The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017

The death news of His Excellency Mr. Konah K. Blackett, Liberia’s Ambassador accredited to   the State of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates; the call by the ECOWAS’ Special Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomofor political actors to dialogue over the Code of Conduct; the distribution of HIV Guide to media institutions by the Anti-AIDS Media Network are among stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberia’s Ambassador To Kuwait And United Arab Emirates Is Dead

The Government of Liberia announces with profound regrets the death of His Excellency Mr. Konah K. Blackett, Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the sad event occurred on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria where he had sought medical attention since March 18, 2017, after falling ill in transit while enroute to the State of Kuwait. He had just attended a two-day retreat for heads of Liberia’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad held in Monrovia from March 9 – 10, 2017.

Related Captions: Liberia’s Ambassador To Kuwait, Konah Blackett, Is Dead(FrontPage Africa), GoL Announces The Death Of Ambassador Konah K. Blackett(Daily Observer), Liberian Envoy To Kuwait, UAE Dead(The New Dawn)

ECOWAS Envoy Urges Dialogue For Law In Code Of Conduct Row

The ECOWAS Special Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo says his mission in Monrovia is closely following the row over the Code of Conduct, but has called on Liberian political actors not to resort to violence. Section 5.1 in Part five of the Code of Conduct Act on political participation says all presidential appointees such as ministers and other public officials, including those in tenure position desirous of running for elected offices, must resign two and three years respectively prior to elections. The ECOWAS envoy disclosed that his mission here was engaged in behind the scene consultations to quell the tensions. He said the ECOWAS mission in Monrovia was not sitting on the fence, because in recent weeks some Liberian politicians have been visiting his offices to raise issues relating to the controversial Code of Conduct. “Our approach is for a dialogue. Our approach is for the laws to be respected. Our approach is for engagement. Let us engage ourselves, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper

Related Captions: ECOWAS Envoy on Code of Conduct(Daily Observer),In Code of Conduct Row:ECOWAS Envoy Urges Dialogue, Respect for Law(Heritage)

AAMIN Takes HIV Media Guide To Liberian Newsrooms

A Liberian-based media network, Anti-AIDS Media Network (AAMIN) has engaged media institutions to keep HIV and Human Rights issues high on the news agenda through the distribution of the nation’s first HIV Guide for journalists and media practitioners. The HIV media guide which serves as a reference document to improve professional reporting skill of journalists, void of stigmatization and discrimination was developed by the Anti-AIDS Media Network in collaboration with the Liberian government and partners and launched in 2015. The 2013 Liberia Demography Health Survey (LDHS) has revealed that HIV-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes and abuse directed at people living with HIV and AIDS. The AAMN with support from the America Jewish World Service (AJWS), embarked on a day-long exercise distributing HIV and AIDS Guide to media institutions, placing the guide in the newsrooms enable journalists have access for quick reference while reporting on HIV issues, writes the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Related Captions: AAMIN Engages Liberian Media…Takes HIV Media Guide To Newsrooms(Heritage),AAMIN Engages Liberia Media(In Profile Daily)

Lone Star Cell MTN Foundation Dedicates School

Liberia’s mobile telecommunication network, Lone Star Cell MTN Foundation has dedicated the St. John Episcopal High School in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, and Western Liberia after renovation.According to the Foundation, the US$50,000 refurbishing project dedication was done to fulfill promises made to officials of the institution, reads the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Lone Star Cell MTN Foundation Dedicates School(The New Dawn), Lonestar Cell MTN Foundation Dedicates Computer Lab At St. John Episcopal High School(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES  

‘Ebola Reminded Us About Our Common Humanity’ 

According to the Daily Observer, the Liberia-US Joint Clinical Research Partnership (PREVAIL), has been urged not to simply quantify its achievements based on things that are visible because there are many intangible benefits coming together to solve common problems. Speaking at the official launch of the second phase of the vaccine study on Sunday at the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai said if the experience of the Ebola scourge taught “us nothing else, it reminded us about our common humanity.” He assured Liberians’ preparedness to support the second phase and called on the two countries to hold together to strengthen the spirit of partnership between the Government of Liberia and the United States Government Department of Health and Human Services that gave birth and impetus to the Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL).

