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VOL. 16. NO. 112

INSIDE THIS
EDITION
EDITORIAL
After the Rattling,
These Bones SHALL
Rise Again!

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

Protests against Ebola

Facility in New Kru Town

By Omari Jackson

COMMENTARY
Transcript of SRSG
Karin Landgrens
Press Conference
April 2 , 2014

LOCAL NEWS
MIA Boss Hails
Chinas Assistance
to Liberia
See Pg. 3

BUSINESS
Liberia Seeks More
IMF, World Bank Aid
See Pg. 9

SPORTS
Darling Scorpions
Steal the Show
See Pg. 11

April 7, 2014-edition.indd 3

PRICE: LD 40

www.liberianobserver.com

See Pg. 4

See Pg. 4

today!

Kids with placards denouncing the construction of an alleged Ebola facility in New
Kru Town, Saturday

Guinean Embassy Prefers

Preventive Measures to
Border Closure

By C.Y. Kwanue

he
Guinean
government
through
its
Embassy near
Monrovia has
provided what
it translated as the latest pieces
of information on the rising

death toll from the Ebola virus

that recently broke out in that
West African State.
Guinean Ambassador to Liberia, Elhaji Abdoulaye Dor,
made the disclosure at a press
conference on Friday when he
spoke on matters relating to
the Ebola epidemic fever cur-

Contd on pg. 10

esidents of
New
Kru
Town
last
Saturday angrily tried to
prevent the
construction of a facility, going up next to the Redemption
Hospital, but shrouded (blanketed, covered) in mystery.
The facility is rumored to be
intended as an Ebola hospice
(hospital, rest home).
This latest action from the
township residents is probably
due to a lack of clarity, on how

one falls victim to the deadly

Ebola virus, after it was confirmed in Liberia.
For weeks, unconfirmed
reports were rife in the community that the Liberian government was constructing the
facility that popped up near
Redemption, to accommodate potential Ebola victims.
The construction continued
for several days, with bulldozers and workers clearing the
spot for the construction to
begin.
Residents, who asked the

Contd on pg. 10

Ellen Meets Pope Francis

llen Johnson
Sirleaf
has
thanked Pope
Francis and
the Catholic
Church for
its commitment to peace and
reconciliation, as well as the
Churchs contribution in the
fields of social welfare and
education in Liberia.
According to a dispatch

Contd on pg. 10

President Sirleaf shakes hands with Pope Francis

during a visit to the Vatican on Saturday, April 5

To Drive Away Ebola Virus:

LCC Declares
Week of Fast
and Prayer
See pg. 10

4/7/14 12:48 AM

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

World News
France Pulls out of
Rwanda Genocide
Commemorations
(BBC) - The decision follows
an accusation by the Rwandan
President, Paul Kagame, that
France participated in the
mass killings in 1994.
Mr Kagame has previously
made similar allegations,
which France has denied.
The French foreign ministry
said the remarks went against
reconciliation efforts between
the two countries.
French Justice Minister
Christiane
Taubira
has
cancelled her plans to attend
the events in Kigali on
Monday, foreign ministry
spokesman Romain Nadal
says.
Speaking to the Frenchlanguage
weekly
news
magazine Jeune Afrique, Mr
Kagame denounced the direct
role of Belgium and France in
the political preparation for
the genocide. Rwanda was a
Belgian colony until 1962.
In the interview, due to be
published on Sunday but
carried out on 27 March,
Mr Kagame is quoted as
saying that, 20 years on,
the only plausible reproach
in [Frances] eyes is in not
having done enough to save
lives during the genocide.
It comes as Rwanda prepares
to mark the 20th anniversary
of the atrocities that claimed
at least 800,000 lives - mostly
ethnic Tutsis and moderate
Hutus - over a period of about
100 days.
The violence was triggered
by the death of President
Juvenal Habyarimana, an
ethnic Hutu who was killed in
a plane crash on 6 April 1994.
It came to an end after Mr
Kagames Rwandan Patriotic
Front (RPF) - a Tutsi-led rebel
group - defeated government
troops in July that year.
His party still controls the
government and has long
accused France - an ally of Mr
Habyarimanas government
at the time - of aiding the
genocide.
In recent years there has been
a thaw in relations between
the two countries, with a visit
by Mr Kagame to Paris in
2011 and the establishment
by France of a genocide
investigation unit.
Last month, a Paris court
sentenced former Rwandan
spy chief Pascal Simbikangwa
to 25 years in jail for his role
in the genocide - the first such
conviction in France.
France has acknowledged
that serious errors were
made during the genocide in
Rwanda.
A Rwandan commission in
2008 said France was aware of
preparations for the genocide
and helped train ethnic Hutu
militias who participated in
killings.
Paris said its forces helped
protect civilians as part of a
UN-mandated intervention in
Rwanda. But Mr Kagame said
French troops had protected
the militias carrying out the
killings.

