A Rejoinder To Ambassador Brown’s “Do Not Confirm” and Cllr. Johnson’s “Illegal and Unconstitutionality” Argument
Article 89 of the 1986 Constitution expressly states: The following Autonomous Public Commissions are hereby established: “CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, ELECTIONS COMMISSION, and GENERAL AUDITING COMMISSION. The personnel who head these institutions are political appointees who are subject to the “pleasure power” of the President (Article 56). Further, section 2.9 of the New Elections Law, refers to the autonomy of the commission to be independent of any branch of the Liberian government. The keywords used in section 2.9 of the New Elections Law are (1) powers and (2) duties. Section 2.2 of the New Elections Law refers to appointment and tenure of the commissioners.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 22:30 UTC
Nagbe Sloh’s Death And Liberia’s Broken Health System: Why Too Many People Are Dying
A mass of the population does not have access to quality health care. According to media reports, Rep. Sloh, 55, died at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) in Monrovia on June 30, 2020, following a brief illness. The 36-year-old former beauty queen and model, died on July 8, 2020, in Accra, Ghana, where she had gone for advanced medical care. Since the end of the14-year destructive civil war, Liberia’s health care system has been unable to adequately serve the war-affected population, which is also dealing with serious mental health challenges. Following the merger, the Washington, DC medical center was shut down and its operations relocated to the newly constructed ultra modern center in Bethesda, MD.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 21:56 UTC
Accurate Testing, Results And Trust: The Keys To Defeating Covid-19
She continued, “This place (Testing Center) is infested “. I said to her “I am wearing a face mask (face shield really I was wearing).She responded, “face mask and not face shield is the required personal protective equipment (PPE) I am referencing”. I decided I was going back outside the complex fence to procure a face mask, since I was determined to do my test. As a blessing, the same female staff shouted to me, “wait for me and I will bring a face mask for you”. Up to this publication however, I have not gotten my test result which was done on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 21:45 UTC
Liberia: “I am Disappointed In Sen. Milton Teahjay”
I was a junior student at Temple University in Philadelphia in 2001 when it was reported that Milton Teahjay had gone missing in Nimba County, Liberia. At the time, Mr. Teahjay was a thorn in the flesh of the powers that were. It turned out Mr. Teahjay was reported to be seeking refuge at the US embassy near Monrovia. I’ve followed Mr. Teahjay all these years and he seemed to be making progress. I am woefully disappointed in you, Mr. Teahjay.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 21:33 UTC
Liberia: Charles Taylor’s NPP Welcomes ‘Founding Mother’ Agnes Taylor; Months After War Crimes Charges Dropped in UK
Monrovia – Seven months after her release from a UK prison, Agnes Reeves-Taylor, ex-wife of the jailed former Liberian president Charles Taylor, is back in Liberia. She was recently arrested and charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity in a British Court. Mrs. Reeves’ acquittal came as a blow to advocates for war crimes in Liberia. And similar alleged crimes that have occurred more recently than this case, anytime since 1991, if proven could also be prosecuted as war crimes. The NPP, left for dead after the departure of former President Taylor, was rejuvenated following the 2017 elections with the number two slot on the coalition- and Howard-Taylor as Vice President.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 08:33 UTC
Liberia: NAYMOTE Disburses L$1.2m to CBOS for Covid-19 Response
Institutions benefitting from the small grant includes, the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled, University of Liberia Masters in Public Health Student Volunteers, Public Health Care Solution, Youth Network for Positive Change, Orphan Concern Liberia, Youth Aid Liberia, SATEC TV among others, these institutions are working in line with the national COVID-19 response process and the approved health messages. The partner’s institutions also received packages of facemasks, posters, flyers, and banners with various messages to enhance peacebuilding, social cohesion, and COVID-19 prevention to be used during implementation. With the increased number of COVID-19 cases in Liberia, NAYMOTE is calling on politicians interested in the upcoming senatorial election to place citizens’ health and safety first, support the national COVID-19 response process and adhere to Government announcements and health protocols. It is unacceptable to see politicians rallying large crowds without adhering to health protocols during a public health crisis only because they want to be elected. We call on the health authorities and government to immediately put in place safety measures ahead of the mid-term senatorial election to save lives.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 19, 2020 04:52 UTC
