Wednesday, 14 February 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Liberia’s Minister of Finance Holds First Meeting with Development Partners, Source: FrontPage Africa

Finance minister Samuel Tweah has reassured the United Nations and other development partners of a more holistic framework in seeing the country move in the right direction. Speaking at the first meeting with the United Nations and other development partners in the country held at the Pan African Plaza in Sinkor Tuesday, Mr. Tweah disclosed that over the next few weeks the government and partners will have to design a roadmap for the new framework. “We have the fresh opportunity to restart, and then look at these things in a more cohesive, holistic and strategist way together as a team. There has to be a convergence in the prospective between the government and the partners; this is what we are pushing for,” the finance minister said. He also called on the partners to work with the government to have a deadline on how the new framework will be put in place. Read more

Government to unveil vision, Source: The New Dawn

Finance minister Samuel Tweah has disclosed here that the government is set to unveil its new vision for the country to citizens and development partners. “As I said in my previous comments, in the next one hundred fifty (150) days the government will release its transformation vision to the people on how we intend to bring this new transformation that citizens are wanting to see”, Tweah said.

The finance minister made the remarks Tuesday at the headquarters of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor during a one-day meeting between the government and international partners, including the World Bank, EU, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, UNMIL, and the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia, as well as the AU among others. Minister Tweah said the greatest problem that has always been affecting citizens across the country is unemployment, suggesting “And I think the easiest way to resolve this problem is by providing the necessary skill training to people.”  Read more

Fish Farmers in Liberia Get Boost from UNMIL to Preserve Stocks, Source: News Public Trust

The National Fish Farmers Union of Liberia with support from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has begun the construction of three cold storage facilities for artisanal fishermen and fish farmers in the country. The chairperson of the union, Konah Kollie disclosed recently that cold storage facilities are been constructed in the Township of West Point, New Kru Town in Monrovia and Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The cold storage facilities are mainly for small fishing companies and farmers to be able to store their fish. Ms. Kollie made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with News Public Trust shortly after the end of a one-day workshop attended by over fishermen and fish farmers from Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties.  Read more

Veep Taylor Makes First Official Visit To Bong County, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The NEWS

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has made her first official visit to Bong County since her inauguration on 22 January 2018. During her visit, she thanked the people of the county for the trust and assured that the government will do everything possible to perform its role. “It is now time for the Coalition of Democratic Change (CDC) to perform its part of the agreement that this government remains fully committed to said agreement,” Vice President Taylor assured. According to a press release, as part of her initial contributions to addressing some challenges in the county, the vice president presented LRD100,000.00 to a group of students for a project and LRD250,000.00 as a scholarship fund for underprivileged students in the county.  Read more

Senate Confirmation of Deputy Police Chief May Ignite Protest, Source: FrontPage Africa

Some officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) have threatened to protest the confirmation of Deputy Police Inspector General-designate, Sadatu Reeves. The aggrieved officers, who asked for anonymity, said Ms. Reeves is someone who doesn’t seek the welfare of her subordinates. According to the officers, Reeves served in the same position in the previous regime and did little or nothing to help improve their welfare. One officer stated: “The delay of resources and distribution of items were not equitably done for all. When Gregory Coleman approved, she would turn it down. She has a bad human relation."  Read more

Lawmaker wants Maritime summoned, Source: The New Dawn

Nimba District #5 Representative Samuel Kogar Tuesday requested the House of Representatives to invite authorities at the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) for an explanation on the corporation’s pronouncement in 2012 that it planned to create 10,000 jobs within five years and contribute USD120 million into the Liberian economy. Read more

Lawmakers to Discuss President Weah’s 25% Salary Cut, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and FrontPage Africa

Lofa District #5 Representative Beyan Howard has requested the House of Representatives to discuss President George Weah’s proposal on salary and benefits reduction made during his State of the Nation address. But in a  communication, Representative Howard cautioned his colleagues that the president’s first State of the Nation address contained policies and reforms that form the basis of Mr. Weah’s first year in office if not his entire administration. The Lofa lawmaker said since the president’s major policy statement, members of the House have failed to react.  Read more

CDC, LP still under probe, Source: The New Dawn

The ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the opposition Liberty Party (LP) are still being investigated for an alleged act of election violence committed in Nimba County during a presidential elections campaign last year, says outgoing police spokesperson Sam Collins. He said police authorities have written the two parties to turn over individuals involved in the riot that ensued in Nimba during their elections campaign. Speaking at a one-day media-security forum in Monrovia, Mr. Collins admitted to delay of the findings due to an ongoing probe by police, and he could not say how many persons have been turned over to the police. But the outgoing police spokesperson has assured that the investigation would continue since the electoral process has ended, expressing hope that both the governing party and the LP would submit their respective parties supporters involved in the confusion unto the police to enhance the investigation. Read more

Who Is Telling the Truth?, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and FrontPage Africa

The executive chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. James Verdier, denying charges that he engaged in a reckless or clandestine mismanagement of the Commission’s finances or that he manipulated its administrative processes as claimed by vice chairperson Augustine Toe, has let the public wondering just who is telling the truth.

