Climate Change Efforts and Messages in Relation to The COVID-19 Pandemic
Based on my experiences as a conservationist, I decided to write on “Climate change efforts and messages in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic”. It is important to note that I have always wondered about the world’s response to the issue of climate change. I am writing at this time comparing climate change with COVID-19 because I believe that the climate change issue can lead to a more devastating situation than COVID-19. I think there are some efforts being made world-wide to address the issue of climate change. My point here is to compare the global fight against COVID-19 in relation to the fight against climate.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 30, 2020 11:48 UTC
IN COVID-19 Fight: Nimba County Health Team Stranded Amid Lawmakers’ Refusal to Release US$30k Disaster Management Money
Tappita, Nimba County – Nimba was one of the counties affected by the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Doctor Philip Sahr attributed the situation to the lack of financial support to the County Health Team by the Ministry of Health for those quarantined or tested positive of the Virus. From all indications, the county health team is stranded and do not have the ability to effectively respond to the crisis. According to the Disaster Management Committee’s report, US$220,000 was expended with the net balance of US$30,000 in coffers. Juli Endee, Musa H. Bility and Senator Thomas S. Grupee are signatories to the County’s Disaster Management Committee’s account.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 30, 2020 11:48 UTC
US-based Liberian Provides Rice for Disadvantaged Older Women of Jallah Town Community
Ms. Dennies Chico Constance donated 60 bags of 25-kg rice for older, disadvantaged and disabled women in Jallah Town CommunityMonrovia – A United States-based Liberian Tourism, Media and Entertainment group, Green Flowers Group of Companies, in collaboration with Ms. Dennies Chico Constance Wednesday, April 29, donated 60 bags of 25-kg rice to the Alive in Christ Church and the Jallah Town Community. The rice was intended to be distributed among the aged and disabled people of the Jallah Town Community, in Monrovia. According to Mr. Patrick Paulue Karmo, Chairman of Jallah Town Community in District #8, Montserrado County, Ms. Constance, who owns and operates the Green Flowers Group of Companies, was born and grew up in Jallah Town before travelling to the US, where she has been for a number of years. Ms. Constance also asked Chairman Karmo to share the rice with her late mother’s church — Alive in Christ — which is also in the same community. The head of the church praised Ms. Constance for thinking about them, too.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 30, 2020 02:26 UTC
Liberia: Chinese Community Donates Food, Non-Food Items to Buttress Gov’t’s Efforts against Covid-19
Representatives of the Chinese Community in Liberia and Foreign Minister M. Gbehzohngar FindleyMonrovia – The Chinese Community in Liberia has donated a consignment of assorted and non-assorted materials to the Government of Liberia amidst efforts to contain further spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease in the country. The items, valued at US$9,000, include 300 bags of 25-kg rice, 50 faucet buckets, 30 cartoons of alcohol and assorted jeans wears. The Chinese Community’s donation was channeled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward delivery to the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NHPIL) as they lead the fight against the global pandemic in Liberia. Mr. QI said the Chinese Community appreciates the positive steps being taken by the Ministry of Health and NPHIL in ensuring the safety of all Liberians and foreign residents alike. The Chairman of the Chinese community in Liberia also noted that his community looks forward to a brighter future and further commended the Liberian Government for the care and attention accorded members of the Chinese Community especially in early February when they were quarantined.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 30, 2020 01:52 UTC
Germany Terminating Economic Cooperation Programs for Liberia & S.Leone
MONROVIA – Liberia and Sierra Leone may seize to benefit from the German development cooperation as Germany now seeks to direct its resources to places their commitments make impacts and partners implement reforms. Reintegration and Reconstruction Programme (RRP), total duration: 2005–2021 with a total volume of 70.35 million Euros, including 12 million Euros for the Ebola Support Programme. Under the health program, Germany has committed 15 million Euros for the strengthening of health system in Liberia. Germany has also committed a total volume of 74 million Euros to the West African Power Pool (WAPP) – Transmission Line Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia-Sierra Leone-Guinea (CLSG. For the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydro Powerplant in the context of the WAAP, Germany provided a support of 55 million Euros.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 23:59 UTC
COVID-19 Creates Additional Burden for Physically Challenged Liberians
Victor Wilson is the President of the Mission of Hope for the Disabled people in Johnsonville, lower Montserrado County. Mr. Wilson also said the lack of food remains a concern, and might force self-quarantine, in order to seek needed assistance from caregivers. He said the blind are especially challenged in usage of the handwashing buckets, due to difficulties in accessing them. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, to be a pandemic, due to the speed and scale of transmission. WHO and public health authorities around the world are taking actions to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 23:15 UTC
Sampling Regime Used for COVID-19 Testing in Liberia Likely to Discourage Candidates from Availing Themselves for Testing
The candidate’ specimen and filled form are taken by the technicians for testing and filing. In the event that candidate ‘X’ test result comes back positive, there is a higher chance that the candidate name appears in the media even before he/she is made aware of the said result. The candidate’ specimen and filled form are taken by the technicians for testing and filing. When the second team arrives, the first team departs with the sample to the laboratory for sample preparation and analysis. The task of the second team would be to fill in the form left behind by the first team.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 21:22 UTC
Open Letter: Head of Civil Society Resigns from Committee to Probe Brutality against Journalists
