Liberia: President, Citing COVID-19 Pandemic, Wants Mid-Term Senatorial Elections in December
In a communication to the senate the Liberian President said, he has been informed by the National Elections Commission about the impossibilities to conduct the pending mid-term election and referendum on the constitutional date which is the second Tuesday of an election year. As such the NEC has suggested December 15, 2020 as an ideal date to conduct elections and referendum.”Prior to the end of his tenure, Cllr. According to the NEC, the new adjusted date will accord them ample time to conclude the remaining preparatory activities and allow the elections to go ahead in December. The extension also leaves room for the declaration of results, potential election protests and resolution prior to senators being seated by January 2021. “In consideration of all the challenges, I request a joint resolution of the legislature by extending the election date from October to December 2020,” the President said.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 14:06 UTC
Liberia: ArcelorMittal Staff Tests Positive for Coronavirus, 1st Case in Grand Bassa
BUCHANAN ─ ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) informs the public that a member of its workforce in Buchanan has tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID19). The relevant county and national health authorities are closely involved and the County Health Team is overseeing management of the case. ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 18 countries. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future. ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 11:26 UTC
‘Just Sam’: A New Yorker With Liberian Roots Heads into American Idol Finals on High Note
Judges Lione Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan have been impressed with Diaz, a front-runner in the long-running American Idol’s 18th season. Diaz says she’s been singing in the subway and on the trains in New York since middle school. Glendy Junius-Reeves, a Liberian living in Virginia who is part of a support group for Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz, says she and thousands of Liberians were driven to Diaz’s story. We tell people about “Just Sam”; share her story; get people to get to know her.”Diaz is currently one of the top 7 contestants of American Idol. Being able to audition for American Idol has truly changed my life.”
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 09:23 UTC
Tolbert’s Vision, Liberia’s Failure: When Will We Get It Right?
President Tolbert laid out workable plans aimed at catapulting the Liberian nation at a height to eradicate ignorance, poverty and disease. Housing, healthcare, agriculture and education were some of the paramount societal interventions that boosted under President Tolbert’s. The most interesting question that comes to my mind is, how could President Tolbert get all of these things (and many more) right within about nine years and nobody seems to have a clue within forty years? I believe if the country had followed the guidance of President Tolbert citizens wouldn’t be faced with this level of confusion and identity crisis. Leaders, just like family have the responsibility to lay out clear and workable plan(s) aimed at lifting their citizens out of poverty.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 01:52 UTC
Liberia: Senator Dillon Alarms Over Delay in Submission of Recast Budget; Stimulus Pact in Limbo
Nearly a month later, that hasn’t happened according to Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon. Due to the delay, the Montserrado County Senator is raising alarm by calling on those responsible to submit the recast budget in a timely manner. “We don’t seem to be exerting our oversight as an institution and as a senator I am concern. I am concern that pretty close to one month not a bag of rice has been given to our people,” said Senator Dillon. “We need time to review the recast budget so that we can do the appropriate appropriation and pass it on time to allow a speedy implementation of our people.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 01:52 UTC
Forum Collaborates with Rescued Kids in Hardship to Aid Liberian Orphanages in response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Critical Thinkers (CT), a Facebook Messenger-based forum of Liberians is looking to get involved in identifying with some the most vulnerable Liberian orphanages. With this need in mind, Critical Thinkers (CT), a Facebook Messenger-based forum of Liberians decided to get involved in identifying with some the most vulnerable Liberian orphanages. Critical Thinkers is a select group of Liberians engaged in dialogue, intellectual debates, the sharing of published articles, news clippings, podcasts, videos, and exchanges on current events. We seek to analyze information from all sides of the Liberian political and socio-economic spectrum, be it from the government or the opposition. Critical Thinkers wishes to thank all its members who voluntarily contributed toward this worthy cause.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 01:07 UTC
Liberia: Finance Minister Predicts Negative Economic Growth In 2020, Eyes Support to Vulnerable Citizens
Finance and Economic Planning Minister Samuel Tweah appeared as guest on a live stream panel discussion Monday hosted by the US Institute for Peace (USIP) in partnership with the World Bank Group (WBG). Monrovia – Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah has predicted negative economic growth in Liberia this year, as a result of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak in the post-conflict nation. According to the Liberian Finance Minister, Liberia will continue to experience economic difficulties depending on the Coronavirus response to the nation. But Minister Tweah maintained that a response to the pandemic in Liberia must firstly address the private sector, including petty traders and marketers. According to the Liberian Finance and Development Planning Minister, Coronavirus induced economic weaknesses will aggravate debts across the African continent, adding that, “as Minister of Finance, this is the biggest headache I’m dealing with”.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:56 UTC
Liberia’s Weah a Pond or Conduit for the Protection of Others
