--Cummings StatesThe Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Mr. Alexander Cummings, has stressed the critical significance of attaining quality education in acclerating national development, urging young people not to relent in their educational pursuits. He said added to God's blessings, the attainment of quality education, gives you competitive advantage to succeed in any society, making reference to his enviable corporate records and successes in America, Europe and Africa where he has worked. Cummings assured that a CPP Government would prioritize improving the quality of the educational system, which he said is critical to accelerating national development. Cummings envisages a new Liberia, where education will be top priority of government and that all Liberians irrespective of political or religious affiliations, ethnicity, status or creed, will have equal rights, and access to jobs and opportunities. Eighty-one Students of the University of Liberia Muslim Students Association are expected to graduate from the University of Liberia during its ceremonies slated for May 31- June 7, 2023.

President George Weah has renewed his push for the 54th Legislature to approve a bill calling for the cancellation of tenured positions within the Executive. The President's letter, which was itemized for further discussion, highlights his long-standing effort to do away with tenure positions. But Weah argued that the status of tenured personnel impedes and obstructs the development "agenda of the President." According to the Office of the House's Chief Clerk, two bills relating to "tenure positions" were submitted to the House for enactment. The National Elections Commission, Liberian Human Rights Commission, Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Internal Audit Agency, Central Bank of Liberia, and Civil Service Commission are among the institutions whose tenure positions were upheld by the Senate.

MONROVIA – The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has warned Liberian politicians that are bent on instigating violence to intimidate their political opponents to desist or face “serious” consequences. By: Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]INCHR is clothed with the authority protect and promote human rights in Liberia. “INCHR particularly wants to raise concern to the spike of violence and hate statements that have been made by political leaders in recent times,” the Human Commission said. However, while these rights are guaranteed, the restriction imposed by these human rights laws clearly prohibits actions that threaten public order and national security, among others. Members of the NPP Youth Wing, dressed in their NPP and CDC regalia, holding banners and placards, chanted anti-PYJ slogans and stormed the Church’s compound.

Monrovia – The National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia has raised eyebrows as it appears to be flip-flopping on its stance regarding the detection of underage children participating in the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) process. In that press statement, the NEC stated that “Several duplicates and underage registrations are being detected, and their voter information deactivated until further investigation. She further urged the public to utilize the upcoming Exhibition of the Provisional Registration Roll (PRR) to substantiate any allegations of underage registration. “We are concerned like everyone else, but at this stage, we consider these reports as suspected cases of underage registration. As Liberia prepares for its upcoming elections, the NEC’s flip-flopping on the issue of underage voter registration has sparked concerns among the public.

Paynesville City – A pro-government group, the Progressive Ladies of CDC says it is dismayed over Unity Party Standard-bearer Joseph Boakai’s decision to not select a female as his running mate in the October 10, 2023, Presidential Election. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-[email protected]Former Vice President Boakai recently selected Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Koung as his running mate thereby leaving Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence, the woman that many thought he was choosing. According to the group, former Vice President Boakai cannot be pretending to be a supporter of women’s empowerment when he has consistently denied a woman from being his Vice Standard bearer on two occasions. This singular mistake led to his massive defeat wherein Mr. Weah won 14 out of 15 counties in the runoff election. “This belief is a betrayal from Mr. Boakai and this betrayal from Mr. Boakai has caused Madam Lawrence a three-week political coma.

As such, the Angie Brooks International Centre calls for an urgent, impartial investigation by the Ministry of Justice thru the Liberian National Police that should include independent international involvement. Mr. President your citizens need to hear from you in your capacity as President of the Republic of Liberia. We understand that President Weah has called Senator Prince Johnson. We need the use of the President Executive power as given by the Liberia legislature, to mobilize Executive officers (Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police and others with Legislative powers) to investigate the incident at Christ Chapel of Faith on May 21. We end with the motto of Angie Brooks International Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security (ABIC) namely that The Peace is in our hands!

Mr. James Biney, the embattled chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), has confirmed that the individuals who protested and disrupted Senator Prince Johnson’s church service are members of the NPP. By: Henry Karmo | [email protected]In response to the chairman’s statement, Vice President Taylor has issued a disclaimer, noting that Biney is no longer the chairman of the NPP. Please ignore it.”According to Chairman Biney, the group comprises people appointed by Madam Jewel Howard Taylor into positions she referred to as an expanded National Executive Committee (NEC), which is unsupported by the party’s constitution and convention. It is important to note that the NPP partisans who disrupted Senator Johnson’s church service are those from the lawless group presided over by Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia. Sadly, the recent actions by Madam Jewel Howard Taylor’s supporters have destroyed what we have worked for over the years in trying to rebrand the NPP.

