THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

News ofUnited States Government’s commendation for Liberia’s commitment to democracy and freedom of expression; President Sirleaf’s participation in the adoption of the African Union Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Lomé, Togo; the four-day visit of the African Peer Review Mechanism Continental Secretariat; and the ECA Missions to Liberiaare among stories dominating today’s edition of the Summary.

DOMINANT STORIES  

U.S. Gov’t Lauds Liberia 

The United States Government has commended the Liberian Government for its commitment to democracy and freedom of expression in Liberia. The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Liberia, a post-conflict country, is a shining example of what commitment to good governance and determination to make progress can do. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs made the commendation recently when she met with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, in Washington DC. The Assistant Secretary of State then pledged the US Government’s commitment and backing to the security sector and urged Liberians to take ownership of their country’s progress. Responding, Vice President Boakai thanked the US for its support to Liberia over the years and for its assistance to the country’s growth and prosperity. VP Boakai assured the US Government and the international community of the resolve of Liberians to take their country forward and to continue building the country’s fledgling democracy. 

Related Captions: U.S. Commends Liberia Over Commitment to Democracy(FrontPage Africa), Liberia Commended For Commitment To Democracy, Freedom of Expression(In Profile Daily), U.S. Gov’t Commends Liberia For Commitment To Democracy And Freedom Of Expression(Heritage)

AU Leaders on Maritime Security

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Saturday, October 15, 2016 joined colleagues and Heads of State and Government to adopt the African Union Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development during the AU Extraordinary Summit held in Lomé, Togo. According to an Executive Mansion release, the African leaders adopted and signed the Charter at a one-day Extraordinary Summit held in the Togolese capital, Lomé. Addressing the summit, President Sirleaf said: "Liberia whole heartily accepts the adoption and signing of the Charter; Liberia would have already signed and will continue to work with all of those in promoting our collective efforts to improve the coordination and improvement of all its activities related to maritime and water waves. She noted that it was critical that the African effort will ensure the safety, security and development of sea, erosion and water waves and added that concerns must be shown towards landlocked countries, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: African Leaders Adopt AU Charter on Maritime Security and Development(FrontPage Africa), African Leaders Adopt AU Charter on Maritime Security, Safety And Development(Heritage)  

Liberia Receives APRM & ECA Technical Support Mission 

TheFOCUS newspaper reports that the African Peer Review Mechanism Continental Secretariat and the ECA will be guests of the Liberian Government for four days. The APRM & ECA Technical Support Mission will be in Liberia from October 17 to 20, 2016. The APR Continental Secretariat will be led by Professor Edward Maloka and a team of resource persons from the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa. The 10 men delegation will be in Liberia to provide technical assistance and capacity building for key stakeholders of the APRM Liberia Country Programmed ahead of the conduct of Liberia’s country self-assessment study. APRM Continental Team will participate in the official launch of APRM National Sensitization Campaign, slated for October 19, 2016 at the Monrovia City Hall. The team will also conduct a two-day capacity building workshop on APRM communications, methodologies and Research Questionnaires. The Peer Learning and Sensitization Workshop will be held at the Boulevard Palace on 13th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia. While in the country, APRM Continental team will meet with Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima S. Kamara, and APRM National Focal Point, members of APRM Multi-sectorial National Governing Council, the APRM National Secretariat, Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) and Strategic Partners.

Related Captions: Liberia To Host APRM, ECA Technical Support Mission(In Profile Daily), Liberia Receives APRM & ECA Technical Support Mission(FrontPage Africa)

VP in Atlanta: “You Have Played a Pivotal Role in Liberia”

The Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has told Liberians in the Diaspora that they have a pivotal role to play in the development and advancement of Liberia. He said Liberians who live in countries around the world should not underestimate the significant impact they have made in supporting the growth of the Liberian economy. Vice President Boakai was speaking recently in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States when he met with a cross section of Liberians residing in various parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe. Speaking earlier, the President of the Liberian Community Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA), Yahsyndi Martin-Kpeyei, said Liberians living away from the country remain loyal to their motherland and will continue to remain patriotic, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: Diaspora Liberians Play Pivotal Role In Economic And Infrastructural Development(Heritage), Veep Boakai Hails Liberians In U.S.(The INQUIRER)

PUL Reviews Code Of Conduct 

According to the In Profile Dailynewspaper, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), in collaboration with its international partner, Internews, has commenced the revision of its code of conduct for Liberian Journalists. The revision of the code of conduct of the Press Union of Liberia follows a self-regulation conference held during the union’s 52nd anniversary celebration recently. The daily says the revision of the code of Conduct is being done by seven professional journalists who were selected at the self-regulation conference. The Committee is working towards strengthening, restructuring, and renaming the Media Complaint Committee which is currently headed by veteran Liberian Journalist Sylvester Vannie Passewee.

Related Captions: PUL Begins Revision of Code Of Conduct For Journalists(Heritage), PUL Begins Revision of Code of Conduct For Journalists(FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES  

World White Cane Day: Veteran Educator Calls for Support to The Blind, Visually Impaired 

A veteran Liberian educator, Mother Mary Brownell, has called on the Liberian government and partners to do more to improve the lives of the blind and visually impaired people in Liberia. Mother Brownell, serving as a keynote speaker at programs marking this year’s observance of the World Sight and White Cane Safety Day in Sinkor, Monrovia, noted much had not been done to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Liberia. Lamenting on the lack of adequate schools to accommodate people with disabilities, Brownell called on the government to incorporate visually impaired students. Nowadays instead of the white cane, little children, being deprived of their education, are used to carry their parents all around town begging for food and five [Liberian] dollars.” So let the government intervene and enable the kids to go to school to take care of themselves tomorrow,” the veteran educator urged. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, this year’s celebration was held under the theme “Eye Health, Call to Action” Stronger together, Combating Discrimination, Empowering and Promoting Awareness through Dignity on Safe Travelling of the Blind.”

