The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

 Today’s dominating  stories captured from the back and front pages of he local dailies include the news of farewell reception held in honor of  outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, the EU Aids Director’s Provision of 2.5 Million towards slum communities’ water and sanitation projects and VP Boakai’s commendation for NGOs’ efforts towards Liberia’s recovery amongst other news from Liberia.

 Dominant Story

Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Liberia says he has been requested by his Government to depart Liberia after his tour of duty. Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said even though it is always sad and difficult to bid farewell to good friends, he hopes that distance will not keep him apart from the people of Liberia. “As a true friend and reliable partners, China knows your heart…China knows your needs, China knows your needs, China knows your aspirations, “Amb, Zhao  said at a farewell reception held in his honor at the Chinese Embassy in Oldest Congo Town, outside Monrovia, write the News newspaper says..

Related Caption: ZHAO’s Farewell – President Sirleaf Commends Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua For His Efforts In Critical Priority Areas To Liberia (FrontPage), Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Commended For Efforts In Critical Priorities (Insight), China-Liberia Relations in a New Era outgoing Chinese Ambassador says (Daily Observer)China, Liberia Relations enter into New Period (Heritage.

‘Areas Of Priority’ – European Aids Director Pledges  Support To Liberia Government

Europe-Aid’s Director for Western and Central Africa has promised to support the Liberian Government’s initiatives based on areas of priority. He made the commitment during a courtesy call on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Monday, December 2, 2013.  According to an Executive Mansion release, Mr. Pierre Amihat said he is delighted to initiate a dialogue with the Government on how to increase support in the areas of roads, electricity, regional cooperation and economic integration, FrontPage Africa  reports.

Related Caption: EU Gives 2.5 Million For Slums Communities’ Water And Sanitation Project – Demands Transparency and Accountability, (Heritage)

Liberia, EU Sign US$13.52 Grant Agreement

 The Heritage news paper writes that the Government of Liberia (GOL) and the European Union (EU) have signed a financing agreement valued at US$13.52M to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Public Works and Liberia’s Decentralization Program. The signing took place on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at the Ministry of Finance in Monrovia. Finance Minister Amara M. Konneh signed on behalf of the Liberian Government, while the Director for Western and Central Africa of the EU, Mr. Pierre Amilhat signed on behalf of his institution.

Related Caption:  EuropeAid To Support Gov’t Priorities (Insight), EU Offers 5.5M To Liberia (FOCUS), In Support of Decentralization Process, Road Repair GOL Bags EU’s US$13.52 (Daily Observer)

“Teach the Voiceless to Speak” Veep Boakai Urges NGOs

Vice President Joseph Boakai has urged Liberian International Non-governmental Organizations to do more by going beyond planting of billboards. Vice President Boakai told Liberian-based International NGOs that it is time to teach the downtrodden or voiceless to speak for themselves rather than being the voice of the voiceless. He said NGOs are indispensible partners in the country’s reconstruction process; as such, they need to do mere in improving the living standards of the needy, the News newspaper writes.

 Related Caption: VP Boakai Lauds NGOS’ Efforts (Daily Observer), VP Boakai Cautions Liberians not to be Overly Aid Dependent (Heritage) VP Boakai Lauds NGO’s Efforts (Daily Observer)

Other Stories

PYJ Snub Looming In Nimba – But FronPageAfrica has gathered that the ‘Friends of Senator Johnson’ On Monday Said the Nimba Senator was ready to negotiate with residents of the area

An inside sub-lead story  of the FrontPage Africa  newspaper reveals that  ahead of the 2014 special election in Liberia, citizens of District #8 in Nimba County Saturday declared that they would not back Senator Prince Johnson second term ambition. The spokesman for the group, Cyrus Wehyee said this while reaching to a statement by the Chairman of District #8 Citizens’ forum Thompson Sleah.  Bleah, a week ago said that citizens of the District would negotiate with candidates contesting the special election next year.

