The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

Dominating the local dailies in the news summary today is the death news of the Former South African President Nelson Mandela, whose stubborn defiance survived 27 years in prison and led to the dismantling of the country’s racist and brutal apartheid system, EU’s Expression of  confidence In Liberia’s Ability To Manage Aid Money, UNAIDS’ Commendation to Liberia for Progress made On National HIV And AIDS response and the news of International Corruption Day Celebration, as well as ILO’s decision to hold Capacity Building Programs For CBOs amongst other related stories.

  Dominant Stories

The World Mourns…As Nelson Mandela Dies

The local dailies today reported the death news of one of the world’s greatest freedom fighter. The world mourns as anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, 95, died yesterday following a protracted period of illness. Nelson Mandela, the revered South African anti-apartheid icon who spent 27 years in prison, led his country to democracy and became its first black President. According to the Inquirer newspaper, a state funeral will be held, and Zuma called for mourners to conduct themselves with “the dignity and respect” that Mandela personified.

Related Caption: Nelson Mandela Dies (New Dawn), Nelson Mandela Is Dead (The Analyst), Nelson Mandela Is Dead (Insight), Mandela Dies At 95 (FOCUS), Nelson Mandela Dead At 95 (Heritage)Nelson Mandela Dies-South African President Announces to the World(Daily Observer)

EU Expresses Trust In Liberia’s Ability To Manage Aid Money

The European Union’s financial supports to Liberia’s development remain consistent due to Liberia’s prudent management of public finance which meets international standards, says the visiting EU official Wednesday. Mr. Pierre Amilhat, Europe Aid Director of Western and Central Africa told reporters at the signing of two grant Agreements at the Ministry of Finance that Liberia developed a platform of public finance management that met international standards. He cautioned the Government to ensure that European tax payers’ money being sent to Liberia is used to bring benefits o the citizens of Liberia, the New Dawn newspaper asserts.

Related Caption: EU Expresses Trust In Liberia (Insight), EU Expresses Trust In Liberia’s Ability To Manage Aid Money (The Heritage)

UNAIDS Commends Liberia’s Progress On Nat’l HIV/AIDS response

The United National joint Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has commended Liberia for progress made in its national HIV and AIDS response. A statement issued in commemoration of World AI|DS Day on Sunday I, December 2013, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe said Liberia has made progress towards the achievement of global targets, the Insight newspaper reports.

Related Caption: UNAIDS Commends Liberia’s Progress On National HIV And AIDS response (The Heritage)

LACC, NIF, CSOs  Celebrate 2013 International Anti-Corruption Day

The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in collaboration with the National Integrity Forum (NIF) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will on Monday, December 9, 2013, celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day (LACD). This year’s celebration will focus on youth participation in fight against corruption. The celebration will take place in Kakata, Margibi County. The 2013 IACD Celebration is being sponsored by the UNDP. The global theme for the 2013 International Anti-Corruption Day Celebration is Zero Corruption, 100% Development Strengthening Integrity values through youth Participation in the fight against corruption”.  According to the Analyst newspaper, an anti-corruption youth advocate, Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Exploring Solutions, Mr. Stephen Lavalah, will serve as Keynote Speaker at the indoor program.

Related Caption: International Corruption Day Celebration Underway (The Heritage)

ILO International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Works has embarked on a major capacity building program to provide training for small-scale contractors of the Ministry of Public Works and Community Based organizations (CBOs). The training is intended to build their capacity and establish a community maintenance groups knowledgeable in the use of Labour-based methods for routine and recurrent maintenance in South-eastern Liberia. It is also an attempt to provide them hands on training for better empowerment in their areas for self sustainability. Target beneficiaries are drawn from three of the South-eastern counties of Liberia; Grand Kru, Maryland and River Gee where the ILO and the Ministry of Public Works are currently engaged in intensive Labour based projects. According to the Coordinator of the Labor based Public Works Project, Mr. Jemell A. Kiazolu, the current project is being funded by the African Development Bank, the New Dawn newspaper reveals.

