THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

The appointment of Mrs. Nyanda Finda Davis as Director of Passports & Visas at the Foreign Ministry, the National Elections Commission’s December 20, 2014 date set for Special Senatorial Election, the United Nations Population Fund US$300,000 donation to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Chinese Rubber Company 50,000 pairs of disposable medical protection gloves to aid in the fight against Ebola virus are stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies    

DOMINANT STORIES

Foreign Ministry Gets New Passport Director

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has officially approved the appointment of Mrs. Nyanda Finda Davis as Director of Passports & Visas, a role she acted in for the last few months.The INSIGHT newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying the President‘s approval for the appointment followed a recommendation from Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for Mrs. Davis to assume the responsibility after effectively serving in said capacity as Acting Director for Passports and Visas for several months.The release added that the President’s concurrence with Minister Ngafuan’s proposal is due to Mrs. Davis’ career path as a young professional, and the testimonials of her level of dedication, commitment and ability to deliver on assigned task. Meanwhile, her appointment will take immediate effect. Prior to her appointment to the new portfolio, Mrs. Davis served as Deputy Director for Passport & Visas at the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, where she efficiently and effectively managed and supervised the administration of Liberian Biometric Passports both in Liberia and at Liberia’s diplomatic missions across the world. Before coming to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Davis served as Technical Analyst, President’s Young Professional, Office of the Minister of Finance where she was analyzing Debt and Aid Management in the Office of the Minister of Finance and providing technical support to the Aid and Debt Management Units of the Ministry of Finance; at the Finance Ministry she served as Secretary to the National Budget Committee and the Debt Management Committee. The new Passport Director, who is a graduate of the Cuttington University Graduate School, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Finance and obtained an undergraduate Bachelor Degree in Accounting (BA) from the Cuttington University.

Related Captions: Foreign Ministry Gets New Passport Director(Daily Observer), Foreign Ministry Gets New Passport Director(The News), President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Appoints New Passport Director(FOCUS), Foreign Ministry Gets New Passport Director(Public Agenda), Ellen Endorses Finda Davis As Liberia’s New Passport Director(The Reporter), Foreign Ministry Gets New Passport(FrontPage Africa),  New Passport Director Appointed(The New Republic)

New Election Date: Dec. 20 No Street Parades, NEC Warns

Daily Observerreports that the National Elections Commission, NEC has set Saturday, December 20, 2014 for the holding of the Special Senatorial Elections and not December 16, as was previously announced, NEC indicated yesterday in Monrovia. According to a press statement, NEC took the decision in collaboration with political parties and independent candidates at an urgently arranged meeting at the Commission’s headquarters in Sinkor, Monrovia.  “The decision to reschedule the election from December 16 to December 20, 2014, is intended to compensate for time lost as a result of the Stay Order imposed on the election and campaign activities by the Supreme Court,” the electoral body said. The daily writes that NEC maintained that the new date is in “consonance with Joint Resolution #002 recently adopted by the Legislation”. Joint Resolution #002 mandated the Commission to hold consultation with stakeholders aimed at deciding a new date since October 14 due to onslaught of the Ebola virus in Liberia. The 53^rd National Legislature’s Joint Resolution instructed the Commission to decide a new date of polling no later than December 20, 2014.

Related Captions: December 20 Set For Senatorial Election(FOCUS), Who Wins On December 20?(New Democrat), Election Set For December 20-NEC Confirms(Public Agenda), Elections Set For Saturday-Supreme Court Throws Petition Out(The New Dawn), NEC Rescheduled Election For December 20^th(FrontPage Africa)

UNFPA Donates 2 Cooling Trucks To NDS -As Health Ministry now Envisages Post-Ebola

