The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013

Dominating the local dailies today, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 are news of the departure of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for Johannesburg to attend  the funeral of fallen South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, the signing of the Book of Condolence for the late Mandela, the new leadership of the Press Union of Liberia and the huge benefits of the One China Policy to Liberia which are among other stories highlighted in our selected dailies.

Dominant Stories

Ellen Departs For Johannesburg To Attend Nelson Mandela Funeral Services

A top back page lead of the Heritage newspaper says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf departed yesterday evening for Johannesburg, to join Kings, Queens, Presidents, Heads of State and Government, and millions of sympathizers for the State Memorial Service of the first Memorial Service of the first black and former President of South Africa and global icon, Nelson Mandela, who passed away on December 5^th, in his 95^th years. President Mandela, who led the struggle against South Africa’s brutal apartheid region, was jailed for 27 years, and emerged from prison to become South Africa’s first democratically elected President in 1994, stepping down after serving a single term. According to an Executive Mansion release, on Tuesday, December 10, President Sirleaf will attend the State Memorial Service of the late former President, Nelson Mandela, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg to which Kings, Queens, Presidents and Heads of State are invited. According to the paper, the State Funeral will take place on Sunday, December 15, at Madiba’s ancestral village of Qunu, Eastern Cape – a 14-hour drive from Pretoria – to which the 80-100 Heads of State expected are not obliged to attend as the village does not have the necessary facilities to accommodate everyone and their entourage. Because of their many ears of promoting human rights and democracy, both Dr. Amos Sawyer, Chairman of the Governance Commission, and Dr. Togba Nah-Tipoteh, a prominent Liberian politician, have been invited to play roles in commemorating the home going of the former south African President , Dr. sawyer will accompany the President to South Africa, while Dr. Tipoteh will work, on the ground, with South Africa’s Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Masilo Esau Mabeta, to organize activities commemorating Mandela’s life. President Sirleaf returns home on Friday, December 13. While she is away, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Amara Konneh, will chair the Cabinet in consultation with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Leaves For Mandela’s Funeral (INSIGHT), Memorial Service For Mandela Today…Pres. Sirleaf, Others To Be In Attendance (The Inquirer), Ellen Departs For Johannesburg To Attend Mandela’s Funeral Services (Daily Observer)

GOL To Sign Book Of Condolence For Former South African President

The Government of the republic of Liberia has announced the signing of the Book Of Condolence in memory of Former South African leader, nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at the age of 95 years. According to a Foreign Ministry release issued in Monrovia on Monday, the signing ceremony of the Book of Condolence will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at the South African Embassy in Congo Town, commencing at 10a.m. Vice President Joseph N. Boakai will lead an array of Liberian Government officials to the South African Embassy at the ceremony, writes the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: Gov’t. To Sign Book Of Condolence For Former South African President (INSIGHT), Boakai Leads Gov’t.  Officials To Mandela’s Book Of Condolence signing (Daily Observer)

KAK Wins PUL Presidential Race

The long awaited Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Elections were held on Monday, December 9, 2013 with veteran Liberian journalist, Mr. K. Abdulai Kamara alias KAK narrowly winning the presidential race. The elections were held at the headquarters of the PUL on Clay Street, Monrovia. The elections were earlier scheduled to take place on the 9^th of last month in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, but were halted by the Civil Law Court of Liberia due to complaints filed by some aggrieved disqualified candidates. Mr. Kamara won the presidential race after accumulating 104 votes of the total 226 valid votes cast. His closest contender, Mr. Charles B. Cuffey of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) obtained 96 votes, while Mr. Jacob Parley of the same institution (LBS) accumulated just 26 votes. The Vice presidential race was won by the News Director of the Sarafina Venture Incorporated, owner of Love FM/TV and the Liberia Journal Newspaper, Mr. Jallah Grayfied, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption: PUL Gets New Officers (The Inquirer)

