Tuesday, 13 March 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

‘Pro-poor’ Salary More Than Ellen’s Payroll, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government has proposed a USD9.4 million increase in the government’s wage bill for the remaining five months of the 2017/18 fiscal budget ending June 30. Recasting the budget from the high of USD563.5 million down to USD536.4million, the George Weah’s administration adjusted the USD297,799,916 payroll it inherited from the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration to USD307,280,850, reflecting a 3.1 percent increment.

This approach contrasts President Weah and ranking ruling party legislators’ push for a reduction in public officials’ earnings. Yet it appears to be in working progress for the fulfillment of deputy CDC leader and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor’s campaign promise to increase legislators’ salaries and benefits. President Weah and the Finance Ministry are seeking the upward movement in elected officials and government employees’ compensation despite the president telling lawmakers that the country is experiencing a decline in revenue. Read more

Pro-poor lawmakers enjoy protection, Source: The New Dawn

The New Dawn reports that the Liberian government’s much-publicized “pro-poor agenda” appears to be rapidly becoming another Animal Farm story or “cow pu-pu” agenda as the reality on the ground seems completely different from what is on paper. The George Weah-led administration thru the executive is proposing austerity measures that would see cut in certain categories of goods and services, totaling USD27.1 million, while protecting members of the Legislature, the Judiciary, and medical facilities, among others. “The strategy is to protect essential items (such as compensation, drugs, food) as well as institutions (such as medical facilities, the Legislature, the Judiciary, etc)” a recast drafted budget forwarded to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers last week reads.

The proposal leaves many ordinary Liberians asking how protecting key institutions, particularly lawmakers whose fabulous salaries have sparked serious controversy here even under the past administration, contributes to the government’s “pro-poor agenda.” One commercial motorcyclist notes that if the recast budget is anything to go by, then the “pro-poor agenda” is in reality, meant to protect top officials of government rather than poor Liberians. According to The New Dawn, a representative’s annual salary is about USD172,104.00, in a government that preaches “pro-poor agenda.” Read more

Deplorable Court Conditions Impede Access to Justice in River Cess …Says Chief Justice Korkpor, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor at the opening of the March Term of the Supreme Court Monday informed a large gathering of legal practitioners about River Cess County’s courthouses being in deplorable conditions, a situation which Mr. Korkpor said is impeding access to justice in the county. Chief Justice Korkpor said the only structure hosting the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in the county was also in a deplorable condition. “And there are only two magisterial courts in that county, which are also in a bad condition. The two courts are very far apart,” the chief justice said. He continued: “The situation seriously impedes accesses to justice, but we will seek funding to construct court facilities to address the problem.” Read more

Supreme Court Demands Half of Million for Cars, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Supreme Court of Liberia is demanding the George Weah administration to make available half of million or more to help purchase vehicles for judges, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said at the opening of the Supreme Court on Monday. Chief Justice Korkpor also said that the high court would exert every effort to have the government provide the money. He said last year, the government decided to provide funds to strengthen certain strategic functionaries of the government including the justice and security sectors in preparation of the drawdown of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and eventual departure from Liberia.

The chief justice said the total of USD1,000,000 was earmarked for the Judiciary and that the court has decided to use the amount to purchase vehicles for judges of the circuit and specialized courts since the vehicles purchased for them about six years ago have outlived their usefulness and completely worn out. Read more

NPA Acting Managing Director Defends Hiring President Weah’s Brothers, Source: FrontPage Africa

Reports have indicated that when the acting managing director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Celia Cuffy Brown opted to employ the brothers of President George Weah at the NPA, she claimed to have acted based on the directive of the president. Although the Executive has yet to refute Mrs. Brown’s actions, which points to blatant justification for acts of nepotism by the new government that dispersed the ramifications of a corrupt system, Mrs. Brown again on Monday defended her actions on a local radio talk show saying if she should make the similar decision, she would make it “10 more times without looking back”.

The acting NPA managing director continued: “First of all, I think the president must have trusted my judgment when he hired me to work …, if I need to make a decision, I am not going to the president to ask because we have to respect human dignity.” Read more

Judge Emery Paye ‘Undermining’ Development in Nimba, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The 13th Judicial Circuit seating in Nimba County has been accused of undermining the development agenda of President George Weah in the county. But the judge of the court, Emery Paye says he cannot comment on the matter unless the New Democrat goes to him in the county. In a press statement, a group Nimba Citizens for Peace and Development squarely blamed judge Paye and two other persons for the lingering land problem in the county. Read more

Judge Paye Again at Center of Controversial Ruling, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that just a month after the Supreme Court lifted its 12 months’ suspension on Judge Emery Paye of the 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Nimba County from practicing law in the country, the Intestate Estate of the late Fesue Kromah has accused Paye of applying ‘double standards’ and undermining the judgment he rendered in their favor in 2011.

The Intestate Estate of Fesue Kromah through its administrator, Ansumana Kromah said, Judge Paye, instead of enforcing the court’s judgment where he ruled in favor Ansumana giving him legal right to a portion of the disputed land in Gompa City, Nimba County, he instead wrote the Public Works Ministry’s Nimba resident engineer requesting him to issue a permit to one Bob Garpa to construct on the property already ruled in their favor.

Court documents have shown that on 3 January 2011, Judge Paye ruled and denied a Motion for Intervention filed by Siaka Keita against Kromah’s Intestate Estate through its administrator, Ansumana. Read more

Women Advocacy Group Wants Decisive Actions to Stop FGM, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Working Group against FGM is pressing the Legislature and President George Weah for decisive actions that will put an end to FGM practice in Liberia. The group’s publicity coordinator, Tamba Johnson said it is about time Liberia sees reasons to put an end to the FGM as part of the traditional practices. Tamba said in observance of International Women’s Day, the difficulties and challenges women go through are not flagged just for mere storytelling, but for tangible actions meant to bring relief to them by eliminating FGM. He has meanwhile appealed to the government to legislate a law that will end FGM practice as a means of adhering to the SDGs of 2015. The SDGs calls on all nations to ensure the end of the FGM by 2030. Read more

Who Is Behind Bid to Split Nimba County?, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that Nimba County has been the subject of intense power struggle since the 2017 elections came to an end. This has been attributed to some individuals, especially the young people of the county, who may be mostly job seekers that are proposing the split-up of the county for personal reasons. However, the internal strife is also believed to be masterminded by some influential people, especially members of the Legislature from the southeastern part of Liberia. They are pushing for the implementation of a law that would see Nimba divided into two counties. They claimed it would create an avenue for more seats in the House of Senate.

However, there has been a stiff resistance from the majority of the citizens, who believe that the law if implemented, would break down the unity of the county, increasing ethnic tension. But those pushing for the implementation of the law have said that if Nimba is divided into two counties there will be four senators, instead of two. They said that this will enable the county to become more developed, affecting every sector. Read more

Dean of Students Arrested for Rape, Source: INSIGHT

The Paynesville City Magisterial Court Monday charged a school teacher, identified as Abraham Mah for statutory rape of a 15-year-old female student. Mah, a dean of students of the Mount Carmel Institute in Paynesville and believed to be in his early 40 has been sent to the Monrovia Central Prison pending trial at Criminal Court E in Monrovia. The accused has since denied the accusation, terming it as “a setup” to tarnish his hard-earned good character.

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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