20 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

‘Go Wait for 30 Days’ – Supreme Court urges UP, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The NEWS

The Supreme Court on Friday urged the ruling Unity Party (UP) to wait until 23 November, which marks the end of the 30-day period as provided by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to hear and decide complaints arising from the October 10 elections.

The court also denied UP’s request demanding the NEC to produce several documents that it believes would help the party to prove its case of alleged irregularities and fraud against the conduct of the October 10 elections…

Associate Justice Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie, who delivered the court’s ruling, said Article 83 of the 1986 Constitution sets 30 days as the timeframe for authorities of the NEC to hear and make a determination on election-related disputes. “If this court was to set a specific day requested by the UP, it would be in violation of the constitution and the use of power not conferred upon this court by the sacred document,” Justice Wolokollie said. Read more

NEC Orders Recount in Electoral District # 4 in Bong County, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Elections Commission (NEC), through its local office in upper Bong County, will Tuesday, 21 November conduct a recount in Bong Electoral District #4. According to the senior elections magistrate, Daniel Newland, the recount will be conducted in nine polling places in six precincts in the District of the 84 polling places.

Mr. Newland named the precincts numbers: Shankpalai Public School with code #06102, with polling places 1, 2 and 3; Nyensue Palava Hut, code #06088 with polling places 1 and 2; Kollieta Public School, code #06092 with polling place 2; Foequelleh Public School, code #06018 with polling place 1; Payeta Public School, code #06064 with polling place 2; and Bellemu Public School code #06008 with polling place 3.

The Upper Bong County senior elections magistrate said immediately after the conduct of the October 10 elections, electoral district #4 incumbent Representative Lester Paye and candidate Susannah Lorpu Mator filed separate complaints of elections irregularities to the NEC and hearings were conducted by the NEC hearing officer in Gbarnga. Read more

2 NEC Executives Trash LP, UP Case, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Two executives of the National Elections Commission (NEC) over the weekend trashed allegations of fraud and irregularities against the electoral commission in their respective testimonies, saying that the collaborating claims the ruling Unity Party (UP) and opposition Liberty Party (LP) made show their lack of appreciation for the endeavors the NEC made to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections amid national challenges.

Giving testimony on behalf of the NEC, Lamin Lighe said what the UP presented into evidence recently as another final registration roll (FRR) is fake and unfounded. “What I can say is that there is only one FRR, and it is the one from the NEC. Any other item depicting conflicting figures rather than the figures reported by this Commission is a made up item and we will not succumb to it, regardless of whomsoever is the producer of said instrument,” Mr. Lighe said.

His response came following cross witness examination by the LP standard bearer, Cllr. Charles Brumskine on whether he had any knowledge of the alleged discrepancy discovered between the first USB flash drive containing the FRR submitted to all participating political parties and another USB flash drive subpoenaed by the UP that also contained the same FRR. Read more

US Envoy Addresses Debate Over Stance on Liberia's Elections Impasse, Source: FrontPage Africa

The US Embassy in Monrovia has described reactions to its statement about the October 10 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia as healthy and demonstrates how Liberians have advanced in understanding their rights in a democracy. The US Embassy’s response comes in a wake of a FrontPage Africa inquiry asking the Embassy to in the wake of mixed reactions that continue to trail a statement issued by the US Embassy on Wednesday in which it said it had not seen no sign of manipulation in last month’s election in Liberia amid allegations of irregularities and fraud that have stalled a runoff poll.

"No accredited Liberian, regional, or international observation group suggested that the cumulative anomalies observed reflect systemic issues sufficient to undermine the fundamental integrity of the electoral process," the US Embassy said in a statement.

In response to the FrontPage Africa inquiry, the US Embassy said the freedom to express opinions – on any side of an issue – and a free press is central to democracy. Read more

Ambassador Thomas Greenfield: Liberian Leaders Have Failed Liberians, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that US former ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, could not mince her words while criticizing leaders of political parties protesting the results of the October 10 elections. “My question to Liberian leaders is: What’s wrong with you? You have a responsibility. This problem we have today should not exist in Liberia. The people spoke and they deserve the opportunity to speak again at the election to elect their chosen leader,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said.

In her view, their action has let Liberians down, denying them of their right to peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to another.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield lamented that the challenge against the election results was being led by third-place candidate “who only got under 10 percent. A third place candidate who has ran three times and never got more than 10 percent. And once he won in the Supreme Court everybody jumped on the bandwagon.”

She made the statements during a panel discussion with Liberian journalist James Butty of the VOA and other experts working with CSOs and NGOs organized by the Friends of Liberia in the US at the NYU Brademas Center Events in Washington D.C.

