Petroleum Regulatory Authority Boss Notes Significance Of Granting Licenses For Oil Exploration
“When a country has 33 blocks encumbered and unlicensed as our case, the chances of finding oil is impossible. He made the statement in Monrovia on Monday at the start of a three-day Round Table Consultations on pre-bid round oil and gas regulations and strategies. “These consultations demonstrate our willingness to operate in an inclusive, transparent and accountable manner as required by law,” the LPRA boss said. The three-day Round Table Consultations is being held ahead of the 2020 offshore Licensing round (bid round). The LPRA was established as an independent regulatory government agency to Grant Petroleum Rights (Reconnaissance License, Petroleum Sharing Contracts and Petroleum Transportation License) and to Conduct Bid Rounds or Direct Negotiation for the issuance of Petroleum Rights.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 19, 2020 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson Laments Supporting Weah’s Election
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]As a demonstration of his disappointment in the ruling Coalition, the Nimba County lawmaker, who is regarded as the ‘Godfather’ of the county, walked out of the Senate’s confirmation proceedings for a new Superintendent of Nimba County. “I don’t want confusion; you all know the level of work I did in Nimba to get President Weah elected. Nimba County, according to the 2008 National Housing and Population Census, had a population of about 462,026. The margin between Senator Johnson and Vice President Boakai, who came out second in Nimba was a 67,466 difference. “I am seeing chaos, confusion and more destruction,” the Nimba County lawmaker further prophesied.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: Govt Calls for Autopsy on Remains of Broadcast Journalist Zenu Miller
Zenu Miller was pronounced dead at the ELWA Hospital on February 15 weeks after he complained of being brutalized by the President’s elite guards, Executive Protection AgencyMonrovia – The Liberian government, through the office of President George Weah, has announced a pending autopsy on the remains of the late Liberian Journalist, Zenu Miller. Miller had complained of chest pain since he was reportedly manhandled by officers of the Executive Protection Service in late January at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium during the National County Sports Meet. However, accordingly, there were some insinuations that Mr. Miller died because of brutality meted against him by agents of the Executive Protection Agency, which an autopsy could be necessary to clarify. Kelgbeh noted that the death of the Liberian journalist must not be treated with controversy based on “the quiet life the journalist had lived”. The government has, at the same time, said it is saddened by the death of Liberian Journalist, expressing sympathy to the family of the fallen journalist.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 04:52 UTC
Liberia: Speaker Sets Up Com’tee to Probe Rice Price Increment
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers has constituted a special committee to probe the reported increase in prices of rice on the Liberian market. Since his ascendancy to the presidency in 2018, President Weah dropped all tariffs on the importation of rice. However, in his communication, Rep. Kolubah claimed the price of rice has increased and the government’s desire is not being met. “We have observed with grave concern an increase in the price of rice by US$0.5 amidst the dropping of the tariff as above mentioned. “We have observed with grave concern an increase in the price of rice by US$0.5 amidst the dropping of the tariff as above mentioned.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 04:41 UTC
Liberia: State Lawyers Beg for More Time to Gather Evidence to Prosecute Ex-Defense Minister
Prosecution made the request on Tuesday, February 18, when the court seemed ready to receive state witnesses and documentary evidence as procedural to begin the trial. The prosecution pleaded with the court to allow them present state witnesses and documentary evidence on February 19. It has been more than four months since they were indicted but they are yet to be tried by the State. In response to the prosecution’s request, the defense team also pleaded with the court to deny the prosecution request on grounds that it is made in bad faith. However, state lawyers have been struggling to provide evidence to the court to prosecute the defendants.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 04:36 UTC
Not Matching the Post – Senate Com’tee Denies ‘Zoely Zoe’ as Deputy Defense Minister for Operations
Zoely Zoe’s rejection comes a week after he submitted himself to confirmation proceeding in keeping with constitutional requirement. His rejection is also in succession to a thread of rejections in recent times by the Senate. Appearing before the Senate’s Defense and Intelligence Committee last Wednesday, Mr. Davis lied under oath as he sought to distance himself from the Facebook video. In the live video, Zoely Zoe promised to defend the government of President Weah, his family and others with plans intended to thwart or go against the Liberian Constitution. According to them, Mr. Davis’ comments struck fear.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: Pres. Weah to Break-Ground Thursday for Four Lanes RIA Highway
The expansion is estimated to be 44 Kilometer, which Presidential Press Secretary Isaac Solo Kelgbeh says will curb difficulties faced by the movements of vehicles on the current one lane. “Normally, you just have one lane going and one lane coming, so the president wants to expand it to four lanes,” Kelgbeh said. Kelgbeh maintained that the expansion of the RIA Road is in line with President Weah’s developmental agenda focused on road connectivity. Consequently, there have been calls for the expansion of that highway, something road users say will limit the risk the current road condition poses. The storage facility according to Kelgbeh, will serve as government reserve in case of gasoline shortage due to problems faced by the importers.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 04:07 UTC
Bridge Liberia Trains More Government Teachers in Ganta, Nimba County
Ganta, Nimba County – Over the last four years, Bridge Liberia continues with its commitment as a technical partner to the government through the Ministry of Education in achieving its goals of the Education Sector Plan 2017-2021. Bridge Liberia has trained thousands of government teachers since the start of the programme in 2016. In the February 2020 training cohort, 163 teachers from seven counties are benefiting from the training in an effort to improve teaching techniques and enhance student learning at their schools. According to a World Bank report, 62% of teachers in Liberia are not qualified. Continuous teacher training and capacity building is key to accelerating quality teaching to achieve high learning outcomes.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 03:56 UTC
Liberian, Dutch and Indonesian NGOs Report ING Bank over Oil Palm Investment
“This complaint seeks to ensure that oil palm companies operate within the confines of the Liberian laws and international standards on human rights and the environment,” said James Otto, SDI’s lead campaigner over the complaint. GVL was slammed for human rights violations and forest degradation last year by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the global watchdog for the oil palm sector. “The objective is to bring parties to agreement on possible improvements of ING’s due diligence policies and practices regarding oil palm,” it said, adding all parties had agreed on a dialogue. Otto said the complaint another reminder for the government of Liberia to hold oil palm companies accountable for breaching the country’s laws. He said, “Our government must take very seriously these abuses and take actions, not just to address these abuses but to ensure that oil palm investments comply with Liberian laws, respect its people and fulfill promises made to communities.”
