The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

The aftermath of the action taken by the UL Faculty Association (ULFA) last Wednesday when they called for the resignation of Dr. Wade Elliott Brownell, Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Condolence Message sent by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the Government and People of the Arab Republic of Egypt after a train ploughed a truck and a mini-bus at a railway-crossing,  the Liberian Government move to stabilize the US Dollar rate and the holding of a Big program by CDC Today Friday  and  other related stories are top news highlighted in our today’s daily media summary.            

 Dominant Stories

GOVT. OPPOSES SHUTDOWN

The Liberian Government has warned students, Faculty and Administration of the state run University of Liberia to resolve all disagreements without shutting down the University. “We want to encourage the  UL Faculty, all student groups to work together in line with the guidelines governing the institution; we are persuaded that they can resolve their differences without shutting down the university”, Information Minister Lewis Brown said on Tuesday. The Government’s Chief Spokesman made the call on day after the University of Liberia Faculty Association or ULFA, laid down chalks, with key demands, among others, seeking the unconditional resignation of the UL’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Wade Elliott Brownell. According to the paper, up toThursday morning, students of the University of Liberia were said to have besieged the main campus on Capitol Hill, reemphasizing their vote of no confidence in the Provost. Normal academic activities are at a standstill, with classes occupied with empty chairs, the New Dawn reports.

Related Caption: Activities Stalled At UL – As Faculty Abandoned Classes Yesterday (INSIGHT), Gov’t Speaks On Standoff At UL (The Heritage), UL Faculty continues “Disengagement” Action (The Inquirer)

PRESIDENT SIRLEAF CONSOLES EGYPT AND PHILIPPINES

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the Government and People of the Republic of The Philippines, following the news of a devastating effect of the Typhoon Haiyan which made a landfall in the northern part of that country killing thousands of people and destroying several properties. In her message to the Government and People of The Philippines, the Liberian President conveyed sentiments of condolences on behalf of the Liberian Government to President Benigno Aquino, III, and through him, to the Government and People of the Philippines, especially the affected families, for the irreparable loss sustained as a result of the disaster. President Johnson Sirleaf prayed that God will grant President Aquino and the People of the Philippines strength, courage and fortitude as they go through this period of national morning, the INSIGHT reports in its inside story.

Related Caption: Ellen Consoles Egypt, The Philippines (Heritage)

GOV’T MOVES TO STABILIZE EXCHANGE RATE

In the wake of the staggering exchange rate between the Liberian dollar and the United States Dollar, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Liberia have adopted a number of short and long term measures to mitigate the problem and bring relief to the population, Finance Minister Amara Konneh has disclosed in Monrovia. For months running, the Liberian dollar has sharply depreciated against the US dollar, something that has prompted public outcry, the INSIGHT reports.

Related Caption: Gov’t Takes Steps To Control US$ Rate (The Inquirer)

WE DON’T NEED PERMIT CDC INSISTS

The News newspaper pens that The Vice Chairman for Operations of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), has told members of the press and hundreds of partisans of the party, that they will storm the streets of Monrovia today without an official permit from the Ministry of Justice as part of a launch of its membership drive, the NEWS newspaper asserts.

Related Caption: CDC Holds Big Program Today (The Inquirer)

Other stories:

LIBERIA ENDS VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

Liberia commemorated the Universal Children’s Day- the 24^th anniversary of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child-by offering prayers and commitment to end violence against children. “Everyday four children are raped in our country and ten children have died in tragic death this year as a result of rape, ”said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in a recorded statement supporting the Day of Prayer and Action for Children, according to the New Democrat newspaper.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AT AFRICA-ARAB SUMMIT

Leaders of African and Arab countries have concluded the 3^rd Africa-Arab “Summit in Kuwait City on November 20 with the adoption of the “Kuwait Declaration” in which they agreed to promote South-South cooperation and build closer relations between the governments and peoples of the two regions, says the NEWS newspaper. They also agreed to strengthen diplomatic and consular relations, and find peaceful settlements to political crises in the two regions. According to a dispatch from Kuwait, the two-day Summit, whose theme was ‘Partners in Development and Investment, ‘was attended by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the League of Arab States, writes the NEWS  newspaper reports.