According to Thomas-Greenfield, she agrees with the US Embassy in Liberia statement that the elections were free, fair, and transparent.  Read more

Defeated candidate asks US to refrain from Liberian politics, Source: The New Dawn

Defeated Montserrado County Electoral District #8 representative candidate Mr. Jacob Barnes is urging the US through its embassy in Monrovia to refrain from the body politics of Liberia. “I think the United States should disengage from our body politics as a nation because they are the father of modern democracy, they must not meddle into our affairs,” Mr. Barnes said Thursday when he appeared on Prime FM in Monrovia.

The defeated independent representative candidate claims that the recent US Embassy statement was intended to undermine the collective efforts made by every political leader that committed themselves to a peaceful election. Barnes argues that the US Embassy's statement undermines the democratic process of the country.  Read more

Clergy urges Liberians to learn from the past, Source: The New Dawn

The chairman of the National Christian Council of Liberia (NCCL), Rev. Dr. Jasper Ndaborlor is urging Liberians to learn from the past, noting that Liberians are quick to forget. Speaking Friday at a National Peace Mediation Hour jointly observed by Christians and Muslims at the Monrovia City Hall, Rev. Dr. Ndaborlor cautioned that Liberians do things repeatedly and want to continue doing things even if they are wrong because they are quick to forget.

the NCCL president says Liberians' experience should inform their decisions to enable them to know where they are and determine where they will be going. He says they are not interfering in the [electoral] matter but they are mediating, recalling that all the political parties and those who signed the Farmington River Declaration committed themselves to resolving issues that come from the elections through mediation or the legal means. Read more

UP Appoints Committee to Write “Vetting Procedures” for Speaker Candidates, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Executive Committee of the ruling Unity Party (UP) has set-up a committee to write the “Vetting Regulations and Procedures” for Representatives-elect of the party who wish to be nominated for the House Speaker election.

UP has appointed a five-man committee with the task of producing appropriate “Vetting Rules, Regulations, and Procedures” within four working days to enable the party to evaluate and streamline candidates for the Speaker’s race.

Representative-elect Richard Koon of District #11 Montserrado County is one of the committee members. He told the Daily Observer that the committee will on Thursday, 23 November submit the Vetting Regulations and Procedures to the ruling UP executive members.

Other members of the committee are Representatives-elect J. Nagbe Sloh of District #2 Sinoe County; Thomas A. Goshua II of Grand Bassa County; and Hanson Kiazolu of District #17 Montserrado County. Read more

Liberia's Defense Minister Brownie Samukai Denies Meeting Alan White, Source: FrontPage Africa

Defense Minister Brownie Samukai has dismissed allegation that he met US investigator Alan White on his recent visit to Liberia. In an interview on a local radio, Mr. Samukai said at no time he had a discussion with Mr. White adding that the one spreading the news is interested in creating suspicion that is unnecessary.

“It never happened; I was never part of any meeting. I knew nothing that he was coming to Liberia. This is the kind of rumor that creates suspicion and it’s unnecessary. I have no idea that he met anyone from the government. I had no meeting with him. People try to discredit the work we do. White is an American citizen that does his lobbying. Those saying that I met with him are blatant liars,” the defense minister said. Mr. Samukai termed the rumors as complete nonsense on the part of the individuals, who are spreading falsehood. Read more

‘Liberia Needs More State Lawyers to Prosecute SGBV Cases’ Outgoing SGBV-CU Legal Advisor, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The outgoing legal advisor of the SGBV-Crime Unit (SGBV-CU) at the Justice Ministry has challenged the ministry to intensify the ongoing fight against persons accused of sexual offenses in spite of the gains made in that direction so far.

Samuel Nugent, who until Friday, 17 November served in that capacity in Liberia for four years, said it was time for state lawyers, especially those dealing with sexual related cases, to do more to bring those accused of sexual-based violence to justice.

Making the recommendation during an honoring ceremony on his departure, Mr. Nugent said, “I am leaving Liberian with mixed feelings. I have helped with investigations and preparations of indictments to have anyone accused put on trial, but I cannot do it alone. It is you who will have to continue to work to ensure that the accused appear in court. I would like to thank every single person with whom I have been in contact, knowingly or unknowingly. You all have played an important role in my career,” the SGBV-CU advisor said at the farewell reception. Read more

Liberia, Arab Mission revise financing allocation for project, Source: The New Dawn

A joint mission comprising representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has ended a three-day visit to Liberia during which discussions were held with the relevant authorities in Liberia and an agreement reached after series of technical meetings to propose a revised financing arrangement for each contributing donor.

