THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

News of the Liberia’s planned strategies to take charge of its security as UNMIL draws down, the return of Exxon Mobil to the Country with a renewed commitment to oil exploration and the development of the sector on the world market and the dedication of the first ever motorbike parking station in Monrovia by the Paynesville City Corporation are among stories dominating today’s edition of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Govt. Outlines Takeover Strategies

The Liberian Government has outlined strategies to assume full security at its various borders with neighboring Guinea, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone to meet the June 30, 2016 deadline set by the UN Security Council for the country to assume full control of its security as UNMIL draws down. Outlining the strategies Thursday in a press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism on Capitol Hill, Justice Minister and Attorney General, Benedict Sannoh, said in order to assume control of eight strategic activities from UNMIL, focus is being placed on counties along the Liberia/Ivory Coast; Liberia/Guinea, and Liberia/Sierra Leone border corridor, specifically, Sinoe, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh; Maryland; River Gee; Bong; and Gbarpolu Counties, respectively. Minister Sannoh said to address the challenges in these counties and assume control over the eight activities from UNMIL, government is moving on three tracks, including “Operational effectiveness” and “Institutional strengthen.” He said the former requires training of officers, deployment of officers throughout these counties at the County, District, and Chiefdom level, providing them full set of uniforms, equipment and logistics including transportation, communications, lethal and non-lethal weapons, and ammunition, with the view to improve service delivery, while the latter involves exerting efforts to ensure the appropriate legal framework, policies, and regulatory frameworks are in place and that appropriate institutional arrangements and structural reforms are put in place, the New Dawn newspaper reports.

Related Captions: Liberia Prepares For UNMIL Drawdown-Justice Minister Outlines Plans(In Profile Daily), Internal Security Threat Justice Minister Sannoh Says Pervasive Poverty Exposing Liberia To Danger(FrontPage Africa), Gov’t Targets US$38m For Security Transition(The INQUIRER)

Exxonmobil Returns After Ebola

According to the New Dawn newspaper, US oil giant Exxon Mobil has returned to the Country with a renewed commitment to oil exploration and the development of the sector in spite of plummeting prices on the world market. Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has hailed the Exxon Mobil return describing it as a clear demonstration of investor's confidence, while the world continues to be reeling from dwindling prices on the global market. Speaking during a courtesy call at her Foreign Ministry office Thursday she noted that although the work of ExxonMobil was in part hampered by the outbreak of the Ebola crisis, the company’s return, which is characterized by the reopening of its Liberia offices, was reassuring and indicative of genuine partnership. An Executive Mansion releases said, earlier, ExxonMobil-Liberia new Country Manager, Mr. Steve P. Buck, said his scope of work would concentrate on mobilizing the necessary logistics as well as put together a math-based computer model for deep water oil drilling towards the end of next year. He indicated that ExxonMobil was determined to fully comply with environmental regulations geared towards the acquisition of appropriate permits to facilitate the company’s operations in Liberia. 

Related Captions:  Ellen Hails ExxonMobil…Say Return Symbolizes Investor’s Confidence(Heritage), President Sirleaf Hails ExxonMobil…Say Return Symbolizes Investor’s Confidence (The ANALYST)

PCC Inaugurates First Motorbike Station

The Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) has dedicated the first ever motorbike parking station in Monrovia. The modern terminal was dedicated yesterday in the A. B. Tolbert Road community by Vice President Joseph N. Boakai. The dedication of the hub is in gradual fulfillment of a request made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the PCC at the dedication of the Du-port Road Park for the construction of a terminal that would shelter the cyclists from heavy rain and the scorching sun. The area consists of a parking lot, washing station, event spot, garbage can and a latrine. There are 55 bikes that need a terminal or parking station at various major junctions in the city. According to Paynesville City Mayor, Cyvette Gibson, they would soon receive a newly erected hub.  “At the Du-Port Road Park dedication, President Sirleaf challenged the city government to create an enabling environment for pen-pen riders – a place that would bring sanity to their jobs. It is in fulfillment of challenge that we embarked on this project,” Mayor Gibson said. She said that with the construction of the terminal on the A. B. Tolbert Road, commercial motorcyclists will relocate from the ELWA Junction thereby promoting the free flow of traffic. The terminal will also create a safe and clean environment for over 150 bike riders and their passengers. According to Mayor Gibson, the construction of the hub, which will gradually be replicated across the city, is a significant step towards integrating the municipality’s motorcyclists into the formal sector. “This safe and organized hub will be replicated throughout the city,” she promised, adding that employment opportunities will come with the construction of each hub. “We are also creating employment for one monitor and evaluation person who will man the premises on a daily basis,” she added, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Veep Boakai Dedicates Motorcycle Parking Station In Paynesville (FrontPage Africa), ‘We Must Encourage Every Sector Of The Economy’-VP Boakai Lauds Pems, PCC Partnership(Daily Observer)  