Related Caption: ILO Embarks On Capacity Building Programs For CBOs (The Heritage)

Other Stories

 Liberia To Benefit 20 Electricity Projects

The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy has outlined plans for the implementation of 20 electricity or power projects across the country with some already ongoing while others are scheduled for the summer of 2014. Lands, Mines and Energy Minister, Patrick Sendolo, made the disclosure here Thursday at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism on Capitol Hill. He named the Monrovia System Projects which involve a monthly connection of 1,000 residents in various communities, including Chocolate City, OAU Village and King Gray, among others, The New Dawn reports.

Pres. Sirleaf Warns Troublemakers

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reiterated that for Liberia to become a free, prosperous, just, open, secure and democratic society, all Liberians must continue to strengthen the peace in the country. However, she strongly warned that government can neither accept nor permit troublemakers to resort to means, which threaten the collective peace in the country, to express a disagreement, the Focus newspaper reports.

U.S. Ambassador To Address “Employers’ Forum”

A top back lead of the Heritage newspaper reveals that United States Ambassador Deborah Malac will serve as Keynote Speaker at the second “Employers’ Forum” on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at Monrovia’s Cape Hotel. The Forum, which brings together leading employers and other stakeholders from Liberia’s public and private sectors, is hosted by USAID/Liberia Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development (EHELD) Project.

Report Corruption If You See Or Know About It – Minister Brown

The Minister of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has called on the public, especially journalists who are considered as watch dogs of society to report on corruption any where they find it. Speaking during the MICAT’s Regular Thursday press Briefing on December 5, 2013, Minister Lewis G. Brown acknowledged government’s slow pace in the fight against corruption and asked journalists to join the government in the fight against corruption, stating “if you see, here, know corruption, report it, the Informer newspaper reports.

Journalist Hadad Makes Final Journey Tomorrow

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Thursday (December 5) opened a book of condolence in memory of fallen Liberian journalist Musu N. Hadad, expressing profound sadness over her death, ahead of her interment tomorrow. The of Condolence opened 11am at the Union’s Clay Street headquarters, with some members of the media and the public turn out to sign in memory of the fallen female photo journalist and famous columnist. Musu passed away Monday, November 25, after giving up to breast cancer at the Redemption Hospital on Bushrod Island, the Informer newspaper reports.

NEC Trains 2014 Civic Educators – As IFES Pledges Strong Support

The National Elections Commission (NEC) is expected to today conclude its two-day capacity building training for some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country to create awareness for the 2014 special election. The training is specifically intended to educate CSO groups on the youth awareness project for the upcoming Voter Roll Update exercise scheduled January 13 to March 5, 2014. Speaking during the opening of the workshop yesterday at the NEC headquarters in Sinkor, NEC Chairperson Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya said the training of CSOs is part of a two month youth project in preparation for the incoming Voter Roll Update exercise. He said the exercise target about 250, 000 youth to be registered to enable them participate in the pending election, the Informer says.

Liberians Trained in Heavy Duty Equipment

An inside story of the Daily Observer newspaper reports that Ten Liberians on Friday, November 22, completed a two weeks training in the operation and maintenance of heavy duty equipment, under the auspices of UNMIL Bangladeshi Engineering Battalion 19 in Ganta, Nimba County. The training which began on the 11^th November was held in collaboration with the Government of Liberia with support from Swedish International Development Aids (SIDA) under the Liberia Swedish Feeder Roads Projects. The total Liberians from Bong, Lofa, and Nimba were trained in the operation and maintenance of motor roller, grader and dozer. At the certificate awarding ceremony in Ganta on the 22^ndof November, the Contingent Commander of BANENGR 19, Lt. Col. Anwar said, “many development activities are being undertaken by governmental organizations to restore the war ravaged infrastructure of the country”, he said.