The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013

Today’s media summary compiled from our selected local dailies highlights stories of the Letters of Credence presented by Norway Ambassador to Liberia, Dr. Mary Brownell’s warning to students against protest, Government’s US$78 million infused into the economy and CICO’s request to motorists to observe road safety regulations.

Dominant Stories

Norway Ambassador Presents Letters of Credence 

The Insight newspaper quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received the Letters of Credence of the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway to Liberia, Her Excellency Hege Hertzberg. Ambassador Hertzberg is resident in Accra, Ghana.  President Sirleaf commended Norway’s role in Liberia’s post-war recovery that has impacted the lives of the Liberian people, including in the areas of debt relief, relief operations through the Norwegian Refugee Council, oil sector reform, and the restoration of electricity to areas of Monrovia. She also expressed thanks and appreciation to Norway for promoting women’s participation in the public and private sectors. President Sirleaf reiterated that Liberia is open to public-private partnerships, especially in the energy sector, in maximizing its strong hydropower potential. She said that despite the challenges in restoring full power in the country, her administration was on track with works on transmission and distribution that have started to show fruitful results. She mentioned, in that regard, the three new heavy fuel oil (HFO) plants that are expected to provide additional power to the capital. President Sirleaf invited Ambassador Hertzberg to the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant, slated for January 24, 2014. This will pave the way for the actual engineering work to begin to meet the December 2015 target for officially restoring the hydro facility to its pre-war status.

Related story: Ellen receives Letters of Credence from New Ambassador of Kingdom of Norway to Liberia (Heritage)

Freedom Has Limitation…Mary Brownell Tells UL Graduates

A sub front page story caption of the Inquirer newspaper asserts that the Former President of the University of Liberia Alumni Association, Mary Brownell says the younger generation of Liberia continues to ignore and abuse the freedom given them by disrespecting elders and people considered their fathers and mothers. Dr. Brownell, speaking as the 95^th commencement speaker of the University of Liberia yesterday said in this new age there is no secrecy as compared to the days of old thereby speaking on the topic, “Old Values For a New Age.”

Related Captions: ‘Violence Has Overtaken The Nation’ – UL Commencement Speaker Says (Daily Observer), Brownell Warns Students Against Protest (New Democrat), Doctor Brownell Rebukes Violence at Universities (Insigh).

In a related story under the caption Ellen “Disgusted” Over Violence At UL…Prexy Dennis Cites Reason For Her Absence At Yesterday’s Graduation, 

the President of the University of Liberia, Emmet Dennis announced to the 95^th graduating class that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Visitor of the University, could not be at the commencement ceremony yesterday because she was disgusted over the recent disruption by students of the University. Dr. Dennis used the occasion to publicly apologize to the Visitor during the occasion stating that the UL understands government’s priority and the support given to the university over the years. He expressed how barbaric the act meted out against the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost Weade Brownell which resulted to the faculty’s call to disengage from all activities due to several reasons, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

US$78M Infused Into Economy To Spur Economic Activities

The back page story of the inquirer newspaper reads that the Government of Liberia, under Finance Minister Amara Konneh’s watch, has infused about US$78 million into the economy to spur economic activities. Minister Konneh justified the urgent need to pay vendors and civil servants salaries especially during the festive seasons to give more purchasing power to the people, which will ensure revenue for government in return.

Related Caption: GoL Pumps US$78m In Economy – As Finance Minister Visits Petty Traders(INSIGHT)

As Red Light-Gbarnga Road Project Enters Second Phase: CICO Wants Motorists Observe Road Safety Regulations

The Inquirer and Daily Observer newspapers under similar captions report that China Chongqing International Construction Company, (CICO) has renewed its commitment and support to Liberia’s recovery drive and is thereby seeking the full cooperation from all project communities and motorists plying the Red Light-Gbarnga highway to strictly observe all road safety regulations as the project enters another phase. CICO said while maintenance activities including filling potholes, lateral drainage, re-grading, etc are ongoing, Engineers and Road Technicians were finding it somewhat difficult in having motorists fully comply the highway.

OTHER STORIES

UMC, MOE Sign MoU

The United Methodist Church (UMC) has disclosed that the Liberia Annual Conference of the UMC early this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education. The Daily Observer quotes the Director of Community Services at the Faith-based establishment, Mr. Jonathan Kaipai as saying that the MoU is intended to partner with national government in providing quality education through the construction modern elementary, junior and senior high schools in three counties. Grand Bassa, Margibi and Rivercess Counties are the targeted counties for the agreement.

Dead UNMIL Soldier Awarded

 A posthumous award has been conferred on Sergeant Benson Angot, a Philippine UNMIL peacekeeper who dies of malaria on October 22, while on duty in Liberia. His wife, Rodalyn Angot received the award on his behalf when over 400 Filipino peacekeepers returned to the country after serving the United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Liberia and Golan Heights. The New Democrat writes that the officers were recognized in an awarding ceremony yesterday.  They were welcomed and congratulated by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Emmanuel Bautusta “for accomplishing their mission despite constant threats on their safety”. All the peacekeepers were awarded with UN Service Medals, according to the New Democrat newspaper.

LMA Targets Rice Importation

The national Vice Chairman of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), G. Dan Sherman has disclosed that the LMA has plans to import rice, the Liberian staple, food on the local market. He said the LMA leadership is holding discussions with some foreign entities to participate in the rice importation venture. Speaking in an interview with the Liberia News Agency Wednesday at the Rally Time Market in Monrovia, Mr. Sherman said businesses have also expressed interest in working with the LMA to import rice for the local market, theINSIGHT newspaper reports.

Late  Musue Haddah’s Works To Be Published

A sub back page lead story of the Heritage newspaper reveals that friends and professional colleagues of the late Musue Noha Haddad have resolved to raise funds for the publication of her works for posterity. The Liberian journalist and writer, a long time resident of the Washington Dc area in the United States, moved back to Liberia about two years ago, but died recently at the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, Bushrod island in Monrovia, after a brief illness.

25-Man Athlete Delegation Departs For Freetown this Weekend

The Heritage newspaper reports that 25-man athletic team leaves Liberia this weekend for Freetown, Sierra Leone to participate in this year’s December 26 Boxing Day competition. The competition, which starts onMonday, December 23, is an annual international invitational sporting extravaganza featuring mainly track and Field events among athletes from ECOWAS-member countries including Gambia, Guinea, Liberia and the host nation. The Liberian athletes mainly from the Conquerors Athletic Club produced good performances in the previous two editions. In 2011, the team won two Goal and two Bronze medals and five medals in 2012.