Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018

The approval of the Eton’s US$536 million by the House of Representation, the election of Liberia as Chair of the UN General Assembly’s Four Committee; the submission a Bill to repeal law against Free Speech and the interaction between Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and  Kids Educational Engagement Project-KEEP are the selected stories from today’s dailies.

Weah Submits Bill To Repeal Laws Against Free Speech

President George Manneh Weah has resubmitted to the National Legislature a Bill with modifications, to repeal some sections of the Penal Law of Liberia in an effort to decriminalize free speech and create an unfettered media environment. The Bill submitted May 31, 2018 seeks to amend Chapter 11 of Penal Law of 1978, repealing Sections 11.11 on criminal libel against the President; 11.12 on Sedition and 11.14 on criminal malevolence.“Honorable Speaker, Chapter 111, Article 15 of the Constitution provides for Freedom of Speech and expression and a caveat of an abuse thereof. Additionally, Liberia is a signatory to the Table Mountain Declaration which demands that African countries abolish insult and criminal defamation law,” the Liberian Leader said. The President also reminded the National Legislature of the legal instruments on press freedom Liberia established, such as the Freedom of Information Law (FOI) and the Independent Information Commission according to the New Dawn newspaper, if enacted into law, the Act will be known as the Kamara Abdullai Kamara Act of Press Freedom, in honor of deceased journalist Kamara Abdullai Kamara, former President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).

Related Captions: Decriminalizing Speech President Weah Submits Bill to Repeal Laws against Free Speech to Legislature(FrontPage Africa), Bill To Repeal Laws Against Free Speech Submitted To Legislature(In Profile Daily), Pres. Weah Submits Bill To Repeal Laws Against Free Speechand Weah Submits Bill to repeal laws Against Free Speech(Heritage)

House Approves Eton’s US$536.4M Loan Agreement,

Forty-eight members of the House of Representatives in its 34th day sitting Tuesday, June 5, ratified the US$536.4 million Loan Agreement, and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence, although questions still remain unanswered about what guarantees are being offered by the Government in return for the loan. It was reported that the loan would be ratified on Thursday, but was unanimously approved in Tuesday’s session instead. The Agreement was signed between Eton Finance PTE Limited and the Government of Liberia (GoL). The Joint Committee said the agreement is for the purpose of the construction of the Buchanan-Cestos City, Greenville-Barclayville, and the Barclayville-Sasstown, the Barclayville-Pleebo, the Medina-Robertsport and the Tubmanburg-Bopolu roads. It added that there will also be the construction of rest stops and roadside service areas; the construction of a vocational training center in Greenville, Sinoe County; the construction of mini soccer (football) stadiums in Harper, Maryland County, Barclayville, Grand Kru County; Greenville, Sinoe County; Cestos City, River Cess County; Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County; Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County and Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, reads the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: House Ratifies US$536m Eton Loan Agreement(The New Dawn),House Passes US$536 Loan Agreement with Restriction on Sovereign Guarantee(FrontPage Africa),House Passes US$546m LoanandUS$536m ‘Controversial Loan Deal’ Ratified(In Profile Daily)

Liberia Elected As Chair Of UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee After 57 Years

The FrontPage Africanewspaper reads that the General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday, June 5, elected by acclamation, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Lewis Garseedah Brown, II as Chair of the 4th Committee of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly. Formally referred to as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, the Fourth Committee is one of six main committees of the UN General Assembly. According to a dispatch from Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Brown’s election comes 57 year after Ambassador Angie Brooks Randolph chaired the Fourth Committee during the 1961 Session of the General Assembly.

Responding to his election on Tuesday, Ambassador Brown thanked the African Group and other UN Member States for reposing confidence in Liberia to carry out the “important assignment of overcoming the challenge of multilateralism at the political level.”

Related Caption: After 57 Years Liberia Chairs UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee(In Profile Daily)

VP Taylor Interacts With Kids At KEEP

Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has told children of the Kids Educational Engagement Project-KEEP, to continuously exhibit integrity and honesty at all times. Madam Howard-Taylor, who was recently named as Literacy and Education Ambassador by ALFALIT Liberia, was welcomed by the kids and grilled on various applications of integrity and honesty in their daily lives during her friendly engagements with them. The New Dawn newspaper reads that the move by the Vice President is in furtherance of President George Weah’s agenda to prioritize early Learning and adult illiteracy Programs in pre-schools and local communities. The Kids Education Engagement Project (KEEP) is a local civil society organization with the objective of campaigning to promote accountability in Liberia's education sector.

