The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador’s visit to Liberia.

DOMINANT STORY  

UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Prince Haakon of Norway Visits Liberia  

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Good will |Ambassador His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will visit Liberia from 2-5 April 2017 to see first-hand the country’s progress in consolidation peace, and in planning for and implementing the globally  agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Crown Prince Haakon is an advocate for UNDP’s efforts to assist Member States achieves SDG 1- end poverty in all its forms everywhere. During his time in Liberia, the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador will meet with senior government officials, youth and women’s groups, civil society organizations, local communities and other partners, the In Profile Daily reads.

Related Caption:UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Prince Haakon of Norway To Visit Liberia (Heritage), UNDP envoy visits Liberia(The New Dawn)

 OTHER STORIES

WATAF Chair Elfrieda Steward Tamba Meets ECOWAS President On Regional Tax Issues

According to INSIGHT newspaper, in her capacity as Chairperson of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Elfrieda Stewart Tamba recently paid a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS President H.E. Marcel Alain de Souza to discuss regional taxation issues. During the visit, the WATAF Chair conveyed appreciation to ECOWAS for its support of WATAF initiatives including the sponsorship of over 30 participants in WATAF annual events and capacity development initiatives. Chair Tamba proposed to the ECOWAS President the signing of an MOU as a conduit through which efficiency in tax administration and domestic resource mobilization can enhanced throughout the region.

Related Caption: WATAF Chair Elfrieda Stewart Tamba Meets ECOWAS President On Regional Tax Issues(In Profile Daily)

Gender Ministry Condemns Woman’s Death After Gang Rape

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) has expressed serious disappointment over the death of another Liberian woman as a result of alleged gang rape.The New Dawnnewspaper quotes a release from the MGCSP as saying that it categorically condemns the act of gang raping a woman or girl, allegedly resulting to the untimely death of 42 year- old Ms. Korto Kollie, who died on 25 March at a garage in the corner of Benson and Lynch Street in Monrovia where she was believed to have always visited a man she had relationship with. The Gender Ministry has described the death of Ms. Kollie as a brutal manifestation of violence against women and girls and therefore called on every Liberian to assist in heightening efforts to curtail such inhumane approach. It warns that Ms. Kollie’s death is actually regrettable and could further undermine Liberia efforts made in the fight against violence against women. 

Public Works New Declares Regulatory Rule for Commercial Vehicles Plying Major Rural Roads

The Ministry of Public Works has disclosed that commercial vehicles carrying goods weighing over 20 tons will not be allowed to ply major roads in certain rural parts of the country during the rainy season. Making the disclosure on UNMIL Radio morning show “Coffee Break” Tuesday, Public Works Director of Communications, Jusufu Kieta said the measure is in keeping with a new road regulatory regime set by the Ministry to protect those roads against serious damage caused mainly by commercial drivers during the rainy season, FOCUS newspaper reads.

LNFS Begins Annual Fire Safety Inspection In Nimba

The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) Nimba detachment says it has begun regular annual fire safety inspection in the county. According to a release issued in the county under the signatures of Capt. Charles Carr and Col. Richmond M. Flomo, Regional Inspector and Regional Commander of Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties respectively, the inspection targets public premises, including banks, stores, pharmacies restaurants, health centers, gas stations and other business establishments. The release stated that the inspection is currently ongoing in Ganta, Sanniquillie, Tapita and other cities and towns in and around the county, reports the INSIGHT newspaper.

US Doctors Offer Free Treatment To Liberians

A seven-member medical delegation from the United States (US) has provided free medical services and food supplies to less fortunate children in Liberia. The beneficiaries included the physically challenged, old folks, children, pregnant women among others. The medical services are program initiated and designed by the Christ Evangelical Fellowship Ministries in Liberia in collaboration with the Solid Rock Baptist Church in the United States of America. The team is in the country to buttress government’s effort to provide healthy lives for the people of Liberia. According to the General Overseer of the Christ Evangelical Fellowship Ministries in Liberia, Bishop James G. Cuffee Sr., the delegation headed by Pastor Scott Michael, has been providing free medical services and treatments and food supplies in the country since 2016, with over five hundred patients/less fortunate benefiting, and reports the INSIGHT newspaper.