Humane Society International supports Liberia’s celebration of World Chimpanzee Day Liberia
MONROVIA – The global animal protection charity Humane Society International (HSI) joined Liberian partners in a celebration of World Chimpanzee Day on July 14th, a day to honor chimpanzees and raise awareness about the need to protect these endangered animals worldwide. HSI has worked to protect chimpanzees in Liberia since 2015 through its sanctuary project, Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge Liberia. World Chimpanzee Day on July 14th marks the 60th anniversary of the day world-renowned primatologist and UN Ambassador of Peace, Dr. Jane Goodall, first arrived in Gombe National Park, Tanzania to begin her groundbreaking research into wild chimpanzee behavior. With the entire world reeling from the threat of COVID-19 World Chimpanzee Day provided Liberian advocates an opportunity to highlight the point that inappropriate interactions with animals are the root causes of pandemics. To learn more about Humane Society International, visit www.hsi.org To learn more about Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge Liberia, visit www.liberiachimps.org or www.facebook.com/abandondedchimpsTo learn more about World Chimpanzee Day, visit: https://www.worldchimpanzeeday.org/
Source:Front Page Africa
July 18, 2020 20:48 UTC
Liberia: USAID Hand Over Shipment Of Essential Medicines To Government
The medicines presented by Chargé d’Affaires Grunder are in addition to other much needed medical commodities the United States has provided the people of Liberia for several years now. MONROVIA — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today formally handed over to the Government of Liberia a US$1.7 million shipment of essential medicines. USAID provided the shipment at the request of the Ministry of Health to help address a shortage of critically needed medicines and health commodities in Liberia. The medicines presented by Chargé d’Affaires Grunder are in addition to other much needed medical commodities the United States has provided the people of Liberia for several years now. USAID has also worked with its Liberian partners and other donors to help ensure the proper storage and management of health commodities and supplies for the people of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 16:41 UTC
Liberia: Pres. Weah Warns COVID-19 ‘Severe Impact’; Says Poor Public Service Could Undermine Economy Despite
President Weah sounded the caveat during the submission of Fiscal Year 2020/2021 national budget in the tone of US$535.4 million to the Legislature. Other challenges include severe macroeconomic imbalances, low economic development, poor private sector development and poor public service delivery and the severe impact of COVID-19,” the President said in a communication accompanying the resource envelope. With these inhibiting challenges, the President revealed that Liberia’s pre-COVID-19 real GDP growth rate for 2020 was projected at 0.5 percent. Other challenges include severe macroeconomic imbalances, low economic development, poor private sector development, and poor public service delivery, and the severe impact of COVID-19.” – Pres. President Weah, following a two-and-a-half-month delay, submitted the budget in the tone of US$535.4 million – three percent more than the 2019/2020 final recast budget of US$518 million.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: FPA Discovers New Links Of Sen. Teahjay Influence On Employment
Monrovia – Four former staffers of Sinoe Senator Milton Teahjay have landed jobs at several autonomous agencies, FrontPageAfrica has learned. If I wanted money, Nwabudike would have been confirmed.”FrontPage Africa learned from reliable sources that Senator Teahjay was removed as chair of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies. Chie issued a memo on June 30, 2020, stating the change in the leadership of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies. The tenure for chair of Senate Committees is three years. According to Rule 15 Section 2 of the Senate standing rule, the Senate Pro-Tempore has the power to appoint co-chairpersons and members of the leadership committees.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:37 UTC
Liberia: Senate Summons CARI Boss Over Leaked Audio About Selling of Entity’s Assets
