Monrovia – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) said the recent arson attack on the headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC) recently did not only undermine the workings of the Commission, but create a dark cloud on Liberia’s democracy. Excerpt of the statement: “We categorically condemn all violent act on the property of NEC and or the employees NEC. It must be secured by the rule of law and full integration of the citizenry.”On Monday March 15, the NEC national headquarters was attacked by petrol bomb, burning one of the commission’s pickup trucks. Elections’ MattersIn its landmark press statement, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia lauded the NEC and all Liberians for the peaceful conduct of the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Elections and National Referendum. “We further request the timely provision of uniform, identification, communication devices, and stipend to deploy personnel of the Joint Security.

THE THIRD STEP NOTES that ​Upon receipt of the results of the VPS, the CPP shall conduct primaries. The Voters Perception Survey (VPS) shall include the Standard Bearers and/or Legislative candidates of each of Constituent Parties of the CPP/Alliance. In the event no consensus is reached, the nomination process shall proceed to non-binding Voter’s Perception Survey (VPS) and be determined at the Primaries. A consensus emanating from this engagement shall be binding on the Constituent Political Parties and same shall be endorsed by the CPP. EVERY FOUR YEARS the world watches in awe the US process by which voters indicate their preference for their party’s candidate, or a candidate.

Two of the four judges in the trial of Gibril Massaquoi Leslie Lumeh/New NarrativesMONROVIA – Tensions bubbled up in Friday’s session of the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi as prosecution witnesses became visibly irritated at cross-examination questions by defense lawyer Kaarle Gummerus. “Thank you for reminding me,” Civilian 35 told Gunmerus. He echoed previous witnesses who said a Liberian military commander named Benjamin Yeaten appeared to be directing Gibril Massaquoi and his Sierra Leonean fighters. But all the atrocities and torture that took place in Kamatahun and the surrounding villages were carried out on the orders of Zigza Marzah and Gibril Massaquoi,” Civilian 35 said. He recalled the names of some of the soldiers as Zigza Marzah, Stanley, Mark Guan, Idrissa Massaley, Gibril Massaquoi alias “Angel Gabriel”, Alexander Zinnah, alias “Gen.

MONROVIA – The Liberia National Police (LNP) has shot and killed an alleged armed robber who was among a gang of five in the Brewerville Community, outside Monrovia. “In the process of exchange of gun fire between the robbers and the police one of the armed robbers was shot in the stomach. This is the second killing of an alleged armed robber by the LNP in just a week. ‘Bad Man Roberts’ was killed in a brutal ex-change of fire with the police leaving a senior officer of the LNP anti-robbery unit, Chief. In that incident, two of the robbers Cooper Harris and Moses Fiah wereshot in the right hip and right leg, respectively by the LNP anti-robbery squad.

Ariel view of a portion of the Palm Bay Estate of Equatorial Palm Oil’s (EPO), which covers 6,400 hectares of land in Jogbahn Clan in District No.4, Grand Bassa County. New Narratives /James Harding GiahyueEditor’s Note: This story is the first of a two-part series on growing tension between Equatorial Palm Oil and villagers in Grand Bassa County over land rights. They gathered in an old palm oil mill at Equatorial Palm Oil (EPO) to receive compensation for their crops. Townspeople hold a discussion on Equatorial Palm Oil (EPO) in Gmenee Town in District No.4, Grand Bassa County. New Narratives /James Harding GiahyueThe five communities plan to lodge a complaint with the Roundtable on Sustainable Oil Palm (RSPO), an international watchdog that holds its oil palm companies to high, environmental and social standards.

MONROVIA — The acting chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, has outlined what he calls their short-term priority areas to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia Niels Scott. Gbala said it is important to rebrand and rebuild the LACC in order for it to succeed. Gbala for the meeting and said he was glad to know that the LACC is still active and aims to engage in meaningful work. Mr. Scott, who is the highest United Nations official in Liberia, promised to remain engaged with the work of the LACC.

“We are not only conducting the cleft surgery and we have also trained health workers of J.J Dossen Hospital on how to care and conduct cleft lip surgery,” said Mr. Aben. According to Mr. Aben, Cleft lip is a condition that occurs when a baby’s lip or mouth does not form fully during pregnancy. Cleft lip affects the facial appearance of a child and it is not a well-known condition, especially in the rural communities. Oftentimes, when babies are born with any form of deformity, including cleft lip, they are assumed to be cursed. This March, OHAI Liberia is conducting free cleft lip surgeries in southeastern Liberia and requests the public to refer patients to local clinics for onward referral to treatment centers.

