Dr. Patrick Lawrence N. Seyon (1938-2020)With a tinge of sadness but infinite gratitude for his life of extraordinary service to education in Liberia, I pause to remember my colleague and friend Patrick L.N. Patrick passed away recently in the State of Massachusetts, USA in the loving care of his wife, Dr. Barbara Greene Seyon. The wound he sustained during the brutal attack on the University of Liberia and his imprisonment was seemingly never healed. Among others, I have heard current Finance Minister Samuel Tweah speak of completing his undergraduate education during Dr. Seyon’s presidency. Seyon of the University of Liberia came to see me at the Mansion on April 19 and handed me a letter for the president.

VP Taylor sees it prudent for those who reside permanently in a particular constituent to make national decisions that will affect them. VP Taylor further maintained that the assignment given to her, has not yet come to an end, but stated that there will be several challenges along the way. Support to a Candidate in BongThe Vice President was also forced again to clarify rumors about her supporting another candidate against the ruling party’s candidate in Bong County. SGBV CasesOn the issue of Sexual Gender-Based Violence in Liberia, VP Taylor described rape and empowerment of girls as everyday issue that must not only be talked about, but actions must be taken. She thinks the involvement of every sector of the Liberia society must work amicably addressing issues affecting women and girls.

Koffa, the Chairman of the House’s Judiciary Committee warned that any delay to the elections would result to constitutional crisis. Koffa, the Chairman of the House’s Judiciary Committee warned that any delay to the elections would result to constitutional crisis. Said Rep. Koffa: “The Writ of Mandamus must fall flat on its face. In case of a vacancy at the House, the Constitution says the Speaker should inform the NEC within 30 days, and the NEC will in turn conduct by-elections within 90 days. The reasons why we will combine them together is because it is easier to conduct the process,” he said.

MONROVIA – In keeping with its constitutional requirement, the Liberian Senate has taken its break to return next year January. According to Senate Pro-Tempore Albert Chie, bills passed include the Re-stated and Amended Central Bank Act and the 2020/2021 National Budget. There were, however, four instances where the Senate declined to approve the nominations and the President withdrew one nomination. Senator Chie: “However, the private schools had difficulties meeting the payment of the salaries of their teachers. But the Government is the Government; so it has decided to come to the aid of these private schools.

But even with that, the increment from GSM companies was more than 50 percent. Even if the government increase tariff like they said you cannot take the call from 45 munites to that of 15 munites. I was thinking that –what is happening to the GSM Companies. We understand that the government increases the tariff on GSM companies. If the government wants to increase tax, there are lots of means they can increase tax.

MONROVIA – Authorities of the Liberian School for the Blind are calling on the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning and Education, to ensure the provision of adequate financial support to the institution to address multiple challenges prior to the commencement of academic year 2020/2021. The institution’s Principal, Mr. Jackson Suah, disclosed that the school remains faced with numerous constraints despite its closure for academic year 2019.2020 under challenging circumstances. Others support to the Liberian School for the Blind comes ‘once in the blue moon,’ or it’s not regular at all. He added that a medical center needs to be established on the school campus to provide medical support and proper healthcare to visually impaired Liberian students. As one of the less fortunate and vulnerable institutions operating in Liberia, the Liberian School for the Blind was fortunate to receive about 80 bags of 25kg rice, 40 gallons of oil and eight bags of beans.

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with support UNICEF on Wednesday, began three days of participatory capacity building training in what is termed as “Result Based Planning Monitoring and Evaluation” for M&E officers in the Port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The workshop is being held under the Theme: Strengthening Government Approach for Accountability, Transparency & Result that is aligned with the National Development Plan of Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). The training seeks to key parameters when conceptualizing an intervention of government projects, highlighting key result based planning framework and it interpretation, as well as being able to demonstrate understandings of the Pro-Poor Agenda for prosperity and Development result framework. At the opening session on Wednesday, Assistant Minister for Development Planning, Hon. The three-day training has brought together thirty (30) Monitoring and Evaluation Officers from Rivercess, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Montserrado County along with Assistant Minister for Development planning, as well as senior staff of Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).

Robertsport – Last Saturday, the young adults of the E. Jonathan Goodridge (EJGYAF) and the James E. Marshall United Methodist Church’ provided free medical services to 37 persons in Robertsport City, Grand Cape Mount County. This event took place at the Uramus B. Freeman United Methodist School in Robertsport City and was implemented by the Health committee of the fellowship, the medical outreach worth over US$ 1,000. He furthers, “Therefore, the Church through its Health committee has decided to make come on this medical outreach. Roosevelt C. Mense, pastor of the first United Methodist Church, Robertsport City, thanked both fellowships for choosing Robertsport as their first site for their out of Monrovia outreach. He said the people of this city needs more medical outreach because medical facilities are out of medical supplies.

