The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017

News of the leadership of the legislature’s tour of the US$23 million construction works at the Capitol Building and the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s order to ensure massive connection of customers are highlights of today’s edition of our Summary of the local dailies.

The Summary also includes President Sirleaf’s commendation to outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Her Excellency Lena Nordstrom, for the many accomplishments during her tenure in Liberia

DOMINANT STORIES  

Construction Of US$23M Capitol Annexes Underway 

The joint leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 53rd Legislature yesterday toured the ongoing construction of two annexes at the Capitol Building, which is funded by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The construction of the annexes is being undertaken by the Chinese firm Jiangsu Jiangsu Construction Company, while another Chinese company, the China International Engineering Design and Consult Company Limited, is supervising the engineering component. The project, valued at US$23 million, includes two annexes comprising 300 rooms, two separate chambers as well as a generator house. Vice President Joseph N. Boakai led an array of officials on tour of the construction site yesterday, followed by House Speaker J. Emmanuel Nuquay, Senate Pro Tempore Armah Z. Jallah, among other lawmakers. In separate remarks, the Vice President, Speaker and Pro Tempore praised the level of cordiality between the Legislature and the Executive as well as China’s generous aid to Liberia. A project engineer at the Ministry of Public Works, Sidney Devine said the construction, which began in October 2016, is expected to be completed by the end of April 2018, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Inspection Tour Of Renovation And Annex Construction Of The Capitol Building(The New Dawn), Creating Space For Future Lawmakers: Capitol On Modernization Path-As Leadership Tours Project Site(INSIGHT), China Provides US$23m For Capitol Building Annexes(The INQUIRER), Lawmakers Tour Ongoing Works On Capitol Hill-As Vice President, Speaker, Pro Tempore Express Delight(In Profile Daily), China Finances Additional Wings At Liberia’s Capitol Building(FrontPage Africa), VP Boakai, Others Hail Legislature Expansion Project(INSIGHT)

LEC Orders Deputy Directors, Managers On The Field-To Ensure Massive Connection Of ‘Big Light’ To Customers

The Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Foday Sackor, has directed that Deputy Managing Directors and Managers at the corporation get their boots on and get on the field to ensure the success of its massive campaign to connect ‘Big Light’ to its numerous customers. In a directive issued in a release yesterday, Mr. Sackor said “We will be out in the communities every week to ensure that our services are made available to our customers and therefore all Deputy Managing Directors and Managers will henceforth go out in the field to ensure that we serve our customers more efficiently.” “This is a new LEC. We want to ensure that our services are more accessible to the public. This service is for you and from now on we will come to you.” The LEC management, he said, is overhauling customer service procedures to minimize connection time, according to the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: LEC New Management Increases Customers Connection, Moves Into Communities(In Profile Daily), LEC New Management Increases Customers Connection… Moves Into Communities(The INQUIRER),  

OTHER STORIES  

Ellen Lauds Outgoing Swedish Ambassador 

The In Profile Daily reads that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has lauded outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Her Excellency Lena Nordstrom, for the many accomplishments during her tenure here in Liberia, especially in the areas of agriculture, education, gender, economic cooperation, security sector, SDGs and bided her farewell. President Sirleaf named Liberia’s assertion to the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the strengthening of ties between both countries among others. She said: “You have done so much Madam Ambassador, we want to thank you.” According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the comments when she received in audience outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Liberia during a courtesy call at her Foreign Ministry office on Thursday, January 5, 2017 in Monrovia. She was accompanied by Foreign Minister, Marjon Kamara.  President Sirleaf among other things spoke of the need for continued stronger cooperation between the two countries amid Sweden’s commitment to the relationship between Liberia and Sweden. Speaking earlier, outgoing Sweden Ambassador to Liberia Lena Nordström said during her 15 months of work in Liberia, she experienced a pleasant working relationship with the Liberian government, which has grown stronger and stronger. The Swedish diplomat departs the country next week to take on her new assignment.  

Pastors, Others, Will Not Beg For Bread’ 

The newly inducted General Overseer (Bishop) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia, Samuel J. Quire, has vowed that “dedicated servants of the Church will not beg for bread in their service to God and His people.” “Under my administration as head Bishop of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, I will work with all who are involved in the affairs of the church to increase productivity in agriculture, establish businesses in order to pay Pastors, Bishops and others well,” Bishop Quire said. He made the remark when he was inducted into office for a period of 5 years beginning 2017 to 2022. Bishop Quire, who prostrated himself on the floor of the Tubman Memorial United Methodist Church in Paynesville, promised to serve the church with humility and use Jesus Christ as his torchbearer. He said the Church’s resources will be increased and its branches in rural parts of the country will be strengthened. Turning over the gavel of authority to Bishop Quire, Interim Bishop Arthur F. Kullah called on his successor to always be prepared to face the challenges at hand. Speaking on the theme, “Prepare to Serve,” Bishop Kullah said other nations that are progressing materially today are doing so because they value proper planning and preparation and renounce hate towards each, reads the Daily Observer. At the same time, the INQUIRER newspaper reads under the caption “Methodist Church Honors Outgoing Bishop” that the Interim Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church of Liberia has cautioned retired Bushop John Innis not to use his retirement time to keep away from the things of God. Bishop Kulah cautioned Bishop Innis to do whatever has done during his administration as Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference (LAC) of the UMC that brought changes in the lives of God’s people. According to the daily, Bishop Kulah spoke recently during program marking the service of farewell to Bishop Innis, retired Bishop of the LAC of the UMC. In response, Bishop Innis thanked the UMC family for the support given him and encourage those that God has given talents to use said talents for of the UMC.  

MOH To Restore Safe Health Services 

The FOCUS newspaper says the Ministry of Health has vowed to ensure and accelerate the recruitment and retention of a needs-based public sector health workforce to restore safe, essential health services and core health systems functions within the health sector. This is one of the five strategic areas outlined by the health workforce pillar which are expected to lead to the restoration of safe, essential services and core health systems function, improved health workforce performance, professional ethics and health workforce distribution in line with sector needs. According to the Ministry of Health 2016 Annual Report released recently, the pillar will also implement and strengthen health workforce performance, motivation and accountability, including needs-based in-service training. The report added that the pillar will implement robust and long-term needs-based health workforce planning, management and development.

NEC Opens Nominations-For Lofa County District #1 By-election

According to the FOCUS newspaper, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has disclosed in a statement that candidate nominations began January 3 and will end on January 13, 2017 at the Headquarters of the Commission in Monrovia. The NEC said the candidate nomination period is in keeping with its key electoral dates released for the conduct of the By-election in Lofa County District # 1 which was occasioned by the death of Representative Eugene Fallah Kparkar. The daily reports that the NEC has set February 28 as the date for the conduct of the Lofa County District # 1 by-election.