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 03:56 UTC
Gay Man Struggles to Survive in Liberia Amid Beating And Bullying
But it would soon be short-lived when he started hanging with friends in the community who were gay. But Liberian’s gay community continues to complain of harassment and discrimination which are becoming very widespread. According to the latest U.S. Department of State 2018 report on Liberia, the country’s gay community faces extreme challenges. Currently a 12th grader at a high school (name withheld) in a quiet suburb, Sheriff says there’s no stopping for him. For now, it seems completing high school is as important as the conditional accommodation he’s been given with no strings attached.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 03:39 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives to Adopt Resolution in Solidarity with China Over Coronavirus Outbreak
Monrovia – Members of the House of Representatives have voted to adopt a nonbinding resolution to be sent to the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the Republic of China expressing sympathy and solidarity over the coronavirus outbreak in that sisterly country. Plenary took the decision on Tuesday based on a communication from Rep. Edwin Melvin Snowe (District #1, Bomi County) who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rep. Snowe, in his communication called on members of the House of Representatives stated that statistics show the virus has claimed over one thousand seven hundred lives with over a million others quarantined. With these troubling situation grappling one of Liberia’s bilateral partners, Rep. Snowe noted that it was prudent for the House to take diplomatic steps in expressing solidarity with China. “The relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Liberia cannot be over emphasized.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 03:22 UTC
Senate Concession Chairman Commends Sime Darby Plantation Liberia
Senator Sandon Johnson of Bomi County and Chairman of the Senate Committee on ConcessionMONROVIA – The Senate Chairman on Investment and Concession in the country, Sando Johnson has commended Sime Darby Plantation Liberia for taking responsible business steps in relinquishing its concession to another company-Mano Palm Oil Industries. But it was not able to develop even half of it due to the unavailability of land and other technical problems. Johnson who also hails from the region SDPL once operated, said, “It is a good thing and the transitional period is working. The concession agreement was done, but they did not meet the locals first; the government I mean,” he said. I think SDPL was operating and not getting profit.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 03:11 UTC
Liberia, Sierra Leone Sign Gola Transboundary Forest MOU
Monrovia – The Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will commit the two countries to protecting the Gola Transboundary Forest Landscape. The forest landscape, also known as the Gola Transboundary Peace Park, is home to the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and the Gola Forest National Park in Liberia. The forest landscape, also known as the Gola Transboundary Peace Park, is home to the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and the Gola Forest National Park in Liberia. In 2011, the Presidents of Sierra Leone and Liberia signed an MOU on cooperation in the management, research, protection and conservation of the Greater Gola Transboundary Peace Park. Through signing the amendments, Sierra Leone and Liberia will refocus their efforts on preserving their shared resource.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 02:48 UTC
AfDB Joins TEF Programme Catalysing Entrepreneurship Across Africa
— Disburses first tranche of US$5M partnership commitmentTony O. Elumelu has congratulated the African Development Bank (AfDB), and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, on their commitment to African entrepreneurship, with the disbursement of US$2.5 million seed capital to the AfDB-sponsored beneficiaries of the 2019 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. The AfDB commitment follows the recent US$8.5 million disbursement from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to 2,648 entrepreneurs in the Sahel region and Africa more broadly, and further accelerates the economic empowerment generated by the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Since its inception, at least 35 young Liberian entrepreneurs have benefited so far from this illustrious program. With its commitment to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises and develop young entrepreneurs, AfDB joined the growing list of global development institutions benefiting from the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s unique model of identifying, training, mentoring and funding entrepreneurs and start-ups across Africa. The Foundation is currently accepting applications to the 2020 cohort of its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme on TEFConnect.com, Africa’s digital hub for entrepreneurs.
Source:Daily Observer
February 19, 2020 02:31 UTC
Poor in the Midst of Plenty: The Natural Resource Dilemma in West Africa
But we want these multinational companies to be accountable while tapping out our natural resources…,” said the Board Chairman of the Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SiLNoRF), Raymond Senesie. Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire) to include five other countries across West Africa, (comprising of Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Niger). Going forward from the Monrovia conference, the MRU CSO Platform organized its first “People’s Forum” in Makeni, Sierra Leone from 18 to 21st March 2019. GiZ’s Sierra Leone representative, Mr. Patrick Macua, also contributed to the Forum. Koidu Limited (KL) is a kimberlite diamond mining enterprise located in Koidu, Sierra Leone.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 19, 2020 02:26 UTC