THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

News of the Cabinet review of its performance report, including highlights of key priority projects, the Environmental Protection Agency’s consultation on Block LB-13 for offshore Oil and Gas exploration including President Johnson Sirleaf’s Congratulatory Message to the Government and People of the Republic of Madagascar on the occasion of their 56th Independence Anniversary are all highlights of today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY

Cabinet Reviews Performance Scorecard; Highlights Priority Projects, Mandates Collective Engagements

Cabinet has carefully reviewed its performance report, received highlights of key priority projects and mandated collective engagements of Cabinet on achievable targets that are implementable in real time. The WOMEN VOICES newspaper quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying that the Cabinet reviewed performance of the priority implementation monitoring framework and reporting description including projects completed and operational, those completed and ready to start, targets ongoing or on track and those that require special attention. Cabinet was also briefed on critical projects as well as their status including a new terminal building for RIA, a new runway, the ministerial complex to include a modern conference center, an expanded Capitol Building, and progress of ongoing works on the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex. Cabinet also received updates on the existing transmission and Distribution of electricity across Bomi, RIA, Monrovia Consolidation and the Kakata enclave.

Related Captions: Cabinet Reviews Performance Scorecard…Highlights Priority Projects, Mandates Collective Engagements(Heritage), Cabinet Highlights Priority Projects, Mandates Collective Engagements(Inprofile Daily)

EPA Consults On Oil And Gas Exploration In Margibi

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted Stakeholders’ Consultation in Marshall City, Margibi County on Block LB-13 for offshore Oil and Gas exploration between Grand Bassa and Margibi Countiesin compliance with the Environment Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) study reports were jointly conducted by Earthtime, a local environmental firm and Acorn international, an international firm on behalf of ExxonMobil. Speaking at the close of the forum, Grand Bassa County Representative Gabriel Smith expressed hope that ExxonMobil will create more job opportunities for the people of Liberia. The New Dawn newspaper reports that drilling well is expected to start late 2016 or early 2017.

Related Captions: Consultation On Block LR-13 Held In Marshall(In Profile Daily), ExxonMobil To Drill 2017 Environmental Arrangement Nears End For Oil Block-13 (FrontPage Africa)

Ellen Congratulates Madagascar On 56^th Independence Anniversary

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Government and People of the Republic of Madagascar on the occasion commemorating the 56th Independence Anniversary. According to the Inprofile Daily, President Johnson Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, extended warmest congratulations to the Government and People of Madagascar, and said she looks forward to strengthening ongoing bilateral cooperation between their two countries for the mutual benefit of their two peoples.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Congratulates Madagascar(WOMEN VOICES)

Thursday Declared ‘National Public Service Day’

The Inprofile Daily, quoting a Foreign Ministry release says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Thursday, June 23, 2016 as "National Public Service Day", to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. According to the release, the purpose of the Day is to serve as a platform for the public service to showcase best practices and innovations as well as to promote the value of professionalism and integrity in service delivery. The Proclamation is in consonance with the Legislative Act approved on May 11, 1972, by the Forty-Fifth National Legislature which repealed the Public Employment Law to create the Civil Service Agency of Liberia.

Related Caption: Today Is ‘National Public Service Day’(Heritage)

Ellen Congratulates Luxembourg On National Day Today

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of Luxembourg on the joyous occasion commemorating their National Day. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Royal Highness Henri, Grand Duke Of Luxembourg, President Sirleaf, stressed that as the two nations endeavor to enhance their engagements bilaterally and multilaterally and to ensure that these excellent ties are translated into mutually beneficial rewards, her government looks forward to expanding cooperation in other relevant fields including the financial and telecommunications sectors, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Liberia Congratulates Mozambique On 41^st Independence Day

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Mozambique, on the occasion commemorating the 41^st Independence Anniversary of that country. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in the message to her Mozambican counterpart, H.E. Felipe Nyusi, President Sirleaf hoped that as H.E. Nyusi and his compatriots observe this auspicious occasion, the bond of friendship and cooperation so happily subsisting between their two countries will be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of their respective peoples, reports theHeritage newspaper.

China-Africa Media Cooperation Gains Momentum-As 3rd Forum Issues Declaration

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the 3rd Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation has taken place in Beijing, China, with a declaration to strengthen media cooperation and exchanges between China and Africa to support plans of the China-Africa Cooperation. The forum held from June 20-22, 2016, was jointly organized by the China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the African Union of Broadcasting. It brought together about 350 media representatives and government officials drawn from China and African countries. According to the declaration, Chinese and African media will encourage more personnel and information exchanges to contribute to the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.

