The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Today’s dominating stories in our media summary is the news of 150,000 Liberians To Benefit From MRU Power Project, and the holding of Stakeholders Feedback Meeting  by  the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy amongst others.

 Dominant Stories

110 Mega Watts Needed For Monrovia

The FOCUS newspaper reveals that Finance Minister Amara Konneh has indicated that 110 mega watt are needed to have the entire city of Monrovia electrified come December 15, 2015, a time selected by the Government of Liberia to complete the energy or power program of the country. Speaking Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at a signing ceremony between the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the Electricity and Interconnection Project, Minister Konneh noted that there is limited supply and high demand for energy in Liberia. He stressed that the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) needs to provide 110 MW along the power lines, supplemented by 130 MW of independently generated electricity, where lines are not available.

Related Caption: 150,000 Liberians To Benefit From MRU Power Project  (New Democrat), GOL,  AfDB Sign US$203M Loan To Electrify 28 Localities Here (Heritage), GoL, AfDB Sign US$203m Power Loan Deal (New Dawn), Massive Electrification Boost For Liberia (The NEWS), Rural Electrification Begins, Nimba Shines First (SUNTIMES)

Lands, Mines & Energy Ministry Begins Two Stakeholders Feedback Consultative MeetingsTomorrow

The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (MLM&E) will conduct two Stakeholders’ feedback meetings this Thursday, November 28^th, and next Monday, December 2^nd, on the newly drafted Mineral and Mining Law. According to the Deputy Minister for Operations at the MLM&E, Mr. Sam Russ, the feedback meetings will bring together two separate but critical stakeholders – civil society and the public sector. The first forum which takes place on Thursday, November 28^th, will comprise of civil society organizations. “They will look at the law and from their perspective, they will speak about the issues and see whether the law adequately  addresses those issues or not,” Minister Russ indicated, adding that they might want to highlight land rights issues, local employment, artisanal miners and their concerns, child labor, community relations, among others, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption: MLME Organizes Stakeholders Meeting (The NEWS)

Other Stories

CBL Recognizes ASRUDA

A local and reliable micro finance institution, Agency For Safety and Rural Development Aid (ASRUDA) has been officially accredited by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) for exhibiting high level of transparency, accountability and empowerment of Liberians from all walks of life. Speaking at his LPRC office on the Somalia Drive on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, Reverend Steve N. Gaye said the accreditation has shown that the entity is working tirelessly to buttress government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) in empowering Liberians in urban and rural localities. Rev. Gaye named Montserrado, Rivercess, Grand Kru, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bong, Bomi and River Gee Counties, the FOCUS newspaper reports.

PUL Congress Set For Dec 7

The Court Order that stalled the Congress of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, has finally been withdrawn at the request of Mr. Cholo Brooks and Mr. Omecee Johnson, the two aggrieved members who took the union to court following their disqualification from contesting the union’s leadership, the New Democrat has reliably learnt. At the same time, Peter Quaqua, President of PUL announced over the weekend that the stalled congress would now take place on December 7^th, 2013.

Military Barracks Gets First-Ever Mosque

The National Chairman of the Muslim Council of Liberia, Sheikh Kafumba Konneh, has lauded the Liberian Government for upholding religious freedom in the country. He observed that the religious tolerance demonstrated by the government has ensured peaceful co-existence of peoples of different religious backgrounds in the country. Sheikh Konneh made the statement Tuesday when he broke grounds for the construction of a Mosque valued at US$40,000.00 at the Edward Binyan Kesseley Military Barracks in Scheiefflin, Margibi County. He observed that this was the first time a Mosque will exist at a military barrack since the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) was established 1908, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Energy Expansion Project Launched – Duport Road, Fendell and Kakata To Benefit

The Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) have launched the Liberia Accelerated Electricity Expansion Project (LAEEP). The US$35 million expansion project was launched on November 25 at the Lands, Mines & Energy Ministry, and it is to begin from Duport Road, extending to the Fendell area and then to Kakata in Margibi County. The project, signed July 3, this year and funded by the World Bank, has other components which the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, and LEC are responsible for Oil (HIFO) facility and capacity-building. Clemencia Torres, Task Team Leader for World Bank in a statement said her institution was ready to assist Liberia in its infrastructural drive, but urged that the Liberian government played the role needed to convince partners, the Daily Observer newspaper reports.

