Liberia: Lawmaker Must Blame Themselves for Not Taking Pay for Four Months
THE INDECISIVENESS of lawmakers to return to the Capitol adds absolutely no insult to the injury Liberia is already enduring. ADDITIONALLY, another lawmaker said: “You cannot owe us four months’ arrears and expect us to come back and work. President Weah’s Communication to the Legislature requesting it to return is in consonance with Article 32(b) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. They did not separate power and give the Legislature specific powers in order for the President to have his will. They did not separate power and give the Legislature specific powers in order for the President to have his will.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 03:33 UTC
43rd Administrative Council Meeting of ARIPO Begins in Liberia
Unification Town, Margibi – The 43rd Administrative Council of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), began Monday, November 18, in Liberia, at the Farmington Hotel in Unification Town, Margibi County. The three-day Council is being attended by representatives from the 19 Member States of ARIPO and IP practitioners and agents from around the world. According to him, with regards to the protection of Intellectual property rights, a momentum in filings was kept in 2019 as compared to the year 2018. “A pilot database was launched in September 2018 and it has currently more than 450,000 Intellectual Property titles from ARIPO office and 12 Member States,” he added. “It shows our overall commitment to the principles and tenets of Intellectual Property,” the Commerce Minister added.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 03:00 UTC
Liberia: Margibi Lawmaker Accuses County’s Land Administrator of Dubious Land Sale in Constituency
According to Rep. Tarponweh, the alleged dubious actions of Joe Dorah, Land Commissioner, Margibi County, in suspicious land sale in the county’s district #1, have victimized dozens, including investors. However, the office of the Margibi Land Commissioner has denied the Rep’s allegation and termed them “false and misleading”. The land, Rep. Tarponwheh gathered was given by the community to the Government in 2007 for housing development by ECOHOMES Liberia Inc. He also claimed that prior to his appointment as Land Commissioner, he was the administrator of his family property, the position he stills maintains. Margibi County, especially the Roberts International Airport (RIA) highway is a hotspot of land conflicts that sometimes lead to violence.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:48 UTC
Ministry of Internal Affairs, UN-Habitat Initiate Development of ‘Comprehensive’ National Urban Policy
Deputy Minister Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs, Famater Roesler speaking at a day-long meeting aimed at developing a comprehensive national urban policyMonrovia – The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in partnership with UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance (CA) has begun the process to develop a comprehensive national urban policy (NUP) for Liberia. Addressing Stakeholders at the event held at Monrovia City Hall, the MIA’s Deputy Minister for Urban Affairs, Famater Roesler said the National Urban Policy development process is aligned with President George Manneh Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Development and Prosperity. She pledged the government’s commitment to the process of leading the NUP process. The process of the diagnosis phase will also enhance policy coherence and integration, and strengthening policy making capacities of institutions. Meanwhile, Mr. Nketsia disclosed that there is a National Urban forum (NUF) scheduled for November which is expected to attract more than 250 participants from across the country for a more interactive, participatory and inclusive national dialog on urban space.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:48 UTC
Liberia: WASH Sector Promises to End Open Defecation In 2025
He said there is an urgent need to tackle open defecation to save lives. Johnathan Kaipay, Senate Chair on WASH said its time that officials of government develop political will to increase budgetary support to end open defecation. She said the institution is working with schools and government to tackle open defecation by using the system. Mohammed Massaley, WASH program head of Oxfam – Liberia reaffirmed the organization’s commitments to supporting the WASH commission in ending open defecation. Also speaking, Bobby Whitfield, head of the National WASH commission announced a campaign to end open defecation is on the way.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:48 UTC
Liberia: Deputy Speaker Moye to Begin Selling Branded Rice on the Market
