Washington – The US State Department’s annual Human Rights Report for 2020 has highlighted significant issues of arbitrary killings, detention and major lapses within the judiciary branch of government. In the report released this week, the report cites arbitrary killings by police; cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by police; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions. According to the report, there were occasional reports that government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. “The child died on April 20, reportedly as a result of an injury he sustained after six LNP officers allegedly kicked over a pot of hot water that fell on him. The union’s National Media Council, launched in 2017 to address court cases against the media, continued to mediate cases during the year.

MONROVIA — The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the European Union Delegation in Liberia will host a two-day policy dialogue aimed at reviewing the portfolio on the European Union (EU) initiatives in Liberia from March 31 to April 1, 2021. The EU portfolio review aims to create a policy dialogue, that is part of efforts to improve aid transparency and effectiveness through government decision making. It will review the portfolio of the European Union funded projects by identifying challenges, lessons learnt, and make recommendations for improvement in the implementation of EU funded projects in the future. The dialogue is intended for stakeholders, partners and the Government of Liberia to agree on the right balance between the implementation of short and long-term services. Conversations during the dialogue are expected to focus on efficient and necessary interventions through remedial actions.

Similarly, policy dialogue were held in each county with county-level stakeholders and women rights organizations under the theme ‘Promoting Women Centered Land Governance in Rural Communities’. During the panel discussions the obligations and roles of County authorities and local structures in securing women land rights were emphasized. As the laws concerning these issues were made much clearer during the discussion, traditional authority vowed to always protect women rights. The legal awareness activities were facilitated by female lawyers from the JSGB and Associates law firm in collaboration with the County Attorneys of Grand Gedeh and Sinoe Counties. This was made possible through funding by the Government Bank for Development-KFW in Grand Gedeh County and Medicor Foundation in Sinoe County.

According to the US Embassy in Monrovia, congressman Chris Smith does not speak for the Biden Administration. Dr. Abdoulaye Dukule, [email protected], Contributing WriterWhat all this means, given the dependency that characterizes US-Liberia relationships, President Weah must take these words seriously. Congressman Chris Smith may have helped President Weah by warning him now and sounding the alarm. Rather than belittling the warning, President Weah handlers should take a step back and recalibrate. If President Weah and his team cannot prove Congressman Smith wrong, the nation should brace itself for another storm.

Jonathan T. Massaquoi, [email protected]On August 18, 2003, the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, in Accra, Ghana which formally ended the civil war. Yet, the Government of Liberia has not fully implemented the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Agreement to date, including the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal. Except for Charles Ghankay Taylor, the principal actors who financed and directed the Liberian Civil War have not been called to account for their actions. A mechanism under the TRC as clearly laid out in HR 1055 appears to be the only International Partnership that will bring closure to the Liberian civil war for the Liberian people. Justice must come to Liberia with the Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal to deal with the issue of impunity and nothing less.

The Editor,Liberia’s Central Bank Governor J. AloysiusTarlue did more talking than his guests. People don’t trust the banking system in Liberia to put their money in the banks. Did Mr. Tarlue address that issue or does he simply think the Americans have forgotten or forgiven Liberia for such an international diplomatic crime? Mr. Tarlue failed to request for American banking experts to work in the Central Bank to teach the Central Bank of Liberia how to run a Central Bank and what it takes/requires to print new money. You would also think Mr. Tarlue would ask for American help to move away from two currencies to a single currency, be it to the Liberian or US dollar only for our country.

Eugene L Fahngon at the National Forum on Safety of journalists in Liberia. March 31, 2021Monrovia — The Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) on Wednesday, March 31, 2020, held a National Conference on the Safety of Liberia in Journalists. By Wremongar Blojay Joe, IIHeld in the Liberia YMCA conference hall, the forum also saw the adoption of a communique to guarantee the protection of journalists and media workers in the country. Deputy Information Minister Eugene Fahngon committed the Weah administration’s support for the establishment of a working group for the development of an action plan for the safety of journalists in Liberia. The Spokesman of the Liberia National Police- Moses Carter used the forum to caution journalists to be careful, seek the truth and verify the information before publication.

MONROVIA, Liberia – A former government soldier told the Finnish war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi, the former Revolutionary United Front commander, harrowing stories Wednesday of Massaquoi massacring women and children in Lofa County and roasting them. “Gibril Massaquoi killed women and children and opened up the bodies and roasted them just like roasted meat,” said the soldier codenamed “Soldier 1” by the court to conceal his identity. He said Massaquoi killed soldiers and civilians in the store in Waterside. “When I went to collect Bulldog’s body, I saw Massaquoi executing some soldiers and civilians,” he said. He said after his assignment was changed and he went back to Lofa, he never saw Massaquoi again.

