MONROVIA — Swagger Island is located along the Somalia Drive road and is inhabitant to over five thousand residents’ bulk of whom are living with a challenge of fetching safe drinking water. On a daily basis they go to faraway resident in search of safe drinking water. The people of this Island wants me inform you that the key need of this community is pipe borne water. He furthered threatened that residents of the Swagger Island Community have in the past given away “free Vote” but are prepare reconsidering that. Yesterday it was a death trap and as you can see there are safe guard place on the bridge.”

USA — The National Leadership of the Unity Party USA and Canada calls on the National Elections Commission of Liberia to respect the will of the Liberian voters and immediately certificate all Senators-elect whose election have been fully adjudicated. The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday failed to certificate Senator Elect Brownie Samukai of Lofa County even after the Supreme Court ruled clearing all elections disputes complaints that has delayed his certification and induction. The NEC through its clerk read the Supreme Court ruling and adjourned immediately. Dean’s letter comes exactly a week after he told the Senate plenary that he knew nothing about a letter written by Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas in which he mandated NEC to halt the certification of Samukai until he restitutes the amount of US$1.4 million.

MONROVIA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is providing take-home rations to 5,000 pre-primary and primary school children and their household members. “WFP is very grateful to the Government and people of Canada for their support to the school children in Liberia,” said Karla Hershey, the WFP Representative and Country Director in Liberia. Many families in Liberia put their children to work or keep them at home rather than send them to school. The take-home rations play a vital role of enabling the whole family to receive nutritious food support while encouraging their children’s attendance. The school meals provided by WFP through support by Canada aim to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 socio-economic shocks on vulnerable girls and boys and their families.

Monrovia — First Lady Clar Marie Weah, today, dedicated several major life-changing projects in the Peace Island Community, reassuring the government’s commitment to improving Liberians’ standards of living. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Mrs. Weah said the development initiatives manifest President George Manneh Weah’s love for his people and his commitment to bettering their lives. “Improving the living conditions of our people in vulnerable communities is our priority; and we will not stop until we achieve this goal,” the First Lady said. She was also appreciative of the dynamic leadership of Honorable Paulita C. C. Wie, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs in coordinating the development projects. For their part, the Peace Island Community commended the government of Liberia and partners for the great development initiatives in their area, stressing that the projects will go a long way in easing their challenges.

MONROVIA — The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has begun a series of trainings on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Shadow Report Writing and Advocacy. OHCHR is providing technical and financial support to the Civil Society Organization Human Rights Advocacy Platform to build the capacity of women rights advocates in drafting CEDAW Shadow Reports. The CEDAW Shadow Writing and Reporting training includes sessions on the monitoring of CEDAW implementation, advocacy strategies and human rights data collection. The trainings will produce a draft shadow report of the Human Rights Advocacy Platform for the forthcoming CEDAW State report review of Liberia. The trainings are also intended to train WRDs to develop CEDAW shadow treaty report.

Ma Lorpu as she is commonly called is among 700 plus women who have graduated from Extreme poverty under the BRAC Liberia Ultra-Poor program in Kakata, Margibi County over the weekend. BRAC Liberia also helped me with food for the pigs.”Ma Lorpu says she received L$70,000 from the sale of seven pigs. “I’m better off now because I eat well and can help my children and grandchildren,” Ma Hawa said at BRAC Liberia Ultra-Poor Graduation program. Doe, the Program Manager for the Ultra-Poor program disclosed that the program is built on “four core pillars”. Serving as guest speaker for the program, Margibi County District #3 Lawmaker, Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh praised BRAC for the program.

Gibril Massaquoi consults with his lawyer in his war crimes trial, Leslie Lumeh/New NarrativesMONROVIA, Liberia – For a second day in a row emotions dominated proceedings in the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi in Liberia. Civilian 27 echoed previous witnesses who said the soldiers were speaking Creole and Mende, two languages common in Sierra Leone and not Liberia. “We were in Babarhun when the soldiers told us that they were acting on orders and their commander was coming,” she told the court. He called his name to us and said he was next to God.”Quizzed by the defense to establish whether she truly knew Massaquoi, Civilian 27 said, “This man was Gibril Massaquoi. Massaquoi had been granted residency in Finland and immunity from prosecution for crimes in Sierra Leone in exchange for his testimony.

Declaring her intention at a well-attended press conference held at her residence on Wednesday, Amb. Monrovia – One of Liberia’s leading humanitarians and top radio personalities, Ambassador Karishma Pelham-Raad has announced her intention to contest as Representative for Montserrado County District #10. Ambassador Pelham-Raad, a member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is a prominent resident of the district and the Chief Executive Officer of ‘Her Royal Highness (HRH) Charity Foundation’. “As CEO of HRH Charity Foundation, I, Karishman Pelham-Raad want to officially pronounce my declaration of intent to contest for Representative of Electoral District#10 Montserrado County,” she announced. Montserrado County District #10 is one of the most politically-charged electoral districts in the county.