According to a statement from the Finance Ministry, the revision came about upon having a surplus following the winning contractor’s bid offer for the Gbarnga-Salayea Road Project. The mission also reviewed with the government the possibility of the usage of the surplus for Section Two Salayea-Konia 50.2 km stretch of the road.

The Finance Ministry press release notes that during the Joint Arab Mission to the country from 13 to 15 November, the team reviewed progress made by the government in the procurement of the civil works contractor of Phase One Gbarnga-Salayea 81 km segment of the road.

According to the Aide Memoire signed at the end of the visit, in order to facilitate the ease of attributing financing commitments, the entire “Gbarnga-Konia-Mendikoma Road Project” has been restructured in Phase One (Gbarnga-Konia Road, 131km) and Phase Two (Konia-Voinjama-Mendikoma Road 143 km). Read more

Liberia Revenue Authority Seizes Heroin At Roberts International Airport, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has seized a consignment of two kilograms of heroin brought into the country on an Arik Flight from Nigeria. The bag containing the heroin was sent to Achebe Joseph Uwadioma (AKA, Don Joe), a Nigerian national who operates a business at Waterside and Mechlin Street in Monrovia. The suspicious package was mixed with other foodstuffs to conceal its identity and was being cleared by Uwadioma’s broker only identified as Lincoln at present.

The heroine was detected by an officer of the Customs Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Section (ASIS) of the LRA. The seizure is an outcome of a rigorous risk-based compliance examination being undertaken by the LRA on cargo entering Liberia through RIA. Read more

UL Maintains Registration Closure Despite Protest by Students, Source: FrontPage Africa

The University of Liberia (UL) has reacted sharply to recent protest by students against the closure of registration, insisting that its registration closure remains enforced. According to the UL administration, the protest did not only disrupt normal learning activities but also stalled major programs at the institution.

Students of the institution had been protesting the closure of registration for this academic semester, vandalizing properties. They complained that the process was not timely and those involved have been slow in processing their registration papers.

But the UL vice president for public relations, Atty. Norris Tweah told FrontPage Africa over the weekend that the closure of registration was in line with the UL operational timetable and as such, it was unhealthy for students to demonstrate. Read more

Government To “No Longer” Subsidize WASSCE Fees for Students, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The NEWS

After paying fees for students who sat the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) pilot projects for the last five years, the Liberian government over the weekend announced that it is no longer in the position to shoulder the payment of examination fees for any group of candidates who qualify to sit the exam.

Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Dr. Romelle Horton, who is the government’s chief nominee to the West African Examination Council (WAEC), announced the government’s decision on Friday at the end of the 2017 series of WAEC Committee meetings hosted in Monrovia.

“It has become absolutely necessary to sensitize education stakeholders to the need for individual and collective efforts at providing funds for the examination, particularly the payment of examination fees at the registration stages by both school and private candidates,” Dr. Horton said. She said government took the decision considering the growing number of the student population and the huge costs involved with writing the exam. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

The Supreme Court's Decision: What Is The Long-Term Endgame?, Source: The Perspective

Perhaps, the long-term endgame for LP/UP---and now this recent ruling by the Supreme Court--is to drag out the legal proceedings so that the runoff or rerun elections take place long after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf leaves office on January 18, 2018.

We are happy with the recent Court's ruling and let the NEC keep dragging its feet by prolonging the hearings and refusing to turn over to UP/LP pertinent documents that would validate their claims of fraud and vote-rigging.

With a reported over 50 cases pending before the NEC, the NEC has yet to complete one case since November 7. Obviously, UP/LP then will have 7 days after a case is finalized by NEC to appeal to the Supreme Court for final adjudication.

I told you before that this legal battle may not be over to allow new elections or runoff elections by January 18, 2018. And if UP/LP win their case of fraud against NEC, then, of course, the Supreme Court of Liberia will have to set a date and impose new conditions on the NEC to avoid a repeat of the mistakes that marred the October 10 elections. Read more

Immigration Crisis: Dozen of Liberians in US Face Deportation, Source: GNN Liberia

Reports reaching Globe Afrique say about 200 Liberians are allegedly in prisons in the state of Minnesota, the USA awaiting deportation.  Four Liberians were deported yesterday, November 17, 2017, leaving behind young children. About 55 Liberians could be deported from Minnesota soon, according to unconfirmed sources.

The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota hosted an Immigration forum and the deportation statistics were provided. These deportation statistics and information are only being revealed about Minnesota; no other deportation information or data is being obtained from other U.S. states with significant Liberian population.

Some leaders in various Liberian communities across believe similar secret deportations of Liberians in other States are said to be ongoing. Read more

Disclaimer
 

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

 

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