Pres. Sirleaf Honors Out-Going Chinese Ambassador

A sub top back page lead of the INSIGHT newspaper reports that at an Investiture Ceremony held on Friday, December 6, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf admitted the departing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Zhao Jianhua, into the Humane Order of African Redemption, with the grade of Knight Great Band. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Investiture Ceremony and Farewell Reception took place in the Foreign Ministry’s C.Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium, and was presided over by the President, in her capacity as Grand Master of the Orders of Distinction. Among those present at the well-attended program were:  Vice President Johnson N. Boakai; the Chief justice, his Honor Francis Korkpor; Cabinet Ministers and other senior officials of Government; members of the Diplomatic Corps; and traditional leaders. In remarks, before the conferral of the distinction upon Ambassador Zhao, President Sirleaf told him that an assignment is not about host much time you Ambassador Zhao, President Sirleaf told him that an assignment is not about how much time spent, but what you do with the time that is given to you, and what you accomplish.

Related Caption: ‘One China Policy Has Paid Huge Benefits’ – Says President Sirleaf (Daily Observer)

Other Stories

EPA Trains 13 In Handling Ozone Substances

The National Ozone Focal Point of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has trained 13 persons in handling hydrocarbons and other ozone substance for public safety. The training ran from December 3-6 at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center and was facilitated by a certified technician from Namibia. Speaking at the close of the workshop, the Vice President of the Liberia Refrigerators, Ice Box, Air Conditioners Engineer Technicians Union (LIBRAETU), Richard Gray, thanks organizers and said the training built their capacity and knowledge in modern technology to prevent pollution and its danger to health. Earlier, the head of the National Ozone Focal Point Unit, Mr. Earl Neblett, lauded the participants for their interest in the workshop and urged them to take precaution in the handling of chemicals. He commended the German International Assistance Firm, GIZ, for collaborating with EPA. He hoped beneficiaries of the training workshop will share what they have learnt with their colleagues and the general public, the Heritage newspaper asserts.

Keyan Defense College Delegation In Town

Defense Minister, Brownie Samukai, has informed a high power delegation from the National Defense College (NDC) that seven years in power is just not enough to reconstruction process, the nation’s economic situation and address the socio economic problems facing the country following nearly 14 years of devastating civil unrest. Min. Samukai said during the Liberian civil crisis, every system within the border of Liberia broke down including the country’s military, security, political and other important sectors. Min. Samukai added that addressing these situations requires time but said government has set priorities that are being addressed graduates, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Liberia Tops West Africa’s Fisheries MSC Mechanisms – Hosts Workshop On Illegal, Unregulated, Unregistered Practices Waters

An inside top lead of the Daily Observer newspaper reports that statistics from the Bureau of National Fisheries (BNF) showed that Liberia has topped seven West African countries placing first on monitoring, surveillance, and control of its waters from illegal fishing activities. These countries include Ghana, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau. The Director of Research and Statistics of the BNF, D. Wisseh Kay, disclosed that since the Liberian Government and its partners initiated the monitoring and control system a few years ago, the marine resources of the nation are protected and secured.

An inside story captioned “Curbing Small Arms Proliferation- foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan Calls for more robust, honest and concerted efforts” in the Frontpage Africa newspaper reads that Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Augustine Ngafuan making an intervention at the Elysee Summit for peace and Security, in Africa called for more robust, honest and concerted efforts to stop the proliferation of small arms in Africa. Minister Ngafuan said small arms have fueled many violent conflicts on the continent.  The Liberian Foreign Minister furthered that dealing with the unemployment challenge especially youth unemployment should be put on the front burner. He noted that youth unemployment is a threat to peace and security, especially in post-conflict fragile states. He said regional and sub-regional cooperation aimed at bolstering peace and security is a path that must continue to be pursued. The summit was held in from December 5-7 in Paris, France, according to Frontpage Africa daily.

The front page of the New Democrat daily writes that Lands Mines and Energy Minister Patrick Sandolo has announced that the official ground breaking ceremony for the Mount Coffee General Projects. According to the paper, the project covers three Heavy fuel Oil Plants, JICA funded 10 MW under construction, World Bank funded 10MW implementation already in Progress and a Government of Liberia-funded 18 MW being implemented. The paper, under the caption Works On Power Projects Begin Jan, named the Monrovia-Kakata 66 KV transmission line and cross border transmission as other projects earmarked. Minister Sandolo made the revelation on Thursday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information.