The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

News of the Government of India’s Pledge to Construct a Convention Center and Promises 50 fire trucks and buses and President Weah’s receipt of the Letters of Credence of the new Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, H.E. Ambassador Fu Jijun are among stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies including the Liberian leader’s message of congratulations to the King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI, and people of the Kingdom on commemoration  of their 62^nd Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, March 2, 2018.

DOMINANT STORIES

More Support To Liberia - India Pledges To Construct Convention Center For Liberia

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that the Government of the Republic of India, through its Minister of State for External Affairs, H. E. Shri (Mr.) M. J. Akbar, has pledged to construct for the Liberia government a Convention Center, which will be named in honor of their former leader, Mr. Mahatma Gandhi. Minister Akbar headed a six-man delegation at the ministry including Mr. R. Ravindra, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Liberia, Mr. Soumendu Bagchi, Director General, Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. A. Amarnath, Deputy Secretary, Government of India, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, Honorary Consul General of India to Liberia and Abhishek Kumar, Embassy of India, Côte d’Ivoire, to Liberia. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Mr. Akbar urged the Liberian government to make use of 100 scholarships, which it provided through its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. Officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are expected, too, to form part of the beneficiaries of 100 scholarships. The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs made the disclosure of scholarship on Friday, March 2nd, when he along with his delegation met with Liberian Government officials in a Bilateral Dialogue Discussion in the conference room of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. the daily reads that the Indian Diplomat committed his government toward the construction of the Convention Center. The construction might take 18 to 21 months following the groundbreaking. The groundbreaking will be done after the Ministry of Public Works shall have submitted a concept paper of the project to the Indian Government in June of this year. He added: “For the convention center, we will like you to know that you have to act fast.” Mr. Akbar further assured to make good on a previous promise of the provision of a C.T. Scan to the health sector. As he pledged that they will set up for Liberia an Information Technology Center, he also stated their commitment to setting up a micro-finance institution for support to the private sector. Speaking earlier, Foreign Minister Findley, after welcoming Mr. M.J. Akbar and his delegation to Liberia, stressed the need of the Liberian government jumpstarting its pro-poor agenda. The Foreign Minister informed the delegation of the new Liberian administration being very pleased by their overture and looks forward to further deepening the already excellent ties between both nations. In a related development, the Daily Observer reports under the caption “India To Revive US$144m Credit Line To Liberia Promises 50 Fire Trucks And Buses; To Offer US$2m As Grant-In-Aid For Health And A Convention Center” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has joined President George Manneh Weah to ensure that the Liberian government’s ‘pro-poor agenda’ trickles down to the downtrodden who are in dire need of economic revival and has announced India’s willingness to revive allocation of a line of credit worth US$144 million. According to the daily, the announcement was made by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, M. J. Akbar, who led a four-member delegation to Liberia (March 1-2) in the first bilateral visit from the Indian side in the last two years. The Indian External Affairs also said India will donate 50 vehicles (passenger buses and fire engine vehicles) to augment the facilities of the National Transit Authority (NTA) and the Liberia National Fire Service. He added that his country is also willing to offer development assistance to Liberia in the tune of US$2 million as grant-in-aid for health sector projects, as well as supporting an educational project in Liberia, which will build a facility dedicated to computer literacy training and reading skills development.

Related Captions: India To Build Convention Center Here (New Dawn), Big Boost For Weah’s Gov’t…As India Offers 50 Buses, US$ Grant, Others (Heritage), India To Give 50 Buses, Build Modern 50 Build Modern Center (The INQUIRER)

President Weah Receives New Chinese Ambassador’s Letter Of Credence

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has received the Letters of Credence of the new Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, H.E. Ambassador Fu Jijun. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Weah received in audience Ambassador Fu Jijun on Friday, March 2, 2018 in the Cabinet Room of the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia. President Weah commended the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its continued support to Liberia over the years, especially their contributions during the Ebola outbreak and re-emphasized Liberia’s commitment in adhering to the One China Policy. For his part, Ambassador Fu Jijun used the occasion to convey the sincere greetings and felicitations on behalf of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping and underscored China’s commitment to Liberia’s progress.