Pres. Sirleaf Urges Lawyers No To Defend Rapists

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has urged lawyers in the country to stop defending rapists. The President said lawyers in Liberia have a responsibility to protect the children of Liberia, saying they must have the courage not to defend anybody who violates the law and destroyed the future of the Liberian children, the Insight newspaper writes.

Pres. Sirleaf Wants Fight Against SGBV

As part of the observance of 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expressed anger at and scolded perpetrators of rape, and called for collective efforts in fighting the act. According to the FOCUS newspaper, President Sirleaf, who addressed hundred of citizens and residents who turned out at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on Monday December, said there should be no place for rapists and that only collaborative efforts can defeat them. She expressed disappointing at mothers for not providing the needed care for their children, which have sometimes led to the victimization of innocent children.

140 AFL Recruits To Train In Todee

The Defense Ministry has announced that training of its first batch of new recruits of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will commence on Tuesday, December 12, at the Camp Todee Military Barracks in Todee District, Montserrado County. The Command Officer-In-Charged, Major General Suraj Alao Abdurahman, disclosed that 140 candidates were selected for the Training process,  Major General Abdurrahman said the Todee training is considered special because it is solely funded by the Government of Liberia. A Defense Ministry press release said the General thanked the Commander-In-Chief of the AFL President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for  the welfare of the new AFL, the Insight newspaper reports.

PUL Opens Book of Condolence for Journalist Musue Haddad

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) will on Thursday, December 5, 2013 open a Book of Condolence in memory of the fallen journalist Musue Haddad, who died at the Redemption Hospital in Monrovia on November 25. She was 44 years old. The union calls on members of the press and the public to sign the book which opens at the Union’s Headquarters on Clay Street beginning at 11 am, theNews newspaper reports.

MYS Begins Disbursement to Counties Ahead of Nat’l Sports Meet

A head of the nation’s traditional tournament, the National County Sports Meet which kicks off December 14, 2013 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has begun the disbursement of US$10,000.00to each of the participating counties as initial preparation payment. The Deputy Minister for Sports, Dionysus Sebwe explained that another US$10.000.00  to complete the preparation package will be disbursed as the tournament progresses. He said the Ministry is also providing additional financial support to the host counties of the preliminary rounds of the tournament, the News newspaper reads.

MIS, Partners Hold Disaster Management Training

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Food Program (WFP), and the United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL) is currently holding a three-day intensive training in Kakata, Margibi County. The training which runs from December 2-4, 2013 brings together participants from Government Ministries working in Margibi with specific focus on “risk assessment and identification”.  The training is being held under the auspices of MIA National Disaster Relief Commission with funding from UNDP, the News newspaper writes.

Lawmaker Promises to Assist Family of Late Musician

Montserrado County District no. 15 Representative, Adolph A. Lawrence, has promised to assist the family of late Liberian musician, Mr. Abraham Gardea. As part of his assistance to the family, Rep. Lawrence said he will pay the school fees of the deceased’s children and complete the house project that he (deceased) left behind. The late Musician Gardea was a member of the Liberia National Culture Union, and Music Director for Small Town International, a locally based band in Logan Town, the Heritage writes.

Segal Guard Service Clarifies Role in Ecobank Robbery says its Operation was Successful

A back page story of the Daily Observer newspaper reads that barely three full days after the jury of Criminal Court ‘D’ on December 2, convicted seven persons of attempting to rob Ecobank |Branch, in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Segal Guard Service, Mr. Momo  Cyrus, clarified that his security firm played a role in the arrest and conviction of the robbery suspects. Segal Guard Service is a private security is a private security firm that is protecting most of EcoBank’s facilities in the country, especially in the rural areas.

$200 Million to Build Liberia Gold Mine

Hummingbird Resources Pic (HUM), owner of gold exporting licenses in Liberia, is seeking about $200 to build a mine to start production in 2015. The company, which is due in complete feasibility studies in the third quarter next year, is looking at financing options including taking a Middle Eastern or Chinese partner, raising development or issuing equity, Managing Director Daniel Betts said in an interview in London, the FOCUS newspaper reports.