3 October 2017

 

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

UNMIL trains LNP officers in crowd control, VIP protection, others, Source: INSIGHT

The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has ended a four-week training of some 148 Liberia National Police (LNP) officers at the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville. It was carried out by UNMIL Chinese Formed Police Unit (FPU) and dealt with techniques in crowd control, vehicle search, weapons handling, VIP protection, and map reading.

AME pastor calls for peaceful elections, Source: The New Dawn

The senior pastor of the Eliza Turner Memorial AME Church, Alvin Attah, has admonished Liberians to remain peaceful during and after the October 10 elections. Rev. Attah urged registered voters to peacefully go out to where they registered and cast their votes on Tuesday. Speaking Sunday during regular worship service at the church on Camp Johnson Road, the Liberian prelate stressed that no amount of violence will produce election result, and cautioned Liberians that after casting their votes, they must wait until the results are officially announced.

According to him, it will require extraordinary leadership on the part of every citizen, especially those who are partaking in the elections to take the lead in educating their supporters and reminding them that in every competition there is only one winner and that winner must be embrace as Liberia’s next leader.

Carter Center raises more red flag, Source: The New Dawn

The Carter Center says it fears that the unprecedented tribal allegiance in this year’s election risk “aggravating historic tension”. It made reference to how presidential candidates selected their running mates along tribal lines. “While this can be seen as part of the normal political process of building support, at the same time, it runs the risk of aggravating historic tensions,” the Center’s observers wrote in their first pre-election statement.

CDC announces pre-victory march, Source: The New Dawn

The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is to stage what it calls a pre-victory march slated for Friday to take place at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia. Addressing a news conference Monday in Monrovia, CDC vice chairman for operations, Mulbah Morlu, said the pre-celebration will also be marked by an all-night tarry.

Protest at MCC, Sources: The ANALYST and The New Dawn

Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) employees have staged a peaceful protest to demand improved working conditions, benefits, and salary increment. The protesters claimed that the Clara Doe Mvogo administration has failed to seek their well-being. They said some of them have worked without leave, medical benefits, and insurance. The aggrieved workers also accused Mayor Mvogo of being insensitive to their conditions.

Supreme Court decides on admission of evidence in Sable Mining bribery trial Tuesday, Source: FrontPage Africa

Reports say the Supreme Court would hand down an opinion in a long-running trial of current and past government officials accused of receiving a bribe from a British company, Sable Mining. Senator Varney Sherman, former House Speaker Alex Tyler, and a number of other officials were among those accused last year in the bribery scheme.

Post lists of polling staff, Carter Center Urges NEC, Source: INSIGHT

The Carter Center (TCC) has released a statement in which it summarized key findings from the campaign and other election activities ahead of the presidential and legislative elections on 10 October. It calls on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to consider using all media and telecommunication options while pointed out issues to address which it says could become problematic during the elections. TCC added that the NEC could publish the lists of people selected as polling station staff so that the name could be scrutinized by the public.

Magistrate Refuses to Sign ‘Sex Video’ Man’s USD50K Bond, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Magistrate Kennedy Peabody of the Monrovia City Court Monday refused to sign a USD50,000 bond filed to have defendant Mohammed Sambola, accused of recording and exposing a sex video of a female, released from detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.

The charges, which include disseminating obscene material and terrorist threat, brought against Mr. Sambola qualify him for a bail of USD5,000; however, the International Insurance Company that is the surety for the defendant’s release and subsequent daily appearance at the court increased the bond to USD50,000, which Magistrate Peabody was uncomfortable to sign. Despite persistent engagements by defense lawyers, Peabody showed no interest to affix his signature to the document. It is unclear what the magistrate’s motive is for not approving the bond to release Sambola, who has been in jail since Thursday, 28 September.

Liberia lauds Botswana, Guinea-Bissau on independence anniversaries, Sources: INSIGHT and NEW DEMOCRAT

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent messages of congratulations to Botswana and Guinea-Bissau as the countries celebrate their 51st and 43rd independence anniversaries. In her message, President Sirleaf extended best wishes to the two countries.

30 foreign doctors expected here, Source: New DEMOCRAT

Reports say 30 specialized medical doctors are expected in the country soon to provide free medical services to the sick. According to the co-chairperson of the House Committee on Health, Saah Joseph, the doctors would provide surgical operation, dental and eye treatment. They would also train public health workers and work alongside their Liberian counterparts.

PREVAIL studies go to communities, Source: The New Dawn

The New Dawn reports that public acceptance of the PREVAIL Ebola research studies has been exceptional so far given the nature of responses from community dwellers across Liberia.

PREVAIL is a joint Liberia-U.S. clinical research program established in 2014 in response to a request by former Liberian health minister, Dr. Walter Gwenigale to then U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, Sylvia Burwell, to assist Liberia develops vaccines and therapeutics to tackle the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

During a field visit to Duala community in Montserrado County by a team of monitors from the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, many residents spoke positively about the work of PREVAIL. Since launching its first vaccine study in 2015, PREVAIL has so far been involved in six major studies about the EVD including several other sub-studies in Liberia.

 
  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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