Related Captions: VP Howard Taylor Inspires Liberian Kids; Urges Them To Exhibit Integrity And Honesty(FrontPage Africa), VP Taylor Interacts With Kids On Integrity(In Profile Daily), and VP Howard Taylor Inspires Liberian Kids(Heritage)

Weah Congratulates Sweden, Extols Queen of Denmark

The Heritage newspaperreports that President George Manneh Weah has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of Sweden on the festive occasion observing that country’s National Day and Flag Day, on June 6, 2018.In his message to His Majesty CARL XVI GUSTAF, King of Sweden and the Government and People of Sweden, on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, and in his own name, President Weah expressed pleasure to note that relations between the two counties and peoples have seen unprecedented evolution in recent years, charactering the strong bond of friendship between their two countries. The Liberian leader noted that the exponential progression in their relations has been reflective of the several bilateral partnership and cooperation effectuated by their respective governments in recent years. President Weah said Liberia will always remember, with gratitude, Sweden’s contributions to the rehabilitation of the electricity grid at the mount Coffee hydro power plant in Liberia, which is now expanding energy access to communities and businesses in Monrovia and its environs, and has immensely uplifted the living standards of ordinary Liberians and the promoted industrial development alike.

The Heritage newspaperalso pans that in his message to the Queen of Denmark, Her Majesty MARGRETHE, ll on the occasion commemorating the 169^th anniversary of the signing of the Danish Constitution on June 5, 2018, the Liberia leader stated “I am elated to send hearty greetings to your Majesty, and through you, to the government and people of Denmark, on behalf of the government and people of Liberia, and in my own name”. President Weah said joining in the celebration on this auspicious occasion enables Liberia reflect on the cordiality in its relations since the recognition of Liberia’s sovereignty by the Kingdom of Denmark in 1861, and the Kingdom’s numerous supports for  Liberia’s development and promotion of gender parity.

Related Caption: Pres. Weah congratulates Sweden on National and Flay Day Observance(The New Dawn)

Weah Applauds EU At Development Days Summit

President George Mannah Weah has applauded the European Union (EU) for dedicating this year’s European Development Day (EDD) Summit to the development of women and girls. Delivering a speech on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the EDD Summit in Brussels, Belgium, the Liberian Leader recognized the progress made by the EU to achieve gender equality, but emphasized that much still needs to be done to confront the challenges. The Liberian Leader said it would be difficult to achieve total development and meaningful growth when women and girls are not captured into national plans, and/or are excluded from participating in economic activities. “How can we maintain peace and stability, if our women and girls are being raped and abused,” the President averred. According to President Weah, in spite of global efforts to close economic gabs, eradication of gender-based violence still remains a major problem especially among young people. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Liberian leader pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of laws to highlight and eliminate clauses that are obviously against the women of Liberia. This year’s EDD Summit is being held under the theme “Women and Girls at the forefront of Sustainable Development: Protect, Empower and Invest.”

LRA Honors EU Consultant

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) honors departing EU consultant Graham A. Main, for helping to drive the transformation and modernization of the Authority.According to a press release, Mr. Main took assignment in Liberia over two years ago under an EU long-term technical assistance to the Customs Department at the LRA where he worked to strengthen Liberia’s customs operations.He was directly involved with providing mentorship and building an effective system, supporting meaningful activities aimed at transforming and modernizing customs clearance in the country. During gowning and certification ceremonies at the LRA Headquarters in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba described Mr. Main as “a selfless person who was very firmed” in helping the Authority “build integrity and fight corruption” in the customs sector.In response, the honoree thanked the LRA for the honor and recognition, describing his stay at the LRA as “a perfect project”.Mr. Main said he was proud of his role played in the development of Liberia’s customs sector and praised LRA customs officials for the cordial working relationship during his stay in Liberia, asserts the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: LRA Honors EU Consultant(In Profile Daily)

GOL Takes Pro-Poor Policy Interpretation to Rural Dwellers

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, with support from the Carter Center, is holding a three-day National Chiefs Conference in Ganta City, Nimba County. Among other things, the conference is intended to brief tradional leaders, including rural dwellers about Government of Liberia developmental agenda. Speaking at day two of the conference, Deputy Information Minister, Mr. Eugene Fahngon, encouraged rural dwellers to see the government as their own, urging them to help the government to work together to ensure the objectives of the government are met, the Heritage reads.

World Bank Plans to Assist Liberia with US$70M Annually

World Bank Country Director to Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dr. Henry Kerali, has disclosed plans by the World Bank Group to assist Liberia with US$70 million annually. Making the disclosure at the World Bank Group office in the Monrovia suburb of Congo Town during the official launch of Country Partnership Framework recently, Dr. Kerali stated that the US$70m will be given to liberia for the next five to seven years. He explained that 50% of the amount is a grant while 50% is a loan, the Heritage reads.

A Fallen Luminary: Several Liberian Lawyers Sign Book of Condolence Late Cllr. David A. B. Jallah

The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) which he served as one of its staunch member on Tuesday, June 5, opened a book of condolence in honorthe late Liberian lawyer Cllr. David Jallah affectionately known as ‘Dean Jallah’ .Cllr. Moses Paegar, president of the bar association, said during a ceremony at the headquarters of the association that signing the book of condolence is aimed at remembering the fallen former Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law of the University of Liberia, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: He Was Unquestionably One Of Liberia’s Finest…Says LNBA Prexy Of Fallen Top Lawyer(Heritage)