New PM Appointed in Mali as

Entire Government Quits

Foreign Briefs

facing

commence peace talks that

could help stability.

Mr Mara stood against Mr
Keita in the last presidential
election. He represents a new
breed of Malian politician,
according to the BBCs
correspondent in Bamako,
Alex Duval Smith.
A reshuffle had been
expected, our correspondent
says, but the departure of the
entire government is a shock.
Mr Maras political career
is the product of the countrys
town halls rather than elite
French schools.
France is now winding
down its troop presence in
the country but says it will
continue to deploy forces
against pockets of militancy in
the north.

(BBC) - Chad has rejected

UN accusations that its troops
killed 30 people and injured
many more in an unprovoked
attack in a market in the
Central African Republic.
In a statement, Chads
government expressed its
indignation and said the
allegation was defamatory.
It came as UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon made a
surprise visit to CAR in a show
of support for efforts to end the
sectarian conflict there.
Thousands of African and
French troops are trying to
restore order.
Chad has said it will pull its
peacekeepers out of CAR in
protest at the UNs claims.
On Friday the UN said
an investigation had found
Chadian troops opened fire
on the population without any
provocation inside a busy
market in Bangui on 29 March.

Thirty people were killed

and another 300 people were
injured in the shooting, it said.
The troops, who were
reportedly on a mission to
evacuate some of the citys
remaining Muslim inhabitants,
said they were attacked first by
militias.
In the year since the Muslim
Seleka rebels ousted the CAR
government last March, the
country has been engulfed by
a wave of religious violence.
Under regional pressure, the
countrys first Muslim leader,
President Michel Djotodia,
stepped down in January but
attacks have not stopped.
Thousands of Muslims, a
minority in CAR, have been
fleeing to neighbouring Chad
and Cameroon after being
targeted by Christian militias,
known as anti-balakas.
The UN secretary general
said on Saturday those

displaced by the violence in

CAR could count on the
international
community,
according to AP.
Mr Ban was due to have
talks with the countrys
interim president and address
parliament before leaving
for Rwanda to mark the 20th
anniversary of the genocide
there.
Chad
has
contributed
roughly 850 soldiers to a
contingent
of 6,000 African

Union peacekeepers tasked
with ending the bloodshed in
CAR.
Rupert Colville, spokesman
for
the
UNs
human
rights office, said initial
investigations appeared to
show that the troops involved
in the incident on 29 March
were not part of the AU
mission.
The soldiers arrived in pickup trucks in the northern PK12 suburb, one of two areas
in Bangui where there are
still some Muslim inhabitants
threatened by the anti-balakas,
Mr Colville said.
As soon as the convoy
reached the market area...
it reportedly opened fire on
the population without any
provocation, he said in a
statement.
At the time, the market
was full of people... As
panic-stricken people fled
in all directions, the soldiers

allegedly continued firing

indiscriminately.
Mr Colville told the BBC
the reasons for the attack were
unclear.
Its appalling to shoot in
a crowded market place, he
said.
Chads
government
dismissed the accusations as
defamatory and tendentious,
according to a government
statement sent to AFP news
agency on Saturday.
The government of the
Republic of Chad expresses
its surprise and indignation
faced with the purported
investigation published by the
United Nations Human Rights
Commission, it said.
Chad, which neighbours
CAR to the north and has
a predominantly Muslim
population, has said its
peacekeeping forces will
remain in CAR while the
details of the withdrawal were
worked out.
The ousted president of
CAR, Francois Bozize, told
the BBC last year that Chadian
troops had helped drive him
from office, which Chad has
denied.
The
African
Union
contingent in the country is
backed by some 2,000 French
troops.

