The Bureau of Public Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Monrovia, Liberia
DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2018
Today’s summary highlights the passage of the draft National Budget by the lower House for the fiscal year 2018/2019; news of Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley cautioning the newly trained freshmen protocol officers to be steadfast in their duty ; the Liberia Revenue Authority’s assertion that it has slightly exceeds its projected revenue for May 2018 as well as the five day in house training intended to sharpen the skills of twenty two inspectors of public records and document management at the Center for National Documents and Records Agency.
DOMINANT STORIES
House Passes Nat’l Draft Budget At US$570 Million
The House of Representatives has passed the draft national budget for fiscal year 2018/2019 at US$570.148 million or its equivalence of L$84,333,327,390.40 billion. The document has been sent to the Senate for concurrence before it would be forwarded to the Executive Mansion for the President’s signature. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the House’s decision follows a report submitted to plenary by its Joint Committees on Ways, Means, Finance and Public Accounts craving the plenary to approve it. The Joint Committee: “As per Plenary’s mandate, the Committees conducted a vigorous and thorough scrutiny of the draft national budget by ensuring a comprehensive and participatory review of both revenue and expenditure components of the draft budget. The review and scrutiny processes involved the Legislature, the Ministry of Finance, line ministries and agencies, civil society and members of the public.” According to the Committees, it identified US$8 million additional and encumbered revenue from the US$562.148 million projected by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), totaling a total revenue envelope of US$570,148,000.00 or its Liberian dollars equivalent of L$84,333,327,390.40 at an average exchange of L$147.9148 to US$1.
Related Captions: House Passes US$570M Budget (Heritage), House Passes Budget-US$570.148m Projected (In Profile Daily), Pro-Poor Agenda On Tester-As House Passes Budget At US$570m (The New Dawn), House Passes Budget…Increases It By IS$8M (The INQUIRER)
Foreign Minister On Protocol Trainees-As Foreign Service Institute Graduates 50
The New Dawn newspaper reports that Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley has admonished newly trained protocol freshmen to be steadfast in their duty to the country as they would be called upon to perform some stately functions. Mr. Findley, who presented certificates to the 50 trainees who had undergone prescribed two-week courses in Protocol and Etiquette, stated how excited he is with the trainees, whom he said are going to work for their country. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in Foreign Minister Findley’s brief remarks, he disclosed to them that their first assignment was right around the corner after being thought by the “who’s who” in Liberian Protocol. “Your first assignment is right around the corner and it's on July 26 . Some of those things that embarrassed us in the past as it relates to protocol are not going to happen again,” he assured the audience, who included family members, well-wishers and officials of the Foreign Ministry. The Dean of the President’s Cabinet assured the trainees that his Ministry would work closely with them so that protocol can be better in Liberia.
Related Captions: Be Steadfast In Duty To The State: Foreign Minister Admonishes Protocol Trainees (Heritage), Foreign Minister Admonishes Protocol Trainees To Be Steadfast In Duty to the State -As Foreign Service Institute Graduates 50 Freshmen Protocol Trainees (The INQUIRER)
LRA Reports Increased Revenue For May 2018
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) says it slightly exceeds its projected revenue for May 2018 by US$6.79m. The LRA says projected collection for the month of May was set at US$34.68m, but actual intake for the month rose to US$41.48. In a press release, the Revenue Authority explains that total revenue outturn for the entire May include US$5.73m Direct Transfer Payment in transit to the Tax Administration System, which represents 100 percent domestic revenue. The release says in terms of administrative or operational departments, Domestic Tax Department contributed 53 percent, while Customs Department contributed 47 percent of the total May outturn, according to the New Dawn newspaper.
Related Captions: LRA Exceeds Revenue Target (In Profile Daily), Liberia Revenue Authority Exceeds Revenue Collection Target For May 2018 (FrontPage Africa)
CNDRA Begins Capacity Building Today
The Center for National Documents Records Agency/National Archives (CNDRA) Tuesday began a five day in house training intended to sharpen the skills of twenty two staff on the inspection of public records and document management. The training also seeks to provide participants basic techniques in general records management and enhance the skills technical capacity of archival employees at the agency. Addressing the start of the training workshop CNDRA Director General C. Neileh Daitouah reminded employees of their statutory mandate as a record agency of government on which he said the training is focused. “Our mandates are to ensure that government documents are preserved, kept and made available when they are required,” he noted. CNDRA Technical Director Robert Cassel revealed that the purpose for the training is to set the stage for the construction of a multi- purpose center at its 12th Street Compounds in Sinkor, according to the New Dawn newspaper.
Related Captions: CNDRA Kicks-Off 5-Day Capacity Building Training (Heritage), CNDRA Begins Capacity Building (In Profile Daily)
OTHER STORIES
Liberia Expresses Commitment To Full Implementation Of UNCAs Provisions
Liberia has expressed its commitment to the full implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, UNCAC. Representing the Government of Liberia at the Ninth Resumed Session of the Implementation Review Group of UNCAC held in Vienna, Austria, the Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption, Cllr. James N. Verdier, Jr. said prior to the political transition in Liberia, the Government undertook several activities to support and strengthen the LACC to perform its mandate and assured the Conference of Government support and participation in all Review Cycles both as a Reviewing and Reviewed State Party, the Heritage newspaper reads
Related Caption: Liberia Expresses Commitment To UNCAC’s Provisions Implementation (In Profile Daily)
Action Aid Liberia Presents 100 Copies Of National Youth Manifesto To UNFPA & FLY
About hundred copies of the national youth manifesto were on Monday June 25, 2018 presented to the UNFPA and the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY). According to the Heritage newspaper, the presentation was in fulfillment of a commitment made to the young people of this Country by Action Aid Liberia. Receiving the document on behalf of the Country Representative of the UNFPA was Comfort Dunbar Kollie, Program assistant of the UNFPA who commended all participating parties for a job well done. Madam Kollie reaffirmed UNFPA’s continuous support to youth development especially making sure that every young person realized its full potential across Liberia.