Of the 30 hectares harvested, 13, 500kg of rice have processed and was ready for the market, Rep. Moye added. When public officials adopt these steps, it will greatly help the agriculture sector,” Rep. Moye said. These seeds are given free of charge to farming groups and individuals.”The disclosure made by the Bong County lawmaker to begin selling branded rice attracted a lot of commendations from citizens of the county. We hope that others will emulate what you are doing as we are strive to make Liberia a food secured nation,” Rep Moye said. The expected introduction of your branded rice on the market would mean a lot for citizens of Bong County.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:48 UTC
Liberia Downgraded by GIABA after Alexander Cuffy’s Exit
Alexander Cuffy served as the executive director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) until September 2019MONROVIA – Liberia has been downgraded by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa (GIABA). Further actions mean Liberia maybe blacklisted by FATF which will make it difficult for regional and international financial institutions to do business with financial institutions in Liberia and will discourage investors from coming to invest their money. The report on Liberia that was submitted by Cuffy-led FIU met the approval of GIABA to keep Liberia in its current position. Though the FIU technically performed well under Cuffy, plenary was concerned about the overall support to the AML/CFT efforts in Liberia. It seeks to protect Liberia financial system from abuse of financial and economic crime for the enhancement of national, regional and global peace and economic stability.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:37 UTC
Liberia: Roots FM’s Case Returns to Monrovia City Court under New Magistrate Amid Disappointment from Station Lawyers
Monrovia – The newly appointed Magistrate of the Monrovia City Court, Jomah Jallah, has been mandated to conduct re-argument in the motion filed by the station management of closed Roots FM to return its seized equipment. It comes after a hearing into a complaint filed by the prosecution rejecting the ruling of outgoing Monrovia City Court Magistrate Ernest Bana to give right to Roots FM Station Manager Fidel Saydee to sue government to return its seized equipment. “The clerk of this court is ordered to send this case back to the Monrovia City Court for lack of capacity for re-argument as is hereby so ordered,” said Judge Willie but Cllr. Gongloe on behalf of the Roots FM took exception to the Judge’s ruling and promised to take advantage of the law controlling. This will be the second time for the Monrovia City Court to conduct hearing in the motion filed by the Management of the closed Roots FM to have its equipment seized by the government through the Monrovia City Court, returned.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:15 UTC
United Nations Supports President Weah’s Quest for Employment of more Liberians in the UN
The Outreach Mission, according to Ms. Christine Asokumar, Chief, Staffing Diversity and Outreach Section at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, is a part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s reform process, which among others, aims to enhance diversity within the United Nations workforce. She named the United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP) as one of the ways through which Liberians can be recruited for jobs within the United Nations system. Said Ambassador Kemayah: “Our President is very much concerned and interested in increasing the number of Liberians at the maximum level in the United Nations System. Ambassador Kemayah asserted that the employment of more Liberians within the United Nations was also a personal priority for him as Ambassador to the United Nations, pursuant to a mandate from His Excellency President Weah. The main variable that we want as a Government is to see more Liberians taking up positions in the United Nations.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:15 UTC
Liberia: Ruling Party Sends 25 Names for Employment at RIA as IMF Concerned over Slow Pace of Retrenchment Drive at Central Bank
The wage bill slash is a key prerequisite to Liberia’s entry into the IMF Extended Facility Program. To address the problems, Mr. Boakye called for robust revenue generation mechanisms to be put in place to close the gap and to reduce the government’s rising wage bill. And in the expenditure side, we see a lot of pressures coming because of rising wage bill. Madam Laurine Wede Johnson explained that the government’s wage bill grew from around US$30 Million in 2005/06 to US322 Million in 2018/19. In Liberia, the Central Bank of Liberia has run deficits for a long time, which means they use reserve money to pay salaries or operational costs.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 02:15 UTC
Analysis: Orange Liberia Goes to Supreme Court over Surcharges, but Accused of Accepting Similar Charges in Guinea, Ivory Coast
