The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

News of the World Bank’s approval of US$16 million to strengthen Liberia’s health sector, the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company’s commencement of the construction of a storage capacity and other facilities to modernize and expand its Product Storage Terminal and the celebration of World Water Day are among stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

The Summary also includes President Sirleaf’s Condolence Message to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, following a terror attack in Westminster.

DOMINANT STORIES  

To Strengthen Liberia’s Health Sector: World Bank US16m Approved Agreement Signed 

The Heritage newspaper says the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima S. Kamara, has commended the World Bank for its continuous supports to Liberia’s recovery program including the healthcare sector. According to a Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Minister Kamara made the remark on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, during the signing ceremony for US$16 million World Bank approved Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Liberia Health System Strengthen Project, that will seek to improve the quality of primary and secondary health care services, with focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.

Related Captions: World Bank Approves US16m To Strengthen Health Sector-Minister Kamara Signs For Liberia(FOCUS), US$16 M For Liberia’s Health Sector(In Profile Daily)

LPRC Starts Work on Product Storage Terminal and Other Facilities-US$11M Revenue Losses Expected In 24 Months

The management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) has finally commenced the construction of a total 90,000 metric ton storage capacity, office facilities, parking lots and loading gantry to modernize and expand its Product Storage Terminal (PST) and others. He said the management will be losing revenue to the tune of US$11 million dollars for the next 24 months due to product loss (leakage of tanks) and revenue loss as the result of transferring commodities to other tanks (two private companies have been hired to ensure that enough product is on the market), adding that “There is a need to speedily complete the storage work.” Phase one of the contract, Mr. Kupee said, will cover basic work including the construction of two 80-ton truck weigh bridges; a central control room; new operations building; a tank farm fire protection system; completion of two service tanks (fire water and slop tanks), among others. Director Kupee further disclosed that upon completion of the ongoing work, there will be increment of revenue and product due to additional storage capacities at the entity, Asserts the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: LPRC Kicks-off Demolition, Reconstruction Of Storage Terminals (FOCUS),LPRC Kicks Off Storage Project(The New Dawn)

Gov’t WASH Partners Celebrate World Water Day 2017

An inside story of the Heritage newspaper reads that Liberia has joined the rest of the world in observance of World Water Day 2017, which is annually celebrated March 22. The global theme of the year’s celebration is “waste water” with the campaign theme: “Why Waste Water?” The official celebration started with a parade from the Monrovia City Hall to the William V. S. Tubman High School in Sinkor for the indoor program which brought together WASH actors from government, development partners and civil society. Delivering a special statement on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Public Works Minister, Gyude Moore said the theme of this year clearly states the importance of reducing and reusing waste water, the paper says.

Related Captions: GoL Wants Communities To Re-Use Waste Water(INSIGHT), Government, Wash Partners Celebrate World Water Day-As GoL Calls For The Reuse Of Waste Water(In Profile Daily)

Liberia Revenue Authority Accepting Taxes in US$, Liberian Dollars

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) says taxpayers are at liberty to pay their taxes in both Liberia and United States dollar currencies. Addressing the Ministry of Information weekly press conference Thursday, LRA Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba stated that the basis for collecting taxes in both currencies is provided for under the law, pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Liberia Revenue Code, “Except as otherwise provided by this Code, when it is necessary to translate foreign currency into Liberian or US dollars, or US dollars into Liberian dollars, the exchange rate shall be the applicable buying rate published by the Central Bank”. The LRA boss says the LRA remains committed to improving the environment of paying taxes, and this quest to improving the system remains persistent, according to the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Related Captions: LRA Accepts Taxes In Liberian Dollars-As It Releases New requirements For Shipment Through The Airports, Seaports(FOCUS), LRA Accepting Taxes In USD And LD Currencies(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES  