“There are plans to determine that the Lofa County seat cannot be occupied by Brownie Samukai – meaning that the decision of the Lofa people will be nullified,” he said. In his OK FM interview, he said “any attempt to declare the Lofa County seat would be the beginning of a negotiation for an interim government”. On March 8, the Supreme Court halted his certification by the National Election Commission (NEC). Of the 11 candidates who vied for the Lofa County senatorial seat, Samukai received 20, 431 votes, followed by Independent candidate Cllr. Samukai has experienced mixed rulings with the Supreme Court since he won the senatorial seat in Lofa.

Gbarnga — A total of 12 inmates serving at the Gbarnga Central Prison have escaped from detention in a recent jailbreak, Bong County Attorney Jonathan Flomo disclosed Wednesday, March 17. Flomo said the inmates were 17 in a cell, but 12 were successful in breaking the cell during the early hours of Wednesday. Flomo said the inmates were notorious criminals who were placed behind bars following police preliminary investigations about their alleged allegations. He urged residents of the county to aid the security of the county with necessary information that will lead to the rearrests of the 12 inmates. Flomo, meanwhile, said the joint security in the county has launched an investigation amongst prison authority regarding the “difficult to believe” jail break at the prison facility.

The school stopped little Catherine Karma from attending classes on ground that she would initiate other students into witchcraft. The Kindergarten student is among the first batch of students to enroll in the school when it was established last year. “My friends lied on me to my teacher so they say I should not go to school again. I want go back to school, I missed my friends and my teacher,” the six-year-old said. They want see me, so I passed on my daughter’s campus to find out what happened.

Liberia: Nya D. Twayen Foundation Launched in Nimba to Help the Less FortunateGanta, Nimba County — A son of Nimba County, Nya D. Twayen, Jr, on Saturday, March 13, 2021 launched the Nya D. Twayen Foundation dedicated to creating economic empowerment for residents of the county. “I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Nya D. Twayen Foundation. “I’m committed to supporting and empowering my fellow kinsmen.”Continuing, he added: “The creation of this Foundation is an important step in developing more opportunities for residents of Nimba County. History of the FoundationThe Nya D. Twayen Foundation was established in 2018 purposely to engage with Liberians in the areas of education, health and sanitation, peace-building, youth and women empowerment, and leadership. The initial focus of the Foundation is on Nimba, county of its founder for the intend of helping his kinsmen as a means of giving back to the people of Nimba.

Monrovia – The Administration of Bluecrest has disclosed that over 100 people are expected to graduate from the institution which will be the 3rd batch of graduates. Speaking ahead of the commencement, the Head of the Diploma Programs at BlueCrest University College Anand Kumar Gupta stressed the need for Liberian students to get more involved into the information technology sector of the Country. He said BlueCrest since its operations in Liberia has helped bridge the gap in the Information Technology sector of the country and remains committed to said drive for the betterment of the students of Liberia. Meanwhile, the Chairman on Education at the House of Representatives Johnson Gweglo is expected to serve as the third commencement speaker of the BlueCrest University College. The 130 graduates are expected to bag respective Diplomas and Degrees in Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Business Administration and Diploma in Information Technology, among others.

MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate has condemned the act of violence meted on the headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC) on 9th Street, Sinkor and Associate Justice Joseph Nagbe in Brewerville by known individuals. The arson attack on the NEC occurred the night hours of March 15 leading to the complete burning of pickup truck and the partial burning of the garage. The attack on the NEC occurred a week after similar attack was meted on the residence of the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. According to the Senate, the throwing of petrol bombs and other lethal objects in recent times at the home of Associate Justice Nagbe and the NEC “is an attack our democracy and it is totally unacceptable”. The Liberian Senate has therefore urged the Liberia National Police to be more vigilant aimed at protecting the NEC, and the three branches of government.

Liberia: Former NEC Commissioners Express Disappointment in the Unprecedented Delay Associated with the Conclusion of the 2020 Senatorial ElectionMONROVIA — Two former Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) James Fromayan and Johnathan Weedor, now heads for a local election monitoring group, ‘Center for Development and Elections’ Management (CEDEM) have expressed disappointment and surprise for the unprecedented delay that is associated with the conclusion of the 2020 Senatorial Election. “There is absolutely no justifiable reason why NEC has not certificated Mr. Brownie Samukai after his convincing victory in December. CEDEM believe that ruling by the Supreme Court is the basis for the current multiplicity of complaints filed to the Elections Commission. CEDEM is a National Civil Society Organization established in May 2019 by Liberians dedicated to the peace and development of Liberia. The Center is dedicated to finding solution to the challenges confronting the Liberian Society in areas of election and other sectors of national development.