Speaking to journalists Tuesday in Monrovia, Cllr. Verdier said LACC’s business process has always been open to the public. “We have been submitting quarterly and annual financial reports in conformity with the Public Financial Management Law,” he said. “We confirm that such exchange took place and I invited Cllr. Toe as well as the comptroller of LACC to a meeting so as to afford him (Toe) make available documentation and evidence. After a meeting with me in which we strongly rejected, refuted and denied his claims, we agreed that we should continue to work as a team and as an institution to deliver on our mandate,” Verdier noted. Read more

Judges compete for luxury? , Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn

Liberian judges say they will not allow their members to retire in poverty after serving the country sacrificially, while employees of other functionaries of the government retire in luxury and comfort. … [We] as an Association will not sit supinely and allow our members ride commercial vehicles or use their own vehicles to take up assignments in places like Lofa, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, among others,” Judge Roosevelt Willie said Tuesday at the Temple of Justice on behalf of himself and his colleagues at the opening of the Circuit Courts. The judges and magistrates are requesting the government to provide them vehicles and other necessary logistics for the smooth operations of their judicial functions. “Judges and Magistrates must be provided vehicles and other logistics like any other government [official] so as to make their movement easy and efficient on the job,” said Judge Willie.  Read more

Police must teach media relations courses, Source: The New Dawn

Media practitioners and police officers have recommended to the Liberia National Police (LNP) to teach media relations courses to police recruits to enable them to acquire knowledge in the field of communication prior to their graduation. The recommendation was contained in a statement presented by participants during a one-day media and police forum organized by the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building, Media Foundation for West Africa, and the International Media Support Group, and held in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor. Read more

PUL On Weah’s Leadership Style, Source: The NEWS

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has hailed as an early show of democratic values and leadership, President George Weah’s withdrawal of his first choice for justice minister. According to a PUL release, President Weah’s action demonstrates the beginning of an end to political posturing on Capitol Hill, which has badly influenced governance in the last 12 years. This early action represents guts and tenacity required of a president to end impunity, institute new standards in public service and enforce respect for existing laws, the Union stresses. The PUL asserts that President Weah’s firmness on the withdrawal will guard him against the vices espoused in the tale “The Emperor New Clothes”, which explains the lowest point of a Self-acclaimed leader who ignored the views of all on the designing of his special garment for a public occasion. Read more

Businessman Nabbed With Marijuana, Source: The NEWS

Officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) at the Iron Gate checkpoint have seized 10 kilograms of marijuana from Fulani businessman Chenor Amandu Bah in the Freeport Community. According to LDEA commander, special agent Boston Julon, the drug was seized in the Freeport Community following a tipoff from an informant who has been following Bah’s activities. The cost of the 10 plate of first-class marijuana is put at  USD2,000.00, which is a little over LRD260,000. The drug suspect is being processed for court trial at the New Kru Town magisterial court on Bushrod Island following a 24-hour detention at the Iron Gate checkpoint.  Read more

CDC-Led Government Renews Commitment To People With Disabilities, Sources: News Public Trust and The New Dawn

A position statement highlighting the plight of disabled people has triggered the Coalition for Democratic Change-led government’s commitment to a monthly contribution to the Mission of Hope for the disabled in Johnsonville, outside Monrovia. The Mission in its position statement outlined the challenges being faced by the institution in catering for the disabled. Among other things, the disabled group called on the government to consider providing subsidies to the institution through the National budget. A press release from the office of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor quotes her as saying besides her office providing monthly support to one group of disabled institution, she will shortly meet with various physically challenged groups for detail discussions regarding the welfare of people with disabilities. Read more

Student Registration Process At Snail Pace At University of Liberia, Source: FrontPage Africa

The president of the University of Liberia (UL), Dr. Ophelia Weeks, has expressed concern over the poor participation of students in completing their registration after the process was extended as a result of a protest by the students. The administration reopened the registration on Wednesday, February 7, and announced that it will last until March 10. According to Dr. Weeks, out of the 8,000 students expected to complete their registration, the institution has recorded only 37 so far. The UL administration came under criticism from students for the closure of the registration, thus leading to frequent protests in early February. The administration claimed it closed registration on grounds that students did not take advantage of the opportunity provided them to complete their process after it was extended on three occasions.  Read more

Protection of Liberia Wildlife Guaranteed By New FDA Boss, Source: News Public Trust

Conservationists have been assured that wildlife and animal rights will be protected, the new managing director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) has said. “I have the passion for wildlife, the green vegetation, and natural environment. My tenure will not compromise the rights of animals,” C. Mike Doryen, the new FDA boss said recently. Doryen was speaking when he led an array of senior officials on a tour of the LiBassa Wildlife Sanctuary in Margibi County. He thanked LiBassa Beach manager, Rudolph Antoure for initiating the construction of the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary and catering to the animals at his own expense. The new FDA managing director assured the workers at the zoo that he will be holding discussions with his senior staffers on the need for a monthly token to the entity, although funding for the institution has reduced drastically.  Read more

NHA Deputy Boss Takes Over ….Promises Good Working Relationship, Source: The NEWS

The deputy managing director for administration at the National Housing Authority (NHA), Tugbeh C. Tugbeh has assured employees of the entity of good working relationship. Mr. Tugbeh said a good working relationship with employees of the NHA will enhance productivity. He made the statement over the weekend when he officially took over as the entity’s deputy managing director for administration. He appealed to the employees to always remain committed to the growth and development of the NHA, adding that the entity can only move forward if the employees work tirelessly with the administration to move the entity forward.

Price of Rice Unchanged Despite President Weah’s Intervention, Source: FrontPage Africa

Rice prices remain the same despite President George Weah’s recent intervention and that rice importers have responded to his request to reduce the price of Liberia’s staple food. “If the government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible, ” President Weah. Many are now wondering whether the President’s statement is a mere bluff or just another political statement. Kebeh Mulbah, a mother of four, who purchase rice by cup (retail), said the price hasn’t changed from the day of the announcement.  She stressed that dealers are still selling rice at the same prices. 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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