The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017

 Today’s summary of the local dailies highlights, as a dominant story, the news concerning the closure of the Bureau of Passport and Visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for the issuance of E-Passports in Liberia.  

DOMINANT STORY

Issuance of E-Passports Begins Soon…As Government Halts New Passport Applications Until…

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that the Government of Liberia through the Bureau of Passport and Visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs the public that the Bureau will be closed to new applicants and individuals applying for passports as they prepare to begin the issuance of e-Passports shortly. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in order to get this vital process underway, the Bureau of Passport and Visas is informing the general public that it doors will be closed to all new applicants beginning Tuesday, August 1, to Friday, August 4, 2017. The Bureau assures the public that it will resume full operations on Monday, August 7, 2017. An e-Passport will contain an electronic chip that holds the same information that is printed on the passport's data page: the holder's name, date of birth, and other biographic pieces of information. An e-Passport also contains a biometric identifier. Most times, the chip will contain a digital photograph of the holder. The pieces of information on the chip can be used to authenticate the identity of travelers. E-Passports will help to securely identify the traveler, provide protection against identity theft, protect privacy and make it difficult to alter a document for use in gaining admission to some countries, including the United States of America. The Bureau apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause the public.

Related Captions: Gov’t Begins Issuance of E-Passports Shortly (The INQUIRER), Liberian Government To Begin Issuance of E-Passport (FrontPage Africa). In a related development, the

INQUIRER newspaper reads under the caption “Ambassador Conteh Announces Passport Application Center’s Readiness in Abuja” that Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Professor Al-Hassan Conteh has disclosed that a Passport Application Center is now ready at the Liberian Embassy pending official dedication. A release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says Ambassador Conteh made the disclosure over the weekend when he served as keynote speaker for the 2^nd National Annual Convention of the Organization of Liberian Communities I Nigeria held in Kaduna City, Kaduna.

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Congratulates Swiss Confederation on National Day

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Her Excellency Mrs. Doris Leuthard on that country’s National Day. August 1st marks the annual celebration of Swiss National (or Confederation) Day. It was in 1891 that the date of Swiss national day was first decided upon, though it took over a hundred years before the Swiss decided to have a vote and give themselves the day off. Following the vote in September 1993, the day became an official national holiday in 1994. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader stated that on this happy occasion commemorating the Anniversary of the Federal Charter of 1291 of Switzerland, “I am delighted to extend best wishes on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in my own name to Your Excellency, and through you to the Government and people of the Swill Confederation.”  “Switzerland has consistently exhibited exemplary leadership in various spheres, including sustaining peace and economic prosperity as reflected in that country being ranked first among equals according to the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI),” President Sirleaf stressed, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

CBL Governor Urges CSWAMZ To Be More Proactive

The Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Mr. Milton A. Weeks, on Monday 31 July 2017, set the tone of the 26th meeting of the College of Supervisors of the West African Monetary Zone (CSWAMZ) by urging members of the College of Supervisors of West African Central Banks to think through what is likely to cause a banking/financial crisis in the West African monetary zone as well as the efforts required to address such crisis. He said: “The need for a zonal crisis prevention, management and resolution framework is more and more evident. Do we have the right mechanisms to address right mechanisms to address the potential risks associated with the increasing dignization of our financial systems. Mr. Weeks stressed the need to progide an enabling environment that would be conducive for completion and innovation, while at the same time balancing risk management and internal control against overbearing regulations, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

Filling The Gaps-Female Candidates Asked To Compete With Male Counterparts A Liberia Women Policy Platform Launched

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has urged female candidates to fill the gap and compete with their male counterparts. She said the policy can only be implemented if collective efforts are applied in every community and county. Sirleaf said women must canvass as Jehovah witnesses “moving from door to door making sure that women contest, “It’s time that we gathered and support those women that are here and bring in more women to take over the legislature.” She spoke when several female candidates gathered at the rotunda at the National Legislature to launch the Liberia policy platform 2017. The policy was created by Liberian women from across the country and from various social, political and economic backgrounds, who came together at a policy conference in December 2016 which was finalized and endorsed.

Tactical Adjustment-LNP Makes Consideration For Campaign Motorcycles

The Deputy Inspector General Abraham Kromah says there has been a tactical adjustment on political party motorcyclists. The adjustment followed Monday scuffle, when partisans of the ALP were parading the Paynesville, Duport Road route at which time motorcycles leading the parade were prevented from crossing the no-go zone line, but a private officer of the ALP allegedly walked up to state officer and ripped his uniform upon which a fight ensued between private security officers and Police officers. Kromah at press briefing said the strategic plan covering the election is vital so as to curtail violence in the country. He said the LNP have ordered all political parties to ensure that all motorcycles have a sticker and collaborate with assigned deploy officers. Kromah said the plan will ensure peaceful election, “We don’t want any infiltration of motorcycles so, we are urging political parties to place a party sticker on the motorcycle as it ply the street during campaign, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

China Aid-Bamboo Rattan Weaving Donates to Youth Crime Watch

The China-Aided Bamboo and Rattan Weaving and Vegetable planting project a technological cooperation program between Chinese and Liberian Governments has provided to students of the “Youth Crime Watch of Liberia” furniture’s made out of locally produced Bamboo Rattan. The items include; three Bamboo chairs, 80 Bamboo stool, three sets of Bamboo desk and one sofa set. The group is located in the Wood Camp Paynesville community. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says that the donated furniture was given by China-Aided Bamboo and Rattan Weaving and Vegetable planting project. The group is a technological cooperation program between Chinese and Liberian Governments that came into existence since 2007 to provide Liberian youth with free training skills in the areas of bamboo and rattan furniture making, vegetable and orange tree planting as well as bio gas demonstration.

12th Graders Perform Well in WAEC Female Student Tops

The West African Examinations Council has released this year’s results of Senior High School with student Marklyn  Wingbah of the Carver Mission High School being the best performing student. Addressing a news conference yesterday in Monrovia, the head of WAEC, Mr. Dale G. Gbotoe disclosed that the examination for school candidates was administered at 211 centers from May 22-26, 2017 and that a total of 31,212 candidates from 554 senior high schools registered for the Examination. According to Mr. Gbotoe, schools submitted all entries online. He added that a total of 31, 009 candidates representing 99.35% of the entries sat the examination and said sixty-six candidates results are being withheld for examination malpractice, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

Ministry Of Education Statement Regarding the Beginning Of The 2017/2018 School Year

The Ministry of Education issued the following statement regarding the beginning of the 2017/2018 school year: “All schools in Liberia including public private, faith-based and community schools, and schools within the Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL) program will open on Monday September 4, for the beginning of the 2017/2018 school year. Contrary to some false rumors, there will be no delay in the school year due to the upcoming elections. However, schools will be closed on Election Day, scheduled for Tuesday October 12, as some schools will be used as polling centers.

 LNP Begins Assigning Of Officers To Political Parties

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the Liberia National Police (LNP) has begun assigning police officers to political parties in an effort to avoid violence during the campaign retro. The daily says the process which started on July 31 will serve as a way of commitment by the LNP to political parties to safeguard   a campaign free of provocations and terrorizations.