Wider Use of Liberian Dollar “Stressed says CBL’s Weeks; for Economic Stability

Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Executive Governor, Milton A. Weeks, has called for commitment “to the wider use of the Liberian dollar” to ensure economic stability. Weeks said such commitment must be demonstrated “especially as we approach the next test of our fragile democracy, the 2017 General and Presidential elections.” The CBL Governor’s call was contained in a foreword message in the CBL 2016 Annual Report covering the period November 30, 2015 to December 31, 2016 release recently. Weeks stated that in the wake of the fundamentals obtaining in the global economy, Liberia’s current macroeconomic challenges will persist in the coming year, the FOCUS newspaper says.

MOE Officially Retires 275 Employees Today After Serving for Over 25 Years

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has disclosed that it will today Wednesday officially retire some of its staff members who have served for more than 25 years at its offices in Sinkor. The Communication Director at the Ministry of Education, Maxim Bletan informed a local medium that 275 of its employees will be retired and honored for their invaluable services over the years to the educational sector of Liberia. He noted that their respective retirement packages are being put in place, the FOCUS newspaper reads.

3-Day National Sustainability Confab On Child Labour Ends Here

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Program Officer of WINROCK International has commended the ARCH team for the successful implementation of a four-year project on child labour that had affected the lives of people in Liberia. Madam Rocio Cordova told the ARCH team to take charge and continue the fight against child labour in Liberia since WINROCK International has built their capacity. She call on participants to go out creating awareness on the danger of child labour and need to eliminate. She made the statement reently at the close of three-day National sustainability Confrerence on Children Labour organized by the Ministry of Lablour in collaboration with WINROCK International Action to Reduce Child Labour (ARCH) Project.

Chamber of Commerce Elects New Officers

Members of the Liberian Chamber of Commerce (LCC) Tuesday elected new officers to steer the affairs of the institution for the next term. The election, which took place in the conference hall of the LCC on Capitol Hill, brought to office the President and executive officer (CEO) of Omega Insurance Company, Charles Ananaba, as President-elect. The Chamber also elected officials to the executive council, including Assad Barbar, Tony Hage, George Nehme, C. Nelson Oniyama, Tarek Razzouk, Jasper Sigh, Georgio Haddad, Charles Collins and former Finance Minister Lusine Kamara. Prior to the election, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Axel Addy, informed members of the LCC of the need to do more to improve the business climate for all Liberians, reads the Daily Observer.

US Humanitarian Group To Assist Disadvantaged Youths

The New Dawnnewspaper says aUS - based organization under the banner Sons and Daughters of Kings and Queens has disclosed that it is embarking on an initiative aimed at providing training for disadvantaged youth in Liberia. The US group says the training will target people often referred to as zogos. Mr. Joe Wooley, National Chairman of the Rehabilitation Self- empowerment and Reintegration (RSR) says his organization came to Liberia purposely to contribute to the transformation of disadvantaged youth. He says he was invited here by key stakeholders to assess the situation faced by disadvantaged youth and to assist with solution to some of the problems, particularly concerning drug addiction.

MoFA, MPW Get Fires Win in Intra-Governmental Tourney

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) outstanding Intra-Governmental Tournament has commenced its 2017 edition at the “Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia. The day’s fixture witnessed the Ministry of Public Works bowed to the National Transit Authority (NTA) 12-3 home runs in the day’s first kickball encounter at 11am. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs earned their first win with an 18-1 home runs victory over the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation (LWSC) to end the kickball fixtures at 12:00 pm. The first Soccer action saw the Ministry of Public Works collect a 0-2 lost at the hands of the NTA in a fearless battle at 2:00pm. The late showpiece say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also got a 2-0 win at home against the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation to conclude the day’s action, the FOCUS newspaper reads.