BUCHANAN ̶ Nearly 1,700 workers and associates of ArcelorMittal Liberia have been voluntarily vaccinated through a collaborative effort between the AML and the Ministry of Health of Liberia. Dr. Kateh encouraged Liberians to get vaccinated, stressing that the Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). To date hundreds of workers and some family members have received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine without any major medical issue. ArcelorMittal Liberia Medical Director Dr. Garfee Williams said the goal is to ensure that everyone is vaccinated against COVID-19, so that everyone can be safe. Anderson thanked the management of ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Government of Liberia for the collaboration to make the vaccines accessible to staff of the company and others.

The House on Tuesday voted to suspend Rep. Kolubah for 16-session days (two months) and to withhold his salary and all other benefits during the time of suspension. The House’s decision was based on a complaint filed Rep. Thomas Fallah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). But Rep. Kolubah, through his lawyers filed a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court, terming the House’s decision as illegal. At a conference hearing on April 22, 2021, Justice-in-Chambers Joseph Nagbe said the House did not accord Rep. Kolubah due process as outlined in Rule 48.4 of the House of Representatives. Prior to the vote, it appeared that Rep. Kolubah was on his way to be exonerated, judging from the trend of the discussion.

In his argument, Dillion said the War and Economic Crimes Court would be the only remedy to put in measures for people who manage public funds. “If we sincerely want to bring to check public officials who mismanage public funds we need to establish a war and economic crimes court,” Sen. Dillion said. “If you want bring war crimes court, bring your damn war crimes court. They always think war crimes court is about Prince Johnson. There are legal processes to bring a war and economic crimes court,” he said.

He termed as “cherry-picking” the efforts being applied by the Weah led-administration in the fight against corruption. “President Weah promised in his inaugural speech when he took office to end corruption, but the reality speaks completely different and that’s what we are concerned about. Arthur Johnson tendered in his resignation to Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus, citing lack of political will to fight corruption in Liberia. “When I was Chairman of the Unity Party, I challenged this administration to audit the previous administration just as was done by President Weah predecessor. The PLP was founded in direct respond to fight corruption”.

Gibril Massaquoi in detention in Finland consults with Paula Sallinen, one of his defense lawyers, during his trial Leslie Lumeh/New NarrativesFREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Paula Sallinen, one of Gibril Massaquoi’s Defense lawyers is now in Freetown, Sierra Leone, leading the defense case for Mr. Massaquoi. Nineteen witnesses will appear in the Sierra Leone sessions of the trial – all of them defense witnesses. Mr. Massaquoi contends that he was not in Liberia when the atrocities Liberian witnesses alleged he committed in Lofa and Monrovia took place. More than a dozen witnesses have testified that they knew Mr. Massaquoi to be under protection during that time. The team had the same process when the court was in Liberia and Ms. Sallinen stayed with Mr. Massaquoi and Mr. Gunmerus was in Liberia.

Renowned Geologist Dr. Stephen Haggerty Doing A Presentation As CEO Roger Youssef And Chief Consultant Ernest B. Jones Look OnMONROVIA – A Liberian-owned diamond mining company; Youssef Diamond Mining Company (YDMC) has announced the discovery of what could turn out to be the largest diamond field in the world. “Evidence from our data shows that Liberia may one day be the largest kimberlite field in the World. Despite the major discovery by the Liberian-owned company, Roger reckoned that its challenges have been the stalling of support. Among other things, Youssef disclosed that the company is right now doing everything possible to reach the point of signing a Mineral Development Agreement with government. The company is currently carrying out a bulk sampling program as the previous sampling had developed grade ‘A’ type diamonds.

The REALISE Project succeeds the Youth Opportunity Project (YOP), which has finally come to an end. As they await the new (REALISE) project document for possible rectification, they urged the technical team managers to provide all (YOP’s ) necessary documentation and or relevant information to them to ensure they move forward in said regard. The project, according to Minister Wilson is implemented under three basic components namely: Pre- Employment Social Support, Small Business Support (SBS) and Community Livelihood and Agriculture Support(CLAS)The Youth Opportunities Project aims to increase access to income generation opportunities for young people in Liberia. Minister Wilson recounted that 2,880 youths aged 18-35 living in urban areas, provided business skills training, mentorship and startup grants to establish and operate 1,645 small businesses under Small Business Support (SBS). Like the YOP Project, Minister Wilson explained that the REALISE Project is also worth US$10M with US$5M being a grant and US$5M being credit from the World Bank (WB).

The conference would be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning with support from partners of the EPA. This, he said, makes Liberia not only a global hotspot for biodiversity but the relevant ecosystem to fight the impact of climate change in the sub-region. This advantage Liberia has, however, comes in the midst of challenged sustainable resource management and impact of climate are increasing on a daily basis. These impacts range from coastal erosion and mangroves management, sustainable forest management, chainsaw activities industrial and artisanal and small-scale mining, and pollution control and plastic waste management. “It is against this that the National Conference on Environment and Climate Change will present a moment for reinforcing Liberia’s commitment to sustainable development, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in addressing climate change from a Mitigation and Adaptation Standpoint as well as strengthening compliance and enforcement of the Environmental Protection & Management Law of Liberia,” Mr. Tarpeh said.

