BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, Friday, September 20, 2019

Today’s edition of our daily summary captures stories about Weah Attaches Urgency…To Printing of New Banknotes, Civil Servants Union of Liberia…Appreciates Harmonization Exercise, First Lady Clar Weah Consoles Families of Fire Disaster victims

Other stories include: GOL & FAO sign Project, UN-Liberia Consoles Country for Fire Disaster -Extends Condolences to Govt & Bereaved Families, Harmonization Voted to be Inclusive -House Wants All GoL Workers, Public Corps & Legislature Harmonized

DOMINANT STORIES:

GOL & FAO sign Project

A project to enhance animal feed production through corn production in Liberia has been signed in Monrovia. The signing ceremony took place on Thursday, September 19, 2019. Corn, also known as maize is the grain used in poultry diets because it has good energy content and it is easy to digest. But, the procurement of corn feeds is mostly done from neighboring Guinea and Cote D’lvoire at a high cost. The project will be implemented by Government through the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Agriculture and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Internal Affairs Minister Honorable Varney A. Sirleaf and Acting Agriculture Minister Honorable Ernest J. Clarke signed for Government, while Madam Mariatou Njie, FAO’s Country Representative signed for her organization, pens the New Dawn newspaper. Related caption: To Increase animal Feed Production, GOl & FAO Sign Project (The Inquirer)

Amb. Conteh sympathizes with Pres. Weah, compatriots

The Ambassador of Liberia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Al-Hassan conteh, has extended his deepest, heartfelt condolences to His excellency President George Manneh Weah, the people of Liberia, and in particularly, the Imam and families of the deceased students of the Islamic daawa School of Bassa Town, Paynesville Liberia as a result of the fire incident, The Inquirer newspaper says. Related Caption: Amb. Conteh Sympathizes With Pres. Weah, Compatriots (The Analyst)

Other Stories

Weah Attaches Urgency…To Printing of New Banknotes

President George Manneh Weah has written House Speaker Bhofal Cambers to avail an opportunity to Central Bank of Liberia Governor Nathaniel Patray to discuss issues concerning the printing of new banknotes with the relevant legislative committees. In his communication addressed to Speaker Chambers on the subject during Wednesday’s session, President Weah said, while the decision needs to be made now to address the issue that impacts the economy, it is important to note that the printing of banknotes will require the approval of the Legislature in accordance with Article 34 (d) (ii) states: “No monies shall be drawn from the treasury except in consequence of appropriations made by legislative enactment and upon warrant of the President: and no coin shall be minted or national currency issued except by expressed authority of the Legislature”, asserts The News newspaper.  

Civil Servants Union of Liberia…Appreciates Harmonization Exercise

According to The News newspaper, the Civil Servants Union of Liberia (CSUL) has welcomed the Government wage bill reform. The wage reform involves the harmonization exercise which seeks to have equal pay for equal work across central government. Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing Thursday, September 19, 2019 the Civil Servants Union President Moibah K. Johnson said Civil Servants in central government had long felt cheated by the head of agencies having discretionary power. He said with the new harmonization exercise, the wage bill will reduce significantly thereby giving the Government the strength to develop other sectors rather than a huge portion of the National budge being used for just payment of workers in central government.  The Interagency Wage Reform Group comprise of the Ministry of Finance Development Planning and the Civil Service Agency. The Team work covers harmonization of pay for all central government employees, including civil servants, ministers, deputy ministers, assistant ministers, commissioners, superintendents, among others.-MICAT.

Children Death Shocks SCL

Save the Children International (SCL) Liberia Office has express shock over the death of some 28 persons, mostly children, who died in a fire disaster during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in Paynesville City, Liberia. According to the release, SCL Country Manager, Joseph Yarsiah said the death of the children is of serious concern to SCL, urging the bereaved families and the Muslim community of Liberia to take solace at the time of great bereavement. “The entire country is shock and in dismay, with deep regrets. All our children should be protected and given a chance, to live. All of us, INGO, Government, parents, and citizens have all commit to doing more for child protection, both physical and emotional”, Mr. Yarsiah lamented. He express organization’s condolence to the bereaved family and Muslim Community, the news Newspaper explains.

