THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016

Today’s News Summary highlights news of President Johnson Sirleaf’s Condolence Message to the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya following the death of at least 20 persons; the launch of the fourth round of the EPAG Project by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; and the workshop for small boats operations conducted by the National Port Authority.

DOMINANT STORIES

President Sirleaf Consoles Kenya

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a Message of Condolence to the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya following the collapse of a seven-story building in Nairobi, Kenya, due to torrential rains, killing at least 20 persons and injuring about 80 others. Sixty-five persons are reported missing. According to the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf prayed that the Almighty God will grant President Kenyatta and the people of the sisterly Republic of Kenya strength, courage and fortitude as they go through this period of national mourning.

Related Captions: Ellen Consoles Kenya (Heritage), President Sirleaf Consoles Kenya (The New Dawn)

Boys’ Inclusion Essential - Gender Launches EPAG Fourth Rounds For Adolescents

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has launched the fourth round of its Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (EPAG) Project, highlighting the inclusion of boys. In her official launch statement, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Julia Duncan-Cassell, announced the inclusion of adolescent boys for the first time in the EPAG Program, assuring that the Ministry intends to expand to other parts of Liberia with the recruitment and inclusion of more boys. The Gender Minister noted that the Ministry has refined the EPAG project model based on lessons learnt. EPAG, a Swedish Government funded project through the World Bank, has had three successive rounds of training with girls as the participants. During rounds one and two, the project reached out to 2,491 girls while round three witnessed the training of additional 1,000 girls across the country respectively. FrontPage Africa

Related Captions: ‘EPAG A Successful Program’…Says Minister Cassel (Heritage), Gender Ministry Launched Project…For Economic Empowerment (The NEWS), Gender Ministry Launches Fourth EPAG Project (FOCUS), More To Benefit From Economic Empowerment Projects (The New Dawn)

NPA Conducts Intensive Training in Small Boat Operations

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says a two-week intensive training course in Small Boat Operations for Liberia Sea Port Marine Personnel is underway in Monrovia. The training is the first in a series of four seminars being organized and sponsored by the Management of the National Port Authority in collaboration with the Liberia Coast Guard. The daily writes that the workshop being facilitated by a team of U.S trained/certified Liberian Coast Guard personnel is training participants in Basic Seamanship; Boat Crew responsibility and Coordination; Personnel recovery; Plotting and Navigation System as well as Automatic Identification System (AIS)   and Global Positing System (GPS) operations.

Related Captions: NPA Conducts Training For SBOS (The New Dawn), NPA Trains Marine Personnel (The NEWS), NPA Begins Two Weeks Course For Boat Operators (FOCUS)

OTHER STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Lauds Paynesville Central SDA Church

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has lauded the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions and partnership with government in the national development efforts of the country. Speaking at the Paynesville Central Seventh Day Adventist Church at the ELWA junction in Paynesville City where she attended the Church regular Worship Service; President Johnson Sirleaf expressed gratitude to the SDA Church for its many contributions to Liberia’s educational, health and other humanitarian services rendered the country. She said SDA Church’s endeavors are meant to create opportunities for thousands of Liberian youths, who are coming out of schools, without being able to acquire university education, something according to her, the Church is intending to address. She told the worship service that the government will be there with them. President Sirleaf was presented a special gift (Book) entitled “The Great Controversy,” by the District Pastor of SDA Church, Borbor D. Gibson, as a sign of appreciation for her leadership, reports the FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: Ellen Lauds Church For Contributions And Partnership (Heritage)

V.P. Boakai Wants Service Centers Utilized

Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has called on the people of Nimba County to make effective use of the Service Center dedicated in the county. According to the New Dawn newspaper, Vice President Boakai spoke Monday, 2 May, during the dedicatory ceremony in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. He said the County Service Center is part of government’s decentralization program, aimed at opening the governance process. He said similar centers have been dedicated in Kakata, Gbarnga and Buchanan, respectively with the latest dedicated in Sanniquellie bringing to four the number of such centers in the country. The Vice President disclosed government’s plan to dedicate a total of 13 county service centers across the country by July.

EU Calls For End To Intimidation, Violence Against Journalist

In commemoration of this year’s May 3, 2016, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the European Union (EU) has called for an end to intimidation and violence against journalists worldwide. A declaration by EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini, said the EU wishes to recall the principle that “the establishment, maintenance and fostering of independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development,” which is incorporated in the Windhoek Declaration, reports the FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: ‘EU Determined To Fight Censorship’ (Daily Observer)

MRU Power Project Kicks Off In August

A one-day commercial framework Workshop for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the Transmission Service Agreements (TSAs) in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea ended Monday with conclusion that awarding contracts will commence in August this year. Relevant stakeholders from Mano River Union (MRU) countries who participated in the workshop organized by TRANSCO CLSG have finalized the discussion on the awarding of contracts for the actual commencement of the project, reports the New Democrat newspaper.

Related Caption: Liberia To Get Electricity In Next 3 Months (FOCUS)

NHA Starts Phase 3 Of NASSCOR Village Project In Brewerville

According to the NEWS newspaper, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has commenced phase three of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) Village Housing Estate project in Brewerville City outside Monrovia. Speaking shortly before the NHA launched an awareness campaign on Tuesday to encourage more Liberians to buy their own homes, NHA Deputy Managing Director Prince Wreh said phase three of the village project includes the construction of 70 additional affordable housing units.  

3 Eye Doctors Undergo Modern Training In India

Three Liberian doctors are currently undergoing modern eye training in India, according to Dr. Billy Johnson, Managing Director of the John F. Kennedy memorial hospital in Sinkor. Dr. Billy Johnson told a major press conference recently on problems facing JFK that one eye doctor and two assistants who are also health workers are currently undergoing modern training at the L.V Prasad Eye Institute in India, pens New Democrat newspaper.