The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013

President Johnson Sirleaf’s condolence message to the government and people of South Africa, the brutal murder of Fayiah Gbollie,  a former Presidential candidate and former Legislator in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), former British Prime Minister Tony Blair promise to support Liberia, and US Ambassador  Deborah Malac pledge of support to the LNP are dominant stories captured in the local dailies for today.

 Dominant Stories

“He was A Towering And Inspiring World Leader” – Pres. Sirleaf Describes Nelson Mandela

The President of the Republic of Liberia, her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says President Nelson Mandelas passing is not only a loss for South Africa, but also for the entire continent of Africa and indeed the world at large. President Johnson Sirleaf’s statement was contained in her condolence message to the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa, following the death of Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday December 5, 2013. In her Condolence Message to South African President Jacob Zuma, Madam Johnson Sirleaf on behalf of Liberia extended deepest Condolences to the bereaved family and the People of South Africa for the irreparable loss of one of Africa’s greatest and finest sons. The Liberian President recalled during her visit to South Africa at Mandela’s 90 birth anniversary where she was awe-stricken by his spirit of generosity and commitment to the cause of humanity adding “his pursuit of peace, democracy and equality for the people of South Africa and mankind everywhere earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, the INSIGHT newspaper asserts.

In a related story captioned “Memorial Service for Mandela at Centennial Pavilion Tomorrow- Ellen Describes Him as ‘Towering and Inspiring World Leader;’ Flags to be Flown at Half-Mast for 3 Days”, reports that the South African Embassy near Monrovia has released the official state memorial protocol for the late African and World icon and hero, former South African President Nelson Rolihlala Mandela. Mr. Mandela, former President of South Africa died on December 5, 2013 in his 95^th year. The South African Embassy said a memorial service in honor of the late South African leader will be held on Tuesday, December 10 at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion. According to the front page story of the Daily Observer newspaper, a Book of Condolence has been opened at the Embassy in Monrovia.  the paper furthered that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in her letter of Condolence to the Government and people of South Africa, described Mr. Mandela as ‘towering and inspiring world leader;’ whose moral authority was unsurpassed….’ And that his anti-apartheid struggle brought freedom to millions of South Africans.

Politician Murdered In Congo town

The Political Leader of the Free Democratic Party of Liberia (FDPL), Fayiah Gbolie, was on Friday, December 6, discovered lying dead in cold blood with his head and mouth gruesomely smashed. He was discovered dead at his London Community Congo Town residence. The 70-year-old is believed to have been murdered after his two children left for school that Friday morning. The family spokesman, Siafa Gbolie, brother of the deceased, said he was informed about the death of his older brother at about 10:00a.m. on Friday. He told the INSIGHT that he believes his brother was hit with a heavy weapon in the mouth and is also convinced that they did not use knife, the INSIGHT newspaper reveals.

Related Caption: Ex-Presidential Candidate Killed (The Inquirer)

Blair, Ellen Assure Liberians On Development

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the head of the African Governance British Prime Minister Tony Blair, have disclosed that Liberia’s development process including the realization of the full operations of the various concessionaries will be accelerated soon. Addressing a news conference Saturday evening in Monrovia, President Sirleaf expressed satisfaction that the former British Prime Minister and his team have been working with the Government of Liberia (GOL) by providing technical support for the implementation of Liberia’s developmental agenda and the total realization of the administration’s agenda of transformation, The Inquirer newspaper says.

Related Caption: AGI Promises More Support To Liberia-As Ellen, Tony Blair, Express Optimism Over Liberia’s Progress (Daily Observer), Pres. Sirleaf, Tony Blair, hold talks on ‘Big Push’ development objectives (INSIGHT)

American Ambassador Calls On Police Boss

United States Ambassador Madam Deborah Malac has paid a courtesy visit to The Director of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Chris Massaquoi and held discussions surrounding the LNP with emphasis on the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Police Support Unit (PSU). During their discussions, Ambassador Malac assured Director Massaquoi and the Liberia National Police of the United States Government’s continuous support to the two riot units of the LNP, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Related Caption:US Amb. Pledges Support To LNP (Daily Observer)

Other Stories:

ArcelorMittal Accused Of Indebtedness – Owes Over US$1M To E&P, But Management Debunks Accusation

The World Leading steel giant, ArcelortMittal has been accused of defaulting to settle millions of dollars debt owed one of its clients, Engineers and Planners (E&P). Marking the disclosure Friday of the company’s headquarters in Congo Town, the Country Director of Engineers and Planners, Pamela C. Bowen accused ArcelorMittal Liberia of refusing to pay millions of dollars owed them for two years. Madam Bowen said that as the result of such the unpaid debt E&P has resolved to shut down all services it renders to ArcelorMittal at its mining site in Nimba County until the amount is fully settled, the Insight newspaper writes.

Journalists Go To The Pool Today

Journalists to the country are today expected to go to the poll to elect new corps of officers. The election this time is taking place at the headquarters of the Press Union of Liberian (PUL) on Carey Street, Monrovia, beginning at 9:a.m. The event which should have taken place November 9 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County was cancelled based on a writ of injunction filled by two aspirants who were disqualified by the PUL’s direction commission, however, today process is taking place because the two aspirants Cholo Broks and Omecee Johnson have withdrawn their lawsuit against the process after the interventions of many persons and groups, including the publishers association, the Inquirer newspaper writes.