THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016

Today’s edition of the summary highlights news of the Head of Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela accredited to Liberia, H. E. Mr. Miguelangel Della Vecchia’s proposition for a Visa Free Privilege Agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders of his country and Liberia, the release by the West African Examination Councils of 2016 results and the meeting of the House of Representatives to decide the fate of absent lawmakers.

DOMINANT STORIES  

‘Visa Free Privilege Agreement’ Between Liberia & Venezuelan Proposed 

The Head of Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela accredited to Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Miguelangel Della Vecchia, is proposing the “Visa Free Privilege Agreement” for diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries. This, he said, will enhance the movement of officials of the two governments without hindrance. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Venezuelan diplomat made the suggestion when he paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara at her Foreign Ministry office on Thursday, August 4. During discussions with Minister Kamara, Ambassador Vecchia emphasized the need to strengthen diplomatic ties with Liberia; adding, “We are very pleased to work closely with African countries.” In response, Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara thanked the visiting Venezuelan Head of Mission for the visit and stressed that she was very pleased to hear that there is the need for the two countries to revamp their diplomatic relationship with renewed energy for the mutual benefit of the two governments and peoples, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Related Captions: Minister Kamara Meets Venezuelan Head of Mission…Proposes ‘Visa Free Privilege Agreement’(In Profile Daily), Foreign Minister Meets Venezuelan Head Of Mission(The NEWS)

WAEC Releases 2016 Results:

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has released its 2016 results, which revealed massive failure in both the Senior and junior high divisions. Notably, the WAEC results announced at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) detailed students that passed; failed as well as those whose results are being held for trivial reasons. Giving statistics of the 2016 results, the head of WAEC John Gayflor released that out of 46,513 students who sat the exam in the senior high division, 16,072 passed, while 22,671 failed, the In Profile Daily writes.

Related Captions: Mass Failure Liberian Students Perform Poorly In West African Exams(FrontPage Africa), WAEC 2016: Worst Results Since 2013 -22,671 Out Of46,927 Failed(Daily Observer), Mass Failure In WAEC Exams(The NEWS)

Long-Absent Reps To Be Punished -Suspension or Benefits Seized?

The Daily Observer reports that a decision to reprimand long-absent Representatives, in accordance to the House’s Rules and Procedures, has been finally approved by Plenary, the highest decision making body of the House of Representatives. According to the daily, a quorum of the House’s leadership, comprising of the chairmen and co-chairs of 14 Statutory Committees, including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, will decide the fate of delinquent lawmakers on Monday, August 8 in a leadership meeting, and formally announce who the delinquents are on Tuesday, August 9, during the 50th Day Sitting.

Related Captions: Absentee Lawmakers Given Ultimatum(The INQUIRER), Ultimatum To Absentees Lawmakers House Plenary Mandates Leadership To Take Action(FrontPage Africa),

OTHER STORIES

Human Resources For Health Program Starts Today

The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will today August 5, 2016, launch the Human Resources for Health (HRH) program. Jhpiego’s Acting Chief of Party (COP), Mrs. Marion Subah, said the objectives of the program are to officially launch and introduce MCSP/HRP to various pre-service education training institutions; regulatory and professional bodies; relevant stakeholders and partners. She said the program is also to review the task analysis and baseline assessment results, and then identify areas of collaboration in the work-plan from targeted training institutions, regulatory and professional bodies in support of the Liberian government’s commitment to strengthen the country’s health workforce through the new MCSP/HRH project, according to the Daily Observer.

Senate Receives UCMJ Bill For AFL

The Senate yesterday received for enactment into law a Bill titled “Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).” President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in her letter dated July 25, informed the Senate plenary that the purpose of the Bill is to provide the legal framework for jurisdictional authority for dispensing justice and the right to due process within the AFL. The National Defense Act provides that, “All members of the AFL shall be subject to the UCMJ whether on duty or off duty;” and consistent with the National Defense Act of 2008, the Bill relates to military personnel. The Daily Observer reports that the Bill was sent to the Committee on Judiciary chaired by Grand Cape Mount County Senator Varney G. Sherman and the H. Dan Morais-chaired Committee on Foreign Affairs to report to Plenary in two weeks.

