Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 22 2018

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies, highlights news of the Government’s decision to vet National Orator for this year’s Independence celebration as well as President Weah’s congratulatory message to His Royal Highness, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, on the occasion commemorating that country’s National Day.

DOMINANT STORY  

Vetting For 2018 Independence Day Orator Begins In Monrovia 

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that in an effort to ensure that this year’s independence celebration is held peacefully and void of missteps, a vetting process for the orator of the celebration has opened in Monrovia. Recently, the President of Liberia, George M. Weah constituted a joint committee to spearhead the July 26 celebrations. The committee’s mandate is to ensure a transparent vetting process in which an orator will emerge to serve this year’s event. According to a member of the Committee, Assistant Minister for Children and Social Protection at the Gender Ministry, Madam Meminah Carr, the new vetting process intends to discover a new voice in the history of celebrating Liberia’s independence. Minister Carr said the process, which is described as “transparent and crystal clear” is open up to the general public for young people between the ages of 15 to 35 years. She indicated that the young people from high school to masters’ level of the required age can apply to be the national orator. 

Related Captions: Gov’t Hunts For Independence Orator(The New Dawn), Gov’t searches For Orator For July 26 Celebration(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES  

Weah Congratulates Luxembourg As She Observes 78th National Day 

The Heritage newspaper reads that President George Manneh Weah has sent a congratulatory message to His Royal Highness, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, on the occasion commemorating that country’s National Day. According to a Foreign Ministry release, while extending sincere congratulations to His Royal Highness, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, President Weah noted that the observance of Luxembourg’s National Day this year, has afforded him another opportunity to renew his personal commitment to strengthening the excellent relations subsisting between the two countries and peoples. “As we endeavor to enhance our engagements bilaterally and multilaterally and to ensure that these excellent ties are translated into mutually beneficial rewards, we fervently look forward to expanding cooperation in other relevant fields that will spur local development,” the Liberia leader emphasized.”

Relation Caption: Weah Congratulates Luxembourg, Consoles Cote d’Ivoire(The New Dawn)

Pres. Weah Commissions Several Senior Gov’t Officials

President George Weah Thursday commissioned several senior government officials in fulfillment of his presidential mandate as Head of State. At occasion held in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Weah reminded the commissioned officials of the enormity of their respective responsibilities, which should not be seen as solely for themselves but for the general well-being and interest of the Liberian people. According to the Daily Observer, the event witnessed the commissioning of almost all cabinet ministers, directors of autonomous agencies and presidential advisors. According to the release, the President also cautioned ministers and other officials against compromising the interest of the people as well as other missteps in the discharge of their respective duties.

LiNSA Commissioner Addresses Third UN Conference On Small Arms

The Chairman of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms, James Fromayan, has commended the United Nations for its immeasurable contributions to Liberia’s recovery and development. Speaking at the third UN Conference on Small Arms in New York, Mr. Fromayan said Liberia remains grateful for the UN and indebted to many member states particularly those that provided troops to the UN Peacekeeping Mission. He praised the EU/ECOWAS for their noteworthy collaboration to the arms for development project. Under this project, Liberia constructed and handed over a town hall to the people of B’hai in one of the southeastern counties, reads the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption: Fromayan Addresses Third United Nations Conference On Small Arms And Light Weapons In New York(Heritage)

Four Liberians Benefit from Free Eye Cornea Transplant

At least four Liberians with damaged cornea have benefited from a transplant by the LV Prasad Eye Institute at John F. Kennedy Medical Centre (JFKMC). The transplant was successfully done by Dr. Pravin Krishna Vaddavalli, an Indian doctor who spent over seven months working to replace damaged corneas. He said many Liberians are having problems with their cornea that is leading to the increase of blindness in the country. He said his stay in the country is to remove and replace damaged corneas with good ones. Dr. Vaddavalli added that the transplant was successful through an organization named Satellite which helped to ship new corneas to Liberia, writes the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

“Scorecard ‘Critical’ For GoL To Secure Another MCC,”Says Entity’s Chief Operating Officer

Jonathan Nash, Chief Operating Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), who headed a high-level delegation of the Corporation to Liberia, said for Liberia to be certified for another compact, the country must pass the indicators to a certain extent. He named some of the indicators as government control of corruption, rule of law, investing in the people; increasing immunization rate; investing in healthcare and education and promoting a business-friendly environment. “These are some of the indicators on the scorecard that qualify a beneficiary, because countries that do relatively well compared to their peers become eligible for the grant.” Mr. Nash spoke to journalists at the Millennium Challenge Account-Liberia office on UN Drive in Monrovia. The Daily Observer reads that the two-day visit of the MCC delegation to Liberia from Monday, June 18 to Tuesday, June 19, 2018, was to engage the Liberian government about the successful implementation of the compact. But he said for Liberia to be certified for another compact, the country must pass the indicators to a certain extent.

NASSCORPEnds Interactive Forum In Bong

The National Social Security & Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) has ended a one day interactive forum as part of efforts educating employers and employees about the institution’s activities. NASSCORP is an autonomous public institution charged with implementing three schemes designed to provide social security protections to eligible formal sector workers. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the forum which was held in Gbarnga, Bong County brought together cross section of citizens including employees and employers of the private and public sectors. The National Social Security & Welfare Corporation got a new la in 2017 called “An Act To Repeal Decree No. 14 of the People’s Redemption Council of the Armed Forces of Liberia” and to create a  new chapter 89 Executive Law establishing the  National Social Security & Welfare Corporation of the Republic of Liberia.

PPCC Conducts Public Procurement Orientation Sessions For Public Officials

The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has commenced the conduct of series of procurement sensitization workshops aimed at strengthening the procurement capacity of newly elected and appointed officials of the Liberian government. The In Profile Daily reads that the session which commenced on June 18, is designed to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the management of public resources and ensure compliance with public Procurement and Concession Act along with all subsidiary documents on public procurement.

Related Caption: PPCC Conducts Public Procurement Orientation Sessions For Public Officials(Heritage)

Chief Justice Korkpor Launches Comprehensive Law School Year Book

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Chief Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, His Honor Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. is expected to launch the first-ever comprehensive Year Book of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. The Year Book project implemented by the Class of 2017 will be launched today at the Law School on the University of Liberia main campus. According to Attorney-At-Law Alvin Yelloway, a graduate of the 2017 class, the Year Book project costs about US$6,000 and will see 150 copies produced.