THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia  

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016 

News of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level by the Governments of the Republic of Liberia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s two separate messages of congratulations to the Governments and peoples of the Republic of Malawi and the Union of the Comoros on the observance of the 52^nd and 41^st Independence Anniversaries of the two countries respectively on Wednesday, July 6 2016 and the Liberia Revenue Authority’s decision to begin locking up real estate buildings in central Monrovia for failing to meet up with their tax obligations are among stories dominating today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Liberia And Socialist Republic of Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations  

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Government of the Republic of Liberia and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have established diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level. According to a dispatch from Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, the Joint Communiqué was signed at a formal ceremony held at the Government’s Guest House in Hanoi, Tuesday, June 28, 2016. Liberia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Mr. Dudley McKinley Thomas signed the Communiqué on behalf of the Government of Liberia, while the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, His Excellency Mr. Vu Hong Nam, signed on behalf of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Related Captions:Liberia, Socialist Republic of Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations(Heritage), Liberia, Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations(The New Dawn), Liberia, Vietnam Establish Relations (In Profile Daily), Liberia, Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations(New DEMOCRAT), and Liberia, Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations(FOCUS), Liberia, Vietnam Establish Diplomatic Relations(FOCUS)

President Sirleaf Hails Malawi and the Union of the Comoros

Heritage newspaper reports, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent two separate messages of congratulations to the Governments and peoples of the Republic of Malawi and the Union of the Comoros on the official observance of the 52^nd and 41^st Independence Anniversaries of the two countries respectively on Wednesday, July 6 2016. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to her Malawian counterpart, H.E. Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, the Liberian leader, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, conveyed warmest felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Malawi on the auspicious occasion of the country’s 52^nd Independence Anniversary on July 6^th. Malawi annually celebrates its Independence Day on July 6, 1964 when it proclaimed independence from Great Britain. In a related development, the Liberian leader also, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to H.E. Mr. Azeli Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, the Government and people of the Union as they celebrate this historic event.  The Union of the Comoros celebrates its Independence Day on July 6, when the Comoros gained independence from France on July 6, 1975.

Related Captions:Ellen Hails Malawi, Comoros Island… On their Respective Independence(In Profile Daily),and Pres. Sirleaf Hails Malawi and the Union of the Comoros on Independence Anniversaries(FOCUS)

LRA Hunts Tax Evaders Shuts Down Several Real Estates

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has begun locking up real estate buildings in central Monrovia for failing to meet up with their tax obligations. The exercise, according to the LRA, is part of efforts to collect legitimate government revenues. The LRA, through the tax court, has for the past two weeks temporarily sealed the donors of several real properties and businesses for taxes that they have failed to pay over the years, some spanning as far back as five years. Businesses closed down owe government in taxes between US$5,000 and US$5.5M. The essence of the closure exercise (which is the last resort in a series of engagements with property/business owners) is intended to compel individuals and businesses to comply with the law by paying their taxes, the FOCUS newspaper writes.

Related Captions:LRA Shut Down Several Real Estates(Heritage), LRA Goes After More Tax Evaders… Shuts Down Several Real Estates(Informer), LRA Hooks Tax Invaders…Shuts down several real estates(In Profile Daily), and Delinquent Taxpayers Shutdown(New Democrat)

VP Boakai Identifies With Flood Victims In Margibi

According to Heritage newspaper, Vice President Joseph Boakai has presented 500 hundred bags of rice and one thousand sacks of water to flood victims in Lower Margibi. VP Boakai said more assistance will be provided following assessment to identify the flood victims and impact of the disaster. The Vice President visited Dolo and Jobloe Towns, two worst hit areas.

Related Caption:VP Boakai Donates To Margibi Flood Victims(New Dawn), and VP Boakai Donates To Flood Victims (In Profile Daily)

Voice FM Shut Down

The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) on Monday, July 4, 2016 announced the closure Voice FM radio station. Acting LTA Commissioner Mr. Henry Benson reemphasized at a press conference at the Ministry of Information on Capitol Hill that Voice FM has operated as a commercial station without a permit for a couple of years. The station faces accusations from government’s regulatory arm of alleged refusal to obtain requisite broadcast license and to pay required fees and taxes, reports New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Voice FM Shut Down (Heritage), Gov’t Gives Reasons For Closure Of Voice FM (Inquirer), LTA Shutdown Voice FM…For “Illegally” Operating Without Assigned Frequency (In Profile Daily), and LTA Shuts Down Voice FM(New Democrat)

GVL Donates Materials and Drugs to Two Clinics in Sinoe

As a means of fulfilling its commitments under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Tartweh and Nitrian communities in Sinoe County, oil palm developer Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL), on 24 June 2016, donated medical and non-medical supplies to the Tubmanville and Kabada clinics in Kpanyan Statutory District, Sinoe County, the New Republic newspaper writes.

