The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR Monday, May 01, 2017

Today’s media summary includes stories on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s issuance of an Executive Order pertaining to the management of the country’s fishery resources, the formation of a youth network in Liberia and  the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s progress report on the first quarter of 2017 among other stories.

Pres. Sirleaf .issues yet another Executive Order

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued yet another Executive Order, pertaining to the management of the country’s fishery resources. The order, Executive Order #84, according to the Executive Mansion is in line with Article 7 of the Liberia Constitution which states that the government shall manage the natural resources of Liberia to advance the general welfare of the Liberian people and the economic development of Liberia.The new executive order aims at attracting investment in the sector, which government says has been underutilized. “The fishery resources of the Republic of Liberia have been underutilized for over a decade and the Government of Liberia (Government) intends to encourage investment in this sector to ensure the sustainable development and utilization of this natural resource.” The Executive Order No. 84 states “Whereas, the Government in furtherance of its intentions to begin to sustainably utilize its fishery resources has recognized that the Bureau of National Fisheries, a unit under the Ministry of Agriculture needs to be granted an autonomous status to enable it meet up with the demands and trends of fishing industry, and reduce the Government’s bureaucracy around the process of obtaining fishing license,” it noted.  Accordingly, the Government has initiated the process to pass legislation to transform the Bureau of National Fisheries to an autonomous agency of Government charged with the responsibility of managing and developing Liberia’s fishery resources, which would eventually attract investment and expand Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Liberian youths to form peace network

The New Dawnnewspaper writes that a two-day National Youth Peace Building Conference organized by Accountability Lab Liberia in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy here, United Nations Country Team and the Government of Liberia has ended in Monrovia with a pledge by young Liberians to remain ambassadors of change in supportive of a peaceful political transition in the country.According to a press release dated April 28, the young Liberians promised never to allow themselves to be used as instruments of destruction and violence, noting that the international community has invested immense human and material resources over the years and they will do nothing to derail the current peace. Speaking on peace roadmaps developed for the country, they promised, among others, to engage in intensive social media campaign and networking, using Facebook, Twitter and other platforms to educate their peers on the dividends of a peaceful Liberia

LP chairlady joins UP

According to the New Dawnnewspaper, several supporters of the Liberty Party have crossed over to the governing Unity Party. The LP Nimba County Chairlady Madam Yar Dahn, is heading the group to the UP, which current standard bearer is Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. Madam Dahn says the decision is based on alleged disappointment and disrespect, narrating that she joined the Liberty Party in 2005 with expectations that the party would help to change living condition of Liberians. She claims that the party has left her indebted to many persons and institutions, including churches and schools in Nimba County. Madam Dahn further alleges that both local and national leaderships of the party have no respect or regard for her as Chairlady for the votes-rich county. The NewDawn correspondent in Nimba, discloses that the breakaway Chairlady crossed over to the UP along with several district coordinators, including district chairladies, among others. When contacted, Liberty Party county chairman Paul Wehyee, says he welcomes the exit of Madam Dahn and his followers. According to him, when partisans cross over from one party to another, it means noting for the LP. This brings to two, the number exodus in the Liberty Party Nimba County branch. The first was ex-county chairman Tony Gonyon, and now county chairlady, Madam Yar Dahn and followers.

LRCC boss extols Pres. Sirleaf, Public Works boss

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Minister of Public Works, Guyde Moore, have been extolled for the opportunity provided Liberian companies and businesses to contribute toward the infrastructural development of the country. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Renaissance Construction Company (LRCC) Mr. G. Delino Bryant, Sr., made the commendation on Thursday, 27 April when his company was certificated as a good and reliable construction company by the Society for the Promotion of Peace, National Reconciliation and Reunification (SPPNRR). The LRCC boss said the time has come for Liberian-owned companies and businesses involved in the reconstruction industry to work with integrity by executing projects awarded by the Government of Liberia. He said the recognition of his company came as a complete shock, adding that it has given him an impetus to perform even better on future contracts from the government through the Ministry of Public Works by operating within the scope of contractual agreement signed with the government. The LRCC CEO disclosed that the opportunity provided his company is what many Liberian companies and businesses have been seeking for to meaningfully contribute to the rebuilding process of the country, and that he is grateful to the state reposing confidence in him, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

