Diplomacy-Allen-Condolence Dr. Allen Joins Other Diplomats In Paris To Sign Book of Condolence MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)- Liberia’s Ambassador to France, Dr. C. William Allen, Tuesday joined an array of diplomats at the Foreign Ministry in Paris to sign the Book of Condolence following the terrorist attack in Paris that claimed 17 lives. In remarks, Dr. Allen extended sympathy to the Government and people of France on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Government and people of Liberia for the loss sustained as a result of the attack on the offices of the Magazine, Charlie Hebdo, a Jewish supermarket and the killing of a police officer in Paris last week. According to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Paris, Ambassador Allen assured the French Government that Liberia stands by France in this period of grief, but consoled the people of France that the positive forces of Democracy, Freedom and Peace would always prevail over the forces of evil and darkness. In another development, the Liberian envoy will on Friday join his counterparts at the Elysee Palace at a New Year ceremony for the Diplomatic Corps hosted by French President Francoise Hollande, the dispatch concluded. LINA Society-WFP-Commendation Young Life West Africa Regional Boss Commends WFP For Support By Robert Dixon MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-The West Africa Regional Director of Young Life, James Davis, has commended the United Nations World Food program (WFP) for providing funding for the three days youth camp hosted by the organization recently. Mr. Davis said the camp which brought together over 100 Ebola survivors in the country, took place on December 8, 2014 at the Baptist Seminary Youth Camp on the Robertsfield highway. He said the Young Lifes involvement in the youth camp is intended to buttress government’s effort in supporting Ebola survivors by assisting them with food and non-food items, since the belongings of the survivors were destroyed upon being taken to Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) for treatment. “We are going to encourage and share our experiences and gains with the people of Sierra Leone,” he said. According to Davis, this is necessary because if Sierra Leone is not safe there is the possibility of Liberia recording new cases which, he noted, will put the country at risk. Mr. Davis indicated that as a true manifestation of their commitment, he is heading a high power delegation to Sierra Leone on an experience sharing mission. Young Life is a youth group involved in creating recreation centers and providing training opportunities for young people. They joined the fight against Ebola following the outbreak of the disease. LINA Diplomacy-China-Agreement China And Liberia Sign US$ 3.3 Million Grant Agreement For AFL By Prince Nagbe/LINA MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA) – The Governments of Liberia and the Peoples Republic of China Wednesday signed a grant agreement under which the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will provide US$ 3 million to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Under the agreement, the AFL will use the US$3 million exclusively for the acquisition of military equipment and logistics. Deputy Defense Minister for Administration Joseph F. Johnson signed the agreement for Liberia, while Ambassador Zhang Yue signed for China. In remarks at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Defense in Monrovia, Ambassador Yue said the grant is in furtherance of the strong bilateral ties that have existed between the two countries over the years. He pointed out that the agreement is the most meaningful gift from the Chinese people to the Armed Forces of Liberia during this period of the fight against Ebola, noting that China attaches importance to Liberia’s security concerns and will do all it can to help solve these concerns. Also in remarks, Deputy Minister Flomo on behalf of Liberia thanked the Government and people of China for the gesture, and assured that the funds given will be used for the intended purpose. At the ceremony, the Liberian Government conferred the “Distinguished Service Order” upon the outgoing Defense Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia, Senior Colonel Zhao Xizang. LINA Health-Ebola 12 Counties Reporting Zero Ebola Cases, Nyenswah Discloses By Wilfred Gortor/LINA MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-An authority of the Ministry of Health has disclosed that 12 of the country’s 15 counties have for the past seven days reported “zero” Ebola cases. Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services Tolbert Nyenswah said such news is encouraging, but warned that any number above zero is a case too much in the country’s fight against the Ebola virus. He made the disclosure Wednesday at the Ministry of Information daily Ebola press conference held at the ministry in Monrovia. Nyenswah named the 12 counties as Lofa, Gbarpolu, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Kru and Nimba counties. Others are Bomi, Rivercess, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, and Maryland Counties. Nyenswah said because Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount and Margibi counties are still reporting cases of Ebola, the entire country cannot be declared free of the deadly disease. Meanwhile, Nyenswah has challenged citizens to continue the fight against Ebola, as there are positive signs that the virus will soon be eradicated from the country. LINA Society-Health-UNDP Thousands of Ebola Workers In Liberia Paid MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)- – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has helped the Liberian government to pay thousands of healthcare workers at Ebola Treatment Centers and community health centers. According to a UNDP press release issued here Wednesday, over $1 million dollars in cash payments were made across the country in January alone. The workers were hired at the height of the Ebola crisis to help run treatment centers, help communities prevent transmission and track people who had contact with Ebola victims. Many worked tirelessly without pay for months as the country struggled to cope with the epidemic. “One of the biggest challenges was determining who should be paid. At the start of the process we didnt even have a list of names,” said UNDP