THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016

News of President Johnson-Sirleaf’s congratulatory message to the Government and people of the Republic of Senegal on the occasion of that country’s 56th Independence Anniversary, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai’s visit to South Africa to hold discussions on increased support to Liberia’s Agenda for Transformation and the arrest of the ringleader of the fraud syndicate at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center are all highlighted in our today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Senegal On Independence Day 

The NEWS newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Senegal on the occasion marking the 56th Independence Anniversary of that Country. April 4, is Independence Day in Senegal. This holiday celebrates the day, when Senegal and French Sudan merged to form the Mail Federation in 1959. Although officially Senegal gained independence on June 20, 1960 the holiday is celebrated on April 4, on the anniversary of the foundation of the Mail Federation. In the message to her Senegalese counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Macky Sall, President Sirleaf extended warmest felicitations to the Government and people of Senegal on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name as they celebrate another milestone. The Liberian leader entertained the hope that the two countries will continue to collaborate for the promotion of regional and international peace, as well as economic integration and social development. She further assured her Senegalese counterpart of her Government’s determination to continue to strengthen the cordial relations subsisting between the two countries for the mutual benefit of both peoples. President Sirleaf prayed that Allah will continue to endow President Sall with wisdom as he leads the people of Senegal on the path to peace and economic prosperity.

Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Senegal On 56th Independence Anniversary(In Profile Daily), EJS Congratulates Senegal(The NEWS), Ellen Congratulates Senegal On 56th Independence Anniversary(Heritage), Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Senegal On Independence Day(The New Dawn), Liberia Lauds Senegal For Independence Celebration(INSIGHT), Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Senegal On 56^th Independence Anniversary(In Profile Daily)

VP Boakai Off To SA

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai at the head of a five member delegation is in Johannesburg, South Africa to hold discussions on increased support to Liberia’s Agenda for Transformation, a program of government that focuses on addressing the socio economic needs of the nation and its people. According to the New Dawn newspaper, while in South Africa, Vice President Boakai will also hold discussions in Cape Town with the Deputy President of South Africa, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, on increased support to Liberia’s reconstruction agenda. VP Boakai will also address a cross section of high profile South African Business men and women at an investment forum. Vice President Boakai departed the country over the weekend and is accompanied by the Minister of State without Portfolio, Sylvester Grisgby, Acting Public Works Minister Layfette Giddings, Liberia’s Ambassador to South Africa Lois Brutus, and Public Policy Advisor to the Vice President Anthony Kesselly.

Related Captions: Boakai On Diatribes, Invectives…Off To S/Africa(The NEWS), VP Boakai Off To South Africa(Heritage)

JFK Fraud Syndicate Chief Jailed

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the brain behind the fraud syndicate that has deprived the State-run John F. Kennedy Medical Center of over L$16m and US$126,000 plus Mr. Patrick Konuwa, has been arrested and jailed at the Monrovia Central Prison, joining seven of his conspirators, who were taken to prison earlier on Saturday, 2 April. A five-count indictment displays the former JFK Accounts Officer Mr. Konuwa as conspiring with privately-run First International Bank Liberia (FIB)’s Customer Service Officer Lethia W. Waleh and Clearing Officer James Ricks. The daily writes that they allegedly succeeded in diverting the money into their bogus “John Freeman Kennedy” USD and LD accounts opened at FIB, several insurance companies checks issued as payment to the JFK hospital, deposited L$15,774,742 and US$5,000 and subsequently withdrawing them with the issuance of several checks.

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Related Captions: JFK ‘Stealing’ Ringleader Jailed(The INQUIRER), KFK ‘Fraud Mastermind’ Arrested(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Makes New Appointments

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made new appointments in government affecting the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Internal Affairs, and the Grand Bassa Community College. The ANALYST newspaper quoting an Executive Mansion release said those appointed include Mr. Stephen Towain Marvie, Jr., Deputy Minister for Trade Services  of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;   Mr. John S. Howard, Commissioner, Tubmanville Township, Ministry of Internal Affairs; Evelyn F. Davis - Commissioner, Mt. Coffee Township; Mr. Philip Nyenuh, Superintendent, River Gee County; Mrs. Augurie E. Herring, Chairperson, Grand Bassa Community College Board of Trustees among others. The daily reports that the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate were applicable.

Armed Security Personnel Deploy At RIA

According to the INSIGHTnewspaper, the Liberia Aviation Authority (LAA) has introduced new security protocols at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County. In a statement issued in Monrovia recently, RIA management noted that in the midst of the changing security dynamics in the aviation sector around the world, LAA in conjunction with the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), has introduced, with immediate effect, security measures at the RIA and James Spriggs Airport (JSPA) respectively.

MYS To Draft NT’L TVET Curriculum

The Deputy Minister Designate for Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), Lance Gbagonyon, has disclosed that efforts are ongoing to produce a curriculum for Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) to meet international standards. Speaking at a just ended meeting for TVET institutions, which was held at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC), Minister Gbagonyon said the proposal was part of the TVET reform policy carved for the country. According to him, the curriculum is being drafted as demand-driven syllabus, assuring that when completed, the draft will be distributed among TVET institutions stakeholders for their input before its validation, reports the In Profile Daily.

Lions Club To Invest Over US$1m In Liberia - District Governor

The District Governor of 403, A2, Lions Club International, Tobias K. Bruce, has said the Lions are ready to assist Liberians in meeting some of their needs, including support for health and education. Lion Bruce, who was on an official visit to Liberia, made the commitment on Friday at the Liberia Chamber of Commerce office on Capitol Hill in Monrovia. “Because of our plan to support some initiatives in the country, we had the opportunity to meet with the Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, authorities at the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital,” he explained. He said the lions will invest a million dollars on the John F. Kennedy Hospital project and a little over US$50,000 on education, with additional plans to increase the amounts to ensure that the projects meet their goals. Lions Club International is an International secular, non-political service organization founded by Melvin Jones in 1917. As of April 2015, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.4 million members in over 200 countries around the world, asserts the Daily Observer.