First Lady Clar Weah Consoles Families Of Fire Disaster victims

According to In Profile newspaper, First Lady clar Marie Weah has expressed deep regrets over the death s of nearly thirty children as a fire disaster at the Islamic Mission School in Red-Light, Paynesville. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims and their families and I wish them many, who were injured a swift and full recovery’’ Mrs, Weah said in a statement Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Save the Children shocks over children’s death in fire

Save the Children International (SCI) Liberia Office expresses shock over the death of 28 persons, mostly school children, who died in a fire disaster at an Islamic school during the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 18, 2019, in Paynesville City, Liberia. Country Manager, Mr. Joseph Yarsiah said, the death of the children is of serious concern to SCI, urging the bereaved families and the Muslim community of Liberia to take solace in this time of great bereavement. The entire country is shock and in dismay, with deep regrets. All our children should be protected and given a chance to live. All of us, INGOs, Government, parents, and citizens have to all commit to doing more for child protection, both physical and emotional”, Mr. Yarsiah laments, the New Dawn newspaper writes

UN-Liberia Consoles Country for Fire Disaster -Extends Condolences to Govt & Bereaved Families

The United Nations in Liberia says is deeply saddened by the loss of the lives of the more 26 Liberian children and the destruction wrought by the tragic fire incident at the Islamic School in the Bassa Community in Paynesville, Monrovia, on the night of 17 September 2019. “We, the United Nations Family would like to extend our sincere condolences to the victims of the fire disaster, especially to the families of the 27 children and their instructor, to the injured and all who have been affected by this terrible disaster,, the UN-Liberia said. The UN in Liberia further extends to the Government and People of Liberia its condolences, the Analyst newspaper writes.

PRO-POOR ROADS AGENDA ON COURSE -PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER SAYS AS COMPANIES BID FOR GANTA-Tippita 100KM ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Liberia’s Infrastructure Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan has reechoed the Government of Liberia’s commitment to road reconstruction and other infrastructure works in the country.

“We have come here today to let you know that the Government of Liberia is committed to building roads in this country, which is essential to the movement of our people, including goods and services,” Minister Nyenpan told a team of journalists in an exclusive interview  at the German Embassy in Monrovia, where a daylong seminar comprising of bidders, commenced. Minister Nyenpan’s comments came amidst huge infrastructural challenges confronting the Liberian government and nation the Analyst newspaper asserts.

Harmonization Voted To be Inclusive -House Wants All GoL Workers, Public Corps & Legislature Harmonized

Following months of public debate, the House of Representatives yesterday, Thursday, overwhelmingly voted in favor to make salary harmonization an inclusive exercise covering all government workers including legislators. The House voted after long hours of heated debate among the lawmakers in session to figure out what is the justification for the harmonization and the necessity for the process, the Analyst newspaper says.

Snare to Entrap Pres. Weah -Liberian Progressive Describes Calls for War crime Court

From the face value of it, and for some unsuspecting people, the call by some Liberians and international partners for the establishment of war crimes and economic tribunals in the country appear a fair deal for a country seeking genuine reconciliation, unity and progress. Probed further, the calls turn out, particularly for the current Government headed by President George Manneh Weah, to be camouflaged in what Attorney Abraham Teah Mitchell, a longtime progressive and politician, says is hypocrisy and shenanigans on the part of “born again activists and opposition elements” who are in reality laying out a snare to entrap the young administration and sabotage President Weah’s tenure, the Analyst newspaper pens.

Education Sets up C’ttee To Probe tuition Hike

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has set up a 12-man taskforce headed by Telebee Kamara to speedily investigate the hiking of tuitions this academic year in various schools. The taskforce which is made up of employees of the ministry is to work closely with the county education Officer and the District Education officer to inspect other schools in the rural parts of the country which is expected to last 21 days and also aimed at prohibiting both public and private schools from exploiting school going children and their struggling parents, the Inquirer newspaper says.

Amb. To UK urges Liberians to Offer Prayers for Fire Victims

Liberia’s Ambassador to the court of St. James, Gurley Gibson Schwarz has called on all residing in United Kingdom, their relatives and friends as well as all Liberians in the Diaspora to offer prayers of sympathy for the bereaved family and the country on this solemn occasion of the tragic loss of 26 students, mostly children, in a fire disaster which engulfed their school on the night of Tuesday, 17 September 2019, the Inquirer newspaper writes.

Gender Minister Attends 74th Un General Assembly

The Minister of Gender children and Social Protection, williametta saydee-Tarr is attending the 74^th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. According to the United Nations, the General Assembly is an annual convergence of UN member states in New York to discuss and work together on a wide array of international issue covered by the Charter of the United Nations, such as development, peace and security, international law etc, the Inquirer newspaper writes.