MONROVIA — China Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) says it remains fully committed to the completion of the Coca-Cola Factory to ELWA Junction Road Project which contract agreement was entered into in 2018 with the Government of Liberia. In a press release issue in Monrovia over the weekend, the company said it is seeking the cooperation from all project communities and motorists plying the road to strictly observe all road safety regulations as the project enters the final phase. The company pledged its full commitment to the completion of the road project, stressing that even under the heavy down pour of rain workers and engineers were exerting efforts in making sure that Coca Cola Factory to ELWA Junction Road Project meet all international standard and specification spelled out in the contract agreement. Also, the agreement leading to the Coca Cola Factory-ELWA Junction corridor was legislated in 2018 with financial support to come from the Government of Liberia and other partners, including the World Bank. China Chongqing International Construction Corporation or CICO, is acclaimed in Liberia for its specialized engineering performance in road network building and other engineering works and has successfully completed several landmark projects in Liberia.

District Two, Bong County — A coalition of youth associations and student groups, under the auspices of Gbansia Clan Students’ Campaign Organization, have drummed their support for the representative bid of J. Mulbah Totaye. Totaye is expected to contest as an independent candidate in the April 27 by-election in Bong’s District Two. The seat for the district has been declared vacant by the National Elections Commission (NEC) after Prince Moye, the district former representative, won as senator of Bong County in last year’s Special Senatorial Elections. It’s time I replicate my success as an agriculturist and a private citizen to the development of District Two. I will lead the campaign for real change of mindset of our people through reorientation,” he said.

RIVERCESS COUNTY — Independent Candidate Wellington Geevon Smith has won the controversial Rivercess County Senatorial election after the county’s second recount, results of the county election magistrate showed on Saturday, rejecting false claims of fraud in the race. The recount shows independent candidate Geevon Smith winning with 3332 votes –which represent 23.35% compare to his main challenger-Steve Tequah 3289 votes, 23.05%. Not satisfied with the result, requested that the commission conduct a re-count in seven of the 111 polling places in the county. Although the re-count kept Smith in the lead, the initial recount increased Tequah’s tally in the seven polling places, narrowing the margin between the two candidates. This, Mr. Tequah said compelled him to demand a recount of votes from the remaining 104 polling places.

Condo Reconciliation Group Incorporated, a United States based non-governmental organization, with an office in Monrovia, is primarily engaged in peace advocacy and reconciliation with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to peace and stability in Liberia. “Senator Johnson, Condo does not only need your blessing and support, but also your total involvement in its planned peace and reconciliation venture in Nimba County. We have come to you as our big brother to share our ideas with you in order for you to lead us to Nimba County. Mr. Keita further explained that his organization planned peace and reconciliation initiative in Nimba is part of series of peace and reconciliation initiatives earmarked on across the county. He warned that in order for any peace initiative to be successful, it must be done holistically and with boldness.

This temporary ban has now come to an end, leaving Liberian girls and women open to the risk of undergoing FGM once again. Currently, more than half of Liberian women are living with the consequences of the cut and many more are at risk. Let it be known that women rights are human rights and they should enjoy it to the fullest without stoppage and or molestation as it has been, most especially during electoral periods. Additionally, I also recognise that there are persisting and emerging threats specifically to young women and girls’ rights including shrinking civic space, illiberalism, religious/traditional fundamentalism and militarism amongst others. And, that achieving gender equality for young African women and girls is the shared responsibility of different stakeholders.

MONROVIA — The Green Climate Fund (GCF) on Friday, March 19, 2021 approved a US$17.2 million grant for the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project, aim at protecting West Point against coastal erosion and storm. The Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project intends to address life-threatening climate change-related impacts of sea-level rise, coastal erosion and urban encroachment into vital mangrove ecosystems. Coastal erosion has also exposed the fishery sector to serious risk. The Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project will address this urgent need by constructing a rock revetment to protect West Point against coastal erosion and storms. “I recently visited some of the areas where this coastal resilience work will be done.

THE EDITOR,What good is a democracy when its Judicial System vomits and eats what it vomited or stops its previous ruling? Now I see why the United States has slapped travel restrictions to the US on the conflicted Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Francis Kporkpor. Thanks to collaboration between global philanthropist-billionaire Dr. George Soros’ Global Witness and US Treasury Department dirty money hunters for putting the brakes on Sherman and Sable Mining. In 2013, this very Supreme Court sentenced FrontPageAfrica newspaper journalist and publisher Rodney Sieh to the equivalent of 5,000 years in jail. The Supreme Court and others in our government are inviting a replay of our violent past, it seems.

Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee (right) and Learning Squared Liberia team doing an unveiling at official launch; inserted left is LSL President, Anthony S. KolacoMonrovia — Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee is admonishing Liberian parents and the government to invest in the education of the children of the country. Serving as keynote speaker at the official launch of Learning Squared Liberia (LSL) on Friday, March 19, Madam Gbowee disclosed that her Gbowee Peace Foundation has spent more than US$2.4 million on education for the last 10 years for over 700 Liberian children. Speaking further, Ms. Gbowee stated, “It is only investing in our children’s education, that will take Liberia where we want it to be. Let’s move them away from thinking that education is only when you are a doctor, a lawyer or a banker. “We are freeing women and children from poverty with innovative solutions based on our Quality Driven Impact (QDI) approach,” he added.