Monrovia – The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has suspended the implementation of the surcharges leading to GSM Companies going back to previous charges on voice and data services. Both Orange Liberia and Lonestar Cell MTN have announced that they would begin making full restitution to subscribers who had purchased bundles at surcharge tariffs. According to the LTA, the suspension of the surcharges came through the intervention of President George Manneh Weah.

The financing, which aims to support vaccination of up to a billion people, is part of an overall World Bank Group (WBG) package of up to $160 billion through June 2021 to help developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It adds new financing to the World Bank’s COVID-19 emergency response programs that are already reaching 111 countries. This financing package helps signal to the research and pharmaceutical industry that citizens in developing countries also need access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, the WBG financing will also support countries to access to COVID-19 tests and treatments, and expand immunization capacity to help health systems deploy the vaccines effectively. World Bank Group COVID-19 ResponseThe World Bank Group, one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response.

Senator Coleman is the Senate Committee Chairman on Health, a committee with oversight responsibilities over health matters of the Country. Phone ‘Fell into Wrong Hands, Aide Says“Good Morning Jlayteh there have been some changes due to pressure from the IMF. As a result of this only 2M for hazard pay and an additional 1M for additional goods and services. “It simply fell into the wrong hands or detractors and adversaries.”Health workers on go-slowThe controversy comes in the midst of recent threats and strikes action by health workers across the country. “Right now, no one is dying of starvation since the food distribution is still ongoing, we need to stop it and take the balance money and restore it back to the Health Ministry budget.

Monrovia – Mulbah Morlu, the Chairman of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change says despite the Government of Liberia’s desire to protect businesses and their investments, businesses, especially GSM companies, should operate in a way that would enhance the interest of the Liberian people. GSM companies recently imposed a surcharge on calls and data causing many Liberians to complain about the current economic situation. “The CDC warns GSM Companies to refrain from collusion, which is a crime of economic sabotage. While we do not aim to dwell on the facts and details of the recent pronouncement by the GSM companies, the recent price changes announced by both companies have elements of collusion, which is punishable under Liberian law,” Chairman Morlu said. Chairman Morlu also admonished the Liberia Telecommunication Authority to exercise what he termed as care and prudence when announcing policies that have implications for the ordinary people.

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor was airlifted to Ghana in August after she tested positive for COVID-19. She was admitted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in AccraGbarnga, Bong County – Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor says she feels ready to return home after medical treatment in Ghana, and is waiting for doctor’s permission. The vice president has been in Ghana for three months since contracting COVID-19. “I will be delighted to return home.”A lack of official information regarding Howard-Taylor’s health from the government continues to raise concerns from Liberians. It has been three months now and there hasn’t been an official statement from the government regarding the vice president’s health,” he said.

Monrovia – Catholic school teachers, under the banner, Association of Catholic Teachers and Support Staff (ACTS INC), have resolved to boycott classes, following for what they called, “gross refusal of the Catholic Education Secretariat (CES) to address their concerns.”A release from ACTS INC has mandated all teachers of Catholic Schools across Liberia to stay home beginning Tuesday, October 13, until the CES can see reason to address their plight. Nevertheless, Minister Sonii said negotiation was being held with the authority of the Catholic Education Secretariat to ensure that the plights of teachers are addressed. Meanwhile, ACTS is calling on all teachers within the Catholic Education System not to take any instruction from the Secretariat until these demands are met. “We, therefore, call on all teachers and support staff to adhere to this mandate and to take no instruction from any administrator until further notice. When contacted via mobile phone Monday, October 12, the Secretary of the Catholic Education Secretariat Rev.

The PBO and the NCCRM, along several partners including the Office of the National Peace Ambassador (ONPA), the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and civil society organizations have established a platform named the COVID- 19 Election Monitoring and Violence Prevention Situation Room (CEMViP-SR). Through its 215 monitors spread across the 15 counties, the Situation Room will collect a nation-wide data on the elections and COVID-19 for public consumption and policy makers for action. The statement comes on the heels of reports of intermittent elections related violence in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Margibi Counties. Dr. Tolbert called on political parties and residents of these counties to be proactive through dialogues to avoid escalation in tensions and violence throughout the country. Speaking further, he revealed that the launch of the platform is an unprecedented move and will be maintained beyond the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Elections.