How Would Liberia Deal With the Economic Shock of The Coronavirus Outbreak?
How Would Liberia Deal With the Economic Shock of The Coronavirus Outbreak? Monrovia – Liberia has never completely recovered from the economic impact of the Ebola outbreak that also caused the death of nearly 5,000 people. Consequently, jobs were lost and the government’s revenue generation was ghastly reduced. China, Europe and the United States are also struggling to deal with the economic shock and economists have warned that if the number of cases continues to grow and spread, the global economic damage will increase drastically. Also, with the impact of the outbreak affecting the global economy, smaller countries like Liberia that are import-dependent would obviously face some turbulent times.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 03:00 UTC
Liberia: Commerce Ministry Drops Quota on Importation of Rice and Frozen Foods amid Coronavirus
Contacted Wednesday, Commerce Minister Professor Wilson Tarpeh defended the move, saying it is a practice that was in place before but has now been resurrected. Said Prof Tarpeh: “Rice importation is licensed to registered businesses who meet certain predetermined, and published minimum requirements. In 2019, rice imports quantity for Liberia was nearly 300,000 tonnes. Though Liberia rice imports quantity fluctuated substantially in recent years. “Rice importation is licensed to registered businesses who meet certain predetermined, and published minimum requirements.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 03:00 UTC
Liberia: Passport Issuance Suspended Amidst Coronavirus Confirmed Cases
Monrovia – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has with immediate effect suspended the issuance of Passports to Liberian Citizens. This latest decision is in accordance with the mandate of his Excellency President George Manneh Weah on social distancing to avoid the further spread of the deadly Coronavirus. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Passport will only be issued to people based on emergencies cases to be determined by the authority of the Bureau of Passport of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry wishes to inform the public that these measures which will be reviewed periodically, are in no way intended to deprive citizens of their right to travel document rather, it’s in the interest of public safety and health of the citizens. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also rendering apologies to the general public for any inconvenience this latest pronouncement may have caused as it is only intended to contain this dangerous monster(coronavirus)from further spreading.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:37 UTC
Liberia: Government, World Bank Sign US$40m Budget Support
The signing ceremony took place at the World Bank Liberia Country’s Office on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel D. Tweah Jr., represented the Government of Liberia, while Dr. Khwima Nthara Country Manager, represented the Bank. For his part, World Bank Liberia’s Country Manager, Dr. Khwima Nthara, affirmed the Bank’s commitment to support the country’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development. Bank Manager Dr. Nthara, explained that the financing agreement is in two forms, and it includes US$20 million as grant and 20 million as IDA credit. He indicated that the signing was approved on March 17, 2020, by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:37 UTC
Liberia: Council of Churches Urges Members to Hold Multiple Services to Avoid Overcrowdedness
Kortu K. Brown, head of the Liberia Council of ChurchesMONROVIA – Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), through its President Rev. Kortu K. Brown has urged religious leaders to see reason to hold multiple worship services to prevent over crowdedness at their respective places of worship. Samuel B. Reeves, Jr, requested all members of the church members to stay away from the church premises until Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Reeves continued: “This means that there will be no mass gathering, which includes all worship services, Bible study, among others. Brown added that though these churches have suspended worship services, God has not been suspended.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:37 UTC
Liberia: Petroleum Importers Dismiss Claims of Gasoline Shortage Amid Filling Stations Refusal to Serve Costumers
Monrovia – Despite several gas stations displaying ‘No Gas’ signs, the Petroleum Importers Association of Liberia has debunked information that there is a shortage of gasoline on the Liberian market. Since Monday, several gas stations owned by some of the major petroleum importers in Liberia have been sending customers away because claiming there is no gasoline. On Monday, there were long, disorder queues at several gas stations in Monrovia and its surrounding communities by vehicle operators scrambling to get few gallons of gasoline. However, the Petroleum Importers Association of Liberia, a conglomeration of 14 major petroleum importers, in a release said there is ‘more than enough’ supply of the product in the country. In addition, the group revealed that several importers are bringing in 10,650,000 gallons of gasoline in the month of March 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:33 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Adopts New Measures Amid Two Cases of Coronavirus in Liberia
The House of Representatives has begun adopting new measures including halting large gathering at the Capitol Building by reducing the number of staff and journalists covering the House of Representatives, as well as barring visitationsCapitol Hill, Monrovia – The House of Representatives is adopting new measures after two persons have been diagnosed with the Coronavirus in Liberia. House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, speaking in plenary on Tuesday said the measures will include putting a halt to large gathering at the Capitol Building by reducing the number of staff and journalists covering the House of Representatives, as well as barring visitation. “We will look at our own environment to see how we can address the issues here. “The government assures the public that the health team is working tirelessly to halt the spread of the disease in the country. The government again urges all to abide by the protocols and preventive measures aimed at keeping the public safe.”