USAID LEGIT Ends Solid Waste Management Seminar

The Daily Observer reports that a three-day solid waste management learning exchange program which began in Monrovia on Monday, April 24 ended on April 27 at the Monrovia City Hall. USAID’s Local Empowerment for Government Inclusion and Transparency (LEGIT) collaborated with Cities Alliance and the Monrovia City Corporation to host the seminar. It brought together county authorities, including assistant superintendents for development and county inspectors as well as the city mayors of Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh counties, experts of waste management groups, and the media. At the opening ceremony on Monday, April 24, Monrovia City Mayor Clara Doe Mvogo commended USAID LEGIT and Cities Alliance for their collaboration to host an educative forum that promotes solid waste management in the country.

Court Decides Controversial E.J. Roye Building Case Today

Following years of confrontation between the government and some concerned partisans of the erstwhile grand old True Wing Party (TWP) about the legitimate ownership of the E.J. Roye Building, headquarters of the party, the Civil Law Court in Monrovia is expected to decide the matter today, Monday, May 1. Judge Yussif Kaba set the hearing for today after the close of final arguments by lawyers representing the government and the party on whether or not the court should declare the legitimate owner of the property filed by the lawyers representing the concerned partisan of the TWP. Reginald Goodridge is the chairman of the Concerned True Wing Party. Before today’s hearing, the court on February 4, 2014, issued an order that restrained the government from taking over the building that once served as headquarters of the TWP, despite state lawyers’ argument that the ownership and possessory rights were invested unto the government by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) – military junta decree #11 – and the constitutional legitimacy of Article 97 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, reports the Daily Observer.

Birth Certificates Top Service Center Requests in Bong County

Jefferson Gbanyan, the Bong County Service Center Coordinator, said the service center has recorded 6,731 service users from May 2016 to March 2017. Tuesday, April 25, was a year since the service center was officially opened to the public in the county as part of the government’s Decentralization and Support Program. Mr. Gbanyan said the center through the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in the one year period generated the total revenue of L$ 6,998,520.35, equivalent to US$69,431. According to Mr. Gbanyan, birth certificates topped the number of services offered with 4,032 users. He said in the male category from 0-1 year of age, they issued out 346 birth certificates, while in the female category, from the same age range, they issued out 350 birth certificates. In the second category from 2-5 years of age, the males recorded 821, while the female group recorded 802 birth certificates, asserts the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Maritime Takes Over fisheries Bureau…According to President Sirleaf’s Executive Order No. 84(Daily Observer)

Ministry of Agriculture, FAO Launch Information Management System Unit

The FrontPage Africa newspaper write the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday, April 28, 2017, officially launched the statistics and information management system unit project. The launching program took place in the conference Hall of the Agriculture Department of the University of Liberia Fendell Campus, lower Montserrado County. Speaking at the program, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Moses Zinnah, said the project is geared towards supporting the statistics and information management systems of the Ministry, adding that it will help revitalize the statistics and information management unit of the Ministry. Dr. Zinnah added that the initiative is also designed to strengthen the institution’s capacity to provide, manage and sustain a reliable database on the MOA performance.

7,000 Security Personnel Set For 2017 Elections

A Joint Taskforce of about 7,000 men and women drawn from five security agencies has been established as part of a strategic security plan for the impending Presidential and Legislature elections in October. The taskforce comprises the Liberia National Police (LNP), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and National Security Agency (NSA). It will operate before, during and after the elections under the command of the Inspector General of Police, according to a Governance Commission (GC) report. The Commission’s 2016 annual report on Liberia’s electoral system for 2017 released recently stated that the LNP, National Elections Commission (NEC) and other security agencies developed the strategic plan and established the Joint Task Force. The taskforce will provide security protection for the full range of pre-elections, elections and post-elections activities, including ensuring a secure environment for the smooth transition from the incumbent government to the newly-elected government, the Commission indicated, reports the Heritage newspaper.

