The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, FEBRARY 16, 2018

News of President Weah’s arrival in Dakar, Senegal, his Condolence Message to the Government and People of the United States of America, following the death of at least 17 persons and the recent fire disaster that led to the death of five members of a family on the Pagos Island community, Congo Town are stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

President Weah Arrives in Dakar, Senegal

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, President George Manneh Weah has arrived in Dakar, Senegal amidst a rousing welcome by host Government and Members of ECOWAS Parliament. According to a dispatch from Dakar, President Weah on arrival informed his Senegalese Counterpart that he came to Senegal on a mission of gratitude and respect. The Liberian leader thanked the Senegalese leader for the very important role he played and continues to play in Africa and ECOWAS in fostering peace, stability and the rule of law. President Weah assured the President of Senegal that under his administration as President, he will prioritize and do all that is necessary; to strengthen the bilateral relations that already subsists between Liberia and Senegal. The Liberian leader further underscored the need to encourage significant increases in investment and trade between Liberia and Senegal. He used the occasion to inform his counterpart about the deplorable state of the Liberian economy and stressed that unemployment is at an unprecedented high. For his part, the Senegalese President, H.E. Macky Sall expressed great delight to President Weah and his delegation for the visit, and congratulated him for his ascendency to the Presidency. He assured the Liberian Leader that his Government stands ready to support the Weah-led government’s pro-poor agenda in the areas of capacity building, education and healthcare. He further acknowledged the longstanding relationship that exists between both countries and the need to further strengthen that relationship for the common good of their respective countries.

Related Captions: President George Weah on Official State Visit to Senegal, Morocco, France (FrontPage Africa), Weah Begs For Help (The New Dawn)

Weah Consoles America

The New Dawn newspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has sent a Condolence Message to the Government and People of the United States of America, following the death of at least 17 persons. A Foreign Ministry release said, the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, 19, allegedly gunned down 17 students and staff with a rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, USA. The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. In the message to his American counterpart, H.E. Mr. Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, the Liberian President, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended heartfelt condolences to the American leader, and through him, to the Government and people of America, especially the bereaved families for the tragic loss sustained.

Related Caption: George Weah Consoles America (The INQUIRER)

5 Die In Fire Incident

The Pagos Island community in Congo Town was a scene of grief and disbelief when a fire incident that awakened the community early Thursday morning left an entire family dead. The fire, which gutted the five-room zinc shack, left a man, his wife, and three children dead. Eleven other occupants of the house were fortunate to escape death, eyewitnesses said. The victims included Emmanuel Morris, 28; his girlfriend Felicia, their son Leroy, and a set of twins. The Daily Observer reports that Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Morris, who wept uncontrollably, managed to explain that her son was the breadwinner for her family. Rebecca said she was asleep when she heard people calling her that her son’s house was on fire. “I woke up and rushed there only to discover that the fire was coming from my son’s room,” she said. “Everybody in the house came out safe except my son and his family.” Rebecca meanwhile appealed to the Liberian government, NGOs, and other Liberians to come to her assistance so that she can support her remaining children, because “the eyes I used are gone. My children and I are wasting outside, no pa, the person that was helping us is gone.”

Related Captions: Fire Disaster Claims Five Lives On Paco Island; Leaves Residents In Shock And Sorrow (FrontPage Africa), Fire Kills Father, Mother & 3 Children (The INQUIRER), Chaos!...As Fire Leaves 5 Dead (Heritage), Fire Outbreak Kills Five (In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

Citizen ID Card: Vice President Gets National Identification; Encourages Liberians to Take Advantage

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is encouraging Liberians to enroll into the National Biometric Identification System and obtain their citizen identification cards. The Veep stressed that it is important that every Liberian be a part of the process, saying, it is helpful to country and people. She expressed confidence in the process and praised the management for a successful process. The Vice President carried out her biometric registration when she visited the Registry’s headquarters in Congo town on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

Related Caption: VP Howard-Taylor Gets Biometric ID Card Encourages Others To Do The Same (Daily Observer)

As MOH Launches Nationwide Measles Vaccination Campaign: Parents Urged To Take Their Children For Vaccination

As part of the Ministry of Health’s mandate to save lives, Liberia’s Deputy Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer designate, Dr. Francis Kateh is urging parents of children below one year to take their children for vaccination against measles. According to him, measles is one of the leading causes of deaths among children under 5 years. The Heritage newspaper says Dr. Kateh spoke Thursday at the official launch of the first phase of the Nationwide Measles Campaign in Paynesville which targets about 727,549 children across the country.