(BBC) - Thirty people

are said to have been killed
and several hurt in northern
Nigeria, in an attack blamed
by police on gunmen from the
Fulani community.
The attack targeted a meeting
of community leaders and
vigilante groups in Galadima
village, Zamfara state, a police
spokesman told AFP news
agency.
The meeting was discussing
action against robbers and
cattle rustlers.
Fulani herdsmen and farmers

from other ethnic groups have

frequently clashed in Nigeria
over land and faith.
At least 100 villagers were
killed in central Kaduna state
last month in an attack that
was also linked to a dispute
between local farmers and
the semi-nomadic Fulani
herdsmen.
Police spokesman Lawal
Abdullahi told AFP that
security forces had been sent
to the area where the latest
attack took place.
The unrest is not connected

with the Islamist insurgency

group, which wants to impose

waged by the Boko Haram

Sharia law in the north.

(BBC) - A new prime

minister has been appointed in
Mali to succeed Oumar Tatam
Ly, who has resigned from
office - along with his entire
government.
Mr Ly was elected last year
after a French-led military
intervention ended an Islamist
takeover.
His successor is a former
presidential hopeful, Moussa
Mara, who had also served as
minister of town planning.
Mr Mara had been calling
for more action to be taken to
curb persistent instability in
the north.
Security remains fragile in
the north, the former base of
the Islamist rebels who were
driven back last year.

Oumar Tatam Ly became prime minister after the defeat

of Islamist rebels
President Ibrahim Boubakar
Keita

has

been

international

pressure

to

Page 2

CAR Crisis: Chad Rejects UN Claims

of Market Shooting

Thirty Killed in Nigeria Gun Attack

Egypt
(BBC) - A second day of
clashes between two tribes in
southern Egypt has left a total
of 23 people dead, officials
say.
The Egyptian military said
that it had intervened to stop
the fighting between the Arab
Bani Hilal clan and a Nubian
family.
The violence started late on
Friday after offensive graffiti
was drawn on the walls of a
local school, security officials
said.
Several homes were burnt
down and over 31 people were
injured in the clashes.
Eyewitnesses
reported
seeing bodies lying on hospital
floors, while images emerged
on social media showing
bodies in the street.
A meeting on Saturday
between leaders from the
two sides failed to reach a
resolution.

UK

(BBC) - The Archbishop

of Canterbury has said the
Church of England accepting
gay marriage could be
catastrophic for Christians
in other parts of the world.
The Most Rev Justin Welby
told LBC that hundreds of
Christians in Africa had
been killed by people who
associated Christianity with
homosexuality.
He warned the same could
happen if the Church of
England backed gay unions.
Same-sex marriage become
legal in England and Wales
last week, but is not supported
by the Church.
On his first live phone-in
on LBC Radio, Archbishop
Welby spoke about a trip to
Africa, and recalled visiting a
grave where 369 people had
been buried.
He said the victims had been
killed because local people
believed allowing a Christian
community to exist would
mean we would all be made
to become homosexual.

