Rep. Koffa Differs with Sen. Coleman on Primitive Method of Criminal Justice
Sen. Coleman told Grandcess Radio in Grand Kru that former Grand Kru County Traditional Chief Swen Wleh will lead a delegation from Monrovia to Grand Kru to guide the process of Tamba’s ministration, while police would be deployed to provide protections. He wrote his dissent on his Facebook page: “The presence of a herbalist in Picnicess is like a fool’s gold. I most respectfully dissent.”Several commenters expressed their concurrence against the primitive method of justice, including Rufus Bongpekin Oulabo, who wrote on Cllr. Grand Kru County Superintendent Doris N. Ylatun had told journalists that the unexplained July 10 death of the late Nyenplue caused protest and petition of seeking justice. She said besides Picnicess, the alleged witchcraft activities are also alarming in Galarway.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 23:26 UTC
Liberia: Non-Liberians Selling Used Clothes Given Ultimatum to Stop
The decision by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was announced recently during a meeting with businesses that are involved in the Liberian used clothes industry. MONROVIA – The Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), has issued a 30-day ultimatum to non-Liberian owners of used clothes businesses across the country to regularize such business establishments or face the full weight of the law. The selling of used clothes is one of the businesses exclusively set aside for Liberians under the Liberianization Policy. The decision by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was announced recently during a meeting with businesses that are involved in the Liberian used clothes industry. In line with decisions reached at the meeting, used clothes business owners are to undertake massive awareness through the appropriate means, concerning the need for customers to stop doing business with individuals who are found at the entrance of their business houses, playing the role of middlemen.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 23:15 UTC
Liberia: Comptroller and Account General Inspects County Treasury in Four Counties
He also avowed that there is a need for extension to other counties, currently not part of the county treasury framework. The team inspected and reconfigured the county treasury system for budget execution for FY-2020/2021. The tour consisted of meetings with county treasury staff, as well as technical need assessments conducted on the status and operations of the treasuries. He also avowed that there is a need for extension to other counties, currently not part of the county treasury framework. The county treasury is an integral component of government’s financial management framework being executed by the Comptroller and Accountant General
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 23:15 UTC
LPRA Pre-Qualifies Liberian Owned Companies For Liberia Offshore License Round 2020
Monrovia – Following a vigorous evaluation of Liberian companies who applied to be prequalified for the country’s ongoing Offshore License Round for the Harper Basin, The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) has pre-qualified seven Liberian Companies. Nine companies expressed interest to be pre-qualified but the evaluation panel denied two companies for lack of legal and financial competence. The pre-qualification of Liberian companies is in line with the New Petroleum Law of Liberia which sets aside a mandatory minimum 5% equity interest in all petroleum agreements to companies owned by natural persons of Liberian citizenship. The list of Liberian companies that has been pre-qualified by the LPRA will be submitted to qualified international bidders for possible partnership in fulfillment of the amended petroleum law. Nine oil offshore blocks which have been unexplored and undrilled in the Harper Basin are being offered for biding.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 22:52 UTC
‘Resurgent Calls For Death Penalty In Liberia: Frail Criminal Justice System And Human Rights Implications’
Relatedly, a female presidential candidate in the 2017 elections, made similar calls for the Government to reintroduce capital punishment. There is no criminological justification for the death penalty which would outweigh the human rights grounds for abolishing it. All these developments further invalidate the well-established standard that the death penalty should be used only for the most serious crimes in countries that have not abolished the death penalty. This means, that the requirement of respect for human rights has to include the abolition of the death penalty. It is quite ironic for a Government to respect human rights and retain the death penalty at the same time.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 22:41 UTC
Liberia: Give Us Good Leadership Instead Of Charity
Poor Liberians don’t need charity; they need good leadership. Thus, it would be in the best interests of the voters, especially the people of Montserrado County, if the Press Union of Liberia were to independently organize a debate among the Montserrado County contenders. To make matters worse, unskilled young men and women are prostituting themselves to make ends meet. Homeless young men and women referred to as “zogoes” are using the cemetery in central Monrovia as their place of residence. We are also seeing acts of electoral violence being carried out by young men and women loyal to the Congress for Democratic Change and President George Weah.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 22:18 UTC
LIBERIA: National Stakeholders Conference: Delegates Resolve to Support NEC in Conducting SSE and Referendum
Gbarnga – Closed to100 delegates at the National Stakeholders Conference, on the Special Senatorial Election (SSE) and Referendum at the weekend signed a Resolution supporting ongoing activities of National Elections Commission in conducting the elections. NEC on Saturday August 29, 2020 ended a 2-day National Stakeholders Conference in Gbarnga, Bong County, on the conduct of the 2020 SSE and Referendum to enhance Voters’ participation in the electoral process through sustained and robust civic and voter education activities on the SSE and constitutional referendum. Topics presented included “the legal basis of conducting the voter registration update, the SSE, and the Referendum; 2020 Voter Registration; Hearing Procedures for the 2020 SSE; Referendum Issues- Questions and Symbols; Nonviolence approach for the 2020 SSE; Highlights of CVE activities, and Issues of Gender Parity”. She said the NEC will continue to work hard to meet the constitutional mandate of conducting both the SSE and Referendum. Following the 2-day Conference, NEC’s 2020 activities will intensify with the start of the Candidate Nomination on Tuesday September 1-21, 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 15:22 UTC
Liberia: FPA Editor Named Ambassador by Journalist for Human Rights