Play Critical Role In Land Issues, Land Commission Boss Tells Journalist

The Chairman of the Land Commission (LC) has urged journalists to play a crucial role on reporting related issues with a more professional and ethical manner. According to Dr. Cecil T. O Brandy Land issue remains the most complicated in post war Liberia that need to be give more attention.  Dr. Brandy noted that the commission is committed to working with journalists because the work of the media is centrally important to every society. The Land commission’s bass was speaking Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the start of a three-day training forum for Liberian Journalists and media petitioners, The Daily Observer Writes.

PUL CANDIDATE PREDICTS CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

An inside story of the New Dawn also reports that a candidate for the Press Union of Liberia presidency has expressed fear the Union may be vulnerable to a number of anti democratic elements if the current legal battle between two members of the PUL and the Union is not amicable resolved on time. “You know that in our Liberian setting when people say somebody is a government bone it simply means that person is vulnerable to the extent that anybody can do what they want to do to that person without fear,” Mr. Jacob Parley observed.

DRUG ADDICTION KILLING LIBERIA DEA CALLS FOR HOLISTIC APPROACH

A back page story of the NEWS newspaper writes that The Director of the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) says the high wave of drugs intake mainly among young people is gradually killing the country. He wants a holistic and consolidated approach to remedy the situation. Director Anthony Souh said recent intelligence gathered by the DEA around Monrovia and its immediate environs indicates that there are over 400 ghettoes and drugs distribution centers. Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press conference in Monrovia, Mr. Anthony Souh said the future of Liberia will remain bleak if the issue of drugs trafficking and other substance abuses are not addressed.

GOL WANTS JOVC PROGRAM REACTIVATED

The Government of Liberia has asked the people Government and People of Japan to reactivate its JOVC program in Liberia. The JOVC Program enables retired Japanese professionals leave their homeland to share knowledge and skills in developing countries. Making the appeal recently on behalf of the Liberian Government, Acting Foreign Minister B. Elias Shoniyin said security situation in Liberia has significantly improved and it is wise enough to bring such a program to the country to assist young Liberians who he said want to acquired knowledge. “Mr. Ambassador, now that security situation in Liberia has significantly improved, as confirmed by your Travel Advisor, we will appreciate it if the JOVC Program is reactivated in Liberia so that retired Japanese professional can come to Liberia to share their knowledge and skills,” Minister Shoniyin said.  The INSIGHT writes.

GOV’T WARNS EX-SOLDIERS

In the wake of threats from ex-AFL soldiers to disrupt the Country’s peace and security in demand for benefits, the Government of Liberia Thursday warned it will not tolerate any act of lawlessness. The former soldiers recently threatened to disrupt the country’s peace if the government fails to give them their back pays or severance benefits, a pronouncement the Government says it is not taking for a joke, and warned the ex-soldiers to be law abiding or face the full weight of the law, reports the New Democrat.

1.4 M BAGS OF RICE AVAILABLE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASONS, COMMERCE DISCLOSES

The NEWS newspaper reveals that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) says there are sufficient quantity of rice and other essential commodities available on the Liberian market for the holiday seasons. Minister Axel Addy said there are over 1.4 million bags of 50kg rice, adequate supplies of petroleum products and cement. Addressing news men at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) at its regular press conference, the Minister said the rice will last until January 2014 and beyond. The Commerce Minister said the Ministry has also empowered all of its inspectors across Liberia to ensure that the issues of smuggling of these essential commodities out of Liberia are effectively handled.

NIGERIAN DRUG KINGPIN ARRESTED

As part of the nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has arrested another ‘notorious Nigerian drug dealer’ for being in possession of narcotic substances value at over US$50, 000.00. Mr. Samuel Sunday Nweke, 36, was picked up by DEA officers on 18^th November upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport, where he reportedly admitted to swallowing cocaine and caring it in his stomach, the New Democrat reports.