THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2015

The commissioning of a new US$5.7 million PET (plastic) bottling line and the launching of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s five new Water Health Centers dominants today's stories on the newsstand.

Other stories include the Swedish Government’s renewing of commitments to support Liberia’s implementation of the national Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance.

DOMINANT STORY

Coca-Cola Unveils US5.7 Million Investment Here

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has challenged Liberians to create the enabling environment for businesses investing in this country to feel safe, expand and grow.  “It will not work if people are going to destroy businesses; it’s not going to work with placards all over the place; it’s not going to work unless businesses know and have confidence in our policies, laws and in the way that we do things,” she cautioned.  She made the comment when she officially commissioned a new US$5.7 million PET (plastic) bottling line, a new science and technology school and officially launched the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s five new Water Health Centers that will provide safe water access to over 61,000 Liberians at the Liberia Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Duport Road, respectively, She further urged the Coca-Cola Company to bring in a juice manufacturing plant that will have juices made in Liberia for domestic consumption and possible export to other countries. “All these years for Liberia not to have a juice producing plant is totally unacceptable,” she said, adding that now is the time to create that plant for the production of juices for us too. She thanked all those who made it possible to see the dream of Coca-Cola Company become a reality.   For his part, the Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer of Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Alex Cummings said, “Liberia may have been fractured by the tragedy of Ebola over the last year but its spirit of optimism, ambition and progress will never be broken.”  He pointed out that Coca-Cola has been ever-present in Liberia for over 65 years and their commitment to investing  in economic and social initiatives remains as strong as ever as they increase their contribution to supporting sustainable growth of both their business and the communities they serve, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Coca Cola Raising The Bar In Liberia President Sirleaf Commission US$5.7 Million Coca-Cola Company In Liberia; Describes the new Economic And Social Initiative As First Vote Of Confidence After Ebola(FrontPage Africa), ‘Coca-Cola Facilities Environment-Friendly’ Company Executive VP Declares(Daily Observer), Ellen Commissions US$5.7 Million Coca-Cola Company Investment In Liberia(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

Swedish Gov't Renews Support To Decentralization

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden accredited to Liberia, Ambassador Lena Nordstrom, has renewed commitment of her government’s support for the implementation of the national Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance. The Ambassador underscored the importance of decentralization; saying, her office will do everything possible to begin releasing funds before the end of this year in support to the country’s decentralization program. “Decentralization is an important program to us, we are convinced of its impact on the population, that is why we will ensure funds be ready before the end of the year,” Ms. Nordström reiterated. According to a release, the Swedish envoy gave the assurance when she met with Acting Internal Affairs Minister Varney A. Sirleaf at his Capitol Hill office on Tuesday, Speaking earlier, Acting Internal Affairs Minister, Hon. Varney Sirleaf thanked the Swedish Government through its International Development Agency (SIDA) for committing to the decentralization agenda. He briefed Ambassador Nordström on the strategy by government through the Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) to establish County Service Centers in all 15 Counties. Acting Minister Sirleaf assured that the Internal Affairs Ministry will work closely with the Swedish Embassy on key programs including the peace building and reconciliation drive throughout the Country.

Related Caption: Sweden Committed To Liberia’s Decentralization Policy(FrontPage Africa)

UNDP Completes Phase one of EVD Support to Health Facilities

As part of its EVD response program, a UNDP Technical Team set up to oversee the autoclave installation has completed phase one of the delivery and installation of six autoclaves to medical facilities across the Country. With the delivery and installation of these pressure chamber and sterilized equipment, hospitals like the Tellewoyan health facility in Lofa County for the first time, now have a machine to help manage medical and non-medical wastes. This project is part of UNDP’s support to health recovery, helping to ‘build back better’ following the devastating Ebola outbreak, ensuring that clinical wastes are sterilized and disposed of in an eco-friendly manner throughout the country, the In Profile Daily writes.

Related Caption: UNDP Completes Phase One Of EVD Support To Health Facilities(Heritage)

GVL Boosts Employment in Tartweh-Drapoh Community, Sinoe County

Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) has employed and additional seven citizens from the Tartweh-Drapoh Community, Sinoe County, bringing the total employment in this community to 107. The seven employees have all been placed in key positions at the company estate in Kpanyan Statutory District, Sinoe County. With a commitment to work in the interest of the company and community, GVL’s General Manager for Human Resources, Eric Goll, said the seven persons who have commenced work will undergo two weeks of training in their respective positions before fully taking up their assignments, the In Profile Daily Writes.

Related Caption: GVL Employs Additional Staff(Daily Observer)

Charcoal Union Embarks on 5-year plan

The National Charcoal Union of Liberia (NACUL) has embarked on a five-year strategic plan with which the organization will work from 2015 to 2020. If it is adopted as soon as possible. In this direction, NACUL has held a two-day forum to review the draft document. Held on Friday-Saturday (October 23-24, 2015) in Duport Road, the forum brought together officials of NACUL and other stakeholders. Nellie A. Attidigha of the Women NGO Secretariat led the draft document, which is taking into consideration: background of NACUL, the role of charcoal producers in conflict resolution, peace-building and development, strategic partners, NACUL operation, lobbying and advocacy, information, experience sharing and dissemination, training and capacity building, NACUL SWOT analysis, core values, objectives, relevant government ministries and agencies as well as legislative strengthening, among others, the In Profile Daily newspaper writes.

USAID-GEMS To Support GoL Economic Management System

An official of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Governance Economic Management Support Program (GEMS) has assured his entity’s continued, support to the government’s Economic Management system. Anthony Chan, USAID-GEMS Mission Director, gave the assurance Tuesday during the launch of the Assist Management Operations Manual of the General Services Agency (GSA) held at the Monrovia City Hall, reports the News newspaper.

Top Rotarian Visits Liberia set to Tour Several Project Sites

A back page story of the Heritage newspaper reads that The Governor of the Rotary Club International District 9101 has embarked on a three-day visit is intended to give moral support to fellow Rotarians, and at the same time encourage them to continue to do more good things, which they have been doing for the nation and its people. ‘I am also here to encourage them to do more good things, which they have been doing already. I will also be offering some advice to them as they move on to further manage the Rotary Clubs”, she stated.