The Bureau of Public Affairs   

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014

The request for Rubber Development Fund to be created by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the just ended Mano River Union Summit in Guinea are the dominant stories on today’s newsstand.

Dominant Stories

Ellen Wants RPA Establish Development Fund

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is urging the Rubber Planters Association (RPA) to create a Rubber Development Fund (RDF) that would help keep the sector from unforeseen embarrassing situation like the sharp fall in production being experience in recent years. RPA is experiencing a drastic reduction in the production of rubber. This is adversely affecting its membership as well as other local planters in the country, Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Urges Rubber Farmer Association To Create Rubber Development Fund (INSIGHT), Ellen Meets With Rubber Farmers Association – Urges Them To Create A Rubber Development Fund (Heritage), Rubber Farmers Highlight Problems (New Democrat)

Security, Economic Integration, Others Top MRU Summit

The Heads of State and Government at the just-ended 23^rd Ordinary Summit of the Mano River Union (MRU) in the Guinean capital, Conakry, have agreed on several measures aimed at improving the lives of the people of Member States. They plan to tackle most especially border security, infrastructural development, youth employment and economic integration. The summit was attended by Guinean President Alpha Conde host; Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma. Minister of State/Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Charles Kofi Diby, represented La Cote d’Ivoire and proxy for President Alassane Ouattara. The MRU leaders also agreed for the creation of a Joint Border Post between Sierra Leone and Guinea as part of the Border Security Strategy. This post is called the Gbalamuya Pamelap border post, Daily Observer reveals.

Related Caption: Pres. Alpha Conte Takes Over MRU Mantle..As Pres. Sirleaf Exit Podium At 23^rd MRU Summit (The Analyst), 23^RD MRU Summit End In Conakry, Guinea (FrontPage Africa), MRU To Focus On Border Security, Infrastructural And Youth Development (INSIGHT), Pres. Sirleaf Hands MRU Chair To Guinean Pres. Conte (INSIGHT), Ellen Hands Over MRU Chairmanship To Guinean President (Heritage), 23^rd MRU summit Ends In Conakry …President Sirleaf Hands Over Chairmanship To Guinean President Conte (Inquirer), MRU Devises Border Security Strategy (New Democrat)

Liberians To Benefit From Free Diabetes Testing

Hundreds of Liberians will shortly benefit from free diabetes testing in Monrovia and its environs. The exercise, under the auspices of “pervocate”, distributor of the diabetes testing kit, begins on May 27-29, 2014. The free diabetes testing is intended to create awareness and to diagnose individuals with the medical condition in the country. Making the disclosure recently, Mr. James Momoh, President and Chief Executive Officer of “PERVOCATE” said that diabetes is a prevalent health condition globally and would be leading the free testing when he arrives in Monrovia shortly, The NEWS reports.

CUPPADL Partners With UN On New Project

The United Nations has teamed up with youth groups, private sector organizations and NGO all over the World including the Citizen United to Promote Peace and Democracy in Libeia (CUPPADL) to launch ‘My World’. ‘My World’ is the United Nations Survey for better world, which asked citizens everywhere about the issues that make the most difference to their lives. A release quotes CUPPADL boss Prince Kreplah that over a period of seven days, May 5-11, a Global week of Action to Mobilize 500,000 votes has been initiated by the UN, with Liberia mobilization efforts been led by the  Citizen United to Promote Peace and Democracy, INSIGHT reports.

VP Boakai: “Stop Damaging The Image Of Your Own Country”

Liberia’s Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., has challenged Liberians in the Diasporas to be patriotic and speak positive of their beloved Country. He said it is sad that some Liberians denigrate their own County and focus on only negative vices in Liberia. He said there are many positive developments in the Country and that the majority of citizens are good people who are working diligently to improve the conditions in Liberia, Heritage writes.

