THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015

News of Liberia’s participation in the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh’s meeting with Madam Hela Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, the arrival of a US$30 million Palm oil mill equipment at the Greenville port and outgoing U.S. Ambassador Debora Malac assertion  on her stay in Liberia are the dominant stories in today’s local dailies.

Dominant Stories

Minister Konneh Meets Green Climate Fund Executive Director

The head of the Liberian delegation at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh has highlighted Liberia’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. During a meeting with Madam Hela Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on the side lines of the Paris Conference, Minister Konneh indicated that the growing sea level has led to the intrusion of the sea in most of the coastal communities leading to the destruction of lives and infrastructures.  According to a dispatch, Minister Konneh also identified the degradation of the Mesurrado River in Monrovia, noting its discoloration and stressed the importance of the GCF Financial Support for concrete climate change adaptation projects in strengthening the resilience of the country to climate change. The Liberian head of delegation further underscored the need to strengthen national institutions of higher learning to develop curricula that will train young people to ensure the protection of the climate and the environment. “The government is concern about sustained public awareness for the people of Liberia to capacitate young folks, especially to become Climate Ambassadors.” Minister Konneh emphasized. In response, the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund who appreciated Minister Konneh for highlighting Liberia’s case, assured him that The Fund was established for vulnerable countries like Liberia to address national adaptation and mitigation activities. Madam Hela Cheikhrouhou indicated that the Fund was looking forward to ensure that Liberia benefits from its Readiness and Support Program as the first major step to ensure stakeholders’ consultations and at the same time, to strengthen relevant institutions prior to the development, approval and execution of projects on the ground. Minister Konneh who is also the Board Chair of the Environmental Protection Agency was accompanied to the meeting by Liberia's Ambassador to France, H.E. C. William Allen, Anyaa Vohiri, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) Harrison Karnwea, Forestry Development Authority Managing Director, Senator Morris Saytumah and some members of the Liberian delegation to the Paris Climate Change Conference, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: Konneh, Green Climate Fund Executive Director Hold Talks(The NEWS), Konneh Holds Talks with Green Climate Fund Executive Director(In Profile Daily), Minster Konneh Meets Green Climate Fund Executive Director(FrontPage Africa), Konneh Meets With GCF Boss In Paris(The New Dawn)

GVL Imports US$30M Palm Oil Mill Equipment

Authorities of  National Port Authority (NPA) has said that a shipment of mill equipment valued at US$30 million has arrived at the Samuel A. Russ Port in Greenville, Sinoe County. The multi-million dollar consignment of equipment, according to NPA, was shipped to Liberia by Golden Veroleum Liberia Limited (GVL) in anticipation of the construction of a Palm Oil processing plant in the southeastern region. The equipment is also meant for the construction of a bucking station in the Greenville port facility. An NPA press statement issued yesterday quoted GVL authorities, saying that the equipment was shipped to Liberia upon the request of Vice President Joseph Boakai when he visited GVL headquarters in Indonesia. NPA said the first of four vessels shipping the mill equipment has already berthed and is currently being discharged at the Port of Greenville, and that additional shipments are expected to follow shortly reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Ship Berths At Greenville Port(In Profile Daily), Milling Equipment Arrives In Greenville(FrontPage Africa), GVL Imports Mill Equipment(The New Dawn), Milling Equipment Arrives In Greenville(FrontPage Africa)

U.S. Envoy Ends Duty Here

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac, has underscored the need to strengthen Liberia’s weak justice system to enable the country move forward. Addressing a press conference Thursday, 3rd December at the U.S. Embassy near Monrovia in what are her departing comments as she ends her tour of duties here in the next two weeks, Ambassador Malac said for the past years she has been in Liberia, she observed the justice system is very weak. The U.S. Envoy said corruption is an issue that people raise in many different ways and it is a major issue that the government cannot fight alone. According to her, it requires the help of all Liberians to combat corruption because the practice is everywhere in Liberia and every citizen should play a role in the fight, while emphasizing the need for the government to improve its prosecuting arm. She however stressed the need for the police to get out of Monrovia so citizens in other parts of the county can feel the presence of the police too. When asked to give her view on the next President of Liberia, Ambassador Malac said the United States of America does not have anything to do with who wins election here and does do not encourage or favor a specific candidate for the presidency of Liberia, but is willing to work with whoever wins the election. The Ambassador said she enjoyed her stay in Liberia and was sad to leave the country, but promised to forever remember Liberia wherever she goes to take up her next assignment, adding that the next U.S. Ambassador coming to Liberia will also enjoy his or her stay in the country like she did. 

Related Captions: “US Does Not Endorse Candidates In Election”…Amb. Malac(The INQUIRER), U.S. Ambassador Bids Farewell…To Liberia(The NEWS), ‘US Does Not Endorse Candidates In Any Country’ Outgoing Ambassador Malac(Daily Observer), Parting Comments, Outgoing United States Envoy Sees Lingering Threats, Cites Definite Position On Improving Economy(FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Postal Ministry Dedicates New Office In Gbarpolu

According to theNew Dawnnewspaper, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has dedicated a newly constructed post office in Bopolu city, Gbarpolu County. The facility is intended to adequately enable students of the county have access to programs of the ministry. The project, which is in line with the Ministry’s goal to take service delivery to citizens in rural Liberia, is the second post office recently dedicated as part of the Ministry’s rural postal expansion plan mandated by the Universal Postal Union or UPU. Addressing citizens, students, county officials at the dedicatory ceremony held over the weekend in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, Liberia’s Postmaster General and Minister of Posts, Dr. Frederick B. Norkeh, urged citizens, especially within the business and educational sectors of the county to make maximum use of the postal delivery services available to enhance trade, improve writing skills of students and takeover full ownership of the Post Office to help protect and maintain its cleanliness and beauty. He disclosed that the Bopolu Post Office is a prototype of what other post offices to be built across the country will look like.

US$3.2M Road Project Underway

Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh says the completion and dedication of the 55-kilometer pave road linking Gbarma to Weasua by the Government of Liberia will enhance economic activities in Gbarpolu County. According to MFDP release, Minister Konneh made the statement at the groundbreaking ceremony of the road project held in Tekpeimah on Saturday, the NEWS newspaper reports.

Liberia Qualified To Operate World Youth Alliance Chapter  

The World Youth Alliance (WAY) has qualified Liberia to establish its Chapter following a citification of a Liberian youth Jarius Andrew Greaves who completed the Certified Track “A” Training Course with the Alliance. An award ceremony was held Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia, where the Liberia Youth received a certificate of award for completing the Certified Track A Training Course with the World Youth Alliance (WAY) that was presented to him by Montserrado County Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, on behalf of the WAY’s regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya, reports the In Profile Daily.

I-Earn Recruits Students For 2016 Program in US

According to the In Profile Daily, I-Earn, a not-for-profit Liberian organization, has completed the recruitment of students for next year’s Kennedy Lugar Youth and Study program in the United States. Eight Liberian students are due to leave the country by August next year for the United States of America where they will spend one academic year. The students all 10th graders, are due to participate in a one year high school study program under the Kennedy- Lugar Youth Exchange and Study.

Hydro Project 1st Unit To Be Completed Next Dec.

The head of the Mount Coffee Hydropower project, Mr. Bill Hakin, has closed that tremendous efforts are being made to ensure that Liberia’s hydro project be completed at the proposed time. Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, Mr. Hakin assured that the first portion (Unit) of the hydropower will be completed by December 16, 2016 and will be prepared to distribute electricity but he could not state specific areas to benefit, writes the INQUIRER newspaper.