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Friday donated two cooling trucks to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) for use by the National Drugs Service (NDS). The vehicles, which are valued at US$300,000, are expected to be used in the storage and distribution of drugs and medical supplies to health facilities around the country. Welcoming the UNFPA delegation to the Health Ministry, Dr. Saye Baawo, Assistant Health Minister stated that if the nation’s health system, which was completely shattered and exposed by the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD), is to be strengthened and rebuilt post Ebola, then the donation is among other essential things the Ministry envisages. Also speaking, UNFPA Resident Representative to Liberia, Dr. Remi Sogunro, said that in the last five years, gains had been made in the health sector, particularly in maternal and newborn healthcare delivery, “until March of this year when almost every gain that we have made went into the waters”. Dr. Sogunro stated that his agency and the Health Ministry had conducted a survey about the availability of drugs and medical supplies at every health facility around the country. Receiving the keys to the trucks, Mr. Matthew Flomo, Deputy Health Minister for Administration, recounted the Ministry’s long partnership history with the specialized UN Agency and assured the UNFPA Family that their donation will long be remembered by both the Ministry and NDS, according to the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: NDS Gets Refrigerated Trucks…From UNPFA(The News), UNFPA Presents 2 Renault Trucks To NDS(The New Dawn)

Chinese Rubber Company

The ZiBo Hongye  Shangquin Plastic and Rubber Co. also  known as Hong Chin Plastic and Rubber Co., based in Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, has made a donation of 50,000 pairs of disposable  medical protect on gloves  to aid in the fight against Ebola virus.      The General Manager, Mr. James Ren, in his presentation thanked Liberia Ambassador D. Mckinley Thomas for   his recent visit to the company’s headquarters in Shandong Province and stated that the decision by the Company to make the donation was in response to the Liberia addressed to the World by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,. Which has shared with them by the Ambassador during his visit Continuing, Mr. Ren stated, “Hong Chin Plastic and Rubber Company as a responsible and caring global corporate citizen which would like   demonstrate support for the new Ambassador and his country by helping to stop the Ebola disease from spreading further, and therefore we will in adding to donating these gloves also pay their shipment to Liberia”, reports the New Republic newspaper.

Related Captions: Chinese Company Makes Donation To Ebola Fight(The News), Chinese Rubber Company Makes Donation To Ebola Fight(FOCUS), Chinese Rubber Company Donates To Ebola Fight(Public Agenda), Chinese Rubber Company Makes Donation To Ebola Fight(FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Stay Order Lifted, Supreme Court Cites Separation Of Powers

According to the Daily Observer, the Supreme Court of Liberia late Saturday afternoon ruled to lift the Stay Order it earlier imposed on all activities relating to the Special Senatorial Elections scheduled for December 16 this year.  The decision was reached in a 3 against and 2 in favor of the Stay Order.  Those in favor of the Stay Order -- Associate Justices Philip Banks and Kabineh Ja'Neh -- argued that the Ebola epidemic, due to which the State of Emergency was declared, resulting in the suspension of several constitutional rights, including the postponement of the October 14 Special Senatorial Elections, still exists. They further argued that the National Elections Commission has so far not put in place any safety measures relating to campaign activities, which are expected to create large gatherings of people, and pose a threat to the gains Liberia has made so far in the fight against the spread of Ebola. Those ruling against the Stay Order, including Associate Justices Jamesetta Wolokolie and Sianeh Yuoh, with Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor serving as a tie-breaker, argued that the issues raised in the petitions called into reference the separation of powers. The Ebola situation in Liberia, they said, is a political matter -- not a constitutional matter -- and therefore should be the responsibility of the Executive and Legislative branches of government to decide vis-a-vis elections. Therefore the Supreme Court Stay Order to halt elections activities could not hold.  All justices agreed, however, that the Executive, in consultation with the Legislature, can set elections dates. 

Related Caption: Supreme Court Lifts Stay Order(The News)

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Vowed To Combat Ebola

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf   says Ebola will not derail the determination of affected African countries to make progress in developing their respective nations. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the assertion when she welcomed participants attending a meeting on cross- border collaboration on the control of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ‘C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium. The meeting brought together national leaders on the Ebola response from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria and host Liberia. It was organized by the Liberian Government and the United Nations Mission for the Ebola Emergency Responses (UNMEER), FOCUS reports.

Gov’t Lauds Red Cross For ‘Incredible Fight

 The Government of Liberia, through the Internal Affairs Ministry, has commended the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) for its role and timely intervention in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at a time when the entire country was at a standstill and being ravaged by the virus. Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly said the LNRCS deserves much praise and recognition for its resilience and the significant roles it has played and continues to play. This has definitely helped in stabilizing the scourge in Liberia, he declared, DailyObserver reports.