Afghanistan

(BBC) - Vote counting is

well under way in Afghanistan
after Saturdays landmark poll
to elect a new president.
More than seven million
Afghans turned out to vote,
defying Taliban
militant
threats to the poll.
The election marks the
countrys first democratic
transfer of power.
It will take at least another
week before the winner is
confirmed. If none of the eight
candidates gets more than
50% of the vote, Afghans will
vote again in a second round.
But the BBCs Lyse Doucet
in Kabul says many Afghans
feel their country has already
won by holding a relatively
peaceful poll.
Turnout was double that of
the last presidential election
in 2009, despite major Taliban
attacks in the run-up to voting

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

MIA Boss Hails Chinas

Assistance to Liberia
By David A. Yates

he
Minister
of
Internal
Affairs
(MIA),
Morris
Dukuly,
has
hailed Chinas continued,
unwavering
support
to
Liberias development.
According to Min. Dukuly,
the latest being a donation
of US$4 million worth of
engineering equipment to the
Ministry of National Defense.
Minister Dukuly described
China as a great friend whose
contribution
to
Liberias
infrastructural development
has been remarkable.
The MIA boss called on

Minister Dukuly expressed

hopes that Liberia would
provide agriculture produce
on more markets in the Mano
River Union basin countries.
For his part, the newly
Chinese
Ambassador
accredited to Liberia, Zhan
Yue, assured that China
would maintain its traditional
relationship with Liberia.
Ambassador Yue said that
as a sister country they would
continue to provide Liberia
with much needed assistance.
The Chinese Envoy noted
that agriculture is on his agenda
for Liberia and promised to
encourage Chinese companies
to invest in the area of
agriculture in Liberia.
Minister Dukuly in a handshake with Amb.Yue

Internal Affairs Minister
the Chinese Ambassador to
He said the government Morris
M.
Dukuly
on
help attract more Chinese is exploring every way Wednesday, April 2, 2014,
investments
to
Liberia, possible to improve the lives received in audience, the
especially in the southeast of its people and stressed the Ambassador of the Peoples
which has a lot of potential in need for a major focus on Republic of China, Mr. Zhang
Yue at his Capitol Hill Office.
the form of agriculture.
agriculture.

LPS Gives to Orphanage Home

-As Forbes Magazine Visit Bridges LPS, U.S. based Philanthropist

he
Liberia
Philanthropy
Secretariat (LPS),
with support from
US
based
philanthropist
organizations, has donated
assorted relief items to the
Love A Child Orphanage
in Liberia. The donation
was made possible recently
following a visit to Liberia of a
US-based delegation including
Forbes Magazine and a San
Francisco-based
internet
entrepreneur, Jennifer King.
The LPS played an integral
part in setting up a tour and
development
philanthropy
visit with power player,
Forbes Magazine during their
recent trip to Liberia.
While in Liberia, the Forbes
delegation, along with LPS
program director, Ms. Jennah
Scott, had the opportunity to
visit both the classrooms and
bedrooms of the children at
Love A Child Orphanage.
Through this empowering
and educational visit, many

relationships with the U.S.

based philanthropists were
formed
and
cultivated
between social entrepreneur
and philanthropist, Jennifer
King of Rugged Elegance in
the US and Love A Child
Orphanage in Liberia.
According to an LPS
statement, Madam Jennifer
King, a US based internet
entrepreneur and investor,
shipped handmade blankets
and quilts to the deteriorating
orphanage to keep the children
warm at night and to have
something softer to lie on than
the hard concrete and blanketless bunk beds they have now
become accustomed to.
King is said to have reached
out to LPS whom she had met
several months earlier on the
LPS orchestrated Forbes trip
to get assistance with the care
package that had been held up
in customs.
It was important to LPS
that the children receive
their handmade pillows and

blankets. They have never

received a specialized gift
from overseas and the kids
were too excited. It took a
great deal of our resources,
time, and energy to get the
package released, but we
wanted to see that smile on
the childrens faces, said LPS
program director, Ms. Jennah
Scott.
Ms. Scott added: The
Love a Child Orphanage
has several issues including
leaking holes in the roof, an
unfinished school building,
and often times there are no
regular provisions in place
to ensure that they know
where the next meal will
come from. It is important
for donors to also keep these
things in mind when donating
to organizations such as Love
a Child. They are in need of
so many things that we are
unable to assist with without
the financial resources.
Humanitarian like Jennifer
King is greatly appreciated

