Ahead of National Day, Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvist, Reflects on Strong Liberia Ties, Aid Post-Covid-19
Ahead of this year’s celebration, Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvist sat down for an exclusive interview with FrontPageAfrica as she looks back on Sweden-Liberia ties and how post-COVID-19 could alter future assistance to Liberia. AMBASSADOR INGRID WETTERQVIST: Well, we’ve had an office here since 2004, we’ve had an embassy here since 2010, so, we’re celebrating 10 years as an embassy. AMBASSADOR INGRID WETTERQVIST: You mean the Stockholm Conference for Peace and Development – that was the first for everybody. AMBASSADOR INGRID WETTERQVIST: I’m impressed by the GAC, I’m also impressed by the revenue authority. How do you think Sweden can contribute to help change the dynamics of the way things are going on?
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 08:03 UTC
Liberia: Man, 23, stabbed to Death by Blood Sister in Duport Road
Paynesville – A 23-year-old man, identified as Melvin Zarwolo has died after being stabbed multiple times allegedly by his sister following a row over a bucket used to fetch water. The father of the deceased, Akoi Jallah told FrontPageAfrica that he received a call from his little brother on Wednesday, informing him about the fatal death of his son at the hands of his sister. According to Massaquoi, the alleged perpetrator often complained that her parents favored her little brother, and as the result, she often quarreled with him. “His [the deceased] sister is a person who usually go on the streets and only returns when she is pregnant or in trouble. Meanwhile, FPA’s attempt to speak with the deceased’s stepfather, and mother, whose house the incident occurred did not materialize as they declined.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 08:03 UTC
Liberia: NPP’s Sando Johnson to Contest Senatorial Election on CPP Ticket
Senator Johnson had been a staunch member of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), which is already in a coalition with the Liberia People Democratic Party and the Congress for Democratic making them the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Monrovia – Senator Sando Johnson of Bomi County says has disclosed that he is talking with the Collaborating Political Party (CPP) to become the party’s possible candidate in the upcoming Special Senatorial Election. Urey’s ALP could not reach to the run-off election, but Senator Johnson turned in and gave his support to President George Weah’s CDC over former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai of Unity Party. It is few months to the midterm Senatorial, and Senator Johnson is not showing any signs of going on the ruling coalition’s ticket most likely due to his outburst against the CDC. Speaking via mobile phone on a local radio talk show, the OK Morning Rush, the Bomi County Senator disclosed his plan to contest on the CPP ticket in Bomi County in the midterm election.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:41 UTC
Liberia: Margibi County’s Circuit Court Defers German Man Murder Case To Next Term of Court
Kakata – The Liberian Government quest for a speedy trial in the German national murder case at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County has been dealt a blow due to the court deferment of the trial for the next Term of Court. She revealed that the Supreme Court had advised Judges that if any party requests for a jury trial during this period of COVID-19, that matter should be deferred to the next Term of Court. “Section 20.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia which says right to trial by jury, a defendant should be accorded the right to jury trial except for petty offence, but this is a murder trial. The court do here grant the defense lawyer motion for jury trial and the case differed to the next Term of Court and hereby so order,” Judge Tarr-Chenoweth ruled. Wesseh A. Wesseh, Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, took no objection to the defense’s motion for jury trial.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:40 UTC
Liberia: Lutheran Church To Begin Traditional Worship Service Following Assessment of COVID-19 Situation
Worship services, prayer meetings, Bible studies, weddings, funerals, choir practices, and other meetings be limited to a maximum of 90 minutes at a time, it stated, while adding that “social distancing mandate be applied to all [church] gatherings”Monrovia – The Lutheran Church in Liberia says it will begin regular traditional worship service on June 7 at all its churches in the country. Bishop D. Jensen Seyenkulo, Presiding Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, said in a press statement issued on Thursday, June 4, that the decision was made after “weekly assessment of the situation with the pastors,” something he had earlier promised to do before resuming worship service. Bishop Jensen, according to the release, will continue holding meetings with pastors on a weekly basis to “assess the situation”. “We pray that our pastors and members will keep safe and help the rest of the nation remain safe. God bless you; God bless the Lutheran Church in Liberia and God bless our nation, Liberia,” the release quoted Bishop Jensen as saying.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:30 UTC
Expulsion, Suspension of Lawmakers Will Pose Threats To Liberia’s Democratic Process – Rev. Kortu K. Brown
Kortu K. Brown, has called on members of Legislature to desist from burning their energies on investigating a colleague for making alleged disparaging comments against Legislature. He continued: “It will not serve us well when we try to encourage attitude of intolerance in our governance process. “Who hasn’t cussed in this country (Liberia) before? The LCC’s President comments come in the wake of an ongoing investigation initiated by the leadership of the Liberian Senate against Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon. But Bishop Brown indicated that the current situation at the Liberian Senate is a complete deviation from the fight against the pandemic.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:30 UTC
Kimmie Weeks Urges Anti-Graft Institutions To Be Proactive Curbing Corruption
Weeks, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the General Auditing Commission (GAC) must erect the necessary checkpoints to help promote transparency and accountability during the pandemic. Monrovia – Acclaimed Liberian activist, Dr. Kimmie Weeks, has underscored the need for anti-graft institutions in Liberia to be more proactive and vigilant in dealing with allegations of waste and corruption during this Coronavirus outbreak in the country. Weeks made these comments in an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa via telephone on Wednesday. We need to keep providing clarity for our people and promoting transparency,” Weeks said. Weeks added that regardless of political parties or class, Liberians should consciously hold together to move the country forward.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:18 UTC
