THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016

Today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies highlights the University of Liberia’s pronouncement of an increment in the cost per credit hour at the university.

The summary also includes President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s condolence message to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Belgium for the terrorist explosions in Brussels coupled with the signing of the Book of Condolence for the fallen former German Foreign Minister, Dr. Guido Westerwelle, at the German Embassy near Monrovia and the Liberian leader’s Proclamation declaringThursday, March 24 as World TB Day.

Dominant story

UL Board Sanctions Fees Increase

The Board of Trustees of the University of Liberia (UL) has sanctioned tuition increase from US$2.05 to US$4.00 per credit hour at the undergraduate level, despite resistance from students. The Acting Board Chair Sen. Jewel Howard-Taylor and officials of the UL administration announced at a news conference that following series of meetings, the Board agreed that “the cost per credit hour for the undergraduate level be increased from US $2.05 to US $4.000.” With the expected enforcement of this much protested decision commencing this second semester 2015/2016, graduate and professional schools’ levels will also see an increase of US$75 from US$55 per credit hour “with the exception of the Medical and Pharmacy Schools.” After the UL administration cited “challenges and improvement” it made during a PowerPoint presentation, Sen. Taylor announced yesterday that the projected revenues to be generated will be applied to reduction of annual budget deficits, improve UL libraries, maintain ICT infrastructure, including internet connectivity and staff and student development, among others. She urged students to remain engaged with the UL Administration and partners in ensuring quality higher education for the more than 30,000 students on the university’s four campuses, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: UL Board Increases Tuition (Women Voices), UL Increases Tuition (FOCUS), As UL’s Tuition Increment Holds: SUP Differs With Administration—Undergraduate, US$4 per Credit Graduate, US$75 Per credit (Hot Pepper), UL Increases Credit Hour Cost (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Consoles Belgium, Germany

According to the New Dawn newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a message of condolence to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Belgium on the sad events of the simultaneous terrorist explosions in Brussels. More than 30 people are believed to have been killed and dozens injured in attacks at Brussels International Airport and a city metro station early Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Twin blasts hit Zaventem airport at about 07:00 GMT, with 11 people reported killed; while another explosion struck Maelbeek metro station near EU headquarters an hour later, leaving about 20 people dead. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader, in her message to His Majesty King Phillipe, King of the Belgians, she expressed deep regrets following the distressing events of possible suicide explosions at the Brussels Airport and subway system, respectively, killing at least 30 individuals and injuring dozens of others. President Sirleaf furthered that Liberia is saddened by the loss of lives resulting from these dastardly acts. On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, President Sirleaf extended heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Belgium, especially to the families of the victims. “Please accept, Your Majesty, our thoughts and deepest condolences to you and through you to the bereaved families. May God provide you the strength and courage to endure this difficult period,” the Liberian leader indicated. In a related development, President Sirleaf has also sent a condolence message to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr. Joachim Gauck, on the death of former Foreign Minister of Germany, Dr. Guido Westerwelle. Dr. Guido Westerwelle (54), died on March 18, 2016. He served as Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel and as Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011. A lawyer by profession, he was a member of the Bundestag from 1996 to 2013. The Liberian leader, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in her own name, expressed sincere condolences to His Excellency Mr. Cauck, and through him, the people of Germany, especially Dr. Westerwelle’s family and beloved ones. “At this time of bereavement,” President Sirleaf continued, “please be assured of Liberia’s sympathy with the people of the German Federation,” praying that the Almighty will give them the consolation they most desire at this time. Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, Ms. Marjon Kamara led an array of Government officials to sign the Book of Condolence for the fallen former German Foreign Minister, Dr. Westerwelle, at the German Embassy near Monrovia on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Other senior government officials that also signed the Book of Condolence included the Advisor to the President on Foreign Affairs, former Foreign Minister George W. Wallace, Jr.; Internal Affairs Minister, Henrique Tokpah; Youth and Sports Minister, Saa Charles N’Tow, among others.

Thursday Is World TB Day

The INSIGHT newspaper reports: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Thursday, March 24, 2016, “World TB Day”. which is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, being mindful of the harmful effect and burden Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose to the global community, particularly in Africa and other developing countries, the nations of the world will celebrate this day to highlight the threat TB poses to the human race as well as to enlighten the world on the global initiatives and innovative actions undertaken to stop the spread of TB, thereby reducing death rates in Liberia, Africa and the entire world. The Government of Liberia, being mindful of its duty to protect the health and welfare of its citizens and foreign residents, will join global health partners and the rest of the global community in the observance of World TB Day under the Theme: “Unite to End TB, Treat TB. Working together to Eliminate TB.” TB ranks alongside HIV as the leading cause of death with 1.5 million deaths in 2014, including 0.4 million people who were HIV positive, and noting that globally, in 2014, the total of 480,000 people developed multi-Drugs Resistant TB, and currently, WHO ranks Liberia as a High Burden TB Country with a prevalence of 510 per 100,000 population, TB incidence of 308/100,000, and Mortality of 68/100,000. In 2015, the total of 6,176 TB cases of all forms were identified and, of these cases, 2,724 were smear positive, 548 were TB/HIV co-infected and that data shows an increase in TB cases identified in 2015 as compared to 2014. The Proclamation calls on the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other Government Agencies as well as International and Local Organizations concerned to initiate and execute programs to make the occasion meaningful. World Tuberculosis Day commemorates the day in 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch astounded the scientific community by announcing his discovery of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus, which remains a major global health problem, and ranks as the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide.