and we urge others to show

additional support through
monetary aid and resource
allocation that will allow
proper
water
sanitation,
meal planning, and building
maintenance for Love A Child
Orphanage, Ms. Scott stated.
LPS was set up more than
five years ago to act as an
extension of the people of
Liberia to bridge the gap
between U.S. philanthropists
and the needs of the Liberian
community. LPS acts as a
conduit and liaison creating
a systematic approach where
philanthropists and donors
can offer resources, monetary
aid, and voice ideas about
the positive progression of
the country. Love A Child
Orphanage
was
founded
in March 1998 by Madam
Rebecca Wreh and her
husband to provide a nurturing
home and quality education
for
Liberias
abandoned
and orphaned children. The
orphanage is home to nearly
40 children including 33 girls
and 5 boys, the managers have
said.

27 Complete Solar Energy Training

By Judoemue M. Kollie

wenty-five youths
chosen from various
universities
and
institutions in the
country completed a threeweek training in solar energy
at the Monrovia Vocational
Training Center (MVTC)
in Somalia Drive, outside
Monrovia on Saturday, April
5.
The training was conducted
by Dr. Richard Komp, an
American
scientist,
and
supported by a group of
diaspora Liberians.
It was intended to impart
knowledge of solar energy in
the lives of Liberian youths so
they can put it into practice in
future business enterprises.
Speaking exclusively to the
Daily Observer at the close
of training, Dr. Komp said
the training was significant
in addressing the problem
of global warming and how

Solar energy trainees show casing the solar panel products in photo with their trainer.
to minimize the high cost of
electricity for poor countries
like Liberia.
According to him, Solar
panel energy is not just reliable

for the environment, but also

cheaper. It enables people to
save money. Liberia--- like
other developing countries--needs this energy to move its

economy forward; especially

for the average citizens.
We taught the students how
to produce cell phone chargers
from a special design with

Page 3

YMCA Ends GOP

Summit

Cross section of participants at the GOP summit

By David A. Yates

weeklong Global
Operating
Plan
(GOP)
summit
of
the
Young
Mens Christian Association
(YMCA) expected to discuss
the way forward and review
progress and recommendations
of membership of the
organization
ended
on
Saturday, April 5, in Monrovia.
The summit, amongst other
things, was intended to provide
support towards strengthening
member organizations and
partners for effective service
delivery to the YMCAs host
communities.
The summit, which started
on Thursday, April 3, brought
together
several
YMCA
partners from Liberia, the
United States of America
(USA), Sierra Leone and other
partners including Y-Care
International and the African
Alliance of YMCAs.
Speaking at the opening
summit,
the
National
Secretary General of LiberiaYMCA, E. Edward Gboe, told
member organizations that
after 16 months of successful
work, the summit aims to
review progress made by

them (YMCA organization)

against the backdrop of
recommendations and action
plans that were noted in the
first meeting.
Mr. Gboe said the mission
of the YMCA is to unite,
develop and empower young
people in the country, thereby
strengthening communities.
He acknowledged to the
chairman of the LiberiaYMCA, Mr. Jonathan A.
Mason, and other international
delegates that the GOP is a
frame work of the entity that
they are expected to tackle.
For his part, Nico Gurdet,
from the U.S. YMCA, thanked
the Liberian YMCA for
affording them the opportunity
to discuss the growth and
success of YMCAs in the subregion and internationally.
Mr. Gurdet said that he
hoped their discussions would
be a fruitful one, and that the
outcome of the meeting would
be successful.
Also speaking was, Christian
M. Kamara, head of the
Western Zone Africa Alliance
of YMCAs, who expressed
his gratitude to the YMCA
for their meeting intended to
uplift the operations of their
activities.

