THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016

Today’s edition of the Summary highlights news of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s declaration of Wednesday, August 24, 2016, as National Flag Day; her tribute to the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr., describing him as a patriot, brother, confidante and loyal public servant; the 9^th Chinese Medical Team medical outreach program to the Liberia Medicines and Health Product Regulatory Authority and the opening of the Book of Condolence for the late Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Colonel Eric Wamu Dennis, I, by the Government of Liberia.

DOMINANT STORIES

Tomorrow Is ‘National Flag Day’

The FOCUS newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared Wednesday, August 24, 2016, as “National Flag Day”, and is to be observed as a National Holiday throughout the Republic. According to the release, the Liberian leader has called upon all citizens and foreign residents within our borders to give prominence to the observance of the Day throughout the Republic by flying the National Flag from each dwelling and public buildings, and that all government offices, public and business houses be closed in reverence to the Day. She has further directed the Ministry of Education and all other Government agencies concerned to execute appropriate programs befitting the day. By an Act approved on October 25, 1915, the National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia declared August 24^th each year as “National Flag Day” to be observed as a “National Holiday” throughout the Republic of Liberia.

Related Caption: Tomorrow Is August 24 ‘National Flag Day’ (The ANALYST)

9^th China Medical Conducts 8^th Medical Free Service

The 9^th China Medical Team on |Saturday, August 20, 2016 extended its medical outreach program to the Liberia Medicines and Health Product Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) in Congo Town on the outskirt of Monrovia. The latest medical outreach service by the 9^th China Medical Team was in continuation of its free medical services across Monrovia and its environs. It was the eighth free medical programs organized by the tam. It can be recalled that the team on July 23^rd extended its medic al outreach program to the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Focus newspaper reports.

Related Captions: 9^th China Medical Conducts 8^th Medical Free Service (FOCUS), Chinese Medical Team Expands Services In Liberia (New DEMOCRAT)

Pres. Sirleaf Pays Tribute To Fallen Chief of Staff – Describes Him as a “Patriot, Confidante and Loyal Public Servant”

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has paid tribute to the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. describing him as a patriot, brother, confidante and loyal public servant. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was speaking on Monday when she led hundreds – including the Legislature, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia, the Dean and Members of the Cabinet, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, family, relatives, sympathizers and mourners and read a “letter Bobbin” during the Funeral Service of her fallen Chief of Office Staff at the Providence Church on Ashmum Street, Monrovia. President Sirleaf recounted the passionate religious upbringing of the late Dr. McClain, which significantly informed his sense of servitude, altruism, loyalty and dedication to duty. She referred to the deceased as irreplaceable and praised him for his sacrifices spanning over 18 years of working together in the service of humanity. She acknowledged his great and witty sense of humor and the level of professionalism and diligence that characterized his work. The Liberian leader said Dr. McClain would be missed as someone who goes beyond the call of duty to do the most exceptional thing, reports the ANALYST newspaper. 

Related Captions: President Sirleaf: McClain Was “A Man Of Impeccable Character” (FOCUS), Ellen Weeps Over Loss of ‘Dedicated, Loyal Public Servant’ McClain (Daily Observer), Former Minister of State Edward McClain Finally Interred in Monrovia (FrontPage Africa), “McClain Was A Man OF Impeccable Character”-President Sirleaf (The NEWS)

Book Of Condolence Opened For AFL DCOS Eric Dennis Gov’t Announces Funeral Arrangements

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Book of Condolence for the late Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Colonel Eric Wamu Dennis, I, will be opened on Tuesday, August 23^rd, at the Armed Forces of Liberia headquarters at the Barclay Training Center (BTC), from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The remains of Colonel Dennis, I, will be conveyed under appropriate military escort from the St. Moses Funeral Parlors at 4:00 p.m. to the Good Shepard Episcopal Church in Paynesville for one night of wake keeping beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 25th. The release furthered that on Friday, August 26^th, funeral rites will be said over the remains of the late Colonel Eric Dennis at the Trinity Cathedral on Broad Street, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and internment follows thereafter at the Bensonville Cemetery in Bentol City, Montserrado County, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Funeral Arrangements for AFL Deputy Chief of Staff Released (FrontPage Africa), Gov’t Releases Funeral Arrangements For Late Deputy Chief Of Staff (The NEWS)

Economic Council Proposed as VP Boakai Meets Nigerian Counterpart

The Analyst newspaper reports that Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Boakai yesterday met with his Nigerian Counterpart, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Nigerian Presidential Villa-State House showering praises on that country and people for Nigeria’s role of intervention in resolving the more than 14-years of civil in Liberia, while his Nigerian counterpart proposed an ECONOMIC COUNCIL that will bring the two countries together. The Nigerian Vice President said such council would identify what the government can do to benefit the two solidifying of our long standing relationship. Earlier during his visit, Vice President said he was honored to visit his colleague at his office.

