Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

Stories topping today’s summary of the local dailies include the assertion made by the Unity Party political leader Joseph Nyuma Boakai for the National Elections Commission to expeditiously review concerns by multiple political parties following the first round of the Presidential and Legislative Elections as well as the tributes paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the funeral service of one of its fallen career diplomats, Mrs. Clara Klaneh Wesley Bruce.

Also captured in our summary is the Proclamation by President Sirleaf declaring October 24^th  as “United Nations Day” to be observed as a working Holiday.

DOMINANT STORIES

Boakai Amplifies Concerns Over Election Irregularities Wants NEC To quickly Clean Up And Re-Publish The Final Voter Registration Roll

Unity Party political leader Joseph Nyuma Boakai has called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) and other responsible stakeholders to expeditiously review concerns that are being raised by multiple parties and take the appropriate actions to protect the integrity and sanctity of the Liberian electoral system. Speaking Monday at a press conference held at his residence in Monrovia, V P Boakai called on the NEC to immediately clean up and re-publish the Final Voter Registration Roll to enable voters to ascertain in advance the inclusion of their names on the roll and the specific precincts and polling centers where they should vote. The Vice President said he stands in full solidarity with all other political parties, including the Liberty Party (LP), the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the All Liberian Party (ALP) and other stakeholders who have raised concerns about acts of irregularities and fraud at some polling places, reads the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: UP Demands Publication Of Voter Roll-Supports Aggrieved Political Parties’ Qualms (INSIGHT), Unity Party Demands National Elections Commission to Clean Up Voters Roll (FrontPage Africa), UP Wants NEC Cleans Up, Republish Voters’ Roll (The INQUIRER)

Foreign Ministry Bids Farewell To Career Diplomat Klaneh Bruce

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the late Deputy Consul General at the Consulate of Liberia in New York, Mrs. Clara Klaneh Wesley Bruce, as a “good friend, dedicate employee, very energetic and free-spirited.” Reading the tribute on behalf of Foreign Ministry family, Mr. Mohammed Kenneth, himself a career diplomat, showered the decease with praises and described Mrs. Bruce as a dedicated career diplomat, who during her lifetime at the ministry, made enormous contributions to her country and the wellbeing of her family members, friends, colleagues and associates. Mr. Kenneth stressed that the late Mrs. Bruce will be dearly missed by the entire family of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her commitment and dedication to duty. The FrontPage Africa newspaper, quoting a Foreign Ministry release reads that the ministry’s tribute was paid at the funeral service of the late Mrs. Bruce at the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Oldest Congo Town on Saturday, October 21, 2017. Mrs. Bruce passed away at the Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York, United States of America on September 22, 2017.

Related Captions: Foreign Ministry Bids Farewell to Career Diplomat, Mrs. Klaneh Bruce (Heritage), Foreign Ministry Bids Farewell To Career Diplomat, Mrs. Klaneh Bruce (INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

Today Is, ‘United Nations Day’…To Be Observed As A ‘Working Holiday’

The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has by proclamation declared Tuesday, October 24, 2017, as “United Nations Day”, and is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation calls upon all Government ministries and agencies, international organizations, United Nations Agencies near the Capital, schools and other institutions of learning, and citizens in general to cooperate with the Ministry of Education in organizing appropriate programs befitting the occasion. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Liberia will join other Member States to celebrate the 72^ndAnniversary of United Nations Day in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the United Nations.

Related Caption: Ellen Declares Today United Nations Day (The INQUIRER)

Liberty Party Complains To NEC

The political leader of the opposition Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles Walker Brusmskine says lawyers representing his party have complained to the National Elections (NEC) about irregularities and massive fraud associated with the just ended October 10, 2017 Liberian general elections. Addressing a major press conference yesterday at the headquarters of the Liberty Party, Cllr. Brumskine noted, “as I told you before, our lawyers have already filed complaint to the NEC. There has been massive fraud, gross irregularities, violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, the election laws and other laws of the country,” reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Ellen Reappoints 4 Former Officials