Liberia: Fear Heightens Over Possible Spread of COVID-19 Amongst Drug Addicts
He said getting food, safe drinking water and medicine remains a challenge. Disadvantaged youths in Liberia are mostly seen in major streets in the country, with majority lacking safe dwelling, while few are managing to survive on handouts. Some disadvantaged youths who spoke with FrontPageAfrica threatened non-compliance with established health regulations for containment and prevention of the COVID-19. He says providing awareness on Covid-19, food and medication are pressing needs for many of them in the Redlight Market area. Samuel David, deputy information officer of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), said nothing has been done by the entity so far to provide COVID-19 preventive materials for the disadvantaged youths.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:18 UTC
Liberia Darling People Donates Food, Anti-COVID-19 Materials to Leadership, Residents of Grand Bassa County
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – As Liberia Observes the state of emergency and a partial lockdown in the wake of COVID19, a non-governmental organization, the Liberia Darling People have reached out to the leadership and people of Grand Bassa County through the donation of food and non-food items. The Liberia Darling people is a newly established organization under the leadership and supervision of Henry O. Fahnbulleh Jr, a son of the soil who currently resides in Europe. He added that if politicians can forget about politics and show love for country, then Liberia will be a better and competing Country. Vondeh noted that the gesture was the first time that a group has identified with them, and called on the Government and humanitarian organizations to follow the Liberia Darling People’s footstep. “We say thank you for thinking about us because we did not write or ask for these materials.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 05, 2020 07:07 UTC
Liberia: Man in his 50s is Bong County’s First Death Linked to COVID-19
The death marks the first COVID-19 death in Bong County, where there has been no cases of the virus since its outbreak in the country four months ago. Gbarnga, Bong County – Bong County Health Team Thursday morning announced that a 52-year-old resident of Sugar Hill community in Gbarnga has died from complications connected to COVID-19. The death marks the first COVID-19 death in Bong County, where there has been no cases of the virus since its outbreak in the country four months ago. “Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the patient,” Dr. Yeiah said. The identified contacts, Dr. Yeiah said, had been told to stay at home, monitored by health officials.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 17:26 UTC
Spotlight Initiative supports media training on Gender Sensitive Reporting on COVID-19 and SGBV in Liberia
This training, which was held in Montserrado county, was the first in a series of trainings that will be held in Liberia. The Montserrado training included participants from print, electronic and online media from various media institutions in Liberia. Before the training, 75 percent of the media practitioners had limited knowledge about gender sensitive reporting on COVID-19 and SGBV. Simply having women in the newsroom is not enough because that does not guarantee being gender responsive or gender sensitive reporting,” she said. The gender sensitive training was organized and facilitated by the Female Journalists Association of Liberia with support from the European Union, United Nations and Government of Liberia Spotlight Initiative.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 16:41 UTC
Justice Wolokollie Denies Orange Liberia’s Quest for Prohibition on Surcharges
The promo which had run for over three years was also affecting government’s revenue generation in the sector. Industry experts say both GSM Companies operating in Liberia experienced an astronomical increase in revenue since the new LTA regulation came into effect. Despite the high rise in revenue, Orange GSM insists that it cannot honor the bill from the LTA for the payment of the surcharge. This, the government has seen as an unrealistic argument and an attempt from the GSM Companies to deny government its just revenue. Justice Wolokollie declined to entertain the matter because the matter is presently before the full bench and one justice cannot act, however, she admonished the parties to pursue the appeal.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 13:18 UTC
Liberia: MFDP Begins Publishing Fiscal Reports
These reports, dubbed Fiscal Data Transparency Measure, will reflect budget performances of individual entities which have up to now only been shared with the International Monetary Fund. Under the new measure, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning will post weekly fiscal reports to its website(www.mfdp.gov.lr). These reports, dubbed Fiscal Data Transparency Measure, will reflect budget performances of individual entities which have up to now only been shared with the International Monetary Fund. The government has said that the publication of the reports is in continuation of the Open Budget and Fiscal transparency initiative exercise. Meanwhile, Liberia has made enormous fiscal progress in implementing “prior actions” agreed with the IMF.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 12:45 UTC
Liberia: Agriculture Minister Has No Regrets About Changes; Stepping on Hornet’s Nests
MINISTER JEANNIE MILLY COOPER: “Coming from the private sector you make decisions like that all the time. I know because I’ve been buying agriculture equipment and I know how long it takes to get here.”Watch Full Interview with Agriculture Minister Jeannie Milly CooperDefending ‘Logical Decision’The minister said she has no regrets about the decision. That’s some of the benefits of getting somebody in the field who knows the agriculture sector here. Squarely that’s one of those honest nests on rationalizing on something that’s already been decided.”The minister acknowledged the ADB initially had concerns. The minister expressed regrets that the controversy has hindered her efforts to reform the agriculture sector.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 10:06 UTC
Liberia's Agriculture Minister: Transformation Is A Bumpy Road’
Our rubber sector is the largest private employer in the country; if we start to have layoffs in the rubber sector, farmers start to close their farms we would have yet another problem over and above the COVID-19. And an additional US$5.525 million that’s going to be split between the four components. I know because I’ve been buying agriculture equipment and I know how long it takes to get here. We have to bring our agriculture sector into the 21st century. They’re exporting the rubber component, like smoked sheets or technically specified rubber – that’s what they’re exporting.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 09:33 UTC