Wesseh Pays R/Gee WAEC Fees

Senior high school students at Tweh Jaiklay High School in River Gee County are now breathing air of relief for this year’s payment of their West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees. Information reaching this paper speaks of jubilation by students and parents in River Gee County following news that Ambassador Conmany Wesseh has made payment at $74,400.00 for 33 students attending at Tweh Jaiklay High School in Fish Town City, River Gee County. Ambassador Wesseh, who is presently in the United States of America undergoing medical checkup, said his gesture is an encouragement to students who are willing to learn he admonished River Gee citizens to prioritize education while assuring them of his willingness to assist in their academic pursuit, The FOCUS says.

3 LBS Personnel Slapped With Two-Month Suspension

The Management of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) has, with immediate effect, suspended three of its personnel for what it called acts incompatible with their status as employees of the system. According to a press release, the three suspended employees are: Newscaster/Reporter Alfred Rogers; Legislative Reporter Titus Tokpa and Sports Reporter Richard Manuba. The three LBS employees, the press release disclosed, will serve a two-month suspension each. In separate letters of suspension to the three media personnel of the system, the LBS management said its action stem from the three personnel “continuous disrespect and gross insubordination to the senior Management of LBS; the continuous disregard for administrative channels and procedures for addressing grievances in contravention of Part IV section 2002 of the labor laws of Liberia as well as Part IV Section 1 of the Personnel manual of LBS; and the unauthorized holding of press conference of the premises of the system, as well as the continuous discourteous treatments of other employees of the system”. Meanwhile LBS Management informs the public that it remains focused in its efforts, with full endorsement from the Board of Directors to create an enviable National Media Outfit which provides quality Public Service Broadcast and media services for the people of Liberia, the Heritage newspaper writes.

Commerce Ministry Issues 30 Day Ultimatum…Begins Technical Inspection To Correct Irregularities

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has given a 30-day ultimatum to business houses, including filling stations to correct all irregularities at their various vicinities and bring them to the standards of the Ministry’s guidelines. Commerce Minister Axel M. Addy, at the head of a Commerce Ministry Inspectorate team, repeated the ultimatum over the week-end in Monrovia, during an interview with the SunTimes at the start of a four-month long technical inspection program across the country. According the paper, Minister Addy noted that it is expected that the inspection exercises will educate the private sectors on what the standards of the Ministry are and what they need to conform to. The inspection exercises, which began with fuel stations, saw inspectors carrying out fuel pumps calibrations to ensure that the quantity bought by the consumers are served adequately without any shortages in the sales process, the SUNTIMES newspaper reports.

NAC Hold HIV Consultative Meeting

As part of activities making the celebration of this year’s World AIDS Day on December 1, 2013, the National AIDS Commission (NAC) has held a one day National Consultative meeting with Church leaders in the country. Making remarks on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the HIV National Consultative Meeting held at the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) conference room in Sinkor, LCC 2^nd Vice President Archbishop John B. Kroma underscored the need for the Commission to extend its operation to other parts of the country, the FOCUS newspaper writes.

Traditional Council Vows To Work With NEC

The National Traditional Council of Liberia says it will work with the National Elections Commission (NEC) to ensure the successful conduct of the Voter Roll Update Exercise and the 2014 Special Senatorial Election. The head of Culture and Tradition of the Council, Elder Boakai Zulu, said this is important because the work of the commission is critical to the sustenance of peace and democracy in the country. Elder Zulu made the statement when a five member delegation from the council paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of the National Elections Commission, Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, to present a copy of the Act Establishing the Council to the NEC Boss, theNew Dawn newspaper asserts.

“Policing Is Essential To Stability”…French Ambassador Says

The French Ambassador to Liberia, Joel Godeau says police officers are essential component to stability. He said the development of the country depends on the success of their mission. The French Ambassador noted that the success of economic and commercial projects depends on the political stability that Liberia will show in the future. He made the statement at a program marking the graduation of 139 Police Support Unit officers held at the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. The training course was facilitated by two officers of the French Gendarmerie. He said the training course has been supported by the French Embassy since 2010, The NEWS newspaper reports.