Related Captions: GVL Donates Materials and Drugs to Two Clinics in Sinoe(FOCUS) and GVL Empowers 2 Clinics In Sinoe(New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

UNDP Commits Partnership With PPCC

The Deputy Country Director for Program at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Cleophas Torori, has declared that UNDP is pleased to partner with the Public Procurement, Concessions Commission (PPCC) to professionalize public procurement. Mr. Torori said the PPCC’s commitment toward professionalizing public procurement will help to strengthen all public funds. He made the statement on Thursday, June 30, during a one-day PPCC annual forum held at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor. He also noted that the significance of procurement in any public or private entity cannot be over emphasized, stating that at UNDP, procurement accounts for about 60 percent of delivery at the global level and in country offices, stressing this is the area that represents the single largest risk exposure often coming at great cost to reputation and integrity, report the New Dawn newspaper.

African Union Rolls Out All-Africa Passport To Increase Unity, Trade Options Between Countries

The African Union (AU) has introduced an all-Africa passportwith the sole purpose of making Africa more unify. The idea, first approved in 2014, will be launched at the 27th AU Summit in Rwanda this month. The electronic passport is proposed as an anecdote for dissolving border restrictions, thus building greater opportunities for trade within the continent, in hopes of boosting the overall economy. Anyone with an AU passport would be allowed to travel freely within the union’s 54 countries without a visa. Government officials and heads of state at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia will be the first to use the all-Africa passport, which is expected to extend to all citizens in 2018, reports FrontPage Africa newspaper. At the same time, the New DEMOCRAT newspaper reports under the caption “Ghana Allows Visa-Free Travel For Africans In Step Towards Continental Passport”, that Ghana has begun offering visas upon arrival to all African nationals, a step towards creating a continent-wide zone of free movement. The West African country rolled out the policy on Friday, allowing citizens of African Union (AU) member states to get visas for up to 30 days upon arriving in the country. Fifty-four African countries are members of the AU. Ghana already allows visa-free travel for citizens of countries belonging to member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—a regional economic bloc consisting of 15 countries including Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy.  

Related Caption: AU Citizens to Obtain Ghana Visa on Arrival (The New Republic)

US Embassy Inspires Liberian Muslims To Be Tolerant

A back-page story of the New Republic newspaper reads that ahead of the upcoming presidential and general election in 2017, the newly accredited United States’ Ambassador to Liberia, Ms. Christine Elder, has inspired Liberian Muslims that the US government preparedness to work with Liberians to transition from one democratic government to the next. Making the disclosure Monday during a visit to the Heritage Central Mosque in Monrovia, the US diplomat assured Muslims in the country of a message of hope from the government and people of the United States. The message is for Liberian Muslims to be tolerant and co-exist with other people in the society; Ambassador Elder said.

Related Caption:New U.S Ambassador Urges Muslims(The INQUIRER)

Ghanaian National Arrested With L$2.5M Worth of Marijuana

The Joint Security Officers at the Klay Check Point in Bomi County have arrest a 25 year-old Ghanaian National with 500 Kilo grams of compressed Marijuana. According to Kula Dennis, the Commander of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Bomi County, the Ghanaian national, identified as Jack Katte Doe, was during the early morning hours of Sunday June 19, 2016 arrested while on board a taxi cap marked TX – 1102 at the Klay Check Point en-route to Monrovia, reports the Heritage newspaper.

PREVAIL Launches New Study In Male Ebola Survivors

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Liberia-U.S. Clinical Research Partnership known as PREVAIL Monday announced the start of a new study in male survivors of Ebola at the JFK Medical Center in Sinkor. The study--called PREVAIL IV, or the Persistent Ebola Virus Study—is designed to find out if an investigational drug called GS-5734 can safely get rid of or reduce the amount of Ebola viral RNA that may persist in the semen of some male Ebola survivors. The Ebola viral RNA may stay hidden in certain parts of the body and body fluids, such as semen, even after a person recovers from Ebola. This is called persistent Ebola viral RNA.

Related Captions:PREVAIL Launches Study On Investigative Drugs(The INQUIRER)

Bong Co. Magistrerial Court Compromises Rape Case…Cited For Questioning

Reports from Fuamah District in Lower Bong County say the Stipendiary Magistrate of Bong Mines Magisterial Court, Joel Tarkpah, has been cited by his supervisors at the Gbarnga Regional Hub for questioning in connection with the rape case involving a Chinese national of the China Union (Liberia) investment Bong Mining Company. According to the Informer newspaper, the Public Relations Officer of China Union, Morris Tate, along with the parents of the victim, has been invited by the Liberia National Police for questioning as to their alleged role played into the rape case.

259 Market Women Graduate From Adult Literacy Program

According to theInformer newspaper, the President of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), Musu Sloan, has challenged Liberian women to further their education to prepare themselves for the current challenges prevailing in Liberia. Madam Sloan stated that women should not just limit themselves to market activities, but should be determined to pursue education despite the situation confronting them, noting “learning has no end”. The LMA Boss made the statement Thursday when the Sirleaf Market Women Fund Adult literacy Program for market women from the Jorkpen Town Market, Paynesville Market and ELWA Market.

Liberian Girl to Represent AU At 2016 Girls Summit In China

A 21-year-old Liberian girl studying economics and management at Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County, has been selected after a vigorous process to represent the African Union at this year’s Girls 20 summit in Beijing, China. Finda Harriet Caillendee, is currently the president of the Cuttington chapter of Safe Cities for Girls, a group dedicated to educating girls on improving values and self-esteem as they become women, the FOCUS daily writes.