Monrovia – Liberia Football Association Second Division relegation-threatened outfit Stages FC created the biggest upset of the season on Friday, April 30, 2021 when they defeated league leaders Heaven Eleven FC. Meanwhile, FC Fassell relegation to the 3rd tier of the Liberian league next season was finally confirm following their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Muscat FC. The 3-0 win for Muscat FC puts them in the title race, as they are now 9 points behind leaders Heaven Eleven FC and four points behind 2nd place BYC II. In Ganta Tony FC and Ganta Almighty settled to a 1-1 draw and Gardnersville FC and Jai FC share the points in a 1-1 draw. With six more fixtures remaining for each team, the title race gets more fascinating as Heaven Eleven, BYC II, Muscat FC and Junior Professionals are all anticipating winning the prestigious crown.

The callous behavior to allow April 14, to pass without an active reminisce is therefore a missed opportunity for current day politicians. It was the day Liberia looked into God’s face and ignored his edict, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm”. Since this was not done, I count it missed opportunity. That the Ministry of Information and Cultural and Tourism (MICAT) did not seize the opportunity display artifacts from those events to create tourists’ attractions via elaborate “April Nemesis” programs, was a missed opportunity. May we one day become aware that our callousness has led to missed opportunities that would have purged the nation state of its nemesis.

BARCLAYVILLE, Grand Kru County — The Deputy Speaker of the 54th Legislature and Grand Kru County District #2 Representative, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has arrived in Barclayville Thursday ahead of the 2021 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) celebration, organized by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). Deputy Speaker is in Barclayville and will serve as Guest Speaker of the indoor program of the World Press Freedom Day which is slated on Monday, May 3, 2021. Hundreds of Liberian journalists from across the country have started to converge in Grand Kru County’s Capital Barclayville City where this year’s event will be taking place. Meanwhile, the universal theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day derived from the Windhoek Declaration after a successful seminar.

GBI-DORU, Nimba County — Report from Dorgbor Town, Gbi-Doru Administrative District says several gunmen claiming to be police officers on Friday, April 30 stormed the town and began firing live bullets. In the process shot one resident, and took away several others including the victim to an unknown destination. Tiah said, at first the men told the townspeople that they were land surveyors sent to demarcate the company’s operating area. To our surprise, they went back to their car, changed to all over black clothes and took up guns and started shooting over the town,” Tiah explained. Recently, President Weah, whose late mother hailed from Gbi-Doru, became the first President of Liberia to visit the area.

Providence Island, where indigenous tribes lived for centuries prior to the arrival of formerly enslaved American settlers in 1821, is essential to telling the story of Liberia, its peoples, and nationhood. It is also a symbol of the enduring relationship and people-to-people ties between the United States and Liberia. It is also a symbol of the enduring relationship and people-to-people ties between the United States and Liberia. She met with government ministers, the National Traditional Council of Liberia, youth leaders, members of the communities surrounding Providence Island, and other stakeholders. Today, the Government of Liberia, represented by Deputy Minister Gray, and the Government of the United States, represented by Ambassador McCarthy, signed a joint statement to announce their support for the plan to preserve and reuse Providence Island.

The former Congressman and his colleagues at Brownstein Hyatt will be of great assistance to Liberia in helping foment strong ties with US policymakers. Washington – The Liberia Maritime Authority is proud to have engaged former US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Rep. Ed Royce, in order to have him serve as a policy advisor on the Liberian program. Chairman Royce is a well-respected consensus builder who has helped foster bipartisan relationships in the US Congress. Chairman Royce is currently a Policy Director with the venerable Washington DC government relations firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. For his part, Chairman Royce extolled the historic relations between Liberia and the United States and promised to apply policy related engagements in the interest of Liberia and its Maritime program”

Monrovia – The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia, says the United Nations System working closely with Development Partners in Liberia, is committed to supporting the National Elections Commission (NEC) in future elections. Stephen Rodriques stressed that elections generally are not episodic events, but a process that requires huge investments and laying strong foundations needed to strengthen democracy. The UNDP Liberia Resident Representative urged participants to leave the conference with realistic and actionable recommendations to be implemented. Rodriques informed the conference that development partners have also held a discussion to review the 2020 elections and discussed areas that require further attention in order to bring the process fully in line with international standards and best practices. According to him, the UN and partners support measures to enhance women’s participation in elections including as political candidates.

MONROVIA – Three elementary students in District 2 Grand Kru County, have been awarded scholarships up to Bachelor Degrees by Liberia’s Deputy Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa who has been on a 45 communities tour in his district made the disclosure in Barforwin where he presented his 3rd Annual Legislative Report. “Parents of those children should contact my office immediately.”Parents of the school going children on Tuesday burst into unspeakable joy accompanied with torrential tears, singing and dances, when Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Cllr. According to Chief of Staff Hilary Koffa, the scholarships take immediate efrect beginning the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic school year. Koffa’s Ahteenah Development Incorporated (ACI) scholarship or financial aid —- attending schools in Grand Kru, Maryland and Montserrado Counties, from elementary to higher education (vocational, colleges and universities).

