The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights the visit of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, Luis Prados Covarrubias and a delegations From Cities Alliance and Habitat for Humanity Initiatives with President Sirleaf  and the opening  of three County Service Centers in Bomi, Cape Mount and Gbarpolu counties.

DOMINANT STORIES  

President Sirleaf Receives Spanish Envoy Luis Prados Covarrubias; Welcomes Delegations From Cities Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Initiatives 

According to the In Profile Daily, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been officially invited to attend and deliver the keynote address at this year's Seminar on "Preventive Diplomacy" slated to take place in the Kingdom of Spain in March of 2017. The Seminar among other things will focus on the Role of Women for Peace in Africa, and a roundtable discussion on peace. According to an Executive Mansion release, the invitation was presented when she received in audience Mr. Luis Prados Covarrubias, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain, who is based in Abidjan on Monday, February 6, 2017 at her Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia. In a brief response, the Liberian leader commended Ambassador Covarrubias for the invitation and expressed thanks and appreciation for his visit to Liberia. Speaking earlier, Ambassador Covarrubias congratulated her for the extraordinary leadership skills she has exhibited since her ascendancy in Liberia, especially within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Responding, President Sirleaf thanked Mr. William Cobbett, Director of Cities Alliance and Mr. Steven Weir, Vice President, Global Program Development for Habitat for Humanity for their visit to Liberia and welcome the need for investment. She named institutional policy, practical programs and policy to be tapped through partnership with Cities Alliance and Habitat for humanity. The Liberia leader welcomed the initiatives to invest in different areas in Monrovia but was quick to highlight the urgent need in getting something done meanly in the areas of turning solid waste into energy, additional cleaning up of the city and improving the issue of water and sewer among others.  President Sirleaf however said she will further look into plans by Cities Alliance and Habitat for Humanity to invest in the City of Monrovia because according to her it will inform the government as to what needs to be done. She thanked them for the visit and expressed the hope as to good partnership. 

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Receives Spanish Envoy Luis Pados Covarrublas-AlsoWelcomes Delegations From Cities Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Initiatives(FOCUS)

Three Service Centers For Western Liberia

According to the In Profile Daily, the Ministry of Internal Affair has announced the opening of three additional County Service Centers (CSC) in Western Liberia this week. The Center, the daily reports, will be located in  Robertsport City, Grand Cape Mount County, Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County and Tubmanburg City, Bomi County. The CSC is part of the National Deconcentration Platform and is primarily intended to bring services closer to the people.

Related Captions: Gov’t, Partners To Open Three County Service Centers In Western Liberia(The INQUIRER),Gov’t To Open 3 Service Center In Western Liberia(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES  

Coast Guard Arrests Senegalese Vessel 

The Minister of Defense, Brownie Samukai, has disclosed the arrest of a Senegalese vessel by the Liberian Coast Guard. The Minister made the disclosure Monday in Monrovia at the Ministry of Defense when he said the Liberian Coast Guard arrested the vessel to expose its illegal operations on the shores of Liberia. He explained that the Hispasen7 is a fishing vessel that has been illegally operating on the shores of Liberia and faces 25 violations. He said “these are not in compliance with International Labor Standards.” The Coast Guard meanwhile has sought assistance from the Liberian Police National Central Bureau as well as the international police organization, INTERPOL, to analyze the vessel, according to the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Coast Guard Discovers Illegal Vessel In Liberia(The INQUIRER)

Fistula Survivors Gets Training In Bong Provided By MOH, UNFPA

The Liberia Fistula Project at the Ministry of Health with support from the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) has graduated 13 fistula survivors from the Fistula Rehabilitation and Reintegration Center at the Phebe Hospital in Bong County. The project, according to the FOCUS newspaper, is part of the MOH/UNFPA program to prepare fistula survivors who have been treated for social reintegration into the society. The women and girls who were all treated for obstetric fistula, received training in Cosmetology, Pastry, Tailoring and Soap-making.

UNFPA, UNICEF Seek Global Alliance-To End Female Genital Mutilation

The FOCUS newspaper reports that two United Nations agencies, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF have called for global collaboration to end female genital mutilation (FGM). In a joint statement marking the international day of zero tolerance for FGM, the UN Agencies noted that FGM damages girls’ bodies and inflates unbearable pains, adding that it also causes extreme emotional trauma that lasts life time.  

School Feeding Suspended-In Nimba 

The Coordinator of the World Food Program County has announced the suspension of the UN agency’s temporary suspension of its school feeding program for schools in Nimba County. Mr. Maxson Peewu told Principals and school Administrators in the county during a consultative meeting that the suspension of the school feeding program is due to lack of donor support and insufficient food ration to supply schools in the county. According to him, the WFP regrets the situation and hopes school administrators understand and continue to use every necessary means to encourage their young students, asserts the FOCUS newspaper.