Related Caption: Boakai Meets The Sultan Of Sokoto, Lauds Nigerians’ Contribution To Economy (New DEMOCRAT)

Chiefs Summon All 73 Representatives

According to the Daily Observer, the National Traditional Council of Liberia (NTCL) has summoned all 73 members in the House of Representatives to meet with the Council to overcome the internal wrangling in the Lower House. Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel G. Kogar, co-Chairman of the committee calling for the recusal of Speaker Tyler, said the entire membership of the House of Representatives is expected to appear at the Council’s 24th Street Sinkor headquarters today (Tuesday) at about 1:00 p.m. The Nimba lawmaker spoke to journalists Monday at the NTCL headquarters at the end of the meeting, which was cut short due to the absence of Deputy Speaker Hans M. Barchue and other lawmakers who had to honor a scheduled conference at the Supreme Court.

Decentralizing Electricity Ministry of Lands, Mines Launches US$550M Rural Energy Master Plan

The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy in efforts to enhance the strength of the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC), has launched a program codename, ‘Growing the National Grid Program’ (GTG). According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the US$550 Million GTG Program will enable the electrification of 164, 000 homes for 830,000 people and the addition of 100 MW of renewable based generation to the National Grid. During the launch of the Ministry’s Rural Energy Strategy and Master Plan in Monrovia, the Ministry disclosed that the GTG Program is composed of four main initiatives. Speaking at the launch of the master plan, the Director of Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), Augustus Goanue said six projects are to be implemented regarding the transmission network and major cities electrification, as well as rural distribution, in the West, North and East regions of the Capital.

“Career Path Should Be shifted heavily Toward the need Of The Private Sector” Deputy Minister Shoniyin Urges Graduate.

The Focus newspaper reports that the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. B. Elias Shoniyin says if students want to make meaningful contribution to society, their career path must be shifted heavily towards the needs of the private sector. Deputy Minister Shoniyin said that is where the potential for real national transformation and Economic prosperity lies, and where the wealth of the nation can be found. “However if you choose to otherwise take courses that will emptied into public service, you should be aware that public services not a place for accumulating wealth, instead it is a place of service and sacrificed to your country,” Minister Shoniyin pointed out.

Surrender To Be Groomed …VP Boakai Preps Africa Youth

According to the Analyst newspaper, every generation of political and opinion leader knows it has to pass a torch of leadership to the next. This is a right and a natural process of law and nature. But for the past several decades in Africa this understanding, for some, has come to mean an automatic rite of passage to national leadership without preps. The rash interpretation has created political anxiety in many African countries, at times leading to violent confrontation in some countries. Liberian Vice President Joseph Boakai acknowledges the passing of torch; in fact, he champions it. He, however, believes there must be a period of growth and the strengthening of the spirit.

Girls Advocacy Project Launched in Bomi County

The Defense for Children Liberia (DCL) in collaboration with Plan Liberia last Saturday launched the Girls Advocacy Project or GAP which is aimed at advocating for young women and marginalized girls in Bomi, Lofa, and Montserrado Counties. The five-year project is being sponsored by the Dutch Civil Society Organization in the Netherlands. It seeks to increase alliance with communities, government, civil society actors and international development partners to jointly support the process of addressing the participation of children into child marriage and to advocate that girls and young women are protected against SGBV, according to DCI Executive Director, Foday M. Kawah, the NEWS daily reports.

PUL Wants Dialogue over Media Indebtedness

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has expressed readiness to dialogue with the government concerning tax payment by media institutions and enforcement of regulations. “If the government is sincere about ensuring compliance with the laws and regulations, the Press Union is available to join this conversation,” PUL President Kamara A. Kamara has said. Speaking at a meeting of media executives at the Union’s Headquarters on Clay Street in Monrovia on Monday, Kamara noted that the government is the largest player in the economy and the biggest debtor of media services, the NEWS newspaper said.