Celebrates Midwives Day

Liberian midwives on Monday observed International Midwives Day at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. The Liberia midwifery Association with support from the United Nations Population Fund observed three days for midwives across Liberia. The Officer-In-Charge  of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Philderald Pratt, said at the program that maternal death has declined by half over the past two decades, while skilled birth attendance has increased by 15 per cent with two out of three deliveries worldwide now attended by a skilled health professional. The International Confederation of midwives or ICM; the World Health Organization, WHO and several global partners have disclosed the latest data from 73 countries that account for more than 95 per cent of global maternal, newborn and child deaths. The new data will improve base on the area. On the International Day of the Midwife, UNFPA and ICM applauded all committed midwives, who have worked beyond the call of duty most often in difficult circumstances, and with limited resources, to provide maternal and newborn care to women and girls around the world. The President of the Fellow West Africa College of Nursing, Professor Angela Sawyer, said the statistics of women and children that die every year is about 10 million. She also said that they have put in place several methods to reduce the mortality rate, which has fallen from 994 to 700. Professor Sawyer disclosed that in Liberia, four (4) women died every month in the fifteen counties and sixty women died every month in the entire Liberia. She said that a family suffers if the woman of the home dies.  According to her, the woman is the backbone of every home, and the infant suffers because the mother of the home is no more, which becomes a serious economic loss for the family.
She said midwives should work in a conducive environment and improve on their advocacy skills rather than taking the law into their own hands by not working whenever there is a problem, New Dawn reports.  

3 Win Business Awards In Bong

Three persons have emerged as winners of the Business Start-Up Center Monrovia business enterprise competition. Business Start-Up Center Monrovia is a local NGO that works to build Liberian entrepreneurs, especially young people. Those declared winners are two students of the Cuttington University- Korpo Blessing Baku, Josephus Bartuah and a member of the Bong County business community, Mrs. Yah Suah. They are expected to receive between five to ten thousand United States Dollars each as a loan to implement their respective business plans. The names were disclosed at a formal program held at the Cuttington University main campus in Suakoko, Bong County, where the organization has also opened its sub-office. Speaking at the occasion, Cuttington University President Henrique Tokpa praised the BSC for its ongoing efforts developing and upgrading the skills of young Liberian entrepreneurs. The CU President congratulated the three winners of the Business Plan competition, stressed the need for them to wisely use the resources expected to commence their respective business activities. Dr. Tokpa, who cut the ribbon to the door of the new office, urged business people to seek information about the way forward in making improvement in their businesses. Speaking about his project, William Dennis II, Project Coordinator of the Business Start-Up Center, expressed his institution’s commitment to empowering businesses and motivating young people to be outstanding entrepreneurs in the country.  Mr. Dennis II clarified that the amount to be given to winners are loans that require sufficient time for repayment. Winners of the competition expressed gratitude to the BSC for affording them the opportunity to commence an entrepreneurship. They believed that with the availability of the necessary support, they would establish themselves as big entrepreneurs beyond the borders of Liberia, New Dawn writes.

LIFOPA To Host 17 Community Tourney

An organization known as Liberia Football Players Association (LIFOPA) formed to seek the welfare of Liberian Footballers and foster unity in communities in Montserrado will on Saturday, May 10, 2014 hold a 17-community tournament. According to the group Secretary General, Yudu Miller, said the tournament is expected to kickoff with a fixture between Central Monrovia, led by the Pacey Prince 'Nani' Saylee and West Point under the captaincy of the robust Solomon 'Jean Pierre' Wesseh. LIFOPA Secretary General told FOCUS Sports that the venue of the encounter is the Blues field owned by Liberia's top flight champions, Barrack Young Controllers beginning at 4:00 PM. He indicated that prior to the match, a brief program will be held at the pitch in Central Monrovia with several government officials and football stakeholders expected to be in attendance. SG Miller said they intend to make the tournament a community oriented one as the matches will be played in the various communities like D-Twe, Doe Community, Jacobs Town, Tusa and the Barnersville Estate all expected to be hosts of various matches, FOCUS reports.

US Envoy Commends NEC Over VRU Exercise

US Ambassador Deborah Malac has commended the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the successful completion of the Voter Roll Update (VRU) Exercise which took place from January 29 to March 29, 2014. In a letter to the Chairman of the Commission, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya, Ambassador Malac said the US Government’s support for elections and electoral events such as Voter Registration is a vital part of helping to guarantee a peaceful and prosperous Liberia, the Heritage reports.

LNBA Celebrates Law Day

 Members of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) over the weekend celebrated Law Day in Monrovia. Speaking at the occasion held at the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill, the President of the association TC Gould called on fellow lawyers to have passion for the law profession at all times. According to him, the law profession requires commitment and much time in making research. He appealed to that they should be in the position to learn from individuals that have vast experience in the practice of law. Cllr. TC Gould reminded his colleagues that making money is not all about the law profession.   For his part, Judge Yussif D. Kaba said it will be very important for lawyers and judges to be educated on issues of arbitration. According to him, if they are educated on the issues of arbitration, they will better understand and investigate land cases. During the celebration of Law Day, individuals were honored and certificated by LNBA for their committed role played in the law profession, FOCUS reports.

