Subsumed within the $900 billion spending bill passed by Congress on Dec. 21, 2020, was a provision extending the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness program, or LRIF, for one more year. The program, which was initially signed into law in December 2019, was set to expire on Dec. 20, 2020. The LRIF program was created through robust advocacy efforts by the African Career, Education & Resources, Inc. (ACER), Liberians, and other Black immigrant advocates and a bipartisan cohort of Democrats and Republicans in Congress over many years. “The extension of the LRIF deadline is another huge win for the Liberian community!” said Diana Konate, Policy Director at African Communities Together. ACER is excited to have the opportunity to help more of our hard-working immigrant community members stabilize their immigration status, which strengthens families, communities, and our state.

Kakata, Margibi County – The Ministry of Mines and Energy in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Monday organized a one-day stakeholders workshop with the aim of developing a user-friendly handbook for both artisanal and small scale miners. The artisanal mining sector (ASM) of Liberia has, however, attracted both local and foreign miners owing to the limited barriers to enter in the sector, including limited expertise, among others. “Development of the handbook and follow-up training and awareness will enhance participatory monitoring of the ASM sector. The overall objectives of this initiative are to support the development of a simple English (user-friendly) training handbook for artisanal miners and mining host communities to provide them with much needed skills and knowledge,” stated Min. Liberia’s new Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development sets a bold vision towards improving mining governance and enforcing regulations on artisanal and small-scale mining operations across the country.

Williams, Contributing WriterAt this present time, family, loved ones, friends, former co-workers, as well as scores of many others, are mourning the loss of Ms. Vickie Ward, who passed from labor to rest on December 16, 2020, in the US. It is, therefore, my very sad duty but an honor to pay this tribute to Vickie, a brilliant mind with a great passion for education, gone too soon. Ms. Ward and Ms. DeContee Clements were the principal staffers in the Ambassador’s office, two of the most competent and very beautiful young women I have been blessed to work with over the years. Although DeContee was much younger, she and Ms. Ward forged a very strong bond together. She was very passionate in supporting girls in science education.

MONROVIA – Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah, says politicizing of monetary issues in Liberia is leading to the “erosion of confidence in the banking system”. Tweah dodged taking the responsibility for the shortage of Liberian dollar banknotes, stating that the authority to print new banknotes rests with the Legislature and not the President. He said he looks forward to the Legislature, upon their return from their annual break in January, acting to end the politicization of monetary policy. This means, he expects the legislature to strip itself of the sole authority of granting the Central Bank of Liberia permission to print new banknotes before it is printed. The new Central Bank Act gives the CBL more independence and the autonomy to decide the country’s monetary policy.

The Central Bank of Liberia fails to supply money into the economy as one of its keys functions. It didn’t help but worsened Zimbabwe economy. If the Central Bank of Liberia and Ministry of Finance and Development Planning don’t act swiftly then Liberia is the next example. Even now, Zimbabwe economy is still suffering. Like Zimbabwe, Liberia is heavily dependent on exports of raw materials and largely import every basis commodity.

Qualified females are overlooked for promotion or sensitive legal assignment or cases for fear of women being overly independent in legal and moral responsibilities. Considering this milestone and a huge gender equity achievement, there is a need for a lot more improvement. The desire to enhance and upgrade women participation in national growth and development should not be limited to high level national platform, but the establishment of strong grass-root, indigenous undertaking amongst our semi-literate and illiterate larger community. She has a long working as an advocate as women and Children’s human rights lawyer. She is committed to advocating for the rights of Women and children in Liberia and the World at large.

MONROVIA – Several Liberians who purchased tickets for the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) raffle under the theme ‘Prevenient Grace Raffle Draw’ as well as ordinary citizens that graced the final raffle draw on December 24, 2020, were proud recipients of prizes and gifts presented to them as Christmas gifts. The raffle draw was held in two categories, with category-one featuring four prizes including a 50-inch Flat Screen Television, a Chester Freezer, one 18,000 BTU Air Conditioner and one Bed Set. She narrated that the first draw was held March 16, 2019 at which time people won prizes including Macro-waves, a Generator and a Motorbike. “On October 24, 2019, the third draw was held and people won coat-wear comprising accessories pieces, a gas cooker, a sewing machine and a home Theater.”Amb. The December 24, 2020 final raffle draw which was interspersed with spontaneous questions posed to on-lookers gracing the occasion as a yardstick to win gifts including cash, T-shirts.

