Politics-Senate-Elections Senate Divided Over Conduct of Pro-Tempore Election By Winnie Dixon/LINA MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) – The Liberian Senate is divided over calls for the body to conduct elections for the President Pro-Tempore and other vacancies on Thursday, January 22. In a communication earlier, Senators Henry Yallah and Peter Coleman of Bong and Grand Kru counties respectively expressed concern about the vacuum created by the results of the December 20 Mid-term Senatorial Elections. However, upon the reading of the communication dated January 19 by the secretary of the senate, some senators opted for prompt elections, while others urged the body to seek legal advice from the Senate’s counsel Jonathan Williams. The December 20 Mid-term Senatorial Elections saw the defeat of former Pro-tempore Gbehzongar Findley, Chairpersons on Executive, Clarice Jah; Rules, Order and Administration, Lahai Lansanah and Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, Sumo Kupee. The senators argued that if there is no President Pro-tempore before the President addresses the nation on Monday, the situation would be unprecedented in the history of the Liberian Senate, while others indicated that the elections could be held anytime within 30 working days. However, the body’s legal counsel has clarified that the President may deliver her annual message without a seated Pro-tempore, but must have a settled Speaker who will preside on behalf of the joint houses in the joint chambers. Amidst heated debate, the President of the Senate, Vice President Joseph Boakai tabled further decisions on the elections until Thursday, January 22. LINA Politics-Legislature Six Lawmakers Withdraw Anti-Tyler Letter By Hilary Vasco Wiagbe/LINA MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) -Six members of the House of Representatives who demanded Speaker J. Alexander Tyler to rescue himself from presiding over sessions for his alleged link to a scandal have withdrawn their letter of January 12, 2015. In another letter to Tyler, the legislators said “we by this withdraw our letter of January 12, 2015 and give notice that we shall engage the LACC (Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission) and all relevant institutions to ensure that the dignity of this Body remains intact.” The letter, which was dated January 19, 2015 and read by the Chief Clerk of the Lower House, Mildred Sayon, was signed by Representatives William Twehway, Samuel Kogar, Robertson Siaway, Roland Cooper, Mary Karwor and Isaac Roland. They also noted that the evidence provided in their first letter that the Speaker being a subject of investigation at the LACC was common knowledge, and hence, there was a need for evidence. Following the reading of the letter, Plenary noted it, thus it was not open for discussion. It can be recalled that the first sitting of the House of Representatives following its Annual Break on Monday, January 12, was characterized by confusion and disruption based on the demand of a segment of the lawmakers demanding that Tyler recues himself from presiding over session. Speaker Tyler linked to a probe at the LACC over an alleged scandal involving US$25,000 of money from the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL). LINA Society-Foundation Nyonblee Care Foundation Gives To Ebola Victims Johnson Bobby Liway, LINA Grand Bassa County Correspondent BUCHANAN, January 20 (LINA) - The Nyonblee Care Foundation in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County has given L$120,000 to eight families who lost their relatives to the Ebola virus. Presenting the money to beneficiaries recently, Board Chairman of the Foundation, Martha F. Kangar, urged them to use the money wisely. “This money will help you continue your life so do not eat it all in one day. Keep some and spend some so that you can keep up your children,” Kangar advised. Upon receiving the money at the foundation’s headquarters in Buchanan City, the beneficiaries thanked the foundation for the gesture and promised to make maximum use of the donation. LINA Politics-Diplomacy ‘EU Focus Is On Getting Liberia Back On Its Feet’ - Envoy MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) - The new European Union (EU) Ambassador to Liberia, Ms. Tiina Intelmann, says the EU’s attention is now focused on plans for the post-Ebola period to help the country get back on its feet. The EU diplomat also expressed interest in continuing the political dialogue started long before the health crisis. According to an Executive Mansion release, Ms. Intelmann made the statement Monday when she presented her Letter of Credence as EU ambassador to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. Ambassador Intelmann, who is resident in Monrovia, expressed excitement to be in Liberia and recounted her years of service at the United Nations where many issues pertaining to Liberia were handled. “At the UN, we heard many good things about Liberia beyond the Ebola crisis. I am glad to be here because the EU’s relations with Liberia are excellent and historical thus I look forward to working together with the government being in the driving seat,” the EU envoy said. Speaking earlier, President Sirleaf expressed appreciation on behalf of the Liberian Government and people for