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:26 UTC
Liberia Talk Show Icon, Activist Henry Costa Receives State of Rhodes Island Recognition
Providence, Rhode Island – The State of Rhodes Island in the United States of America has bestowed a special honor on Liberia radio icon and political activist Henry Costa. The Certificate of Special Recognition to Mr. Costa is in honor of his civil rights advocacy in Liberia and in appreciation of being a voice of the voiceless Liberians. In recent years, Mr. Costa has had several run-ins with the George Manneh Weah-led government, which recently led to the closure of his radio station, Roots FM. In January, Mr. Costa was forced to flee Liberia by way of neighboring Sierra Leone after getting wind of information that the government was plotting his arrest. Mr. Costa has repeatedly accused the Weah administration of plotting against him, due to his public stance against corruption, inequality and inflation.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:15 UTC
Liberia: Tappita District Development Association Donates Essential Drugs to Jackson F. Doe Hospital
Tappita, Nimba County – The charity group, Tappita District Development Association (TADDA) has donated a consignment of drugs to the Jackson F. Doe (JFD) Memorial Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County. Madam Toweh, a native of Tappita District, currently resides in the United States. On her visit to Liberia recently, she led a delegation including members of TADDA Liberia to Tappita for the donation. Meanwhile, funding for the drugs was generated from the ongoing ‘One Dollar’ rally in support of JFD Hospital. TADDA also provides financial aid to students hailing from Tappita District at tertiary institutions across Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:15 UTC
It’s Time to Fight Back: Movie Union Chief in Rallying Plea Against Coronavirus
Monrovia – The head of the Liberia Movie Union & National Collective Society of Liberia, Mr. Gregory Artus Frank Sr. is encouraging Liberians to channel the fighting spirit of the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in tackling the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. It’s time to fight back and one way to do that is through consciousness and awareness,” Franks lamented. :The movie union president said it is no secret that the world as a whole, is faced with this global pandemic COVID-19. It was a horrible and heartbreaking experience for all of us.”The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting 170 countries and territories around the world and 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harbored in Yokohama, Japan).
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 02:03 UTC
China: Our True Partner—We Empathize and Stand with You
Apart from food, the Chinese nation is also a leading producer and supplier of major essential commodities in the world. However, before proceeding to address the intent of this article, let me briefly reminiscence why Liberia and Liberians must profoundly empathize and stand with China. Why Liberians Must Empathize and Stand with China? With no iota of doubt, therefore, we have every reason to empathize and stand with China in its health crisis. Again, Liberia and Liberians empathize and stand with you and we wish you all the best in this and future endeavors.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 01:30 UTC
Japanese Suspected of Being Infected with Coronavirus Denied Entry Into Sierra Leone from Liberia
Japanese Suspected of Being Infected with Coronavirus Denied Entry Into Sierra Leone from LiberiaMONROVIA – One of four Japanese who left Liberia for Sierra Leone via Kenya Airways has been suspected of being a carrier of Coronavirus, thereby, causing the Sierra Leonean civil aviation authorities to refuse to allow them to disembark the plane. They were reportedly attempted to visit Sierra Leone for tourist purposes. According to a statement from the Sierra Leonean Aviation Authority, the Station Manager of Kenya Airways in Freetown alerted the Authorities at the Freetown International Airport (FNA) about a suspicion of a possible Corona Virus (COVID-19) infection based on the signs displayed onboard the aircraft by one of the Japanese nationals.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 18, 2020 22:41 UTC
Swiss court postpones Liberia war crimes trial over coronavirus
The trial had been scheduled to take place from April 14-30 in Bellinzona, capital of Switzerland’s southern, Italian speaking canton of Ticino. It will be the first international criminal trial in a non-military Swiss court and “historic” according to Swiss group Civitas Maxima, one of the NGOs representing Liberian victims in the case. They said the decision taken by the Swiss court was appropriate to “safeguard the health of all the trial participants, including the victims who reside abroad”, since Liberian witnesses are being called to testify in the trial. Kosiah, a former commander of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), is charged with war crimes committed during the first Liberian civil war (1989-1996). “This and other cases abroad will encourage victims to come forward, and hopefully encourage the Government of Liberia to establish a domestic war crimes courtexternal link,” says Hassan Bility, Director of the GJRP.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 18, 2020 22:30 UTC
Police Chief Warns Violators of Health Protocols
We’ve got all of the equipment, the PPEs to protect ourselves and we will come after you. IG Sudue, launching the anti-coronavirus awareness, echoed the President’s warning and said the Police were well equipped to go after anyone who violates these safety measures. We did it during the Ebola days and we will do it again,” he warns. “You should avoid large gatherings because you don’t know the health condition of the person next to you. If it causes you not to go to Church, don’t go to church, and don’t go to the mosque.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 18, 2020 22:18 UTC
LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS TIMES
The manner in which leaders conduct themselves, including the level of honesty, integrity, and confidence in the midst of national crisis will reflect on the overall direction of a nation in troubling times. While there is no one blanket solution to every problem, we know that every problem, especially national crisis, should be met with steadiness, preparedness, and integrity. While every problem might be different in substance, leaders must consistently display the following attributes:Caution, honesty, vision, and decisiveness. But one thing that is for sure is that in this critical moment, the government of the Republic of Liberia has demonstrated tremendous leadership prowess by bringing to bear and all of government response in dealing with this crisis. These are not the times to castigate and throw blames, but a time to come together and put love of country first.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 18, 2020 19:30 UTC