Neil Bradley in group photo with DG Macauley and DirectorsMONROVIA – The British Ambassador Accredited to Monrovia, H.E. Neil Bradley made a courtesy visit to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), on December 22, 2020. According to her, the core function of the institute is to prevent and control public health threats in the country. She also indicated that the establishment of NPHIL was a result of the after-action review of the Ebola outbreak that recommended the establishment of a public health institute. Neil Bradley said he was happy to visit NPHIL as part of his courtesy visit tour since he arrived in Liberia in August of 2020.

MONROVIA – The African Youth Peer Review Committee (AYPRC) in collaboration with the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Houston Clear Lake, United States of America, has provided books and other food items to two orphanages in Margibi County as part of the festive season celebration. The two orphanages which benefited from the gesture include: the Peter W. SayKlon Orphanage Home and the Children Future Orphanage Home. “The Peter W. SayKlon Orphanage home is highly appreciative for coming to identify with our kids during such festive season. For his part, the head of the Children Future Orphanage Home, Samuel D. Winnie thanked AYPRL and her partner for the gesture, describing it as timely. Others are: Francis M. S. Magbie (VPA Children Future Orphanage), Moses G. Togba (VPI Children Future Orphanage), Samuel D. Winnie (Principal, Children Future Orphanage), Christiana F. Blamo (Teacher) and Hallowanga B. K. Pewu (Dean of Student, Children Future Orphanage).

In her first 30 days in office as Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services, the firebrand female technocrat toured all six counties in the southeastern part of the country: Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Maryland and River Gee Counties. The objective of travel, amongst many things, was principally to follow up on various road projects across the country, beginning with the southeast that experienced perennial road deficits and hold-ups. While in the southeast, she paid courtesy visits at various project sites including the Fish Town-Harper Road Project, Harper-Karloken, Karloken-Fish Town and Fish Town-Kelipo. In the wake of the passing of then Public Works Minister, Hon. As Acting Minister, Hon.

“Sooner or Later, We Will Not Find Liberian Dollars to Use” – Min. Minister McGill made these comments in a live video interview with reporters over the week end. He attributed the scarcity of the Liberian dollars on the local market to the mutilation of majority of the local currency. Sooner or little, we will not have Liberian dollars to use again because the kind of Liberian dollars we having. We can’t find the Liberian dollars because, majority of the Liberian dollars rotten”.

MONROVIA – Renowned Liberian humanitarian, Dr. Daniel E. Cassell has awarded a four-year each university scholarship to the children of the deceased auditor of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Albert Peters. Dr. Cassell is the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dr. Cassell’s Foundation in Liberia. The gesture to the children of Albert is an extended of a previous scholarship awarded to his younger child at the secondary level. Making the presentation on Christmas Eve in Monrovia, Dr. Cassell disclosed that his move to identify with the widow and children of the fallen Liberian auditor was based on Christian principles and patriotism. For their part, the beneficiaries commended Dr. Cassell for taking full responsibility of the cost of their university studies.

Pipeline Community, Paynesville – The Lena Marshall Foundation on the eve of Christmas distributed food parcels amongst a group of women and children in the Pipeline community Paynesville outside of Monrovia. Miss Reeves stated that one of the main objectives of the foundation was to help the less privileged in the society. “We also render services to young women and the disable community as well,” stated Reeves. Giving an overview of the Foundation, the Founder, Madame Lena Marshall stated that her team set up the Foundation to help women, girls, and children in low and middle-income countries to make their lives better. “I chose our ambassador Sarah Güsten-Marr to represent LMF because she is a wonderful inspiration to so many women and children.

Before I enter my name into nomination, it is important that I undergo the consultative process with those who will actually be electing the deputy speaker,” he said. The Deputy Speaker post was made vacant by the election of Rep. Before I enter my name into nomination, it is important that I undergo the consultative process with those who will actually be electing the deputy speaker.” Rep. J. Fonati Koffa, Chairman, Judiciary Committee. For him, Rep. Koffa is well-matched for the leadership post. Who Is Rep. Koffa?

Cestos City, Rivercess County- A polling staff identified as Rancy Fanciah, assigned in Rivercess County has admitted that over 40 valid votes belonging to senatorial candidate Steve Tequah were counted invalid. Mr. Tequah, who came second in the race behind former Superintendent Wellington Gevon Smith, the declared winner, had complained that several votes cast in his favor were marked invalid at several polling places in the county. Fanciah, who served as a presiding officer at the Wruah Town voting precinct, is heard telling the Election Magistrate of Rivercess County in an audio recording that the polling staff were forced to declare Mr. Tequah’s votes invalid because of pressure from some of Mr. Smith’s supporters. “Following the close of the voting process, we decided to do sorting and counting at which time we called the attention of the parties’ agents. According to the NEC, Tequah came second in the county’s senatorial race behind declared winner Wellington Gevon Smith with 116 votes.