Related Caption: Several Honored On Law Day Celebration (Inquirer)

MYS Nullifies FLY Election

The Minister of Youth and Sports (MYS) Lenn Eugene Nagbe has nullified the results of the recent election conducted by the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY)
Speaking to reporters in Monrovia, Minister Nagbe said all elected members of the controversial election are not recognized in keeping with a writ of injunction issued from the civil law court. The Youth and Sports Minister indicated that the case will be heard at the court and all parties involved will present their case.  Recently FLY held its congress in Kakata, Margibi County in violation of a writ from the Civil Law Court to have the election halted. Despite the writ of injunction, Mr. Mohammed Nasser led group defied the civil law court’s order and conducted the election.  For his part, the Director of a group known as the Movement for Justice in Liberia (MOJIL) Michael D. Tipayson maintained that the action of Mr. Nasser to disqualify some candidates without constitutional reliance is an attempt to disenfranchise them and stage-manage the entire electoral process. Mr. Tipayson stressed that FLY’s constitution is the highest authority of governance and reference as stated in Article 8 (b) of the constitution. The Executive Director mentioned that   the outgoing leadership of FLY failed to convene General Assembly and elections since December 2013. He pointed out that Article 9 section 1 (a) of the constitution of FLY requires that the General Assembly meet once every two (2) years and that General Assembly shall be convened in the second week of December. ‘’The Movement for Justice in Liberia believes that the constitutional violations by the outgoing leadership of FLY, whether intentional or out of sheer ignorance, is unacceptable and only intended to illegally extend term in office at the expense of the over One million young people across this country, FOCUS writes.

 Associate Justice Wants New Opinion Read

Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh has urged Lawyers and Judges to constantly read the Supreme Court new opinion on land issue.  According to him, the new Supreme Court opinion is standard and will help lawyers and judges whenever they are investigating land cases.
Associate Justice Ja’neh spoke over the weekend at programs making the celebration of law day organized by the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) held at the Temple of Justice.
  “We have set standards in the new opinion on the land issue, which is meant to guide lawyers and judges on how to solve land problems.” Associate Justice Ja’neh explained that the land cases constitute 70% of all cases, toping cases at the Supreme Court. The associate justice stated that it would be very important for members of the 53rd National Legislature to organize a forum where an investigative committee will be set up to preside over land cases.  He furthered that the investigative body would be very important and that budget should be allotted to function effectively. He explained that the investigative body should work in collaboration with the Land Commission. Justice Ja’neh appealed to new lawyers and judges to be willing at all times to learn from veterans’ of the law profession. He asserted that money is not a key factor in the law profession, but commitment and passion for the job. Also speaking at the occasion, Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie called on members of the association, to take the next celebration of law day to the various communities. According to her, the celebration of Law Day has only been observed by lawyers alone. She explained that during the celebration of Law Day it would be very paramount for lawmakers to be invited to grace the occasion. Associate Justice Wolokollie said her suggestion when incorporated by its members will help impact the society at large. She appealed to her fellow lawyers to re-dedicate themselves to the law profession, FOCUS reports.

 Cow Factory In Trouble Over Pollution

Lofa County Electoral District # 3 Representative Eugene Fallah Kparkar wants the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently probe the unbearable pollution around the Jamaica Road Bridge on the Somalia Drive. According to him, the pollution is causing serious embarrassment for Liberians and other nationals who reside in the Cow Factory Community. He mentioned that passersby and community dwellers are always seen holding their noses when they are approaching where cow and goats were slaughtered. The Liberty Party (LP) senior partisan pointed out that cow and goats blood are seen on the grounds of some areas within the Community. He expressed dismay over the refusal of the management of slaughter house to adhere to modern health rules, thus making the environment hazardous and detrimental at all times. In his communication to the House’s Plenary, Representative Kparkar also mentioned that groups of cow are noted for causing traffic jam when they are moving from one locality to another to get food.
According to him, the pending construction work on the Somalia Drive Highway might likely be stalled due to the continue walking of groups of cow on that major route.
He expressed the urgent need for the relocation of the slaughter house to ensure   community sanitation. Representative Kparkar argued that the continue pollution without the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture that is knowledgeable on agricultural issues is troubling and worrisome. He wants the House summons Agriculture Minister Dr. Florence Chenoweth, to provide reasons why the slaughter house situated at a major route on the Somalia Drive cannot be relocated, FOCUS reports.