Paynesville – Several residents of Paynesville are hesitant about adhering to calls by health authorities to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, citing lack of sustained awareness about the benefits of being inoculated. Zazay claims that “lack of proper awareness about the vaccination campaign” is casting doubts in the minds of many Liberians. Despite the awareness about the Covid-19 vaccination on local radio stations, some say they have heard little about the process. Lawrance Dayougar, another resident of Paynesville, added that there is an increasing need for a nationwide awareness campaign to counter misinformation about the vaccine. And the WHO added that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, and “getting vaccinated will help protect you against developing severe COVID-19 disease and dying from COVID-19”.

The legislature approved a $25 million stimulus package to provide food for vulnerable communities in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), offset loans to vulnerable traders, and pay utility bills for some households, among other things. Appearing before the Senate Thursday, Prof. Tarpeh said the 2.3 million people who received the stimulus package were those whose lives were ravaged by the lockdown. Edwin Melvin Snowe of Bomi was one of many senators who questioned the sincerity of the WFP distribution, claiming that the distribution process was characterized by theft. I strongly advice plenary to constitute a committee to investigate the COVID-19 stimulus package. This legislature was criticized for passing the stimulus package but the people stole the food,” Senator Snowe added.

Varney Sherman is recommending that the new Elections Law should be amended to provide that the Board of Commissioners shall have original jurisdiction over the presidential election dispute and an appeal from the Board of Commissioners shall lie with the Supreme Court. MONROVIA – Senator Varney Sherman (Grand Cape Mount County, UP) is proposing an amendment to Section 4.8 of the New Elections Law that would allow the National Elections Commission and Supreme Court to take shorter time to hear and adjudicate elections dispute cases in shorter periods. In his proposal, the Grand Cape Mount Senator who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee said three successive elections ended in run-off and that it is highly likely there will be run-off election for the 2023 general and presidential elections. He believes to expedite the deposition of presidential election dispute, the new Elections Law should be amended to provide that the Board of Commissioners shall have original jurisdiction over the presidential election dispute and an appeal from the Board of Commissioners shall lie with the Supreme Court. “Simply stated, for a Presidential election dispute the entire Board of Commissioners, not a subordinate NEC staff, albeit it lawyer, shall be the forum for the first hearing.

Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, U.S. Government, World Monument Fund to Sign Pact for the Preservation of Liberia’s Historical IslandMonrovia – The Government of Liberia, represented by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, will on Friday April 30, 2021 enter into an agreement with the U.S. Government, through its embassy accredited near Monrovia, and the World Monument Fund for the development and preservation of the Providence Island. The agreement will pave the way for funding to be provided by the American government through the World Monument Fund for the transformation of the historic site into a major destination for international tourism and cultural preservation. The program will include cultural performances, an official touring of the Island by President Weah, Amb. In 2020, World Monuments Fund was awarded a grant by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to develop a preservation and reuse plan for Providence Island. Efforts to preserve Providence Island as an urban park that tells the story of the founding of the nation and its deep historical ties to the United States began in October 2020, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

MONROVIA – The National Executive Council of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has condemned the recent death threats made on the life of Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor by one Mark Jabateh. The LNBA said the death threats made on the life of Chief Justice Korkpor is a threat against the rule of and the entire legal fraternity of Liberia. The LNBA said the statement of Mr. Jabateh will not be taken lightly, describing him (Mr. Jabateh) as a total “disappointment” to the Liberian society. “The LNBA further maintains that there may always be reasons for parties or individuals to disagree with the judicial system, but threats and violence against the court is not an alternative to register dissatisfaction about the judicial system, but adherence to the rule of law remains the most viable alternative against impunity, and the court is the safest place for the settlement of dispute.”The release states, “The Bar observes that in the event that a party disagrees with the court or with a judge, that person case or take the path of lawlessness, but must seek refuge in the judicial process which continues to remain a bastion of hope and a place of last resort for the settlement of dispute for all. The LNBA assured the Chief Justice and the entire legal community that it will not rest until Mike Jabateh is held to account for such reckless and irresponsible statement against Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor.

The entire roof of houses belonging to some residents got damaged which requires immediate repair. A heavy downpour that night also flooded other homes, compelling some victims to contemplate on relocating. The entire roof of houses belonging to some residents got damaged which requires immediate repair. The Watkins Initiative for Nations (WIN) believed there is greater need for humanitarian assistance and government support for victims in Chugbor, Catholic Hospital Area, Keyhole, and Gaye Town Communities. WIN vision bearer, Mr. Y. Solomon W. Watkins who spoke with journalists in the District while visiting the damaged homes of victims, called on the government and humanitarian organizations to help aid victims of the calamity which has left hundreds homeless in District 10.

MONROVIA – Two of Liberia’s main development partners, the United States of America and the European Union along with the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money laundering (GIABA), have provided caution to Liberia to uphold professional standards in the fight against money laundering and countering terrorist financing . According to him, investors and other financial actors look at a country global rating about the fight against money laundering and countering terrorist financing before they implement huge investments. He urged all competent authorities in Liberia to work together, identify and assess risks in Liberia’s money laundering regime to enable the country get positive rating after the mutual evaluation early next year. Mr. Darboe also encouraged Liberia FIU and other actors in the anti-corruption regime to be more innovative and proactive to improve money laundering standards in Liberia. “Other issues such as: financial inclusion product risk, terrorist financing risk, and final publication of the National Risk Assessment will be looked at and discussed, ” he noted.