the EU’s long-standing friendship and solidarity with the country, according to the release quoted by the Liberia News Agency. The EU, President Sirleaf noted, is one of Liberia’s primary partners and the relationship goes a long way, stressing that the EU has stood with Liberia since the rebuilding process of the country began at the end of the civil war. President Sirleaf said the EU’s support to organizations such as ECOWAS, the African Union, and others enabled them to play a pivotal role in Liberia’s Ebola fight and expressed confidence that the disease will be beaten out of Liberia soon. LINA Politics-Diplomacy-Japan Japan Reaffirms Support To Liberia’s Post-Ebola Era MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) - Japan’s new Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Kaoru Yoshimura, has reaffirmed that Japan is prepared to contribute to the country’s post-Ebola recovery plan, adding that Ebola was a setback that the country is now overcoming. He assured President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of his support, commitment and cooperation during his tenure as the new Japanese Ambassador to Liberia and acknowledged the strong leadership qualities exhibited by the Liberian President during the Ebola crisis. An Executive Mansion release said Ambassador Yashimura, who is resident in Accra, Ghana, gave the assurance when he presented his Letter of Credence as Japanese Ambassador Monday to President Sirleaf at the Foreign Ministry. At the ceremony Ambassador Yoshimura conveyed a message of support and solidarity from the Emperor of Japan during “a difficult moment” in Liberia’s history due to the Ebola outbreak and expressed how pleased he was to be in Liberia. He also pledged to stand with Liberia in all its endeavors, including finishing the battle to eradicate the Ebola virus from Liberia. President Sirleaf, receiving the Letter of Credence from the Japanese diplomat, welcomed him to Liberia and acknowledged the excellent relations existing between Liberia and Japan. She reflected on key events of the relations dating back to the 1960s and 1970s to include a visit to Japan in 1960 and the christening of a Firestone boat in 1970. President Sirleaf recognized that the conflict in Liberia stalled the relationship, but stressed that Japan has given Liberia a lot of support since the end of the civil conflict, including bilateral support. She identified the Liberia/Japanese Friendship Hospital at the John F Kennedy Medical Center, support to the government’s energy programs, road works, particularly the Somalia Drive project, as key interventions made by Japan to the country infrastructure program. President Sirleaf noted that Japan has stood with Liberia throughout the Ebola crisis through its support to many international organizations responding to the crisis. LINA Society-Land Land Commission Demarcates Buchanan City Johnson Bobby Liway, LINA Grand Bassa County Correspondent BUCHANAN, January 15 (LINA) -The Land Commission in collaboration with UN Habitat has concluded the demarcation of the City of Buchanan. The demarcation exercise shows that the port city has a total of 28 communities and 10,584 structures with 146 special features, which include military facilities, concession areas and swamps. Speaking in an interview with the Liberia News Agency at the close of the enumeration exercises recently, Land Commission Program Coordinator Albert Gebeh said the exercise began in May 2014, but was disrupted in August due to the intensification of the Ebola epidemic. Gebeh said the Commission completed the exercise in December of 2014 with a team of five geographers and five municipal assistants simultaneously assigned to five communities. The exercise was financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) while the UN Habitat served as implementer, Gebeh said. LINA Health-Ebola-Launch SEARCH Launches Ebola Community Action Platform By Wellington G Patrick SANNIQUELLIE, January 20 (LINA) -The Special Emergency Activities to Restore Children’s Hope (SEARCH) has launched an Ebola Community Action Platform (ECAP) in four Administrative Districts in Nimba County. The four districts are Bain Garr, Sanniquellie Mah, Yarmehn and Yarwin Mehnslon. SEARCH is working in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Presenting the project to stakeholders, ECAP project manager E. Tim Tamboakai said the platform will recruit, train and assign over 50 communicators to carry out massive awareness and community engagement on the Ebola virus. Tamboakai said the campaign will be carried out in towns bordering Guinea and parts of Nimba for three months. The launch, which was held at the Ministry of Gender’s local office in Sanniquellie, brought together chiefs, youths, county officials, religious leaders, representatives of the County Health Team and the County Ebola Task Force. Paul Karnue, spokesperson of the County Ebola Task Force who represented the Superintendent, thanked SEARCH for the engagement and pledged the county’s support to the “worthy cause”. LINA Society-Training Concern Worldwide Holds 5-day Teacher Training By Johnson Bobby Liway, LINA Grand Bassa County Correspondent BUCHANAN, January 20 (LINA) - Concern Worldwide Liberia has begun a five-day Training of Trainers workshop for over 30 of its