Dear Mr. Chairman:Please accept this letter as our official withdrawal from the Presidential Committee constituted to probe violence against journalists in Liberia. Reasons for our withdrawal are based on similar concerns raised by Mr. Peter Quaqua, President of the West Africa Journalist Association (WAJA). Besides, assaults on journalists contravene a number of national and international legal instruments that safeguard the rights and freedoms of journalists and whistleblowers. If this was the intention, then it was a terrible miscalculation, which the National Civil Society Council of Liberia detests in the strongest terms. This seriously runs in opposition to the view we espouse that collective actions must be the hallmark of an important Committee of such.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 21:08 UTC
Liberia: Speaker House Speaker Claims Innocence in Manhandling of Businessman
Mr. Winn was humiliated and beaten by Security guards of the Speaker during a sit-in action in demand of payment of his money owed him by the House of Representatives. Mr. Winn says his payment is four-months behind deadline in keeping with the agreement. In tears, Mr. Winn explained that he borrowed US$19,000 from GN Bank to pre-finance the work and is now being harassed by the bank for payment. Human right abused“What happened to Mr. Winn yesterday is a gross violation of his rights. Toe said: “What happened to Mr. Winn yesterday is a gross violation of his rights.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 20:37 UTC
CDC Secretariat Donates Food Items to Less Fortunate People In Montserrado
Monrovia – The National Secretariat of the Congress for Democratic Change is preparing to donate 500 bags of rice to several vulnerable communities in Montserrado County. Speaking Tuesday, April 28 in Monrovia, the Secretary of CDC Montserrado County chapter, Sylvester Kannah said the donation will be made to disabled people and orphanages in each of the 17 districts of the county. Kanneh said it is important that the ruling party intervene with rice distribution to vulnerable because many families are finding it difficult to get food during the health crisis. The distribution of the rice was an initial process and will be continued if the National Secretariat gets additional funding, he said. Meanwhile, the CDC Montserrado County chapter called on all Liberians to join the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 20:03 UTC
PUL Slams MICAT’s Plan To Issue New Covid-19 Pass To Journalists
Monrovia – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) says it is not part and does not support the printing of new passes by Deputy Information Minister for public affairs, Eugene Fahngon. The PUL in a release expressed disapproval to the new directive of Deputy Minister Eugene Fahngon calling for the cancellation of current press passes and the printing of new passes insolation with the PUL. The Union believes that Deputy Minister Fahngon unilateral action perhaps is intended to selectively provide accreditation to certain Media outlets and deny other Media institutions. Meanwhile, the Press Union of Liberia wants stronger solidarity between and among journalists and Media institutions in the difficult times of the nation’s history. The comments about printing new press pass come the same day Liberia’s solicitor General, Cllr.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 19:52 UTC
Liberia: ‘Mad Man’ Accused of Breaking into President Weah’s Home, Says He Had a Message
As I reached to President Weah area, the police people were there. “Yes, a mad man forced his way through security barriers while he was been questioned. He said there were 2000 genies behind him telling him to go and deliver his message to the President,” Layee said. Asked whether he was a mad man as being claimed by the President’s office and the EPS, Mohammed says he is not crazy. As I reached to President Weah area, the police people were there.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 18:45 UTC
Liberia: Chief Prosecutor Threatens to Use State of Emergency Powers to Shutdown Media Over ‘Fake News’
Cephas: “There is a state of emergency, what has happened under Article 87 [of the Constitution] is that all basic fundamental rights have been suspended…”MONROVIA – The Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. “Beginning today there will be no more warning, I repeat, I am the Solicitor General and Chief Prosecutor of this Republic, there will be no more warning. Sayma Syrenius CephasHe alleged that some media institutions have been using their platforms to spread ‘fake news’, which, according to him, is hindering the government’s effort in the COVID-19 fight. He, however, did not cite an example of such fake news or the media entities involved. Cephas emphasized: “Beginning today there will be no more warning, I repeat, I am the Solicitor General and Chief Prosecutor of this Republic, there will be no more warning.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 17:15 UTC
ICE Removes Liberian Security Forces Commander
MINNEAPOLIS — A member of the Liberian security forces under the regime of Liberian President Charles Taylor was removed Tuesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Alexander Mentol Zinnah, 56, arrived in Liberia escorted by ERO officers on board an ICE charter removal flight and was turned over to Liberian law enforcement authorities. The enforcement efforts targeting Zinnah were supported by ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). During that same period, ICE obtained deportation orders and/order physically removed from the United States more than 1050 known or suspected human rights violators. Currently, HSI has more than 180 active investigations into suspected human rights violators and is pursuing more than 1,640 leads and removal cases involving suspected human rights violators from 95 different countries.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 16:30 UTC
LIBERIA: National Security Agency Probing NPHIL Lab Workers Over Leaks of COVID-19 Test Results
Monrovia – The National Security Agency on Wednesday began investigating lab technicians at the National Public Health Institute over recent leaks of testing results to the media. The National Security Agency (NSA) is an apolitical government intelligence institution that is solely tasked with the gathering/collection, analyzing and dissemination of national security information for decision/policy makers including the President of the Republic of Liberia. The National Public Health Institute is the coordinating arm for the Ministry of Health. However, the issue is being debated globally in efforts to differentiate between public health ethics of contact tracing in a public health situation versus the public has a right to know in the situation of outbreak. Right-to-Know vs. Public SafetyHowever, the issue is being debated globally in efforts to differentiate between public health ethics of contact tracing in a public health situation versus the public has a right to know in the situation of outbreak.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 29, 2020 15:45 UTC