Project Manager for Health Worker Payments, Stuart Kefford. “ “We worked with the Ministry of Health and the county health teams to develop the lists. Then we had a list of names and pay rates for different job categories but still needed to verify that the people identified for payments were those that were working,” Kefford said adding, “It was only after two months of work, travelling cross the country to remote regions, verifying the lists, talking with NGOs to make sure people werent getting paid twice, that we were able to start the actual payments.” The project was conducted in partnership with the United Nations Mission for Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER). LINA Society-Ebola-Orphans Over Three Thousand Orphans To Be Sponsored In Schools By Decontee Wesseh/LINA (intern) MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA) – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has disclosed that it is working with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to sponsor 3,231 Ebola orphans in school. Making the disclosure Wednesday at the Ministry of Information daily Ebola press conference, the Deputy Gender Minister for Child Protection, Lydia Mai Sherman, said ensuring quality education for the orphan is a top priority of the ministry. She said 900 of the 3,231 orphans come from Montserrado County. Sherman noted that the ministry is currently conducting an assessment aimed at identifying the total number of orphans who will be placed in mission schools. Meanwhile, Sherman has said with the help of UNICEF some of the orphans have been reintegrated with families, but explained that they will be supported by the ministry while they are with these families. LINA Politics-Senate “Serve All Liberians With Distinction,” V.P Boakai Urges New Senators By Winnie Dixon/LINA MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA) - The President of the Liberian Senate, Joseph N. Boakai, has called on the newly inducted senators to serve their respective counties with distinction and in the best interest of all Liberians. “Congratulations for your preferment by the people and accept a charge to render services to your country; and I want to welcome you to the sacred hall,, he said. Vice President Boakai made the call Wednesday in the Senate Chambers when he presided over a low key program marking the official induction ceremony of the 12 new senators who presented their credentials and certificates of election on Monday, January 12, 2015. “Today, with the confidence placed in you, it is our expectation that you will diligently work for all generations combined,”, he cautioned. Meanwhile, the Acting Presiding Officer of the Senate, Dan Morias, has called on all senators to put aside whatever electoral differences they may have had in the past and press ahead for the uplifting of the country. He noted that the body stands to lose focus if people are still reminded about those tough electoral seasons. Those inducted are George Weah of Montserrado County; Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa County; Francis Paye of Rivercess County; Milton Teahjay of Sinoe County; Jewel Howard Taylor of Bong County; Prince Johnson of Nimba County; Daniel Naathan of Gbarpolu County and A. Marshall Dennis of Grand Gedeh County. Others are Senators Stephen Zago of Lofa County; Gbleh-bo Brown of Maryland County; Albert T. Chie of Grand Kru County and Commany B. Wesseh of River Gee County. Three Senators- elect, Morris Saytumah of Bomi County; Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County and James Tornola of Margibi County were not inducted.. LINA Society-Senate “Elected to Bear Fruit,” Prelate Reminds Senators By Winnie Dixon MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA) –“When you do not bear fruit while in this chambers, you will be occupying space for nothing,” the Chaplain-General of the Liberian Senate, Michael Holder, told 12 new senators Wednesday. According to Holder, people are elected to bear fruit, but when they inherit self-pride and ignore God they will not succeed, adding,” the more you try to avoid Him, the more you become less important and famous.” Speaking minutes before the administration of the oath to the senators in the Senate chambers Wednesday, he indicated “life is more valuable if you continually leave a mark in your sojourn.” “God wants you to bear fruit; that is why he said that all trees that do not bear fruit must be cut down,” he cautioned. LINA Education-MOE-WAEC Fees No Payment Of WAEC Fees During Registration, MOE Declares BY Wilfred Gortor/LINA MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-The Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the payment of fees for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in all public schools during registration for Academic Year 2015. The Assistant Education Minister for Early Childhood Learning, Felecia Doe-Somah who made the disclosure Wednesday, said the WAEC fees will be paid based upon further consultations with Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) and school administrations adding, “This measure is intended to afford parents more opportunity to garner financial support for their children.” She made the disclosure at the Ministry of Information daily Ebola press conference held at the ministry in Monrovia. Minister Somah also told school administrators to permit students in classes with colored clothes until parents can afford to purchase school uniforms for their children. She also called on the faculties of all public schools to restitute any money collected for registration as the ministry has instituted a no-fee policy for basic education in the country. Meanwhile, Somah has disclosed that the government is currently concluding the procurement of 15 vehicles to be distributed to County Education Officers (CEO), while District Education Officers (DEO) will be provided motorbikes. She noted that the provision of vehicles and motorbikes is intended to equip the county education teams with transportation as they monitor the education system in rural Liberia. LINA Politics-Weah “My Election To The Senate Was A Long Journey,” Says Weah By Joseph Toe MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-Montserrado County Senator George Manneh Weah, has described his election to the Liberian senate as “a long journey” in his political life. Weah told the Liberia News Agency in an