staff in Early Grade Reading and Math in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The workshop, which began on Monday January 19, is intended to upgrade the literacy and numeracy skills of teachers, trainers, field officers and cluster coordinators. It is being conducted in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Making remarks at the opening session, Concern Education Program Manager Lawrence Peters said the workshop is also intended to empower participants conduct “residential training” for teachers across the county in the latter part of January. Peters noted that over 600 teachers from 100 schools in all five districts in the county are expected to benefit from the training before the commencement of the academic year in February. Speaking on behalf of the participants, Concern Districts 3 and 4 Cluster Coordinator, Louise Massago, said they are being trained in order to inculcate basic skills in Math and Reading to teachers for the residential training slated for late January. She observed that most of the teachers in schools operating in Bassa do not have the basic Teacher Training Certificates while others with the certificates also need basic training as the curriculum develops. Topics include Teacher Knowledge Survey, Introduction to Components of Reading, Instructional Strategy-Pacing, Psychological Awareness in Independent Practice and Guided Practice, among others. LINA Economy-Vessels NPA Records Increased Vessel Traffic In 2014 By Wilfred Gortor/LINA MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) - The National Port Authority (NPA) has revealed an increase in the total number of vessels that berthed at its ports of Buchanan, Harper, Greenville and the Free Port of Monrovia in 2014. The NPA statistics for the period under review shows that a total of 662 vessels berthed at the four ports as opposed to 587 vessels in 2013, showing a difference of 75 vessels. The statistics was contained in a presentation delivered by NPA Managing Director Matilda Parker recently at the Ministry of Information daily press conference in Monrovia. According to the NPA official, the vessel traffic statistics shows that the Free Port of Monrovia anchored 354 vessels in 2013 and 386 in 2014, while the Port of Buchanan recorded 138 vessels in 2013 and 182 in 2014. Parker, however, disclosed that the Port of Greenville recorded a conservative drop in vessel traffic for 2014 from 59 in 2013 to 48 in 2014, while the Port of Harper recorded a total of 36 vessels in 2013 and 46 in 2014. The NPA statistics, according to Parker, placed the cumulative import in metric tons for 2013 at the four ports at 1,806,671.11 while the 2014 total metric tons is 2,047,937.50. Cumulative export for fiscal year 2013 was 5,404,332.06 metric tons, while the 2014 was 6,165,060.67 metric tons. LINA Society-Education Taylor Pats Pres. Sirleaf For Funding Vocational Education By Ballah Kollie, LINA Bong County Correspondent GBARNGA, January 20 (LINA) – Bong County Senator Jewel Howard Taylor has extolled President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for approving US$400,000 for the construction of the Timutu Vocational Training site in Salala City, Bong County. The Timutu site will provide technical and vocational training to young people who find it difficult moving to Gbarnga and other parts of the country in pursuit of technical and vocational education. Addressing citizens recently in the Salala Administrative Hall, Senator Taylor said cardinal on her second term agenda is to ensure the de-centralization of education and training opportunities in the county. “Technical and vocational education is vital because it makes one self-employ immediately upon graduation rather than keeping one in search for job for long periods,” she emphasized. She promised to continue support to women and youth groups, describing them as future flag bearers of the country who must be prepared for the task ahead. LINA Society-Transport Jackson Warns Commercial Drivers Over New Fares By Hilary Vasco Wiagbe/LINA MONROVIA, January 20 (LINA) - Deputy Information Minister Isaac Jackson has stressed that government will not condone commercial drivers exploiting the people in the wake of the reduction in the prices of petroleum products. Jackson has, therefore, admonished the public to help in ensuring adherence to the new transportation fares announced by government by reporting drivers who might want to exploit them to the police for prompt action. Speaking Monday at the Information Ministry regular press briefing in Monrovia, he stressed that passengers must pay according to the new official transportation fares, according to the Liberia News Agency. Jackson said the police have been informed to take appropriate action against any driver caught charging commuters outside of the new transportation fares. The Deputy Information Minister told the press briefing that although the drivers own their cars, they have no legal basis or right to set transportation prices. The Government of Liberia recently announced a reduction in transportation fares considering the net decrease of 22 percent in the prices of petroleum products in recent months. LINA
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:04:48 +0000
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