Pres. Sirleaf Receives Visiting Foreign Business Delegation

According to the FOCUS newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 received in audience a visiting foreign business delegation at her Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia. The delegation was led to the President’s Office by Liberia’s Honorary Consul to Uganda, Dr. Thelma Awori. The visit of the delegation was an initiative spearheaded by Dr. Awori.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf extended warm welcome to the delegation that comprised Marcos Bitew, Director of Crested Capital; Rauf Daniel, Chief Executive Officer, Windsor Sky Limited; and Chen Chunyan, General Manager, Youdao International Cooperation Limited. President Sirleaf pointed out that the country’s journey towards reconstruction since 2006 has been progressive notwithstanding the many challenges faced including the global economic melt-down and the recent Ebola outbreak that claimed the lives of many Liberians. For their part, representatives of the delegation speaking separately expressed thanks to the Liberian leader for the audience and assured her of their honest desire to invest in Liberia. Powers, road construction, airport development, solar energy, mineral exploration, fishery, among others are areas of interest to the visiting delegation, according to representatives of the group who spoke during the meeting. They promised to subsequently submit to the Liberian authorities proposals on what is anticipated from their intervention in Liberia and expressed the hope that the country will benefit immensely from their investment initiatives.

PPCC Vows To Curb Procurement ‘Misdeeds’ Introduces Vendor e-Registry

A back page story of the INSIGHT newspaper reports that the Liberia Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has begun implementing a vendor e-registry aimed at curbing procurement misdeeds. Mr. J. Dorbor Jallah, Chief Executive Officer of the PPCC, yesterday unfolded the e-registry portal at the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), as part of efforts to increase local businesses participation in bidding processes and to ensure that Government receives value for money. According to Mr. Jallah, though there exist many businesses which provide services that government agencies seek to procure, it is noticed that only a few of those businesses tender in bids whenever a procurement is advertised, the paper reports.

5 DEA Officers Return from Training in Ghana

Five officers of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have received training in chemical divergent investigation in order to battle illicit drugs. The training was conducted in Ghana at the Ghana Institute of Public Administration in Accra. Speaking to newsmen in Monrovia Tuesday, March 22, 2016, DEA Director, Anthony Souh, said the training was conducted for the West African Regional Drug Enforcement Agency. Director Souh indicated that the training is very important to their job and are proud of his men who attended the training and back to make significant contribution to their country, the INSIGHT newspaper writes. At the same time, the DEA Detachment at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) along with Joint Security has intercepted and arrested a Nigerian national and some Liberians with four kilograms of heroin value at US$148,000.00, reports the INQUIRER newspaper under the caption “DEA Arrests US$148,000 Worth Of Drugs At RIA“.

UK Environmental Group Concludes Training on Forest-Related Laws

A two-day workshop on forest governance in Liberia was recently conducted and successfully concluded by a UK-based Charity called Client Earth, with a focus on the capacity of Liberian Civil Society Organizations and forest dependent communities to fully and effectively participate in forest management and governance program within the legal framework of the laws of Liberia and Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the Liberian government and the European community, the Women Voices newspaper writes.

Internal Affairs Minister Vows to Uphold Positive Traditional, Cultural Practices

An inside story of the Women Voices newspaper reports that Internal Affairs Minister, Dr. Henrique Tokpa has vowed to uphold positive traditional and cultural practices that are cardinal to the growth and development of the Liberian society. Min. Tokpa said that as a longtime respecter of traditional and cultural norms and would remain engaged with traditional people in a bid to provide the space to uphold traditional norms that bear the root to the formation of Liberia.

MOE Introduces Teacher’s Code of Conduct

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education has crafted a Code of Conduct to govern all teachers across the country. The Code of Conduct for Teachers and School administration is said to be a critical component of the reform efforts of the Ministry of Education intended to improve the Education system of Liberia. Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, the Minister for Instruction at the Ministry of Education, Madam Felicia Doe Somah, noted that the Code of Conduct seeks to contribute to the building of a strong education system that is professional in nature.