Chinese lamps as the charging

source, and how to make a
module designed to produce
250 watts current for homes,
he disclosed.
According to him, the
trainees will have the
opportunity to interact with
more clients, which would
enable them to make money.
I see a great market for the
use of solar panels in Liberia
considering the various solar
energy products the students
have learnt to produce, he
said.
Claudius B. Paye is the
project director of the
Sustainable
Development
Project for Liberia (SDPL).
He said that their intention
is to establish a solar energy
company in the country to
produce a sufficient amount of
products for the publics use.
The aim of this training is
to introduce, for the first time,
a solar panel company that
would train Liberians to enter
the business. We believe this
is going to be a great help to
our country when it comes to
employment opportunities,
he said.
He disclosed that the trainees
are expected to be deployed

in the fifteen counties to

introduce the use of solar
energy products to rural
people.
Our goal is to provide solar
energy produced electricity
to all parts of Liberia at a
reasonable price, he added.
He said the initiative is
being supported by the
Green Neighbor Education
Committee in Boston, U.S.A.
The SDPL director has
underscored the need for
additional
support
from
humanitarian organization to
strengthen their capacities.
For his part, the coordinator
of the project (SDPL), Momo
Stevens, stated that they have
decided to take on the task of
helping to rebuild Liberia.
He said they will work
harder to ensure that the dream
of their organization becomes
realize in the country.
Patience Roberts, a trainee,
said the opportunity to learn
more about solar energy
would help reduce poverty in
the lives of youths who have
interest in making it a career.
I truly appreciate a job
that is going to help build my
technical skills, she said.

0886812888, 0886472772
www.liberianobserver.com

The bones of Liberia are rattling because of the many rigorous

problems she faces. But as God told His Prophet Ezekiel, these
bones, through faith in the love and power of God, WILL RISE
AGAIN AND LIVE!
This was the message of St. Stephen Episcopal Churchs Father
Augustine Kpehe, when he delivered the fifth Lenten Sunday
sermon yesterday.
He took his theme from Ezekiel, chapter 37, in which God
promised to breathe into these dry bones, put sinews, flesh and skin
upon them, enabling them to rise again.
Fr. Kpehe told parishioners that Liberia today is saddled with
plentiful problems, but with faith in God, we shall rise again.
The preacher did not elaborate on these problems. But many
Liberians know them. First and foremost among is the continuing
problem of corruption, which President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in
her first Inaugural Address nine years ago, declared public enemy
number one, but has herself admitted failure to solve.
The public, for three reasons, blames the President herself for
this failure: first, her failure to successfully prosecute corrupt
officials but rather, retain many in positions of power. Second, she
has brought back into powerful positions people who in the not too
distant past have been caught red-handed in glaring corruption.
Third, she has in three ways played too dangerously and too
persistently with corruptions closest and most powerful ally or
twin sisternepotism: by retaining in powerful positions two of her
sonsCharles as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia,
and Fumba as Director General of the National Security Agency;
then, despite public and international outcry against it, by appointing
a third, indeed her most powerful son, Robert, as Chairman of the
National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL). For three years, she
stoically weathered the storm of persistent criticism, then reluctantly
removed him as NOCAL Chair, only to quickly re-appoint him
Ambassador to oil-rich Kuwait! That placed him in the strategic
position to still call the shots at NOCAL. Next thing we learned,
he emerged with a US$14 million Kuwaiti loan, negotiations for
which the public was unaware of any involvement by the Foreign
or Finance Ministry.
The third way in which the President has, wittingly or unwillingly,
fostered nepotism, corruptions twin sister, is by permitting senior
members of her family members to wield powerful behind-thescene influence in many vital sectors of government, grievously
undermining public accountability and giving undue advantage to
foreign business interests.
This has led to yet another continuing national crisis: the poverty of
Liberians and their consequent SUBSERVIENCE (submissiveness,
obedience, acquiescence, passivity) to foreigners in the Liberians
own country. So whatever happened to Liberias sovereigntyor
that of its people? No, we are no longer sovereign but subservient in
our own country, where almost everything is owned and dominated
by foreigners.
The government is free to dismiss these foreboding reflections
as the musings of disgruntled elements. But we at the Daily
Observer newspaper are NOT disgruntled people. Far from it,
we are patriotic people who have striven over the decades to place
our country FIRST before ourselves, declining, shying away from
and rejecting money, privileges and other perks, choosing instead
to stand for truth, justice and fair play and to be the voice of the
voiceless in our country.
We cannot be anything less in this rich country, where poverty,
deprivation and listlessness are still rampant. We ignore these
dangerous, distressing signals at our own peril, and the peril of our
nation itself.
We cannot, MUST NOT, lest we become part of the problem. That
is why we have never relented in voicing our persistent opposition
to the sidelining of a Liberian hotelier in favor of a Lebanese
businessman to rebuild the Robertsfield Hotel. Here was a clear
case of nepotistic influence by family insiders against Liberian
entrepreneurs in favor of foreign businesspeople.
We have long complained about how President Tubmans Open
Door Policy gave the country to foreigners. We cannot and
WILL not sit supinely and see the same thing happening all over
again, raining tears and crying in the beloved country.
Only last weekend, the wealthy former mayor of a Liberian city
called for the taking back of our country from these people before
their time is up.
We know exactly what that meansanother interim government
to pillage, plunder and lead us back to war.
The way forward is sit NOW and reason together with the powers
that be toward inspiring, hopefully, a change in the national direction
and pray that God will grant the rattling and reliving of Liberias
bones.