UNDP BOSS’ Project Empowers Small Business Owners Across Liberia

The Heritage newspaper reads that Local business owners in Sanniquellie, Nimba County have benefited from business development skills from the Business Opportunities through Support Services (BOSS), a community empowerment project funded by UNDP. BOSS is a UNDP-supported project in partnership with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Commerce and was established to enhance decentralization and support micro, small and medium enterprises policy implementation in Liberia through the establishment of Business Support Service Centres at the county levels, to strengthen the capacities of youth, women and agri- producing enterprises. “The intent under this project is for socio-economic empowerment of rural enterprises that are faced with multiple constraints through decentralization,” said Marcus Zarway, UNDP-BOSS National Project Manager.    

Grand Bassa Tops Revenue Collection

Grand Bassa County has emerged as the highest revenue collecting county for the second quarter of the 2017/18 fiscal period, according to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) County Revenue Collection Report. The LRA in the months of October, November and December (representing 2nd Quarter) collected a total of US$1.7m from its rural Tax Business Offices (TBO) and Customs Business Offices (CBOs) in all 14 counties as well as rural Montserrado. The amount represents revenue received or collected exclusively in the counties through the LRA business offices.  The In Profile Daily Says Grand Bassa County contributed a total of US$489,900 or 28.1% of gross receipts from the counties. Of the amount, US$358,609 or 78% came from the TBO’s while the remaining US$131,290 came in from CBOs.

VP Howard-Taylor To Grace MYS-Run Vocational School Graduation Today

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is expected to grace the 13^th Graduation ceremony of the Business Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC) on today,Friday, February 16, 2018. According to BDOTC Director Faiquen Gweh-Menhns, the program which takes place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, will witness the awarding of certificates to 260 trainees who have completed their respective 12 months intensive training in tailoring, event decoration, braiding & weaving, beauty culture and housekeeping. Others are baking, waitress & waiter service, cookery and front office management, reads the Heritagenewspaper.

Related Caption: BDOTC Graduate 260 Students Friday (In Profile Daily)

Mulbah Morlu Takes Over CDC Ruling Coalition For Democratic Change Appoints Acting Chairman

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the Chair of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Mr. Nathaniel McGill has turned over the party Chairmanship to Mr. Mulbah Morlu. The daily says Mr. Morlu will now take charge of the party as Acting Chairman until the pending convention.  On Thursday, 15 February, Mr. McGill, who is the current Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, stepped aside giving way to the party’s Vice Chairman for Operations, Morlu, to steer the affairs. His decision, according to him, is to allow him to focus on his current ministerial post. 

CFP-L Stresses The Importance of Human Security

Camp for Peace Liberia (CFP-L), a youth-focused non-governmental organization, has concluded a one day post-election symposium under the theme, “Post Elections: Peace, Reconciliation, and Youth Engagement.” According to the Daily Observer, the symposium brought together 27 participants, including students, youth representatives from various political parties, representatives of the Federation of Liberia Motorcyclist Transport Union, researchers, academics, and other development partners. Josiah F. Joekai, head of Secretariat at the National Commission on Small Arms, said human security is the driving force to sustaining peace and the country’s development. Joekai reminded national government and policymakers of the need to prioritize the human security sector to include health, education, and better sanitation, reads the Daily Observer.

New Global Fund Investment Advances Progress In Liberia

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the new Global Fund investment is advancing progress to end AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Liberia. The daily says since the end of the Ebola crisis, with support of the Global Fund, Liberia has made steady progress toward ending AIDS, TB and Malaria. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (TGF) is an international financing organization that attracts and disburses additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The GF works through Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs) which are national bodies in each country that submit funding applications to the Global Fund on behalf of the entire country. Members of the CCM include representatives from government, the private sector, technical partners, civil society, faith-based organizations, people living with the diseases, and developmental partners.