threatening the security of the MRU countries.

Gbarnga Clinic to Get US$300k Water Project

A non-governmental organization, Teamwork Africa, plans to provide a clean water facility worth over US$300,000 to a new clinic under construction along the Gbarnga-Melekie highway in Gog County. The clinic is being constructed by Dr. Jefferson Sibley, Medical Director of the Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County. The president of Team Work Africa, Pastor Peter Flomo, told the Liberia News Agency Friday that the initiative is intended to assist the clinic in the provision of healthcare services, Informer reports.