SWITZERLAND – Alieu Kosiah, former ULIMO commander, stood trial in Bellinzona, Switzerland, for four weeks in December 2020 and in February 2021 for the crimes he allegedly committed in Lofa County, Liberia, between 1993 and 1996. He is charged with 25 counts of war crimes, including murders, forced transports, looting, rape, and recruitment of a child soldier. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced today that the judgment will be rendered on June 18, 2021 at 1.30pm. Alieu Kosiah pleaded not guilty, and the Federal Prosecutor requested a 20 year prison sentence. Some of the plaintiffs in the Alieu Kosiah case chose to come twice from Liberia, first during Ebola and later during the COVID-19 pandemic, to share their testimony in Switzerland.

Speaking during the start of the Workshop, ILO Country Manager and Project Coordinator, Mr. Salif Massalay said that the workshop is focused on International Labour Standards (ILS) reporting. According to Mr. Massalay, there are three categories of ILO Conventions: a) the “Fundamental or Core ILO Conventions”, b) the “Governance or Priority Conventions”, and c) the “Technical Conventions”. Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Labour, Assistant Labour Minister for Regional Labour Affairs, Hon. Black ground to the workshop:Since a number of years, Liberia has not submitted any reports under ratified Conventions. In 2020, none of the reports requested under ratified Conventions (C29, C87, C98, C105, C111, C112, C113, C114 and C144) were received.

Ndablama, Grand Cape Mount County- Nearly Ten Thousand people in Grand Cape Mount County have been connected to Lonestar Cell MTN 4G Network for the first time. Through a partnership agreement between Lonestar Cell MTN and Bea Mountain, a 4G cell phone tower has been installed in Ndablama, Grand Cape Mount County. The agreement provides internet access to Bea Mountain’s new Ndablama Gold Mining site because there was limited internet access in the area. “We are excited,” said Rahul De, Lonestar Cell MTN Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Lonestar Cell MTN gives one percent of its profit back to Liberians through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Against this backdrop, Rep. Kolubah has written the Plenary, the highest decision making body of the House of Representatives to reintroduce two instruments that have overstayed in committee rooms. Ironically, since his ascendancy as President of Liberia, Weah has not taken any action to ensure justice for past war crimes. The Speaker, who was once an ardent supporter of a war crimes court, has been blamed by many war crimes court supporters for using his power to block every effort to initiate the establishment of the court. Rep. Kolubah Joins Blayhi in Call for CourtUnlike key players of the war including Senator Prince Johnson and Rep. George Bolley who continue to openly denounce the call for a war crimes court, Rep. Kolubah, who also participated in the war has been a staunch advocate of the court. But unlike Evangelist Blayhi, Rep. Kolubah was not indicted by the TRC.

MONROVIA – Mr. Alexander Cummings, the political leader of the Alternative National Congress has called on the George Weah-led government to begin early preparation for the conduct of the 2023 general and presidential elections. This, according to Mr. Cummings, is to avert the postponement of elections due to lack of funding for the National Elections Commission (NEC). For our country, holding free, fair and credible elections, on time, is amongst the best ways to continue to keep our peace, and remain democratic,” stated Mr. Cummings in a recent Op-Ed. He added, “No responsible government needs to be reminded about its duty, especially to provide money to the election commission. In 2023, let us all show that we mean this by actually doing it,” Cummings stated in his Op-Ed.

Monrovia – Monsterrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon Monday angrily responded to Senator Prince Johnson’s outburst, saying the Nimba County senator is not as fearful as he was during the civil country’s fourteen-year civil war. He’s not Prince Johnson that we knew during 1990.”He added: “Who is Sen. Prince Johnson to be panicking when someone speaks about the establishment of a war and economic crimes court? Dillon and Johnson last week plunged into heated argument over the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, disrupting the day’s session. “Senator Johnson said: “People say I am a mass murderer; I am not perfect but I didn’t kill Tecumseh Roberts.

Last Thursday, Senator Prince Y. Johnson picked bone with her while raging at her fellow partisan, Darius Dillon whom he accused of provoking him with the establishment of war crimes court. MONROVIA – Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has branded claims linking her to the civil war as lies and scare tactics intended to stop her from speaking for the establishment of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia. While venting at Dillon, Senator Johnson was heard accusing Senator Karngar-Lawrence of being in a relationship with Chief Cyril Allen, one of former President Taylor’s henchman. The book narrates that Senator Johnson’s principal deputy in the INPFL, Samuel Varney, carried out the execution of Tecumseh. “Senator Johnson said: “People say I am a mass murderer; I am not perfect but I didn’t kill Tecumseh Roberts.