Pres. Sirleaf Consoles UK After Terrorist Attack 

The New Dawnnewspaper reads that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Condolence Message to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, following a terror attack in Westminster on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. Four people, including the terrorist himself, Khalid Masood, died in the attack when he rammed a rental car onto the sidewalk on Westminster Bridge. Masood then stabbed an unarmed police officer as he stood guard at Carriage Gates, an entrance into a paved courtyard frequently used by Members of Parliament and staff. Twenty-nine people were injured requiring hospital treatment; while some remain critically ill. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf said she was shocked and saddened by the terror attack and on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, affirmed her repugnance toward such barbaric and atrocious actions. The Liberian leader hoped that the people of the UK will be further strengthened and united so that their shared resolve in the global fight against terrorism and extremism remain vibrant.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Consoles The UK Following A Terrorist Attack In Westminster(INSIGHT)

NEC Records Over 2M Registered Voters

Authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) said up to Thursday, it has received and processed 2,026,426 voter registration forms as well as other electoral materials from 11 of the 15 counties. At a press conference in Monrovia yesterday, NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya said even if the Commission does not meet its target of 2.5 million voters, it will appreciate the over two million people who have successfully registered so far to vote in October. Korkoya said of the 1,366,473 forms that have been taken to the Commission’s data center, 655,423 have been scanned, accounting for 53 percent males and 47 percent females. The Daily Observer reports that the VR exercise, which commenced on February 1, ended on March 7, but due to the low turnout of registrants, particularly women, and irregularities that characterized the process, NEC added one week, thereby ending the exercise on March 14.

Related caption: Over Two Million VR Forms Received From 11 Counties-NEC Discloses(In Profile Daily)

“I will Quit Without Hesitation,” says Ellen, in Keeping with The Constitution

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made it clear that she will leave office immediately when her tenure expires as sanctioned by the constitution. The Liberian leader made the statement on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in Maryland County where she is touring as part of her southeastern region visit. Speaking at an interactive Town Hall Meeting in Barraken, Maryland County, President Sirleaf promised to uphold the constitution of Liberia and stressed that she is a strong believer in democracy. She said when the time comes to quit constitutionally, she will do so without any hesitation, the FOCUS newspaper writes.  

Kortie, Twehway Expelled From Ruling Unity Party For Allegedly Campaigning Against The Party’s Interest 

The Unity Party (UP) has expelled two of its senior members for their alleged campaign against the party which they are members. According to the Assistant Secretary General of the party, those expelled are Representative Bill Twehway and former Lofa County Representative, David Kortie. Mohammed Ali told newsmen in an interview that the two expelled UP’s officials are engaged in activities that directly speak against the interest of the Unity Party. According to Mr. Ali, in 2014 the party initially had a candidate in the race, but the candidate dropped out and the party eventually stated that the partisans can select to support whoever they wanted to support in the race, the FOCUS newspaper reads.  

Speaker of South Korean Parliament Expresses Support for Liberia’s Peaceful Democratic Transition 

The Speaker of the Parliament of South Korea, H.E. Chung Sye-Kyun, has expressed his country’s desire for the success of Liberia’s peaceful democratic transition. Speaker Chung also said Korea would be glad to not only strengthen and consolidate its already cordial and mutually rewarding relations with Liberia but also share its post-war development experience with the West African nation in its peace-building and reconstruction endeavors. The Korean Parliamentarian Speaker made these remarks at his offices recently in Seoul, when a high-powered Liberian Senatorial delegation which participated in the fourth World Summit, dedicated to addressing the World’s critical challenges including peace, security and human development, and the World Assembly of International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), paid a courtesy call on him, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.  

Lower House  Nyumalin 

The House of Representatives has endorsed newly Francis Sakila Nyumalin as Representative of Lofa County electoral district#1 following his certification by the National Elections Commission or NEC.  On December 7, 2016, the NEC received a communication from the Chief Clerk of the Lower House, informing the commission of the death of Rep. Eugene Fallah Kparkar after a brief ailment. In keeping with the Article 37 of the Constitution of Liberia and Section 2.9(g) of the new Electoral Law of Liberia, the NEC on February 28, 2017, conducted by-election in district#1, Lofa County to refill the vacancy. According to the Commission, based on votes obtained by each of the nine (9) candidates, who vied for the seat, Mr. Francis S. Nyumalin of the Union of Liberian Democrats (ULD) obtained a total of 3,149 votes, which represents 32 percent of the total valid votes from the poll. Speaking in plenary on Thursday, 23 March Rep. Nyumalin told his colleagues that he has come to join the Legislature, knowing that they have a dedicated responsibility as a matter of priority to reconcile and reunite the people of Foya district to pave the way to peace, unity and development, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: “I Am Not A Complacent Politician”…New Lawmaker Declares(INSIGHT)  