The Editor,Let me run my mouth small-small on this failed and fake democracy we have in Liberia. In Liberia, since this was black on black so a distinction had to be made between “Americo-Liberians” and natives or tribal Liberians. In Liberia natives constitute 95 percent of the population going back 200 years to this day. And the vestiges of this failed and fake democracy are still inherent in present day Liberia regardless who is at the wheels. Weah is simply a pond or conduit for the protection of others.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:45 UTC
Mo Ibrahim Foundation announces the 2020 Ibrahim Leadership Fellows
LONDON – The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of the 2020 intake of Ibrahim Leadership Fellows, who make up the programme’s ninth cohort. The Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships programme is a selective programme designed to identify and prepare the next generation of outstanding African leaders, providing them with mentoring opportunities in key multilateral institutions. Commenting on the new Ibrahim Leadership Fellows, Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the MoIbrahim Foundation, said:“I’d like to congratulate our three new Ibrahim Leadership Fellows who are joining this unique programme. Hanan is an economist with extensive experience in economic policy research, project management and supporting the growth of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa. The application process for the 2021 Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships programme will open in August 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:11 UTC
WFP Liberia Announces Arrival of 16 Brand New 4x4 Vehicles for its Liberia Country Operations
The vehicles will replace the WFP aged fleet of Toyota Land Cruisers that the Organization started disposing of in October 2018 and February 2020 in line with its assets management policy that requires the replacement of all vehicles that have reached the terminal mileage. Monrovia – The World Food Programme in Liberia has announced the arrival of a fleet of sixteen (16) brand new 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles from the WFP Fleet Center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The Toyota vehicles – including 7 Hard Tops, 4 Double Cabin Pickups, 2 Single Cabin Pickups, 1 Land Cruiser L200, and 2 Land Cruiser Prados – were leased in January 2020 under WFP’s Global Vehicle Leasing Programme (GVLP). The vehicles will replace the WFP aged fleet of Toyota Land Cruisers that the Organization started disposing of in October 2018 and February 2020 in line with its assets management policy that requires the replacement of all vehicles that have reached the terminal mileage. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:11 UTC
Consequences of the Valor of Due Diligence: A Bamboozled Republic of Liberia
The GOL has not been conducting due diligence therefore it has produced platforms for being bamboozled. When an individual or institute sets out to conduct due diligence it is usually misconstrued as being based on distrust and creates unnecessary despondence. The GOL has not been conducting due diligence therefore it has produced platforms for being bamboozled. Bamboozled Executive BranchThe Executive Branch has been bamboozled on uncountable occasions due to the failure to do due diligence. If all this is true, Speaker Chambers has bamboozled the people of Maryland, the Legislature and the whole of Liberia due to lack of due diligence.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:11 UTC
Happy Birthday William R. Tolbert, Jr. The 19th President of the Republic of Liberia
While the indigenous majority felt the change was occurring too slowly, many Americo-Liberians felt it was too rapid. You were then the second Liberian president after President Benson to speak an indigenous language, and you promoted a program to bring more indigenous persons into the government. To the outside world, this peaceful transition seemed to signal political stability in Liberia, remarkable in Africa where political turmoil was the norm. By the late 1970s, your administration became increasingly open to overtures of economic assistance from Libya and Cuba. Happy Birthday Mr. President as we celebrate your 107 Birth Anniversary Posthumously.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 14, 2020 00:00 UTC
Can the Narrative of Policing in Liberia be changed?
I wish to address policing in general in our Liberia. Is it possible to change the police narrative: – This is a big question but really not that difficult to handle? Is it possible to change the narrative of the police in Liberia: – I read a book not so long ago which was speaking about people and nation building? Is it possible to change the narrative of the police narrative: – The Police Chief is the head of the police department? The police chief is the chief law enforcement officer in the nation.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 13, 2020 23:48 UTC
Buyers Beware of Corona Cure from Madagascar
If you carefully look at the video and photos of the “mailman” or messenger who delivered this unproven Corona “cure” to Liberian President George Manneh Weah at Liberia’s Roberts International Airport early this week, strangely, the messenger himself wore Corona face mask and hand gloves. If the cure works, then why would he need a face mask? And what does the latest ECOWAS “refute” claim means for its members proclaiming the “Corona Cure Is in Africa” mantra? So why won’t Madagascar convince the African Union first before telling the world it has the cure for the Coronavirus? So yes, ECOWAS has just distanced itself from the Madagascar Corona “cure” because it says there is no “proven medical and scientific test results” thus far, which is the prudent thing to do.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 13, 2020 23:37 UTC
When Will Liberia Go on from Transitional?
For this reason, elections are the only concrete avenues that citizens must use to reward or punish candidates based on their integrity and performance. This refusal has made Liberia to remained in a transitional stage from July 26, 1847 to present in terms of free, fair, peaceful elections, and good governance practices after elections. These are still far from the norm because of the history of questionable electoral transparency, accountability, rule of law and good governance. While participatory governance promotes many forms of citizen participation for equal fighting chance opportunities and competing ideas beyond elections, this practice elusive in Liberia. So, the question is when will Liberia go on from transition?
Source:Front Page Africa
May 13, 2020 23:37 UTC