Liberia: World Bank Rejects Liberia’s Request to Single Source Petroleum Storage Tank
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]Even more complicated for the request, is what industry observers fear could put the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) at a disadvantage. On July 31, 1989, an Act of the Legislature granted the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (“LPRC”) exclusive rights for the importation, sale and distribution of petroleum and petroleum products within Liberia. $US11M Storage Tank Already at LPRCToday, the LPRC owns storage tanks at its Product Storage Terminal (PST) near the Freeport of Monrovia where it stores and handles petroleum products for wholesale distribution. The goal of the storage tank was to relieve the entity from paying rental fees for storage facilities. Like CONEX, they were also given the rights for the importation, storage, sale and distribution of petroleum and petroleum products within the Republic of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:58 UTC
Liberia: Aggrieved Redundant Workers Block Railway, Demand Re-employment, Severance Benefits from ArcelorMittal
SANNIQUELLIE – Several aggrieved former employees of steel giant ArcelorMittal who believe they were illegally redundant between 2015 and 2016 on Tuesday staged a protest by blocking the company’s railway with coffins, stones and pieces of sticks. They claim the company illegally redundant them and has since refused to reinstate them, yet employing other people to the positions they vacated. Mr. Emmanuel Sherman, Deputy Mines and Energy Minister for Operation refused to comment on the matter when contacted. When we tried to intervene, FrontPageAfrica tried to draw us into it, so I don’t do my business this way,” he said. The aggrieved workers said having worked with ArcelorMittal for years before their redundancy, the company is asking them to reapply for their posts, sit a test and interview before being reemployed.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:48 UTC
Berets Are Resurfacing in Liberia Warranting A Serious Cause for Concern
AT THE HEIGHT OF THE LIBERIAN civil war, the fearful “Black Beret” troops triggered fears amongst Liberians. THE BLACK BERETS came on the scene at a time when Liberia was still in a state of uncertainty. AT THE TIME of the Berets formation, Liberia was still under grenades attacks and rising arms robberies, the stark reality of a nation rebounding from a brutal civil war. The negative connotations of donning red berets when many are still trying to heal speaks volumes about the direction of Liberia in the aftermath of war. Yet, President Weah, his officials and supporters continue to project an image that they are fighting a war with the rest of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:37 UTC
Liberia: Government Saves Millions from Payroll Cleaning
Monrovia – In its effort to clean ministries and agencies payrolls, the Internal Audit Agency of Liberia (IAA) has concluded the final phase of the payroll verification exercise covering the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Justice sector inclusive of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS). The actual names for verification were 860 classified as deceased, abandoned, dismissed, not verified, verified, retired, and resigned, the IAA boss said. Based on result from the re-verification exercise, the IAA classified the 860 names as deceased, abandoned, dismissed, not verified, verified, retired, and resigned. The Phase I Verification revealed that out of 5,182 personnel, 3,823 were physically verified while 1,359 personnel were not verified. Based on the results from 2018/2019 Payroll Verification Exercise, the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning deleted 373 names from the payroll and placed a hold on the 433 names based on recommendation.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:37 UTC
Liberia: Catholic Prelate Speaks Against Death Penalty, Calls for Strengthening of Existing Laws to Curtail Rape, Protect Survivors
Father Ambrose Kroma says the application of death penalty against perpetrators of rape is not the best solution in tackling the menace. Father Kromah’s comments comes in the wake of increasing calls from high profile officials and rights advocates calling for harsh punishments including the death penalty against perpetrators of rape. However, in his homily on Sunday, Father Kromah, while denounced the ‘diabolical acts’ cautioned that the death penalty will certainly be counterproductive to efforts in breaking the existing culture of silence against rape. “… I am compelled in conscience to categorically differ and reject the call for the death penalty as a deterrent or solution to rape,” he said. In recent weeks, there have been more reports of rape cases committed against babies, girls, boys as well as adults.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: UK Church Partners with Link Aid International To Donate Food Items To Widows, Old Folks
Mr. Eric S. Nyuma warned that hate messages escalate into a bitter civil war which adverse effects are still lingering among Liberians. Link Aid, a local Liberian nonprofit organization, provided food items to 80 households which comprises of single mothers, widows and old folks of the SKD Boulevard, 72nd Community, Paynesville. Mr. Nyuma, who is also the Founder/Executive Consultant of Link Aid International, recalled that this was not the church first time contributing to the growth and development of Liberia. Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the consignment of rice have extended thanks and appreciation to all the organizations for their unified efforts to help them. The beneficiaries speaking through Madam Rose Nagbe, thanked Nyuma for being thoughtful to respond to the need of vulnerable Liberians during the prevailing economic challenges.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: Gbowee Foundation Trains Women as Peace Brigades
Todoee, Montserrado County – The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa in collaboration with the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund and Spotlight Initiative are training women as “Peace Brigades” in five communities in Montserrado, Greater Monrovia, Todee, Careysburg, St. Paul River and Commonwealth. Gbowee Peace Foundation Program Manager, David S. Konneh, said the project seeks keep the peace, hence the organization sought to involve women. “We are training women in keeping the peace, to address violence against women in various communities. Julian Jugbeh Nelson, Program Officer of Gbowee Peace Foundation, speaking on conflict prevention and Response, stressed that since conflict is misunderstanding, women should avoid conflict in their homes. “Many people reporting rape cases will not continue with the cases and because the law cannot allow a perpetrator to stay in Police cell after 48 hours.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: 64-Year-Old Writes WASSCE