Senator Tokpa, Chairman of the House’s Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agency, said the invitation is regarding a leaked audio revealing plans by Findley and a senior staff of CARI, David Tokpah, to loot assets belonging to agency. Senator Tokpa said the decision of the joint committees to invite Findley and the Board Chair of the entity is to authenticate the truthfulness of the leaked audio. In a FrontPageAfrica interview this week, Findley described as “stupid and nonsensical” the audio recording allegedly featuring the voices of her and a senior staff of CARI conspiring to loot the entity’s assets. “I haven’t listened to any leaked audio yet because it doesn’t worth my time. “This goes a long way to suggest that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change and the president are not fighting corruption.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:26 UTC
Liberia: "House Did Not Sign Resolution to Print L$10 Billion"
The former Speaker was summoned by the Court to give details of the 53rd Legislature’s involvement with the authorization to print new banknotesMonrovia – Former House Speaker, Emmanuel J. Nuquay, has testified in open court that the House of Representatives did not sign a joint resolution for the printing of the L$10 billion banknotes. The House of Representatives did not sign any joint resolution to print L$10 billion dollars and there is no such resolution,” the former Margibi County lawmaker was responding to a question by the State: Whether the House of Representatives ever passed a joint resolution regarding the printing of the L$10 Billion dollars? “I have no information absolutely on the printing of L$10 billion by the CBL. “To the best of my knowledge, there is no paragraph in that communication that authorized the CBL to print L$10 billion dollars,” he said, adding that the Bank never acted in accordance with the content of the letter sent by the House. Further, the three-year budget was only capable of financing the initial L$5 Billion dollars that was printed last year.”Responding to the communication, he said: “By refreshing my memory, I cannot immediately recall receiving such communication.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: Senate Staffs Backtrack On Ultimatum Given Their Bosses On Salary Deduction
Senate staffers had given their bosses a three-day ultimatum and threatened to stage a “peaceful protest” if circumstances surrounding their Liberian dollars component of their salaries were not addressed. They had alleged not receiving their Liberian dollars component of their salaries since July 2020. Appeared alarmed by concerns raised, the leadership of the Senate Thursday convened a meeting with aggrieved Senate staffers in a bid to address their concerns. Charles Brown, head of the Senate Interim Staffers’ leadership, commended the Senate for “taking the bullets” for them. Continuing, he added: “We are glad today to have met the Senate leadership.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: River Gee Rep. Francis Dopoh Petitions House to Summon Ministers of Justice, Defense & Army Chief of Staff for Enforcing Unconstitutional State of Emergency
In a communication to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, Rep Dopoh said despite the expiry of the constitutional time frame of the declared state of emergency to meet legislative approval, the Executive through these officials are enforcing the illegal presidential proclamation. The Legislature shall within seventy-two hours, by joint resolution voted by two-thirds of the membership of each house, decide whether the proclamation of a state of emergency is justified or whether the measures taken thereunder are appropriate. If the two-thirds vote is not obtained, the emergency automatically shall be revoked. The President said the decision to extend the state of emergency by 30 days was intended to afford the government the opportunity to re-examine its COVID-19 response strategy. Recently, members of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Legislative Caucus called for the revocation of the State of Emergency because it has passed the deadline set by the Constitution to be approved by the Legislature.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: MOH Adopts Passport COVID-19 To Strengthen Its Fight Against Coronavirus
MONROVIA – As prevention and eradication of the deadly coronavirus from the Country remain a paramount concern of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and government, the Ministry on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 adopted a digital innovation named ‘Passport Covid’ to strengthen its capacity in the fight against the global pandemic. It is also accessible on all categories of phones (Android, iOS and a web portal) and can be integrated with all mobile operators. The application does not record the movements of the phone and therefore, respects the privacy of its users. While adopting the solution at the Ministry, Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah called on Liberians to take advantage of the process to get quick access to their results. “we are adopting this new exercise so as to allow people access their own information when it is released”, she disclosed.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 18:33 UTC