By: Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]In establishing the strategy, the Biden administration recognized corruption’s ability to corrode democracy. For President Biden, “Corruption threatens United States national security, economic equity, global anti-poverty and development efforts, and democracy itself. For the Biden administration, issues of money laundering and drug operations put corrupt actors under the microscope. The Biden administration believes that as the world’s largest economy, the United States bears responsibility to address gaps in its own regulatory system. “Literally, everything the ambassador is saying is in line with the national security interest of the Biden administration,” a Washington insider told FrontPageAfrica this week.

The Commission said the cases were uncovered during the stage of its deduplication and adjudication of voters’ information collected from 2,080 voter registration centers across the country. The ECC, the largest domestic election observation network, on May 23 released its official findings on phase two of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR). The group highlighted underage registration in Grand Kru, one of the nine counties that were involved in phase two of the BVR process. “During the BVR Phase two, ECC received reports involving underage registration. While incidents of underage registration were verified and confirmed in Grand Kru, the ECC observer in Lofa reported that the allegations were untrue,” the ECC's Chairman, Cllr.

A search on the ministry’s online repository—a landmark tool that enhances transparency and accountability—using the code will take you to the expired license, not the fake one. Even the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI) captured the expired license in its 2020-2021 report with the license code. While the details of the prospecting license match the information of Urban’s expired license, both documents are inconsistent with the illegal MoU. The MoU is for five years, 10 times the lifespan of the fake prospecting license Sartuh issued and consistent with a class B license. Normally, after prospecting, companies obtain either an artisanal mining or class C license or a class B mining license.

MARSHALL CITY – Residents of Ben’s Town in Marshall City have expressed frustration over the damage of their properties and the deteriorating health conditions of hundreds of community members as a result of the East China International rock quarry site located in the residential area. By Francis G. BoayueOn Tuesday, May 23, 2023, residents of Ben’s Town gathered to protest against the management of East China International at their construction site in Ben’s Town, Lower Margibi County. The protesters, mainly property owners and led by many females, staged their protest at the mining site of the company in Ben’s Town. The group gathered as early as 9:00 am, expressing their dissatisfaction with the ongoing blasting from the construction site of East China, which had been destroying their properties for the past year. However, their efforts seemed to have been in vain, prompting them to fight for their rights through peaceful means by gathering to express their dissatisfaction with East China International.

MONROVIA – The Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) has accused former Charles Taylor NPFL fighters, who remain loyal to Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor within the National Patriotic Party, of instigating a protest that disrupted Senator Prince Johnson’s Sunday church service. Citing ‘reliable information’, the party asserted that ex-combatants Roland Duoh, Dopoe Menkozohn, Joe Tuah, Kai Farlay, and others orchestrated the disturbance at the Christ Chapel of Faith Church. Their intention, according to the MDR, was to prevent Senator Evangelist Prince Johnson’s sermon from potentially having a political impact on Jewel Howard Taylor. They emphasized that Senator Johnson, as a revolutionary leader, felt the need to liberate his people. According to evidence in our possession, he recently accompanied the Vice President during her tour in the southeastern region, including Maryland County, and we urge him to refrain from being used for violent purposes.

Taylor also questioned the district lawmaker’s work since his ascendancy as a lawmaker and what he has done for his people and the district over the years. Her statement comes weeks after Rep. Kolubah, who represents the district, threatened to “dirty her” if she kept meddling in their county politics, but she should immediately listen and do the needful. “So, I’m calling on our mother, Chief Jewel Howard Taylor, not to get involved with District 10 politics. At same time, political pundits said the response from Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor highlights the tense political climate in District #10 and the wider country of Liberia. When politicians use intimidation tactics, it can discourage citizens from participating in the political process and undermine trust in government institutions.

The agreement, according to the President, would reduce the cost of energy and promote investments in the use of solar energy in Liberia. Weah said Liberia would benefit from a special fund of US$2 billion, which has been earmarked for solar energy projects in Africa. The goal of the ISA Framework Agreement is to promote the widespread adoption and deployment of solar energy worldwide. 15 countries have already signed the ISA Framework Agreement and, while Liberia has signed the framework agreement, it has not been ratified. It would help the country improve energy access in underserved regions and communities by promoting affordable and sustainable solar energy solutions.

CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Following its members’ return from their constituent break, the House of Representatives through its Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance is expected to begin budget performance report hearing for various line ministries and agencies. The hearing will focus on the entities’ performances for FY- 2022 consolidated report, FY – 2023 first quarter report and FY- 2023 revenue performance to-date (for revenue generating agency only). On Friday, 26 May, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Liberia Immigration Service and National Road Fund will take the witness stand. And this will be followed by the Ministry of Justice, National Port Authority, Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company, and the National Fisheries and Acqua Cultural Authority on Tuesday, the 30th of May. The Ministry of Health, National Public Health Institute, and the Ministry of Education are entities that have been queued in to appear on 31st of May.