The Senate took the decision during its extraordinary session presided over by Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie on Wednesday. The Senate’s decision followed by scrutiny of the House of Representatives resolution by the Senate Joint Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance, Judiciary, Banking, and Currency. The Senate took the decision during its extraordinary session presided over by Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie on Wednesday. The Senate’s decision followed by scrutiny of the House of Representatives resolution by the Senate Joint Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance, Judiciary, Banking, and Currency. The House of Representatives recently passed the resolution granting permission to the Central Bank of Liberia calling for the printing of a new family of banknotes.

Monrovia — As part of efforts to empower local fishermen across Liberia, the government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has disclosed the arrival of a huge consignment of internationally recommended multifilament or thread fishing nets. This means all fishermen using the rubber nets or the monofilament nets will be required to turn over all their rubber nets to NaFAA team during the free distribution to receive the thread nets or the multifilament nets. Fishermen who have not paid their fishing license fees since 2018 will not receive the free fishing nets and they will no longer be allowed to use the rubber nets for fishing purposes. The rubber nets are dangerous to the fishing environment and other aquatic resources. Meanwhile, the free nets distribution will shortly be followed by the free Yamaha motorized engines distributions to Kru canoes or paddling canoes operated by fishermen in Liberia.

Monrovia – Reports from Maryland County in Southeastern Liberia said that House Speaker Bhofal Chambers’ house in Pleebo, Sodoken District has been set ablaze, while angry protesters have stormed the Harper Central Prison, freeing 91 inmates. In the wake of the incident, President George Weah has declared a daytime curfew in Maryland County from 6: AM to 6: PM. Excerpt of the statement: “The Joint security says whoever comes across Mr. Moses Mlamah, the accused should called these numbers: 0777-005-551/0886-839-991/0886-642-204. And for those who are on the run should also turn themselves in to the joint security of this county. “The alleged scale and gravity of these attacks by protesters mark a worrying escalation of violence.

MONROVIA — President George Manneh Weah has declared a curfew in Maryland County from 6am to 6pm following violent protest by women and motorcyclists over the alleged death of a motorcyclist by four unknown men. President Weah condemned the violent attacks and warned that his government will not in any way condoned any act of lawlessness. Their action reportedly resulted to led to the burning of House Speaker Dr. Bhofal Chambers’ residence in Pleebo, Maryland County. The protest which came as a result of the mysterious death of the motorcyclist halted normal activities in Pleebo City on Wednesday, March 31. Due to its brewing tension, President George Weah then declared 6am -6:00Pm curfew in Maryland County following violence among the people in that part of the Country.

MONROVIA –– Staffers of the Liberian Senate have blocked the main gates of preventing Senators from leaving in demand of their salary arrears. The staffers’ action is premised on a commitment made by Senator Saah Joseph who chairs the Senate Committee on Executive who promised that they would begin receiving four months of their 18 months arrears on Wednesday (today). Senator Joseph on Monday at a gathering of staff told them that they would start receiving their 4 months before they (Senators ) leave for their Easter break.

The United States Small Business Administration(SBA) was an executive branch agency of the United States government that provided support to entrepreneurs and small business. How Corkrum Fraud was UnearthedIn order to obtain a PPP loan, a qualifying business was required to submit a PPP loan application, which was signed by an authorized representative of the business. The PPP loan application required the business representative through its authorized representative to acknowledge the program rules and make certain affirmative certifications in order to be eligible to obtain the PPP loan. As part of the scheme, Corkrum used several aliases including, Ellen Yabba Kwame Corkrum, HUNTER LAUREN VANPELT, HUNTER VANPELT. Vanpelt and Corkrum, after changing her name to Vanpelt, Corkrum submitted the PPP loan application under both names.

From the debate it was glaring that all Senators are in support of giving the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) authority to print new bank notes. The Ad hoc committee membership include; Senators Gble-gbo Brown chair, Conmany Wesseh, James Emmanuel Nuquay, Marshall Dennis and Varney Sherman. Said Senator Teahjay: “I am in support of printing money but we don’t want to print money thinking we are making the right decision but creating the problem. In her comments she said, Liberia has gone against “best practices” that guide the process of printing money because, according to her, if the authorization is given Liberia will for the third time be printing money in little over three years. However, there also some very serious concerns if not corrected we will not vote for the Printing of money.