Related Caption: CIC Sirleaf Wants UCMJ Enacted(In Profile Daily)

Rural Liberia In Ebola Recovery Efforts IFAD President Calls On Regional Governments

The President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Kanayo F. Nwanze says the biggest outbreak of Ebola in human history is over, but urgent investments in the rural areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia are needed, if both countries are to fully recover. Speaking on the eve of his official visit to the two countries Nwanze said, “Ebola has had an enormous impact on the lives of rural people many of whom are small-scale farmers who could not grow food or earn a living during the epidemic, If we do not channel our investments to the rural areas now, these farmers may have to migrate in search of work. This could compromise the future food security of these countries.” According to the ANALSYTSnewspaper, during Mr. Nwanze’svisit to Liberia (6-8 August), he will meet President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Minister of Agriculture and project implementation partners, a press release issued in Monrovia details.

Related Captions: 'Post-Ebola Recovery Must Prioritize Rural People' - UN Agency Head (FrontPage Africa)

House Probes L$500 Specimen Banknotes

The House of Representatives on Thursday, August 4, during its 49th Day Sitting, constituted a Special Committee to investigate the new L$500 Specimen Banknote and make a formal report on Thursday, August 11. The Committee would investigate whether the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) created the L$500 Specimen Banknote after seeking the authority of the House, which has the sole constitutional authority to approve the printing of any denomination in Liberian dollars. According to the Daily Observer, the Committee is expected to summon Finance Minister Boimah Kamara and CBL Executive Governor Milton Weeks for the investigation.

Related Captions: CBL Not Authorized To Print L$500 Banknotes…House Of Representatives(The NEWS)

ABIC To Replicate Situation Room for Ghana’s Elections

The Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC) is said to be working out modalities for the replication of its Women Situation Room (WSR) in neighboring Ghana which gives a boost to President Ellen Johnson Sorleaf’s legacy relating to women’s empowerment and participation. The WSR is a process that mobilizes, promotes, and ensures a non-affiliated and or non-partisan ‘space’ for strategy and intervention on matters of peaceful elections and as in the case with Ghana  which should be going to its general and Presidential elections before the close of the year, the INQUIRER newspaper exerts.

LNP/Partners End Prevention of Election Violence Workshop

A one-day workshop to prevent election violence organized by the International Growth Center (IGC) United States Embassy, International Narcotics Law (INL) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) ended over the weekend in Monrovia. Over 30 participants which included experts from the public sector, civil society academicians, policy makers and donors converged at the Bella Casa Restaurant in Sinkor, to brainstorm and plan strategies to mitigate elections violence that could occur before, during or after elections, the INQUIRER newspaper reports.

Enhancing Technology for AFL Minister Samukai Wants Responsive Force

A back page story of the In Profile Daily writes that Defense Minister, Brownie J. Samukai, says the Ministry will continue to seek opportunities for the technological advancement of the Armed Forces of Liberia so as to make the force more responsive to the needs of the Liberian people whom they have sworn to serve. The Minister noted that the AFL is under duty-bearing commitment to touch the lives of all Liberians through Community-based engagement or civil military operations. ‘In our ambition to give a new outlook to the AFL as a “Force for Good”, we will seek partnership with our counterparts so that technological capacity, particularly of our Engineers and that of our Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) Unit can be boosted,” Minister Samukai asserts.

Related Caption: AFL Goes Technological Minister Samukai Speaks Growing Improvements(The ANALYST)

Six Liberians Return with Master Degrees from China

A back page story of the NEWS daily writes that Six Liberian graduates from the East China Normal University, and the Huazhong University of Science and Technology have returned home with Graduate Degrees in Education, Public Administration and Land Resources Management. In a meeting with the Vice President, the graduates expressed thanks for the opportunity given them to study in China and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce in China. They told the Vice President that they look forward to joining him in his drive to cultivate a new culture in our society that will think Liberia, loves Liberia, and build Liberia, a release from the Office of the Vice President said.

Related Captions: Six Liberian Graduates Return from China(In Profile Daily), Six Liberians Return With Master Degrees…From China(The NEWS)

TU President meets Boakai

Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, who recently took over from Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell as President of the William V. S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County, Thursday paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Joseph N. Boakai at his Capitol Building office. Dr. Wonkeryor introduced the University’s gratitude to the Vice President for his support and visits to the Institution. The VP acknowledged the sentiments and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting educational institutions, particularly post-Secondary Institutions, the NEWS newspaper writes.