interview prior to the presentation of his certificate of election and other credentials to the Secretary of the Senate at the Capitol Building on Monday, Weah noted that his election as senator marks his first elected position since his debut in politics in 2005. According to him, he made two failed attempts for the presidency and the vice presidency in 2005 and 2011, respectively, according to the Liberia News Agency. Weah pointed out that those disappointing losses did not dent his desire for an elective position, noting that he remained resolute in his determination to pursue other political positions until he was finally elected as senator on December 20, 2014. “You see, I have come a long way in my political journey until I finally made it here today,” he said, adding “I thank my partisans and supporters for their resilience and steadfastness throughout the years.” LINA Society-Sanitation-UCC GSA To Clean the Unity Conference Center MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-The General Services Agency will on Friday, January 16 launch a clean-up campaign to give the Unity Conference Center (UCC) a facelift. The launch of the campaign follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs transferring the management of the Unity Conference Center and other Executive infrastructure to the General Services Agency. In a press release issued Wednesday, the GSA is requesting all individuals and groups of goodwill to join the general clean-up campaign to restore the UCC to its original status. The UCC was built by the William R. Tolbert administration in 1979 for the hosting of the OAU Summit in the country that year. However, due to years of civil strife and neglect, the Unity Conference Center which was the pride of the nation, now lies in ruins and requires urgent renovation to regain its lost glory. The press release quotes GSA Director General Mary T. Broh as requesting the cooperation of the general public in this initiative which, she noted, will go a long way in realizing the country’s post-conflict recovery process. LINA Development-Infrastructure-MPW Acting MPW Boss Pledges Ministry’s Preparedness To Carry Out its Mandate in full By Robert Dixon MONROVIA, January 13 (LINA)- Acting Public Works Minister Roland Giddings has assured Liberians of the ministry’s preparedness to carryout infrastructural developments in the country. He said the ministry’s is back in action to fulfill its statutory mandate following months of dormancy due to the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in the country. According to the Liberia News Agency, acting Minister Giddings made the statement Tuesday during a one-day Infrastructure Basic Service Sector Working Group Meeting held in the conference room of the Public Works Ministry on Lynch Street in Monrovia. Members of the Infrastructure Basic Service Sector Working Group include the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, National Housing Authority, Ministry of Public Works, Forestry Development Authority, the Ministry of Transport and the Liberia Broadcasting System. Speaking at the opening of the meeting, acting Minister Giddings said the group is meeting to develop and review their strategic plans that were not developed over the years. Acting Minister Giddings said the meeting will also afford them the opportunity to plan for development which they did not do and plan how to do it from now up to 2017. LINA Diplomacy-Sirleaf-UN President Sirleaf Holds Talks With Special United Nations Ebola Assessment Team to Liberia MONROVIA, January 14 (LINA)-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has held talks with a United Nations Ebola Assessment delegation which includes representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank (WB), African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Commission (EC). An Executive Mansion release said at the meeting, the Liberian leader welcomed the UN Assessment Team to Liberia and requested a full understanding of its work reference. She provided updates on the current state of the Ebola fight and indicated that steps towards transitioning from Ebola treatment and prevention to restoring basic healthcare services are well on course. President Sirleaf admitted that the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease exposed the weakness of the country’s healthcare system and spoke of the need to ensure that the Ebola disease leaves the country with a strengthened healthcare system. “The effort to strengthen the healthcare system is paramount and the process has already begun in partnership with the Clinton Health Initiative. A 10-year Healthcare Plan that primarily focuses on training and building the capacity of healthcare workers which was developed prior to the Ebola crisis is being adjusted to reflect current day reality,” President Sirleaf indicated. She stressed that improvement in the country’s healthcare system is linked to economic recovery and noted that it is important that the role of the private sector in national plans is key and critical both in terms of their needs and potentials. President Sirleaf acknowledged that community ownership in the Ebola fight made a big difference in containing the virus and emphasized the need for both local and international accountability now and the post-Ebola period. Speaking earlier, the head of delegation of the UN Ebola Assessment Team, Stan Nkwain, informed the Liberian President that the assessment mission was requested by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon to begin plans with the government on actions, plans, interventions and programs to be undertaken during the post-Ebola period. “We have not come to determine for the government what must be done post-Ebola, but to listen and know what the government and the country intend to undertake after the Ebola crisis. We cannot wait to reach zero case level before beginning the process,” he pointed out. Mr. Nkwain clarified that the mission’s interventions and work is not an independent assessment, but an exercise intended to liaise with the government and help build upon what the government is already planning and doing. “This action which is a two-day mission seeks to mobilize international momentum for the post-Ebola recovery period,” he indicated. LINA
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 23:33:08 +0000
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