BFF President Challenges Students to Embrace Anti-Corruption Principles Warns Against Academic Thievery

The Founder of the Better Future Foundation (BFF) says sustainable peace and development in Liberia requires the germination of anti-corruption culture in the education sector, beginning with students in the class. According to Mr. Augustine Arkoi who is also Proprietor of the New Hope Academy on Peace Island, Liberia will undergo rapid growth and development if its abundant natural resources are properly utilized with transparency and accountability being the hallmarks of the country’s governance process, the Insight newspaper reads.

PUL Extends Award Entries Submission

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has announced the extension of the timeline for the submission of entries for its 2017 Excellence Awards. The new deadline is Friday, May 5. The change of date is triggered by the slow flow of entries for the Awards Event and to allow journalists in rural Liberia compete, said a PUL release, the Insight reads.

Senator Gaye Heads Senate Adhoc Committee to review Liberia’s Economy

Months after the Plenary of the Liberian Senate mandated the Chairman on the Committee on Banking and Finance, Senator Marshall Dennis, of Grand Gedeh to review the state of the country’s economy, the senate’s plenary having not received any report from the Committee Chairman, Thursday, April 27, 2017, setup an Adhoc Committee headed by Grand Gedeh County Senator, J. Alphonso Gaye to review the state of the Liberian economy and report to that body in two weeks, the In Profile newspaper reads.

20 Senators to Endorse VP Boakai Presidential Bid

The in Profile Daily says rumors in the corridor of the Legislature have it that 20 Senators have pledged their unflinching endorsement to the presidential bid of Vice President Joseph N. Boakai. According to the source who confided in the In Profile Daily, those Senators to endorse the Vice President include Senators: G. Alphonso Gaye  of Grand Gedeh; Peter Coleman of Grand Kru; Matthew Jaye of River Gee; J. Milton Teahjay of Sinoe; Thomas S. Grupee of Nimba and Geraldine Doe-Sheriff of Montserrado Counties. The source further named other senators as Senators: G. Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount; Edward Dagoseh of Grand Cape Mount; Albert Chie of Grand Kru; J. Gblehbo Brown of Maryland; H. Dan Morias of Maryland; George S. Tengbeh of Lofa; Jim Tornonlah of Margibi; Francis Saturday Paye of Rivercess and Armah Z. Jallah of Gbarpolu Counties. Other Senators also named are Senatiors: Dallas A. V. Gueh of Rivercess; Morris Saytumah of Bomi; Daniel Flomo Naatehn of Gbarpolu and Henry Yallah of Bong County, the In Profile Daily reads.

‘Another Milestone of China-Liberia Relations’ Amb. Zhang

Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Zhang Yue, has termed the executions of a ministerial complex and the two annexes to Liberian Capitol Building, under China-Aid as another milestone of China-Liberia relations. “The process of putting the projects in place is a process of mutual understanding between our two peoples and the outcome has further strengthened our friendship and cooperation, “Amb. Zhang said on April 27, 2017, at the groundbreaking ceremony of the projects in Monrovia, the In Profile Daily reads.

NAYMOTE Concludes Training for Csos in Bong County

The National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections, (NAYMOTE), recently concluded a day-long training on the Social Development Funds for Civil Society Actors in Bong County. According to NAYMOTE Regional Coordinator, Moses Bailey, the training was aimed at building the capacity of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), local leaders and community monitoring groups in advocacy techniques. Bailey explained that the training was focused on how to organize community town hall meetings, administer community score cards, and obtain stakeholder signatures on pledge cards, leadership, CSDF process procedures, and the use of fact sheet in advocacy, the In Profile Daily reads.