Related Caption: Action Aid Presents Youth Manifesto To UNFPA, FLY (In Profile Daily)
UN Establishes Human Rights Office
According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has opened a country office in Liberia. Speaking at the program Tuesday, 26 June OHCHR Country Representative Uchenna Emelonye says through the Human Right and Protection Service of UNMIL, the OHCHR has been engaged in the promotion and protection of Human Rights in Liberia since 2003. He says the agreement with the Government of Liberia to set up an OHCHR Country office, reaffirms the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations. He says it also recognizes the importance of observing the provisions contained in the UDHR and other international human rights instruments.
Related Caption: OHCHR Opens Country Office Liberia – Calls More Work In The Promotion And Protection of Human Rights (In Profile Daily)
Health Minister Vows To Step Up Fight Against Maternal Mortality
Health authorities have vowed to step up their fight against maternal neonatal deaths across the country. For a protracted period, Liberia’s health sector has been dogged with constant reports of women dying at child birth. Health Minister, Madam Whilimina Jallah, told a gathering of community residents in Bong County that reducing maternal mortality remains a key priority during her administration. She said it pains her emotionally for a woman who had gone to, deliver dies at child birth, Heritage newspaper writes.
Zion University Holds 28th Graduation
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU) held its 28th graduation ceremony Tuesday, 26 June at its Po River Campus in Vincent Town, Bomi County. The pastor of the Wesley AME Zion Church in Burlington, North Carolina, USA, Rev. Dr. Dwight Bernard Cannon, Sr. and Executive Director for Global Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church delivered the convocation statement. Rev. Cannon called on the graduates to stand for something as they are working out of the walls of the Zion University. He reminded the graduates of the vital role they have to play in the rebuilding process of Liberia, cautioning them to serve as Ambassadors of positive change, according to the New Dawn newspaper.
National Action Plan Validation On Prevention And Containment Of Antimicrobial Resistance Launched
A five-year National Action Plan validation with stakeholders on the role to prevent and control the spread of antimicrobial resistant organisms in Liberia has been launched in the country. The five-year National Action Plan was launched on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at the Golden Gate Hotel in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. Antimicrobial is the ability of a microorganism like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites that stop antimicrobial such as antibiotics, anti-viral and anti-malaria from working against it. Speaking at the one-day validation workshop with both international and local partners, the Deputy Director for Division and Infectious Disease and Epidemiology at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Dr. Ralph W. Jetoh, explained that the five-year National Action Plan is aimed at enabling stakeholders to make informed decision that will be used to tackle the threat in Liberia, the Heritage newspaper reads.
DEA Burns 229kg Drugs
The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) Bong County Detachment has set ablaze 229 kilogram of drugs including Marijuana and tie white, among others around the New Iron Gate in Bong County. The DEA carried out the operation on Tuesday, 26 June, burning the 229 kilogram of drugs with a street value of LRD$1,836,380. DEA Bong Commander James Borbor said only 29 kilograms of the confiscated drugs was burned including the 200 kilograms that was turned over to him by his predecessor Darrous Paye. According to Mr. Borbor, the additional 33 kilograms is being safely kept by the DEA while investigation continues so as to establish the actual owner of the drugs, reads the New Dawn newspaper.
UL Joins Fight Against Sexual Gender Based Violence
Faculty and students of the University of Liberia have joined in calling for stronger actions to end all forms of violence against women and girls as they hosted the first university dialogue on preventions of sexual gender-based violence organized in observance of “Orange Day”. Orange Day is designated by the UN as a day to raise awareness and take action in promoting the rights of women and girls, the Heritage newspaper reads.
Lebanon To Support Liberia’s Sports
The Lebanese ambassador accredited to Liberia, Henri Kastoun, has expressed his country’s interest in helping Liberia move forward with its development agenda, especially sports, with emphasis on basketball. Describing Liberia as a nation full of potential and challenges, Ambassador Kastoun said the country was on a new path and needed contributions from other countries like Lebanon to fulfill its development. Paying a courtesy call on Youth and Sports Minister D. Zeogar Wilson Tuesday , Ambassador Kastoun called on the minister for both of them to explore the possibility of sending a delegation of Liberian Youth to Lebanon for training in basketball programming. He said Liberia has been the home of many Lebanese (mainly as merchants) for numerous years, the envoy promised to mobilize the Lebanese Community here to also contribute towards advancing the nation. He called for a closer working relationship between Liberia and Lebanon, as a means of further cementing the countries bilateral ties and helping to sustain Liberia’s development drive. Responding, Minister Wilson welcomed Ambassador Kastoun’s visit and his country’s vision to remain a good partner to Liberia, reports the In Profile Daily .