“Lone Star Give Us Victory” Thousands To Witness World Cup Qualifier Match Today 

In a matter of hours, the whistle will set in motion the highly anticipated match between Liberia’s national football team, Lone Star, and the Elephants of La Cote d’Ivoire in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup group qualifier at the sold out Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) in Monrovia. But while the Liberia Football Association (LFA) was gearing up for the match, two tragedies struck: first, its president, Musa Hassan Bility, suffered rejection by FIFA’s Electoral Committee for the February 6, 2016 elections. The committee said Mr. Bility failed its integrity check, but gave no further explanation. The second tragedy was the death of Secretary General B. Alphonso Armah, who was buried yesterday. Although the two calamities overwhelmed the LFA, as evidenced by the melancholy that settled over staff at its headquarters, Coach James Salinsa Debbah, Anthony Laffor, William Jebor, whose miraculous hat-trick against Guinea Bissau in the same competition has rejuvenated Liberian football, told journalists that they are ready to write their names in history. In remarks during a program held at the headquarters of the primary sponsor of the national team, Cellcom GSM, on Capitol Bypass, Jebor said “We know Ivorians in African football and so we recognize that, but we also recognize our own worth in this game.” He credited God for the new focus that Liberian football is demonstrating and declared, “We will give Liberians victory!” Coach Debbah was overwhelmed when he acknowledged, “this game today is no exception to the ones we have played so far. We are prepared for this match to give a new dimension to Liberians’ understanding of the game.” Anthony Laffor said, “We are here to give the Liberians what will make them smile. This is the time for Liberians to be happy and on behalf of my colleagues we will play our best to give them victory”, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Double Blow For Liberia…LFA SG Dies, President Disqualified(Heritage), Bility Rejected As FIFA Presidential Candidate-After Failing Integrity Checks(The INQUIRER), Double Misfortunes FIFA Rejects Bility’s Bid As LFA Secretary General Alphonso Armah Passes From Labor To Rest (FrontPage Africa), Musa Bility Rejected(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES  

Legislature To Scrutinize Referendum In Ganta Several Persons to Give Expert Opinions 

The agenda for the referendum on the crucial change in the 1986 Liberian Constitution will be finalized by the House of Representatives at the end of an upcoming five-day Constitutional Proposed Amendment Retreat sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), House Speaker J. Alex Tyler has said. Speaker Tyler and 34 other Representatives of the 15 sub-division of the country are expected to meet in the commercial city of Ganta, Nimba County, from Tuesday, November 17 to Saturday, November 21, 2015 to make the crucial decision. The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Good Governance, Election and Inauguration, Nimba County Electoral District #8 Rep. Larry Younquoi, said in a major press conference yesterday that the five-day retreat would allow the lawmakers to dissect the 25 proposals from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), which were compiled after consultations throughout the country’s 73 Electoral Districts as well as in selected foreign countries where large numbers of Liberians reside. He said the House will also put the President’s proposals under spotlight. The Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Nimba County Electoral District #7 Rep. Worlea Sayway Dunah, said the Lawmakers’ decision to set the agenda for the Referendum would be done based on the opinions of experts.  According to him, former Solicitor General and Labor Minister of Liberia, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, and Law Professor Nevada Ricks will give their respective expert opinions.  Land and Environmental Advocate, Cllr. Alfred Brownell, the President of the Liberia Business Association (LIBA), Dee-Maxwell Kemayan, as well as former Senator and former Chief Justice, Cllr. Gloria Scott, who is also Chairman of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC), will also give their opinions, reports the Daily Observer.

Agric Minister Pledges Gov’t’s Support To Local Farmers

Agriculture Minister Dr. Moses Zinnah has pledged government’s support to farmers to enhance food production in Liberia. The Agriculture Minister made the pledged Thursday at the National Stakeholders Dialogue organized by the Ministry of Agriculture collaboration with the Food and Agriculture organization and the World Food Program to commemorate World Food Day, Heritage newspaper writes.

Related Caption: ‘Population Depends On Agriculture’-Says Minister Zinnah(In Profile Daily)

‘No Excuse For Deficiency’ – VP Boakai Decries Food Insufficiency

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai says there is no excuse in the deficiency of Liberia in food production, noting that minimizing poverty within the environment of subsistence farm requires greater focus towards enhancing the technical capacity of caring for crop. He made the statement Thursday at the program marking the World Food Day Celebration held at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor, the Analyst newspaper reports.  

EU Market Promotion Showcase Value Added Products on World Food Day 

The EU sponsor Cassava Market promotion will show case Cassava Value Added products at the World Food Day Program in CARI, Bong County on November 16, 2015. The show case is part of the Cassava market promotion strategy driven by the National Cassava Sector Coordinating Committee (NCSCC) with support from the EU through ZOA and ADRA. Products to be show case include Gari, Cassava Bread, Cassava Cake, Achekeh, Super Gari, Cassava Flour, Cassava Chip and Cassava Salad as well as fresh cassava, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

LNP Needs To Take Responsibility – UN Deputy SRSG

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Deputy SRSG for Rule of Law Waldemar Very said Liberia is left with eight months to take responsibility of its own security sector. Speaking at the Information Ministry regular briefing, he said Government plan is closely aligned with the phased drawdown of UNMIL. He also said that the Government’s transition plan covers far more than the transfer of residual tasks still performed by the Mission.

PUL Remembers Fallen Liberian Journalist

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has announced the signing of remembrance of Journalist Hilary Vasco Wiagbe of the Liberia News Agency (LINA). Mr. Wiagbe died in Monrovia on October 27, 2015 after a brief illness, age 55, The signing will be led by President and Members of the Press Union of Liberia, and the officers and staff of the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs & Tourism and the Liberia News Agency (LINA), among others, Heritage reports.

Related Caption: PUL Remembers Wiagbe-Opens Book Of Condolence(The Analyst)

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