US Envoy Lauds West African Health Professional

US Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Christine Elder has hailed health professionals from Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia under the auspices of the Joint West Africa Research Group (JWARG) for the successful completion of a week-long training course. Speaking at the close of the training Amb. Elder said JWARG’s research protocol seeks to help to understand pathogens that cause severe illness in communities, stressing that without the health professionals, the knowledge wouldn’t benefit the communities in which they serve. The US envoy noted that the rapid growth of health institutions is a testament to the investment in the health sector by the Government of Liberia and its partners including the United States, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Chinese Envoy Puts Liberia On Taiwan Alert…As Elections Approach

According to the In Profile Daily, Liberia’s 2017 presidential and general elections, expected to take place in October, are widely viewed as critical to the country’s success or failure. While the elections serve as a way democratic transition in many years, concerns are growing on whom to take the mantle of authorities of the country to build on current gains including maintaining the right external relations. It is based on this that some foreign missions near the country’s capital are putting Liberians on the alert as to which diplomacy would continue to assist the country following the elections. One of them is the Political Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China near Monrovia, Mr. Li Zhaung, who has put Liberians on the alert, warning against establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Liberia, Gambia Develop Action Plan On Sustainable Forest Management

Liberia and Gambia have developed a short and long term strategic action plan on the implementation of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Farm Forest Facility project (FFF) that cents on sustainable forest management. The short term plan which began October 2016 will end December 31, 2017, while long term plan runs from January 2018 up to 2013. The plan is meant to draw up a road map for the provision of grant and technical support to small holder farmers, producers and farmer organizations to promote sustainable forest governance in both Liberia and Gambia. It is also geared towards providing social and economic empowerment for Farmers and Forest Producers in the context of alternative livelihood. The two countries took the decision when a 12 man Liberian delegation was in Gambia on exchange visit organized by FAO Gambia, reports In Profile Daily.

Woman, Ward, Killed In Nimba

Police in Nimba County have arrested, charged and sent to court two suspects in connection with the gruesome murder of a lady and her 13-year-old ward. Suspects Exodus Wamah and Justice Dolo were charged with multiple crimes ranging from murder to criminal conspiracy, among others. The duo has been forwarded to the Sanniquillie Magisterial Court in Sanniquillie for trial. Addressing journalist recently in Sanniquillie, Liberia National Police Crime Services Division (CSD) Commander for Nimba, James Korto, disclosed that the two were charged following thorough probe by the Police in the county. According to Inspector Karto, the two were arrested in connection with the killing of Mrs. Viola Thompson Richmond, 55, and her ward, Annie Johnson, 13, recently in their Peace Community residence in Ganta, reports INSIGHT newspaper.

Related Captions: 2 Sent To Court For “killing” Woman, Daughter(Heritage)

Commercial Banks Drop L$39.2m

Total credit from commercial banks to all sectors of the Liberian economy has amount to L$39,249.3 million; the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has reported. The amount, according to the CBL 2016 annual report released recently, indicates 15.6 percent increase at the end of November 2016 relative to the amount recorded at the end of December 2015. According to the report, expansion in credit was mainly due to resumption of economic activities which were triggered by the improved and promising energy and road infrastructures, reports FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: Commercial Banks Drop $39.2m Into Liberian Economy(Heritage)

Crime Statistics Released – For February 2017

According to the FOCUS newspaper, the Liberia National Police (LNP) has release its Crime Statistical Analysis for the month of February 2017. According to the analysis, a total of 714 crimes were registered, investigated and either sent to court, solved or are pending in various Detachments, Zones, Depots and Details of the Police. According to the analysis, this compares to 1, 116 crimes that were recorded in the month of January. In an interview with the Liberia News Agency at the weekend, Police spokesman Sam Collins said this decrease shows that most of the Police sub-stations did not submit their Crime Statistics for the month of February on time.

Related Captions: Police Release Crime Statistics For February 2017(Heritage)

WATAF Chair ElfriedaTamba Meets ECOWAS President

The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Elfrieda Stewart Tamba has paid a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS President Marcel Alain de Souza to discuss regional taxation issues. During the visit, the WATAF Chair conveyed appreciation to ECOWAS for its support of WATAF initiatives, including sponsorship of over 30 participants in WATAF annual events and capacity development initiatives. Chairperson Tamba proposed to the ECOWAS President a need to sign an MOU, which would serve as a conduit through which efficiency in tax administration and domestic resource mobilization could be enhanced throughout the region. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the ECOWAS President Marcel Alain de Souza applauded the initiative to strengthen partnership with ECOWAS and its vision for enhancing tax administration strategically and assured the Chair of WATAF of his commitment to actualizing the MOU hopefully within the next three months after all due-diligence and formalities have been cleared by ECOWAS legal department.

Cuba Expresses Gratitude To Liberian Media

The Charge d’Affaires at the Cuban Embassy near Monrovia Mr. Yordenis Despaigne Vera has expressed gratitude to the Liberian media for the working relationship between the embassy and the local media. The Cuban Envoy was speaking to a group of journalists on Friday, 31 March at the Cuban Embassy in Congo Town in observant of the Cuban Press Day, which was celebrated on 14 March. He said the Cuban Embassy decided to celebrate the day with Liberian journalists on 31 March. The Vice president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Mr. Octavin Williams, commended the Cuban Government for working with the Liberian press and assured embassy staff that the Liberian media was always willing to work with the Cubans. The Cuban Press Day is set aside to celebrate the launch of the first Cuban newspaper, the Patria, founded by Jose Marti came on March 14, 1892, reports the New Dawn newspaper.