Liberian Businesses Reinventing the Wheel But Staying Afloat Not Easy in Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic
That though is not stopping struggling Liberian-owned businesses from reinventing the wheels just to stay afloat. But even amid the brave efforts many are making, enormous challenges remain and many are resorting to layoffs of staffers. Not a bad idea but Liberia and many countries appear unwilling to offer such relief for citizens during the pandemic. For now, businessman Modad is urging small businesses to reach out to bankers and creditors and appeal for forbearance or restructure. It should be the reminder of hope in desperate times but we are not feeling that and our bank accounts and small businesses are going through some of the toughest times we’ve seen in a while.”
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: Marketers Dissatisfied With ‘Partial’ Dispersing of Hawkers in Redlight
The clustered Redlight Market in PaynesvillePaynesville – Officer of the Liberia National Police have launch a vigirous operation to remove streets peddlers from the commercial district of Redlight Market in Paynesville. But some marketers say the police operation is being done “partially”, accusing the officers of being lenent with certain group of markerters but harsh against others. “If the police wants street peddlers to leave Redlight, it should be all street peddlers, but you can’t have one group still selling, while others are being chased. No one is untouchable in the process, we are removing street peddlers from along the main route and we cannot remove everone at the same time. “This operation is meant for street peddlers and no one street peddler is untouchable in the process,” Carter said.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 08:03 UTC
Liberia: House Intelligence Committee Chairman Suggests More Budgetary For Military
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]Rep. Smith, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed of Liberia, said the army is experiencing attrition and there’s an urgent need to prioritize it with “every available resource”. According to him, the Contingent discourse a high mark with the United Nations and leaders of the African contingencies which has transcended into a green light from the UN that Liberia platoon size is double. He, along with Senator Jonathan Kaipay of Grand Bassa County – a member of the Senate Defense Committee, represented the Legislature at the medal parade that brought together military personnel from various countries on March 13 this year. The Mali mission is the first since Liberia rebuilt its army from scratch after the civil war and the second in its history, after it sent peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1960s. In the past years, over 100 peacekeepers have been killed — making the UN mission in Mali, the world body’s deadliest ongoing peace operation.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 08:03 UTC
A Coronavirus Song That May Just Save So Many Lives
I lived through the Ebola crisis in 2014 and saw the devastation it did to people in Montserrado electoral districts 2 and 13. I am a member of almost every Liberia Mandingo chatroom on Facebook. Just before President Weah released his Coronavirus song, bammmmm, musicians from Margibi County released a song supported by local leaders to create awareness on COVID-19; and my favourite HipCo rapper, Foloboye Kromah, murdered the track. Me and my mehn demn want to an awareness song in Mandingo to educate our Mandingo brothers and sisters. Like Odamz, I have always loved listening to Rockash songs but never really took time to make friends.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Senator Dillon Proposes Tougher Measures To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19
Monrovia – Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has proposed several recommendations and stringent measures to the Government of Liberia (GOL) to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It is time for us (Government) to take and implements all of the measures, even very stringent measures going forward for our own safety and wellbeing,” Senator Dillon said. Senator Dillon added that government should also ensure that employees in the private sector are paid by their employers in a timely manner. The Montserrado County lawmaker further underscored the need for the government to suspend the US$0.30 being charged on every gallon of petroleum products sold in the country. At the same time, the Montserrado County Senator appealed to landlords to be “considerate in demanding rent money from their clients during this period”.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberia: NaFAA Fines Illegal Ivorian Fishermen US$5,000.00
Emma Metieh Glassco Director General NaFAAMONROVIA – In an effort to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing across Liberia, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has fined an illegal fishing boat containing seven migrants from the Ivory Coast US$5,000.00 in consistent with the 2010 fisheries regulations. The seven illegal Ivorian fishermen are currently being detained by the local authorities in Grandcess and their semi industrial fishing boat has been confiscated. Mr. William Y. Boeh indicated that illegal fishing activities are being perpetrated constantly by group of Ivoirians, Ghanaians, and Togolese among others despite several arrest and fines imposed on them due to the help of the Community Based Surveillance Network. Boeh stated that some of the illegal fishing boats are currently beached at the Mesurado Pier due to the failure of their owners to pay fines imposed on them by NaFAA for illegally fishing in Liberian waters. He further that majority of the illegal fishing activities are being carried out along the Southeastern part of Liberia where major fishing activities are taking place.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 07:52 UTC
Several Communities in Paynesville Benefits from St. Kizito Catholic Church’s Anti-coronavirus Donation
Chief among the precautionary measures include the closure of all religious services and private and public institutions of learning. On the back of these measures, the government has called for a mandatory regular hand washing, the observance of social distancing. “Therefore, the Church through its Charity and Welfare Committee has decided to make this donation to the Outland, Shara and Soul Clinic Communities. Since its establishment on June 3, 1982, the St. Kizito Parish has been regarded as one of the most progressive parishes within the Arch Diocese of Monrovia. The Church, headed by Father Ambrose Kroma, through the Catholic faith, continues to touch the lives of many Liberians, including non-Catholics at home and abroad.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 07:41 UTC
Liberia: First Presbyterian Church Outreach Committee Donates Assorted Food & Detergent Materials To Elderly & Sick People