Related Caption: Liberia Observes World Sight, White Cane Day(FOCUS)

Value Yourself’ Sweden’s Ambassador tells BWI graduates

Lena Nordström, Ambassador of Sweden to Liberia, over the weekend called on the 314 graduates of the Booker Washington Institute to value themselves not only because they have acquired technical skills, but more importantly because they have learnt essential life lessons. Amb. Nordström’s speech was delivered on her behalf by Elisabeth Hårleman, head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia, on Saturday, October 15, at the program marking the 65th graduation ceremony of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County. Amb. Nordström said by working to improve the society, the graduates would inspire many other youths, who are looking for meaning and direction, and the desire to develop and improve themselves. She urged each of them to build on the experience acquired and set for themselves high and realistic ambitions, asserts the Daily Observer.

Huge Quantity Drugs to Treat Diabetes Donated To MOH

The Private Joint Stock Company based in Ukraine has donated a huge quantity of insulin drugs worth over Twelve Thousand United States Dollars to the Ministry of Health (MOH) at a formal ceremony on Friday. The medical product is principally meant to treat people suffering from diabetes. It came in when the country was already facing acute shortage of the drugs. A MOH release quotes the local representative of the company, Mr.  Lawrence H. Saytue, as saying his organization was overwhelmed with joining the effort in strengthening the country’s health sector, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Minister Bush to Chair ECOWAS Ministerial Council Meeting in Togo

According to the FOCUS newspaper, Liberia’s Transport Minister Angela Cassell Bush is expected to chair a one-day ECOWAS Ministerial Council Meeting on Monday, October 17 in the Togolese Capital, Lomé. The daily quotes a dispatch from Lomé as saying the Ministerial Council meeting organized by ECOWAS in collaboration with the  Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry, (FEWACCI), focuses on the regional Maritime Transport Project Known as SEALINK.

Ellen Attends Funeral of Late Minister of Internal Affairs

Accordingto theHeritage newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Friday, October 14, 2016 joined host of government officials, family members, relatives and friends at funeral services in memory of former fallen Minister of Internal Affairs, Ambulia B. Johnson, Jr and participated in the wake-keeping of 101-year old Madam Famatta Morris. According to an Executive Mansion release, she led an array of senior current and former government officials at the Providence Baptist Church where she paid her last respect to the distinguished public servant, statesman and a career economist.  The late Ambulai B. Johnson began his public service career as a lecturer at the Cuttington University College, now Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County. Thereafter, he served in many capacities of trust with distinction including the Department of Treasury, now the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the erstwhile Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, Department of Public Works, among others.    

338 Ivorian Refugees, Host Communities Get Agri-training 

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) has trained over 338 Ivorian Refugees and host communities in Entrepreneurship Development Skills and practical Agriculture. During the graduation ceremony, the first secretary, Dr. Yoshihiko Higuchi of Japanese Embassy acknowledge the efforts of participants, stakeholders and staff of the project for offering entrepreneurship and skills training to Ivorian Refugees and host communities to strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods in Grand Gedeh County, writes theINQUIRER newspaper.  

Education Stakeholders Endorse "Right To Play" Learning Methodology 

Education Stakeholders recently endorsed “Right To Play” Learning Methodology and called for its integration in the Liberian National School Curriculum for pre-primary and primary schools in the country. The stake holders at a one-day round table PAQE Steering Committee meeting on October 4, 2016, endorsed the Right to Play teaching methodology called Play Learning Approach for teachers. The approach seeks to build the capacity of Teachers to use games, songs and play in the classroom to enhance learning outcomes. The Education Stakeholders called for, the integration the Right To Play PBL methodology in Liberian National School Curriculum for pre-primary and primary schools in the country, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

NEC Holds Consultative Meeting In Nimba

The National Elections Commissions has ended a day-long consultative meeting with stakeholders in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. The Director for Civic and Voter’s Educator, Mr. Senesee G. Freeman said, the consultative meeting was intended to educate voters on their role in the upcoming 2017 elections. He said the meeting will also help to inform citizens and provide them some basic education on the electoral process. However, Mr. Freeman warned this time around, politicians will not be allowed to truck voters from one constituency to another in order to get their votes, reads the New Dawn newspaper.  

Karnplay Graduation Turns Tragic-One Graduate Dies, Several Injured 

The graduation ceremony for 168 students of Karn High School in Karnplay, Nimba County turned tragic on Saturday when a vehicle carrying some of the jubilant graduates and their family members overturned, killing one of the graduates. The euphoria that had marked the graduation ceremony turned sour, giving way to tears of anger and anguish over Seideh’s death. According to the Daily Observer, the accident happened in Gbeh Larpea #1 when the vehicle skidded off the road and somersaulted, killing Seideh and injuring several others, including the driver, Matthew Dornay, who is said to be in a critical condition. “The driver attempted to make a U-turn when he skidded off the road and the vehicle somersaulted right in the middle of Larpea Town,” an eyewitness told the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Graduation Ends In Tragedy(The New Dawn)