Related Captions: Weah Reaffirms Commitment To ‘One China Policy’ (In Profile Daily) President Weah Receives New Chinese Ambassador (The INQUIRER), and Chinese, Canadian Ambassadors Present Letters of Credence to President Weah (Daily Observer)

ECOWAS Commission’s New President Takes Over

According to the In Profile Daily, Mr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou of La Côte d’Ivoire has taken over as the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Commission’s outgoing President, Mr Marcel Allan de Souza, in his farewell message outlined the Commission’s significant progress, the release adds. Mr de Souza named some of them as the on-going ECOWAS institutional reform, the establishment of a regional television station, renewed commitments of Member States to the creation of the ECOWAS single currency by 2020, as well as plans for the construction of a new Commission headquarters. The outgoing president also recalled the successful conduct of presidential elections in 2016 and 2017 in six ECOWAS Member States including Liberia, enhanced harmonization of macroeconomic and monetary integration policies as well as cost containment measures, among others. quoting a release from Abuja, the daily reads that Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Professor Al-Hassan Conteh and  other members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and staff and heads of various ECOWAS institutions attended the ceremony that held  in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, March 1, 2018.

Related Captions: ECOWAS Commission’s New President Takes Over (The INQUIRER), ECOWAS Commission’s New President Takes Over (Heritage)

Pres. Weah, MCC Launch ‘Weah for Clean City’ Campaign

President George Manneh Weah and his wife, First Lady Clar Marie Weah, Saturday, March 3, joined Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, to launch the rebranding of the famous ‘Mary Broh Saturday.’  According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the first Saturday of March and all other first Saturdays of every month now dubbed ‘Weah for Clean City,’ saw other government officials, including Defense Minister Daniel Zainkan, enlisting in the President’s cleanup campaign exercises.

Related Caption: MCC Launches “Weah for Clean City” Campaign (New Dawn), “Weah For A Clean City” Campaign Launched (In Profile Daily),

OTHER STORIES

Liberia Hails Kingdom Of Morocco On 62^nd Independence Anniversary

The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release: President George Manneh Weah has sent a message of congratulations to the King of Morocco, His Majesty Mohammed VI, and people of the Kingdom on the occasion commemorating their 62^nd Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, March 2, 2018. On this day, the Kingdom celebrates the anniversary of the declaration of independence from Spain and France in 1956. The territory of Morocco was divided between France and Spain by the Treaty of Fez in 1912. The disputes over the administration of Morocco began between these two countries as early as 1830. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in his Message to His Majesty King Mohamed VI, President Weah, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended heartfelt congratulations and entertained the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between both countries and peoples will be further strengthened in the spirit of African solidarity as they work together in furtherance of the principles of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN).

President Weah Dedicates 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Bomi

President George Manneh Weah has officially dedicated the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. Joined by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during the dedicatory ceremony, President Weah called on judicial actors to ensure justice is dispensed fairly irrespective of gender, creed or status. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader spoke on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. President Weah commended Chief Justice, Justice Francis Korkpor for his leadership in ensuring the construction of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court, and noted the ubiquitous presence of Circuit Courts across the Country. The President promised his Government’s continued support to the Judicial Branch of Government and expressed his commitment to ensure that the rule of law remains a cardinal component of his administration. He said his government will continue to support this initiative to ensure all the 15 counties are covered. The Liberian leader said in order to sustainably maintain our peace and stability, the rule of law will have to be fully implemented void of biases. President Weah said access to justice is a pro-poor priority and therefore, called on judges to at all-time protect our poor people because the court is the only true channel for redress in a democratic form of government, reports the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption: Weah Calls For Fair Dispensation Of Justice (The New Dawn)

Executive, Legislature ‘Tightly’ Review Recast Budget

The Daily Observer writes that the pro-poor government of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has formally submitted the recast budget of the last quarter of the 2017/2018 recast budget to the Legislature. House’s Speaker Bhofal Chambers said both branches are “tightly coordinating to ensure that it (recast budget) is done.” “I think you know the challenges we are faced with, so with the challenges, we are carrying on some methods to ensure those unusual challenges are addressed, and we will do reconciliation in many ways… meaning, we will take proper inventory of the state of the country’s economy; we want to know where we are and how we will start…” Speaker Chambers said.