According to Heritage newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reappointed four former officials of her government after they resigned their posts to contest in the Presidential and Representatives Elections on October 10. The four officials resigned their various positions to contest for representative seats in their respective districts in keeping with section 12.4 of the Code of Conduct, which mandates appointed government officials with intent to run for an elected public office to resign prior to the holding of an election. Making the disclosure on a local radio in Monrovia on Monday, Presidential Press Secretary Jerolemic Piah named the four former officials as Julian Duncan Cassell, Selena Mappy, Augustus Zayzay, and Varney Sirleaf

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LNP Warns Liberians Against Street Protest

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Inspector General of the Liberia of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, has warned Liberians against protesting in the streets to express their grievances. Col. Coleman said political parties and their supporters must desist from staging unnecessary protests during this critical time in the history of the country.  He noted that the “police will not hesitate to enforce the law” without fear or favor. He made these assertions at the weekend when he spoke to a cross section of citizens at the Ricks Institute in District # 17, Montserrado County. Col. Coleman pointed out that Liberians and foreign nationals deserve the rights to move and live in peace and therefore, therefore, therefore, these rights must not be hindered by any group or political party in the country. He stated that the police will not relent to apprehend anyone engage in street protest without permission.

5 Catholic Nuns Remembered

The Bishop of the Catholic Church in Liberia, Lewis Zeglier has called on Liberians to continue to work together to build a better nation. He spoke at the Holy Mass Celebration in memory of the five ACS sisters on the 25^thanniversary of their murder at the Sacred Heart Cathedral yesterday. He said the sisters had true and genuine love for Liberia and Liberians that is why many Liberian learn a lot from them. He told the congregation to always remember the ACS sisters in their prayers because they helped those who were in need and because of the good works the sisters dis and the lives they touched, schools clinics are name after them, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Dr. Byron Tarr Hailed as “Great Economist” Dignitaries Overwhelm Zondo Town, Grand Bassa County to Bid Their Last Farewell

The Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), Dr. Amos C. Sawyer has described his fallen colleague, Dr. Byron Tarr as an authority on political economy, someone who understood the political economy of the country. “This is one of first persons I met that had so much insight about our economy. Byron was passionate about Liberia and its people,” Dr. Sawyer stated. The deceased was also a genuine intellectual who was always ready for a contestation of ideas, Dr. Sawyer recalled, adding: “He was a man who had love for the people of Liberia and his native Bassa.” Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine, political leader of the Liberty Party said the deceased was a no-nonsense and the most principle-minded man he had ever met. “This was a man who I collaborated with on several projects and I got to know who he truly was,” he said. According to the Daily Observer, the two officials spoke at the funeral service of their fallen colleague at the Zondo Mission School in District #4, Grand Bassa County. Dr. Tarr died on October 7 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital.

Debate In South Africa Liberian Students to Represent Country, Call On Well-Meaning Liberians To Fund Trip

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Liberia High School Debate has received an invitation from Orate Africa Trust, an acclaimed South African-based organization to participate in this year’s Orate Africa Championship Leg 1 from December 7-15, 2017. The invitation, according to Youth for Change Inc., organizers of the Liberia High School Debate, came about due to the live streaming of the debate.  As per Orate Africa Trust system of debate, Liberia will be represented by 12 players (4 teams), four adjudicators (one per team), one journalist, and two organizers. Youth for Change Inc. puts the cost of travel for at US$39,189.00. The organization called on all well-meaning Liberians, including companies operating in Liberia to contribute financially to help make the trip a success for Liberia. 

Nobel Liberia, Ecobank In Money Transfer Partnership

Nobel Liberia last Wednesday signed a partnership arrangement with Ecobank as the newest money transfer service in the sector. NOBEL Liberia already has similar arrangements with LBDI (Liberia Bank for Development and Investment) and IB (International Bank). The Daily Observer says this partnership is to create easy access to Liberians wanting to receive money from the United States. The president and chief executive officer of Noble Liberia, Jallah Kesselly, expressed hope in the growth of the Liberian economy, and said his institution does not send money out of Liberia, adding, “We will like to keep money in Liberia, rather than sending money out of Liberia.”