The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018

News of collaborating efforts between the Congress for Democratic Change and the Unity Party for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions at the House of Representatives, including the protest action carried out by wives of Officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia and President Sirleaf’s commendation to 11-year-old Israel Tarway for her humanitarian gesture to needy children are dominant stories carried in our summary of the local dailies for today.

DOMINANT STORIES  

CDC, UP Agree to Share House Speaker, Deputy Speaker Positions 

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 42 elected officials-new and old from the Unity Party (UP) and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-signed a communiqué committing themselves to producing the next Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in keeping with Article 49 of the constitution. Article 49 states: “The House of Representatives shall elect once every six years a Speaker who shall be the presiding officer of that body, a Deputy Speaker, and such other officers as shall ensure the proper functioning of the House. In their communiqué, the lawmakers agreed that the next Speaker will be produce by the CDC which has become the ruling party and the Unity Party who have become the new opposition party will produce the Deputy Speaker. Their choices for those positions are Representative Bhofal Chambers (CDC-District 2 Maryland County) and Representative Prince Moye (UP-District 2 Bong County), respectively. The two parties’ decision, according to the communiqué, is because the two parties hold the highest number of elected lawmakers in the October 10, 2017 poll.

Related Captions: CDC, UP Collaborate For Speaker Post As 42 Lawmakers Endorsed Reps. Chambers, Move To Contest(In Profile Daily), Chambers Becomes Next Speaker? (The New Dawn), Battle For Speaker’s Post Heightens…Candidates Under Spotlight(Heritage), Hans, Chambers Enter Crucial Speakership Race(The INQUIRER)  

Aggrieved Wives of AFL Soldiers Stage Protest Demanding Benefits 

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that aggrieved wives of Armed Forces of Liberia officers on Tuesday blocked the highway leading to the Roberts International Airport in demand for money they claim the Ministry of Defense owes their husbands. The angry women blocked the Marshall Junction, which is a little over one kilometer from the Edward Beyan Kesselly Barrack, for over two hours. Regular flow of traffic was obstructed for more than three hours. They claimed US$20.00 was deducted each month as “compulsory saving” for the past years from their husbands. Some of the women claimed their husbands complied with the deduction for the past eight, nine or 10 years. They said their husbands were assured before signing up to the “compulsory saving” that they would receive it before the end of the government tenure. “The General said they could not assure us that the money will be paid because it is not intended for sharing and that is why we are protesting,” said one of the protesters. 

Related Captions: AFL Wives Protest At EBK Barracks, Demanding Husbands’ Benefits(Daily Observer), Soldiers’ Wives Protest At E.B.K. Barracks (The New Dawn), Wives Of AFL Soldiers Protest(In Profile Daily)

Girl 11, Receives President’s Praise For Educating Needy Children

The Daily Observer reads that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended Little Israel J.S. Tarway for what she termed as her humanitarian gesture to less privileged children of her age currently out of school due to lack of support from parents and guardians. "Israel, I want to commend you for what you have done and continue to do for children. You are exceptional," President Sirleaf noted. President Sirleaf called on little Israel to pursue her dreams and see her contribution to society as meaningful. President Sirleaf, who felt overwhelmed by Little Israel's dream and contribution to children, made an unspecified generous contribution to her charity box and pledged her continued support to girls’ education. According to an Executive Mansion release, the President made the statement on Monday, January 8, 2018 when she received in audience Little Israel Tarway and her mother, Ms. Amelia Tarway at her Foreign Ministry Offices where they had gone to pay courtesy call on President Sirleaf. Israel J.S. Tarway is 11 years and a 7th Grade student of Spiritan Academy. She is a proud winner of the Princess Diana Award in 2017. Speaking earlier, Israel Tarway said after realizing UN report about children who are not in schools and coupled with the abuse of children, she decided to do something by catering to their educational needs. She stressed: "I saved my lunch everyday to pay some children of my age, who are unable pay school fees; I am currently paying the school fees of 5 children in Liberia; 3 at home with me who I am taking care of; while 2 also in the Republic of Sierra Leone respectively."  

Related Captions: Ellen Commends Little Israel Tarway For Sending Needy Children To School (Heritage), Ellen Commends Little Israel Tarway For Humanitarian Services(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

‘All is Not Lost,’ VP Boakai Assures Lofaians

Ambassador Joseph Boakai, the Vice President and political leader of the defeated ruling Unity Party, has told citizens of his home county Lofa that all is not lost for the county and its people though he lost the December 26 presidential runoff election. VP Boakai vowed to work in the interest of his county to attract investments to improve the livelihood of the citizenry as well as for the betterment of the country. “I have come to tell you that though we were not preferred by all the Liberian people, I’m prepared to fulfill my promises to you,” he said during his appreciation tour of the county. He had gone to thank his kinsmen for standing by him during the elections. “The purpose of my visit here is to appreciate my people for showing the high level of love and dedication…ensuring that we were successful in the process, because they did what they committed themselves to do by voting in their numbers,” he said. The election has ended, he said, and there is a new government that will continue the work from where the Unity Party led government will stop. “I ask that we all rally around this new administration to bring the desired developments that we all want. We should all know that Liberia has won so let us support each other,” he said.  

EU Donates Huge Office Equipment And Valuable Materials To Several Organizations Here 

The Heritage newspaper reads that in an effort to enhance the work of some local and international organizations in the country, the European Union Delegation to Liberia Tuesday donated huge office equipment and other valuable materials at its Mamba Point office in Monrovia. The beneficiaries include the National Teachers Association of Liberia, Me and My People Charity Inc. Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP) and the Liberia Translation and Literacy Organization (LIBTRALO). Others are KRITERION MONROVIA, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Handicap International and Sight Savers.

Related Caption: EU Donates To Eight Local, Int’l Organizations In Liberia(In Profile Daily)

UMU Graduates 600

The United Methodist University (UMU) Tuesday graduated 598 students during its 14th Commencement Convocation while 69 others were honored for academic achievement according to the Daily Observer, the ceremony was held at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) in Monrovia.

Related Caption: ‘Action Is The Foundation Of Change’…Guest Speaker Tells UMU Graduates(The INQUIRER)

House Shelve AFREXIM Bank, Maritime Bills In Committee Rooms Extraordinary Session Begins And Ends Friday

According to the Daily Observer, the House’s Plenary, in a unanimous vote, has effectively shelved two of the prioritized bills submitted by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, by deferring them to Joint Committee Rooms. The daily says the decisions were made on Tuesday, January 9 during the first day sitting of the Extraordinary Session of the 6th Session of the House of Representatives of the 53rd Legislature. With the quorum of over 36 Representatives and presided over by Speaker J. Emmanuel Nuquay, the Act Ratifying the Agreement for the Establishment of the African Export Import Bank (AFREMIXBANK), was sent to the Joint Committee on Banking and Currency And Ways, Means and Finance. The Committee is expected to report on today, Wednesday, January 10th or Thursday, January 11th.