Labor Minister Demands APM Terminals Reinstates Dismissed Workers

Minister of Labour Moses Y. Kollie has demanded the APM Terminals to immediately re-instate the 17 workers dismissed recently.  He has also frowned on the issuance of sub-employment contracts by major employers and institutions in the country. He said this act on the part of these institutions is intended to evade responsibilities such as the payment of benefits for year(s) served. Minister Kollie made these assertions Thursday, March 1, when he and his deputies met with the Management of APM Terminals and dismissed workers of the company at his Labour Ministry office in Monrovia. Recently 17 dismissed workers of the Construction and Mining Contractors (CMC) Inc., a sub-contracting company of the APM Terminals at the National Port Authority (NPA), assembled at the home of President George M. Weah to seek his intervention. The president in return requested the Minister of Labour to look into the aggrieved workers complaints, asserts the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Labor Minister Asks APM Terminal To Reinstate 17 Dismissed Contractors (Heritage)

Israel to Boost Aquaculture Production In Liberia

The Daily Observer reads that following series of discussions between the Government of Israel and the Liberian Government, a team of aquaculture experts from Israel have arrived in the country to carry out an assessment and conduct training for selected Fish farmers and technicians from Bong, Montserrado, Bomi and Nimba counties. The training, which targets the total number of 60 fish farmers and technicians began on Tuesday February 27, with about 15 fish farmers from Klay Bomi County. It is intended to introduce new techniques and methods in fish farming and aquaculture to the selected fish farmers and technicians. The MASHAV coordinator for Liberia and Ghana, Dana Chocron said the background of the program came into being as a result of meetings held with the Government of Israel and the Liberian Government in 2017 September, on how these two countries can work together in strengthening the Liberian agricultural sector. MASHAV is the Agency for International Development Cooperation. According to her, discussions have focused on agriculture where there is a challenge for Liberia.

VP Howard-Taylor Admonishes Women Advocacy Groups To Combat Teenage Prostitution And Early Marriage

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has encouraged women advocacy groups to fight against teenage prostitution, early child marriage and domestic violence to protect women dignity in the Liberian society. She made the statement on Saturday, March 2 when she served as a special honoree along with some prominent Liberian women at the Girls Alliance For Future Leadership Executive Dinner and Excellent Award held in Monrovia under the theme: “Say No To Early Marriage”. Vice President Taylor added that Liberian women are domestically abused by their spouses in all forms and manner, causing them to go through pains and extreme physical and psychological trauma. For her part, the Secretary General of Girls Alliance for Future Leadership, Faith Saar said the honoring of Vice President Taylor, the First Lady, Julia Duncan Cassell, Weade Kobbah Wureh, Juaneatta Ebba Davidson and Dr. D. Everlyn Kandakai is due to their selfless sacrificial contribution to the development of women and girls and Liberia at large, reports that FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Liberian Students To Participate In International Robotic Competition Buchanan, Grand Bassa County

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, eight students from Grand Bassa County under the Nyonblee Cares Foundation will leave Liberia for the United States of America in April of this year to participate in a robotic competition. Their trip will be the second batch of students from Liberia to have participated in the competition. As part of preparation to the trip, the Nyonblee Cares Foundation (NCF) over the weekend featured the work implemented by Wahjay-STEM at the World Wide Mission Academy on March 2nd, at the Fair Ground, Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County. The Buchanan event was intended to raise additional funding for the students second international trip to the USA to participate in the competition. At the fund raising event the students demonstrated their competence in spelling, vocabulary, public speaking, computer coding, and teamwork.

VP-Howard-Taylor Frowns on Stigmatization Of Children Of Disable Parents

Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has expressed opposition to characterization of children born of physically challenged and visually impaired parents. Vice President Howard-Taylor emphasized that in Liberia, the children of   physically challenged parents are restricted to a particular institution of learning referencing the Group of 77 as a case study. The Liberian Vice president was speaking Friday, March 2, 2018, when she made her second acquaintance visit with the new management of the Group of 77 on New Port Street. According to a Press Release From the Office of the Vice President, VP Howard-Taylor promised to shortly hold consultation with the Ministry of Education for the purpose of designing a strategy to relocate the children of the physically challenged Currently occupying the facilities of the Group of 77. She believes that instead of subjecting these children to particular institution of learning, they should be allowed to go to public schools in a regular system and interact with the regular   children. According to the Vice President, the relocation plan of the school from the Group of 77 to a suitable site, would create more spaces for training more people with disabilities to become self-sufficient assert the FrontPage Africa newspaper.