THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015

Today’s summary of the local dailies highlights news of President Johnson Sirleaf cautioning Muslims in Liberia to observe the holy month of Ramadan bearing in mind love for their country at all times and the Honorary Consulate General of India in Liberia observance of the International Day of Yoga

The summary also includes PresidentJohnson Sirleaf’s Proclamation declaringTuesday, June 23^rd as National Public Service Day.

DOMINANT STORIES

“Islam Embodies Love For Fellow Humankind”

The Newsnewspaper says President Ellen Johnson Sireaf has called on all Muslims in Liberia to observe the holy month of Ramadan with a sense of commitment to the faith of Islam, bearing in mind love for their country at all times, adding “Islam, as a religion of “Peace” embodies love for fellow humankind,” she said.

Related Captions: ‘Islam Embodies Love For Mankind’, Says Pres. Sirleaf(INSIGHT), Islam Is A Peaceful Religion(FOCUS), Ellen Challenges Liberian Muslims(The New Dawn), President Sends Ramada Greeting(New Democrat), ‘Religion Of Peace Embodies Love For Fellow Humankind’-President Sirleaf Describes Islam(The Analyst)

Indian Consulate Observes Yoga Day

The Honorary Consulate General of India in Liberia yesterday executed a Program of Yoga, with great pomp and pageantry, in observance of International Day of Yoga. The Program, which was held at the Sri Gurudwara Shaib at Coconut Plantation, Mamba Point in Monrovia, was attended by over 200 invitees, guests and participants. Umpiring the Program was the Commandant of Indian FFPU Contingent of UNMIL, Madhu Bala in her brief remarks while introducing the start of the Program, Madam Bala spokes highly of the usefulness of Yoga as remedy to all kinds of medical conditions, including Cardiac problems, Diabetics, Hypertension, stress, as well as strengthening the body’s resistant capacity to diseases, Inquirernewspaperreports.

Related Captions: Spectators Spellbound By Yoga Performance(The News), Over 200 Attend 1^st Yoga Celebration In Liberia(Daily Observer), Intern’l Day Of Yoga Celebrated In Liberia(The Analyst)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia To Observe Tomorrow As Nat’l Public Service Day

The INSIGHT newspaper says: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, June 23, 2015 as "National Public Service Day", to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation calls upon Government Ministries, Agencies and International Organizations concerned to join the Civil Service Agency (CSA) in executing appropriate programs befitting the occasion. According to a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the purpose of the celebration is to create a sense of identity and accelerate the level of awareness of the rapid reform of the Public Service and give appreciation and recognition to Public Servants for their outstanding services. The Proclamation states that  Liberia will join member states of the African Union for the celebration of "Africa Public Service Day", under the continental theme: "The Role of Public Service in Women Empowerment, Innovation and Accessible Service Delivery", and the National theme: "Women Empowerment: The Fulcrum to Nation Building". Since the enactment of the CSA, it has imparted its purpose nationally and established relations with continental bodies, the Proclamation declared. The Presidential proclamation is in consonance with the Legislative Act approved on May 11, 1972, by the Forty-fifth Legislature which repealed the Public Employment Law to create the CSA. The African Union at 6^th its Conference of African Ministers of Public Service champions meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, adopted a Resolution declaring June 23rd of each year, as African Public Service Day to take stock of gains, and reflect on challenges of the services, provided.

Related Caption: Tomorrow Is Nat’l Public Service Day(FOCUS)

JICA Pumps US$40m For Projects

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has announced that a grant aid of some US$40 million is set aside for the resumption of the 13.2 kilometer Somalia Drive Road rehabilitation and the Bushrod Island power plant. The Country Director of JICA office in charge of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana, Koji Makino, said the Montserrado County-based projects are supported under that grant aid and that the power plant rehabilitation project will receive US$17 million of that aid, Inquirer newspaperreports.

AU, Stakeholders Hold Dialogue

The African Union (AU) Liaison Office over the weekend held a one-day Gender Dialogue forum under the theme: “AU Gender Dialogue on Women Empowerment and Development towards Agenda 2063”. Speaking during the dialogue, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Ambassador Oluwatoyin SOLAJA stressed the need for member states to find practical solutions aimed at solving numerous problems women face on the continent, the News newspaper writes.

40,000 Refugees In Liberia

The acting Resident Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed that an estimated 40,000 refugees, mostly Ivorians, are currently residing in Liberia. Madam Loli Kimyaci explained that 77 percent of the Ivorian refugees are currently residing in three camps in Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland Counties, while 23 percent are living in communities, including the Liberian capital Monrovia, the INSIGHT newspaper writes

Related Caption: UNHCR: Liberia Hosts 40,000 Refugees(FOCUS)

Liberia Receives Humanitarian Award For Fight Against Ebola

A US-based Non-Governmental organization, the America Council for Voluntary Interaction (InterAction) has selected a Liberian Environmental Specialist as the recipient of its 2015 humanitarian Award for leading a vigorous fight against the Ebola virus in Liberia. Mr. George Jordu Woryonwon was awarded the humanitarian accolade for the form, manner dynamism and love country exhibited during the fight against the Ebola virus across the country. In a letter, the America Council for Voluntary International Action congratulated Mr. Woryonwon for his preferment for the 2015 Humanitarian Award, INSIGHT newspaper reports.

GROW Begins RSS Production Training Today

As part of plan to improve the rubber production industry, GROW will today begin week long training for rubber planters and other stakeholders within the industry. GROW, in a release, said its vision for Liberia’s rubber sector is to establish an alternative sales channel for Ribbed Smoked Sheets (RSS), a value-added processed form of rubber, and the setting-up of learning centers where farmers can learn to produce RSS. The release further quoted the company as saying it has retained the services of an international rubber expert, Dr. Tillekeratne, the former Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, to help in the development of the RSS industry in the country, and the training of RSS industry in the country, and the training of RSS manufacturers ad their affiliated clusters of smallholder rubber producers, INSIGHT newspaper reports.

Related Caption: GROW RSS Training Underway (The News)

AME Zion Church Gets Int’l Guest

The Chief of Staff and Protocol of the West Africa Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church is expected in Liberia this week for a three day visit. Rev. Dr. Hilliard D. Dogbe’s visit to Liberia comes ahead of the AME Zion Church General Conference 2016 election in which he’s a candidate for the position of Indigenous Bishop of the Church, the Newsreports.