She had to first receive learning and COVID-19 preventive materials, which were being distributed by HAES International, before going in the test hall to write the exams. “The project is called ‘Mask for every student’, which will help keep students taking WASSCE Exam safe,” Bouquet said. He disclosed that HAES International is expected to launch a Science Academic Competition at various high schools across Liberia. According to Madam Miller, the benefiting schools are Morris’ Farm Public School, St. Kizito Catholic School, Soul Clinic Public School, Pipeline Junior and Senior High School, Mt. She, however, stressed the importance of high school students continuing to promote hygienic practices in their environments to remain safe.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:23 UTC
250 Liberian Workers Laid Off At MNG Gold
Kokoyah District, Bong County – About 250 Liberians working at the Turkish mining MNG Gold in Kokoyah Statutory District in Bong County have been laid off, the union representing the workers confirmed Tuesday to FrontPage Africa. “Yes, it’s true,” said Anthony Samman, president of the United Workers Union in Bong County, adding that layoff notices were handed to workers last week. He said the layoffs aren’t related to the COVID-19 crisis, but are part of plans following the company’s closure of the Open Pit, where those laid off were assigned. Most of the workers affected were assigned at the open pit that has been shut down by the company,” he said. “I worked at the open pit for the past four years and I am very hopeful that I will be recalled,” he said.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:21 UTC
Liberia: CPP Youth Blast Min. McGill’s Challenge to Cummings for Debate, Says It’s “Childish”
Speaking in an interview with Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) TV recently, Minister McGill challenged Mr. Cummings to a debate. It’s an open challenge to Mr. Cummings to a debate on the president’s performance, and let’s discuss,” said Minister McGill. The CPP Youth Congress called for the debate between Minister McGill and Atty. The CPP Youth Congress alarmed over the habit of some government officials, who they did not name, to continue to show their lack of understanding of governance by engaging into the “constant display of childishness”. Call on WeahThe group, however, called on President Weah to responsibly “conduct the duties constitutionally assigned to the Liberian presidency”.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:15 UTC
Liberia: Lawyers Representing Ex-Central Banks Officials, Prosecutors Close Argument in L$16bn Case Today
In resistance to the State’s submission, the defendants waived their rights to jury trial and requested for a bench trial. Meaning that the judge of the court will served as both judge and jury ( Jury De Facto) in the trial of the case. In his ruling, Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay denied the State application for jury trial and granted the defendants a bench trial. In response, the defendants (Weeks, Badio, Tamba and Farhai) interposes no objection to the prosecution’s submission. However, Judge Gbeisay also granted the prosecution request for the separate trial of defendant Melissa A. Emeh.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:03 UTC
Liberia: Remembering Kofi Annan – Two Years Later
Details of the programme and the model on which it is based−The Dag Hammarskjold Living Memorial – In Zambia are described in the flyer that summaries the two Living Memorials. On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at the University of Liberia auditorium, as part of the Kofi Annan Living Memorial, Young Diplomats for Conflict Prevention were certificated. Two Cohorts of the Young Diplomats have completed the three months certificate training comprising courses amongst which include; Conflict Prevention, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Leadership Development, Community Development and Patriotism. According to her, The Kofi Annan Institute and the Angie Brooks International Centre-both the lead implementing partners of the initiative are indebted to these Institutions. This is how Liberia is remembering our African Icon Kofi Annan – Taking his legacy into the future as we dedicate ourselves to Sustaining Liberia’s Peace, for which he strove and contributed to making possible through the UNMIL’s mission to bring “Mama Liberia back into the comity of nations.”
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 08:03 UTC
President’s Young Professional Program Expands to the Private Sector
Monrovia – The President’s Young Professional Program (PYPP), supported by USAID-Liberia and the government of Liberia through the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Monday celebrated its first Inaugural Private Sector placement. Ltd offices outside Monrovia, the PYPP turned over three of its newest young professionals to Conex, for a two-year fellowship mentorship and training. Said Zaizay: “These 3 Young Professionals are expected to be mentored, trained and provided professional and leadership development support by CONEX over a period of two years. “These young professionals were placed in more than 25 Government ministries and agencies driving institutional strengthening and effective service delivery at the same time supporting the government to achieve its development agenda,” explained Zaizay. The three young professional placed at Conex are a part of the newly recruited cohort of 23 young and talented Liberian college graduates to form part of the PYPP 9th Class.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 07:52 UTC
Ecobank And Lonestar Mtn Launch Push & Pull Service
Monrovia – Ecobank Liberia and Lonestar MTN have officially launched the Push and Pull service to the benefit of their respective customers and subscribers. “The mobile phone operator -Lonestar MTN and the Pan-African bank, Ecobank, are today meeting to further advance a long-standing partnership through value addition. According to Ecobank Managing Director, the launch of the Push and Pull Service is another milestone for the bank since the commencement of their digital journey several years ago. For his part, Mr. Gibson Kollie, Ecobank Head of Consumer Banking, explained at the launch of the product that to gain access to the Push and Pull Service, an individual should visit any Ecobank Branch to link his or her Ecobank account to the Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Money account. Meanwhile, Mr. Yaw Agaypong, Deputy CEO of Lonestar Cell MTN commended Ecobank for the partnership and welcomed them to Lonestar MTN MoMo Family.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 07:52 UTC
Read Liberia Inspires Parents To Create Time And Reading Spaces At Home
The setting up of reading spaces is one of the primary goals of the USAID Read Liberia Activity, an early grade reading initiative that targets over 50,000 students in approximately 640 schools in six counties in Liberia. Read Liberia’s social community mobilizers engage parents and communities to increase early grade school enrollment, promote reading at home, develop reading spaces in the Activity’s targeted counties. The Read Liberia program, Dunnor said, motivated her to get involved in the Parent Teachers Association. “I like Read Liberia program because they gave my children books that they bring home to read,’’ Dunnor said. The couple’s front porch is one of a dozen reading spaces that were created in Margibi County.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 19, 2020 07:41 UTC