THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016

Today’s News summary highlights news of the House of Representatives’ endorsement of the request to print fifty-five million Liberian Dollars banknotes and the  dedication of a mini oil palm mill in Sinoe County by the Golden Veroleum Liberia amongst other stories.

DOMINANT STORIES

House Wants L$55m Printed

The Plenary of the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly endorsed request from the Executive for the printing of additional Liberian banknotes, setting the ceiling at L$55 million. In keeping with article 34 (b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote the Liberian Legislature about a month ago, requesting the lawmakers to approve the printing of more banknotes as part of government’s stabilization strategy for the economy in the wake of global meltdown. According to the New Dawn newspaper, a total of 30 representatives voted for the printing; two against, and two abstained. The instrument is to be forwarded to the Liberian Senate for possible concurrence. 

Related Captions: Liberian Lawmakers Okay Printing of New Fifty Million Additional Banknotes With One Year To Election (FrontPage Africa), Pres. Sirleaf Requests 55 Million LD printed House Approves Pending Senate Concurrent Vote But (The ANALYST), House Wants More Money Printed (FOCUS)

Sinoe Gets First Mini Mill

Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) on 19 April 2016 dedicated a mini mill in Tarjuowon Statutory District, Sinoe County. During the ceremony, more than 150 gallons and 30 drums of first run makino oil labeled ‘Sinoe’s own GVL first palm oil from the fertile soil of Sinoe communities’ produced from the mini mill were distributed to community members, government officials and other attendees.   Giving an over view of GVL operations, David Rothschild, one of GVL’s Managing Directors, said the project is a dream come through for Golden Veroleum Liberia, adding that oil palm which has its origin in West Africa is being brought home through large scale investment and with huge benefits for Liberia. The GVL Director says a similar project will be replicated in Grand Kru, stating that today is the mini mill; in 2017 GVL will be commissioning its main mill, which is 15 times larger than the mini mill and is currently under construction in Tarjuowon, Sinoe County. Mr. Rothschild said the mini mill was constructed after Vice President Joseph Boakai visited Indonesia and appealed for it, with the goal of not letting the palm spoil. Delivering his keynote address at the program, Vice President Joseph Boakai extolled GVL for the investment so far. VP Boakai said GVL operations in Liberia bring considerable benefits to southeast counties especially Sinoe and Grand Kru.  For this, he said, the Government of Liberia will do all in her power to protect the investment. VP Boakai said the dedication of the mill is a clear manifestation of GVL’s commitment toward improving the livelihoods of its host communities and the south eastern communities as a whole. The FOCUS newspaper reports that at least 3,700 Liberians are currently in the employ of Golden Veroleum Liberia. GVL seeks to employ 35-40,000 employees when fully developed in Liberia.

Related Captions: GVL Dedicates Mill In Sinoe (The New Dawn), Golden Veroleum Dedicates Mini Oil Palm Mill in Sinoe County (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen to Break Grounds for 40km Gbarpolu Road Today

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will today, Friday, April 22, 2016 lead an array of government officials, including members of the Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucusto break grounds for the construction of a 40-kilometer road in Gbarpolu County. The road, according to Gbarpolu County Senator Armah Jallah, will connect Muan-Kwellen to Palaquelleh and several other towns and villages in Gainwolala District. Making the disclosure to the Liberia news Agency (LiNA) Wednesday, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jallah said the groundbreaking will pave the way for the construction of several other feeder rods in the country. Pro-Tempore Jallah said improvement of the road network in Gbarpolu is crucial to the county’s development, and assured that all will be done by the Caucus with support from the Executive Branch to ensure it becomes a priority, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Unanimous WTO Vote: Liberian Senate Ratifies Accession Protocol

The Liberian Senate has passed into law an Act to Ratify the Protocol on the Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the Republic of Liberia. The Act received a unanimous vote to successfully pass on Thursday and has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence. Last December, Liberia got admitted into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Ministers, convening at the Tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, formally approved Liberia’s WTO membership. The admittance of Liberia into the WTO shows to the world that Liberia is ready to do business internationally even though critics say the protocol takes more from Liberia then it gives back. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf submitted to the Liberian Senate on February 5, 2016 the Protocol on (WTO) for possible ratification, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Margibi Service Center Dedicated

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated a newly constructed Margibi county Service Center in Kakata City, Margibi County. The Margibi Service Center is part of the government’s Decentralization Platform and primary intended to bring services closer to the people. The service relating to permits, licenses and certifications arte offered reflecting the same quality and cost in Monrovia. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader performed the dedicatory ceremony at the official program marking the former opening of the Margibi Service Center on Thursday, April 21, 2016, the ANALYST newspaper reports.

 Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Dedicates The Margibi Service Center (FOCUS)

Pres. Sirleaf Launches AAUL-Led Fund Drive

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has officially launched the University of Liberia Alumni Association-led Fund Drive, aimed at enhancing a partnership to complement government’s initiative to fund key priority projects that will advance academic work of institution and its student populace. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf, who drew massive support from members of her Cabinet, their deputies and heads of autonomous agencies, launched the UL Alumni Association Fund Drive on Thursday, April 21, 2016 in the Auditorium of the University of Liberia, on the Main Campus of the University, the ANALYST newspaper writes.

Related Caption: UL Alumni Launch US$2m Drive (The New Dawn)

Liberian Educators Highlight Teachers ICT Training at UNESCO Meeting

Two Liberian educators, Assistant Education Minister for Teachers Education Advertus Wright and the Head of the UNESCO Liberia Office, Steveson Seidi, have presented the progress Liberia has made in the UNESCO-China Funds-in-Trust(CFIT) project intended to enhance the ICT proficiency of Teachers in selected countries. According to the Front Page Africa newspaper, the forum which took place  from the 19th to the 20th of April-2016, was intended to review progress made thus far, innovative strategies and challenges faced in the implementation of the project by the beneficiary countries. Under the theme: Harnessing Technology for Quality Teachers Training, the two Liberian educators said priorities have been placed in areas of capacity development for improved quality education, meeting the needs of teachers in line with the project demands and developing manuals for the program. They disclosed that the Liberian country team has produced a Liberian ICT Competency Framework for Teachers, the ICT Equipment and Facility User Policy and the ICT Pedagogy Training Modules for Teacher Educators. These are useful documents in accelerating teachers ICT proficiency and education.
The UNESCO-China Funds-in-Trust (CFIT) project was launched in 2012. The project has a budget of Eight Million Dollars donated by the Chinese Government for four years. The project countries are: Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Namibia, Congo, DR Congo, Liberia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Related Caption: Liberian Educators Speak At UNESCO-CFTI Project (Heritage)