Since 2009, Rodney’s newspaper FrontPageAfrica has been heavily involved with Journalists for Human Rights, which trains journalists so they can use traditional reporting skills to cover human rights and other important issues in their communities. Toronto – Journalists for Human Rights is delighted to announce that journalist and author, Rodney D. Sieh, is our newest Ambassador. JHR selects Ambassadors on the basis of their journalistic commitment to excellence and approach to human rights reporting. Since 2009, Rodney’s newspaper FrontPageAfrica has been heavily involved with Journalists for Human Rights, which trains journalists so they can use traditional reporting skills to cover human rights and other important issues in their communities. International outcry by human rights organizations, including JHR, Human Rights Watch, Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders and his Op-ed in the New York Times, forced the Liberian government to release him after five months.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 30, 2020 11:37 UTC
Liberia: Tit for Tat: Under Fire Gender Minister Fires Back at Nobel Laureate Over Rape Saga
Madam Gbowee took to social media Thursday, the third day of the rape protest, to condemn attacks on the protesters by officers of the Liberia national police. Madam Gbowee wrote:“I woke up this morning to news of the government of Liberia clamping down on the peaceful protest organized by young people against the pervasive rape culture in Liberia. Sad, sad, sad…”In a Facebook post of her own Friday, Minister Tarr accused the Nobel Laureate of Grandstanding Pontificating Theatrics – True Advocate or a Generational Underminer”. My Sister Friend, Nobel Laureate Madam Leymah Gbowee and I have had no beefs, no fights, no misunderstandings of any kind. I know that Politics is interest – but to use this serious scourge to gain points against anybody, shows one’s true colors.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 18:56 UTC
Liberia: European Union Expresses Deep Concerns Over Alarming Rate of Rape Cases
The EU takes note of the recent, deep public engagement on this important issue, including demonstrations on the streets of Monrovia. SGBV is perpetrated against women, men and children, often against the most vulnerable in society and it must be stopped. Freedom from violence is a fundamental human right, which must be realised and protected in every society. Freedom from violence is a fundamental human right, which must be realised and protected in every society. The EU also commends the people of Liberia for their recent expressions of solidarity with the survivors and victims of this violence.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 17:26 UTC
Let’s Put on a Different Mirror to Address Students and Support Teachers During and After COVID-19: A Focus on Liberian Children Mental Health and Learning Outcomes
This state of mind can adversely affect their own teaching and learning with even more deadly outcomes on our students. The trauma-informed approach required assessing mental health, physical health, and socioemotional learning support that students need now than ever before. Teachers and school administrators can re-evaluate their individualized teaching plan that must include responding to COVID-19 related trauma in ways that will support students and eliminate trauma. How do we focus on addressing the crisis in ways that will support the students and teachers? All of us can only support these students and teachers if we recognize the shared responsibility by sustaining and creating a trauma-informed approach to teaching.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 15:11 UTC
Liberia: Head of Law Reform Commission Wants Code of Conduct Repealed, But Official of Governance Commission Differs
Liberia: Head of Law Reform Commission Wants Code of Conduct Repealed, But Official of Governance Commission DiffersCllr. Boakai Kanneh has called on the Legislature to repeal the act creating the Code of Conduct (COC) to be replaced with a new one that is applicable. But the Program Manager at the Governance Commission, Bornor M. Varmah disagreed, stating the law has several unique provisions that are pivotal in the fight against corruption. “The code of Conduct which has a bearing on our elections has to be repealed. In March 2014, the 53rd Legislature of Liberia passed a National Code of Conduct for all public officials and employees of the Government of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Mandates Top Committee to Review Anti-Rape Petition for Legislative Actions
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated its top committees on Gender, Health, Judiciary, security and Finance to review a landmark petition submitted by a coalition of anti-rape and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) advocates for possible actions. In their petition, the group laid out several recommendations they believe when implemented by the Government of Liberia will help end this nightmare for the people of Liberia. Rep. Siryon called for more training for police officers and court officials including judges to accelerate the adjudication of rape and SGBV cases. This year, Liberia continue to grapple with an alarming rate of Sexual and gender based violence cases including rape amid a deadly coronavirus pandemic. Rights advocates and observers believe that Liberia, which currently ranked 177th out of 188 countries in the annual Gender Inequality Index is poised to see more decline amid the wave of SGBV cases.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Monrovia City Major Jefferson Koijee Condemns Police Brutality against Peaceful Protestors
MONROVIA – Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee has condemned the Liberia National Police for what he called a clampdown on protesters during the third day of the much publicized March for Justice Protest. “Today we visited and spoke with some anti rape protestors’ whose courage we do admire, given the current alarming rape statistics in the country. Mayor Koijee wants national government takes appreciate measures in dealing with perpetrators of rape . Mayors representing cities within Liberia have joined anti rape protestors’ to send a resounding call to national government on the rape situation in the country. As a founding member of the Liberia Children Parliament now Liberia Children Forum, Mayor Koijee led several marches in demand for justice and protection of women and children .
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberian Movie Star, Humanitarian petitioned to Contest Monsterrado County Senatorial Seat
Madam King, accepting the petition said, she took the decision to stand in a better position to fight for the underprivileged and youthful population of Montserrado county and the country at large. Since her intervention, she revealed that she has helped to take 45 youths from the ghetto and thousands more need help. Meanwhile, Madam King is the second female in less than two weeks to announce her intention to contest the senatorial seat of Montserrado which currently occupied by Senator Darius Dillon of the Liberty Party. Recently, the President of the Liberian Women Movement, Madam Cecelia Siaway-Teah said she was joining the race to increase the number of women at the Liberian Senate. Out of 101 members of the 54th Liberian Legislature currently, there are only nine females, with eight in the House of Representatives and one at the Liberian Senate.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 28, 2020 07:52 UTC