UNICEF Ups Ebola Fight – Needs US$500M For Newt Six Months

The UN Children’s Agency announced on Friday that it was scaling up efforts to fight Ebola, including helping thousands of children in West Africa orphaned by the deadly virus. Nearly 6,550 people have died in the outbreak centered in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, from a virus that is taking a devastating toll on children. The funds will also allow the agency to help tackle the two major drivers of Ebola, lack of early isolation of patients and unsafe burials, she said. Making the presentation on Friday, 12 December at the Health Ministry in Congo Town suburb of Monrovia UNFPA Officer-In-Charge, Dr. Remi Sogunro, said in the past five years there has been a steady increase in maternal health and deliveries by skilled birth attendants among other improvements in the health sector not until the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in March when everything came at a standstill, New Dawn reports.

The Washington Post's Michel Du Cille Dies in Liberia

The FrontPage Africa newspaper writes that Michel du Cille, a three-time Pulitzer prize winning photographer who was barred earlier this year from teaching a workshop class at Syracuse University over fears that he had Ebola after covering the outbreak in Liberia, even though he had been declared Ebola free, has died in Liberia while on assignment for the Washington post. Michel du Cille, 58, was pronounced dead shortly after 10pm at the Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County. Du Cille who was on his third stint of Ebola coverage in Liberia arrived in Monrovia at about 4am Monday, December 8, 2014, on Royal Air Maroc for another two week stint. He had come to Liberia on two previous assignments with Post reporter Lenny Bernstein. This time, he was paired with Justin Jouvenal. "It is a really big loss," Jouvenal said Thursday night. A FrontPage Africa editor who was working with the pair explained that Du Cille fell off at about 5:42 pm upon return from the village of Quewein in Grand Bassa County, where he covered an outbreak of Ebola that has led to about 14 deaths in the village. "Michel walked two hours and thirty minutes from the Border Town of Gbonmah between Bong and Grand Bassa Counties to Quewein in Grand Bassa County," Samwar Fallah explained.

Related Caption: Award winning Photojournalist Dies(New Democrat)

Ebola Orphans Consoled – Project KIKS Provides Christmas Gifts To 17

A number of Ebola orphans have been assisted by Project Kind Initiative for Kid Shoes (Project KIKS). They were given a sorted of relief items on Sunday December 11, 2014. Some of the items distributed for Charismas include clothing, shoes, rice and toys to 17 Ebola orphans in two communities in Gardnersville. Making the donation on behalf of Project KIKS. USA the Chief Executive Officer of the program in Liberia S. Sekou Dukuly said the gesture is the group’s way of identifying with the orphans who at this time of the year always expect gifts from their parents who are no more with them, The New Republic reports.

NIC Launches Local Content Policy

The National Investment Commission (NIC) has launched a local content policy initiative. A release said the policy facilitates the creation of new linkages, deepens and expands existing program between foreign companies affiliates and domestic small and medium size enterprises in  Liberia. According to a NIC release, “local economic development makes good business sense and brings tangible benefits to communities affected by operations, mitigate risk to production and profits and provide a social license to operate”. The release said the objective of the local content policy development, domestic business development and infrastructure for business development, the NEWS newspaper reports.

ATS Renovation To Start

FOCUS Sports has observed that the roofs of the Stadium Wing section of the field has been removed, which the contractors have also fenced the entire stadium with zincs. The Liberia Football Association (LFA this year disclosed plans to close down the Antoinette Tubman Stadium, (ATS) in order to allow renovation works to be carried out. This means that with the closing of the stadium, football activities will not be allowed to take place for some months. It can be recalled that the LFA Boss, Musa Bility said in order to carry out the renovation project, the LFA needs about US$5000, 000, FOCUS reports.

UL Gets New Vice President

The President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Emmet A. Dennis, has appointed Mr. Norris Tweah as the new Vice President for University Relations replacing Dr.  S. Momolu Getaweh who is now Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs of the institution. Prior to Mr. Tweah’s appointment , which took effect on December 1, 2014, he served as Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Information , Culture Affairs and Tourism.