Liberian Delegation Departs For Uganda To Participate In World Cross Country Championships 

The Liberian delegation, comprising two teenage Liberian athletes, Lucy Massaquoi, 18 and Andrew S. Kpehe, 17, Coach Samuel Cooper and Journalist Leroy M. Sonpon,, is expected to depart the country today, Friday, March 24 to participate in the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday March 26. The Liberian athletes are expected to join over 800 athletes to run in the historical Independence Grounds in the heart of Kampala this Sunday, writes the In Profile Daily newspaper.

Related Caption: Liberian Delegation Departs For World Cross Country Championships(The New Dawn)

Vice President Boakai, WHO Director General Hold Talks on Health Issues

Vice President Joseph Boakai has been meeting with the head of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Dr. Margaret Chan and the two discussed a wide range of issues affecting the health sectors of developing nations. In her welcome remarks Dr. Chan praised the Government and people of Liberia for their response to the Ebola crisis. She warned that such outbreaks know no borders and that no one country can stop an epidemic. Dr. Chan spoke of the need for reforms in the health sectors of developing countries because according to her the population is changing so are the diseases adapting, changing and resisting new treatments, adding health care reform is an on- going journey. The World Health Organization Boss pointed out that at least forty five percent of the national budget should be allocated to health and further warned that if the children today and not healthy, the economy tomorrow will also be sick, a dispatch from Geneva said. For his part, Vice President Boakai praised the WHO for the role that it played during the Ebola crisis, according to the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Related Caption: VP Boakai, WHO Boss Discuss Health Reforms In Developing Nations(Heritage)

ECOWAS, Mano River Union to Strengthen Trade Liberalization

In an effort to consolidate common market and the creation of a free trade across borders in West Africa, countries in the Mano River Basin have begun creating awareness about the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme which provides opportunities for citizens trading in the region. ECOWAS Special Representative Ambassador ‘Tunde Ajisomo said, the ETLS serves as the main operational instrument for the promotion of Free Trade Area in the West African sub-region, and is in tandem with the objectives for which ECOWAS was established. The FrontPage Africanewspaper quotes the ECOWAS Representative as saying that the objective of the workshop was to sensitize and familiarize relevant MRU officials and members of the private sector on the key elements of the ETLS, with a special focus on its application. Deputy Commerce and Industry Minister Steve Marvie assured ECOWAS of the implementation of the trade scheme. He said the trade scheme will help in reducing unnecessary burden on trade. 

Related Caption: MRU Countries Brainstorm To Boost Trade(Daily Observer)

Ministry of Education, LIBTELCO, Marcia Gallant Conduct Capacity-Building Workshop

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in partnership with the Liberia Telecommunication Corporation (LIBTELCO) and Marcia Gallant have begun a week-long capacity building training for several Liberian students in Information Technology, cosmetology and basic leadership skills. The Deputy Managing Director of LIBTELCO, Checago Bright Sawo, said the initiative was part of the MOE’s universal asset program aimed at ensuring that all public schools have access to Information Technology. He said the initiative is also part of LIBTELCO Computer Lab for the Sciences in School (CLASS) program for public schools while the Imagine- Lib project is for higher institutions of learning, which was launched two years ago by former LIBTELCO boss, Sebastian Muah. He noted that under these programs, LIBTELCO is partnering with the Ministry of Education to provide computer labs for several public schools and universities across the country, writes the FrontPage Africa.

MOCI, UNCTAD Host 2nd Empowerment Program for Trade Community

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Wednesday, March 22, commenced a three-day empowerment program for stakeholders of the National Trade Facilitation Committee of Liberia (NTFC). The Daily Observer says the training is intended to broaden the knowledge of stakeholders on international standards and best practices for the facilitation of trade.