Monrovia – In recent weeks, the cellular giant, Orange Liberia has been raising alarm over surcharges resulting from new regulations imposed by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority and upheld by the Supreme Court of Liberia. “Orange does not mind paying surcharge in Guinea and Ivory Coast, both Francophone countries, where they invest a lot. Fast-forward to February 2019, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) on February 25th issued an Order (LTA Order: 0016-02-25-19) establishing Price Floors for both on-net voice and data services. This followed series of stakeholders’ consultations with the key GSM Operators in Liberia, Orange Liberia and MTN Liberia. Gauging Price Floor EffectsAs per the LTA Order, operators shall not price mobile voice services, whether as standalone or as a bundled service, below US$0.0156 per minute.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 01:30 UTC
Liberia: Govt Launches Project to Cut Down Cost of Road Pavement
According to him, road construction remains a top priority of the government and as such, the introduction of a new road construction system and methods will be tested in south-eastern Liberia and others parts of the country when successful. “We recognized the fact that the cost of during the asphalt roads, or reinforced concrete is exorbitant. Frustrated over poor quality of road worksThe Deputy Public Works Minister, however, expressed frustration over the poor quality of road construction works previously initiated in Liberia. No intent to undo other pavementsThe launch of polyroads pavement in Liberia would intensify competition in the infrastructural sector. Senator Joseph said the pilot project will minimize the spending of millions of dollars on road construction in Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 00:45 UTC
Liberia: CDC Suspends ‘Strong Member’ Jemima Wolokolie for Alleged Fraud, Extortion of Money
Her suspension came in the wake of her appearance on a local radio station on Tuesday to further defend her group’s action. According to Madam Wolokolie, the loan scheme is part of strategy being put in place and approved by the ruling party to woo voters for the CDC in the 2020 Senatorial elections and 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections. The Commerce Ministry said its Small Business Loan Program is managed by licensed financial institutions, with the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) serving as the lead manager. A Commerce Ministry release says the Deputy Minister’s action to use MOCI premises for activities outside the Ministry’s official protocol without top management’s knowledge and approval is most unfortunate and improper. In the release, the Commerce Ministry called on the public not to draw it into anything said or attributed to the Deputy Minister outside the established rules and regulations governing the Commerce Ministry.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 00:45 UTC
Liberia: Foya Fights to Prevent Yearly Forest Fire
His sugarcane farm would have fetched him about 20 drums of liquor, enough returns on a US$10,000 severance pay he received from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and invested in 2016. The forest fire that destroyed Kendema’s farm is not the first in Foya District. The first measure in the country following the passing into law of the Land Rights Act last year, the Foya land use plan looks at ways to prevent fire outbreaks. The dry landscape of Foya makes it easy for forest fires to spread. A number of villagers from Kpandu, Kendema and five other communities were held by authorities and investigated over the fire.
Source:Front Page Africa
November 20, 2019 00:33 UTC
Justice Nagbe Backs Campaign for Judge Willie’s Recusal
— In Oliver Dillion’s murder trialThe recent decision by Associate Justice Joseph N. Nagbe reversing the judgment of Judge Roosevelt Willie of Criminal Court ‘A’ in Monrovia, in which the judge had granted a bail to a charged murder defendant, Oliver P. Dillion, has now compelled the recusal of Judge Willie (step-down) from the entire case. Judge Willie took the action on Monday, November 18 immediately after the government lawyers asked him to step-down from the case based on Justice Nagbe’s judgment that overturned his (Willie) decision. Justice Nagbe was serving as Chamber Justice of the Supreme Court when he overturned Judge Willie’s judgment, but did not provide any legal reasons for reversing Judge Willie’s decision, instead ruled that Judge Willie was in error to grant Dillon bail. It was that overturned judgment that encouraged the government lawyers to ask for Judge Willie’s recusal on Monday. Meanwhile, Judge Willie has since transferred the case to another court, the Criminal Court ‘B’ also at the Temple of Justice.
Source:Daily Observer
November 19, 2019 03:33 UTC