MONROVIA – The first Presbyterian Church in Monrovia through its Outreach Committee Team has donated several assorted food and detergent materials to their members mainly to their elderly and sick members aimed at identifying with them during this time of the Coronavirus disease in the country. We know we are in difficult times and to keep hygiene practice, we need food and detergents to remain home. C. Wellington Morgan Sr. who stated that the church is concern about the wellbeing of its members especially those members who are sick and old. The Church official noted that this is just the beginning of the initiative of sharing with their members during this crisis. Meanwhile, one of the recipients named Elder Albert Junius of the 77nd Community lauded the Church through its Outreach team for what he termed as surprised package.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 00:33 UTC
Liberia: Publishers Association Bemoans Govt Refusal to Settle News Media Debts
MONROVIA – The Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) has expressed serious disappointment over government’s reluctance to meet up with its indebtedness with the struggling Liberian media two years after the ruling CDC government came to power. At an emergency meeting in Monrovia on Friday, the Publishers noted that despite the government’s repeated promises to meet up with its financial obligations to the media, it appears to have deliberately refused to live up to its promises. The prevailing situation is forcing the media into collapse, amid the daily high cost of printing, generator fuel and other logistics that the media need to pay for on a daily basis in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. At their meeting over the weekend, the media practitioners warned that government’s continuous failure to pay its debt to media institutions would eventually lead them to taking several actions, including media blackout and possible withdrawer from the newsstands. The media practitioners recalled that late last year during the induction of the President of the Press Union of Liberia the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. publicly announced that the Liberian Government was willing to settle all media bills.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 00:22 UTC
Liberia’s Government COVID-19 Testing Have Been Flawed
Now, I am sure ELWA Hospital should have a say as to the cause of death of Mr. John Teah. Are you saying ELWA Hospital does not have the sophistication to medically determine the cause of death/autopsy of Mr. Teah? Is the Coronavirus Task Force testing all dead bodies in Montserrado and Margibi Counties? If not then why was it necessary to test Mr. Teah after he died and not when he was alive and admitted at the ELWA Hospital? The government’s testing system has been flawed from the beginning and politicized where they “pick-and-choose” who is tested and not tested.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 00:11 UTC
“Take All Necessary Precautions To Safeguard Lives” US-Based Liberian Sends Out Clarion Call
Mr. Arthur DoeAs Government announced the second batch of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Liberia, a US-Based Liberian has added his voice to the voices of Health Authorities by sending out a clarion call to Liberians back home to take all necessary precautions to safeguard lives. According to him, observing social distancing, consistent hand washing and staying home amongst other measures are the best ways the Liberian people can safeguard themselves from contracting the Coronavirus. According to him, Liberians have been resilience and are good people, but they are hard headed indicating that it is only rain and guns they are afraid of. Mr. Doe, at the same time, frowned on those who believe that Government must provide some basic needs in this economically challenged environment before asking the poor people to stay home or self-quarantine. Thank goodness to Goodwill Citizens of America for their generosities and sacrifices to rush meals to disadvantaged and underprivileged families.”“Prevention is better than cure.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 06, 2020 00:00 UTC
Why International Donation To Africa Must Be Done With Caution
This is in light of the country’s experience with the outbreak of the Ebola Virus just six years ago. Ironically, the Coronavirus outbreak is also happening at a time when the Liberian economy is suffering from externalities and inflation. Just like the economy during Ebola, the current Liberian economy is experiencing another twin-shock in the wake of a global pandemic. The evidence of this is the embezzlement of millions of dollars meant to fight the Ebola Virus in 2015. First, the country isn’t as affected as most countries in Europe or to bring it home—as other African countries.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 05, 2020 23:37 UTC
The Liberian Legislature Must Pass A Law To Determine Which Government Positions Shall Be Held By A Natural-Born Citizen
If the Legislature wanted NEC’s Commissioners to be Natural Born citizens, they would have clearly stated it in the provision of the Election Law. In the context of the constitution, the word “citizen” means both Natural Born and Naturalized, except expressly stated. To further widen the debate, do you know as per our laws that a Naturalized citizen can run for Representative and Senatorial positions? Do you also know that a Naturalized citizen can become SPEAKER OR PRO TEMPORE of the Liberian Senate? Until and unless the Legislature can have a clear cut law on which positions belong to Natural Born citizens, Cllr.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 05, 2020 23:34 UTC
Liberia: ‘Please Give Ivah Tukpah Some Consideration’, An Open Letter To President Weah
Mr. President, we humbly submit this letter at this critical juncture of your administration and the government which we have labored so much with the fibre of our being — amidst blood sweat and tears — to bring to power. Howbeit, we think it is now time that you PLEASE give some consideration to Mr. Tukpah. We strongly believe that if given the opportunity to serve in this government, we can guarantee you that Mr. Tukpah will serve his country with distinction as he always does, no question about that. Mr. Tukpah has been in the trenches with you all along leading up to your ascendancy to the nation’s highest office. To put it metaphorically, Mr. President, please do not continue to allow this top striker to be on the bench or to be a spectator in his own football team.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 05, 2020 23:15 UTC
Presidential Team Must Get Press Probe Underway Now!
I consider my appointment as an honor and a duty in the cause of journalists, to which I am grateful. Actually, if we ever met, Deputy Press Secretary, Smith Toby would not be our spokesperson. Isn’t it weird that the committee would be resuming a process that hasn’t started in the first place? Without dismissing the safety concerns raised by the Chairman, I believe the size of the committee is not large to warrant a suspension of the probe. No need for further delays; let’s get the investigation underway, please.
Source:Front Page Africa
April 05, 2020 23:15 UTC