‘Success Is Not Your Destination’-AME University Graduates Cautions

The guest speaker at the sixteenth commencement convocation of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), the Rt. Rev. David R. Daniels, Jr., presiding Prelate 15^th Episcopal District, AME Church has told graduates of the AME University that there is no limit to success and therefore as they walk from the walls of the University, they should not limit their expectations but rather continue the journey of success. Speaking Wednesday at the Winners Chapel Church in Congo Town, Monrovia where the graduation ceremony was held, the Rt. Rev. Daniels told the graduates that their achievements is an indication that they are going for greatness adding that they should not allow anyone or any institution to define who they are or what they can do or cannot do, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

‘Each Has Role In Building Liberia’ -VP Boakai

The Daily Observer reports that Vice President Joseph N. Boakai said each Liberian has a part to play in building a nation that encourages Liberians to take their individual parts seriously and give their best. Veep Boakai made the remark last Friday at the Monrovia City Hall during the official launch of the Client Perception Survey Report, which was conducted by the Public Procurement Concessions Commission (PPCC) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development’s Governance and Economic Management Support Project (USAID-GEMS). Vice President Boakai called on other government institutions to conduct similar exercises to move Liberia forward. Chief Executive Officer of PPCC, Mr. James Dorbor Jallah, said the results of the 2016 survey reveal many positives aspects to the extent that general perception of public procurement system is improving. Mr. Jallah said the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission Act of 2010 mandates the commission to host an annual forum to obtain feedback on the implementation of the act to inform improvements and subsequent modifications to the legal statute as well as the system and procedures.

MoE Provides Textbooks For Schools In Bomi

The County Educational Officer (CEO) of Bomi County, J. Seo Davis, has disclosed that the government of Liberia has provided textbooks for elementary, junior and senior high school students of the Bomi County School System (BCSS). CEO Davies said the textbooks have been distributed to 192 government schools in the county. According to the Heritage newspaper, the government is considering providing similar textbooks to the five private high schools in the county.

10 Women With Fistula Benefit Free Surgery

About 10 women in Southeast Liberia have benefitted from free fistula surgery conducted by a team led by Lead Fistula Surgeon, Dr. John Mulbah along with three other surgeons. Dr. Mulbah said the activities were supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with funding from Zonta International. He said the Liberia Fistula Project, established in 2008 with support from UNFPA and partners, has made progress towards eliminating fistula and supporting fistula survivors. UNFPA Assistant Representative Dr. Philderald Pratt, said the agency was keen on supporting the Government of Liberia to create a safe environment where women and young girls would enjoy good health. ” or a condition which leads women to be rejected by society just because they did not receive the adequate and timely emergency obstetric care during childbirth which made them to develop fistula, reports the New Dawn newspaper. At the same time, stakeholders at a one-day meeting to discuss factors promoting obstetric fistula in Liberia have agreed on the need for close collaboration if fistula is to be stopped in the country. The meeting which brought together religious leaders, youth groups, local government official, health authorities, Trained Traditional Midwives (TTMs) as well as health partners was held in Fish Town, River Gee County as part of a week-long activities to raise awareness on the issues of fistula and its effects on the society, write the Heritage newspaper under the caption “Community Members, Health Authorities Agree ON Measures To End Fistula Here”.

Lonestar Cell MTN Empowers Deaf & Dumb School

Lone Star Cell MTN, Liberia’s leading GSM Company, has dedicated a new computer laboratory at the Oscar and Viola Stewart Mission School for the deaf and dumb located in Kebbah, Barnesville outside Monrovia. Speaking at the dedicatory ceremony Wednesday, 22 June, Lonestar Cell MTN Chief Executive Officer Mr. Babatunde Osho said the company had targeted several schools in its 21 days of “Y’ello Care” celebration to become beneficiaries of services being provided to the public. He said the celebration is an outreach activity under the company’s social responsibility program to impact lives of customers in selected communities for 21 days in 32 countries in Africa where MTN operates. The New Dawn newspaper writes that the 21 days of Y’ ello Care was held under the theme, “Investing in Education for All.” 

Related Caption: Lonestar Cell MTN Makes Another Headway…Dedicates Computer Lab At Deaf School(Heritage)