AT
IO

After the Rattling,

These Bones SHALL
Rise Again!

Page 4

COR
RUP
T

Liberias First Independent Daily

CRON
Y ISM

ION
NEPOT
ISM

Published by Liberian Observer Corporation

P.O. Box 1858, Monrovia

U
DEVE NDERLOPM
ENT
UN
PA
PO
TR
M
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OR
ES
TIC
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IA
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Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

E
R TUR
O
PO RUC
ST
Liberia today
RA
F
is saddled
IN
with plentiful
problems, but
with faith in God,
we shall rise
again.

OBSERVER CARTOON WITH A. Leslie Lumeh E-mail: leslie@leslielumeh.com www.leslielumeh.com

Transcript of SRSG Karin Landgren

Press Conference 02 April 2014
SRSG Karin Langren: Good morning.

I returned to Monrovia last week from

Security Council meeting on UNMIL,
on 20 March. This meeting came at the
midpoint of UNMILs current term or
mandate which began last September.
The Council had before it a report from
the SG dated 18 February, updating it on
developments in Liberia and in UNMIL.
I would like to share with you briefly
five important points that were discussed
in the Council, also in my statement, on
20 March at the meeting of the Security
Council. And then I will take questions.
(1)
Liberias security situation
has remained generally stable, and the
situation along Liberias borders has
also remained relatively calm. There
have been positive developments within
the country, across the border with Cte
dIvoire (I refer to last Octobers meeting
of chiefs and elders, and many others,
attended by Presidents Johnson-Sirleaf
and Ouattara), and the development
of a regional security strategy for the
Mano River Union. These are warmly
welcomed by Liberias partners. I have
spoken to you before about the challenges
of mob violence, which has gotten worse,
and also SGBV. There is also the periodic
violence related to concessions, and the
UN believes the Government can do more
to have consultations and informationsharing with all affected communities.
I also reported to the Council on
demonstrations and strikes the country
has experienced.
(2) Many challenges remain on the
path to good governance and to reforms
that will help this country have a more
inclusive character. It is the view of the
UN that these reforms need to be pursued
with greater urgency. Let me say a few
words about governance and reforms.
I was pleased to report to the Security
Council on efforts to secure greater
public accountability, including the work
of LACC, the Liberia Anti-Corruption
Commission; the work of LEITI, the
Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency
Initiative and measures taken with regard
to irregularities, such as the suspension
of forestry Private Use Permits. Liberia
cannot afford to have its population
believing that corruption allegations go

SRSG Karin Langren

uninvestigated, or that investigations are
not followed by consequences.
Its particularly important that these
positive developments are reflected in
the natural resources sector, including
consultations with affected communities.
In terms of major reforms that are
mentioned in UNMILs mandate namely,
supporting
constitutional
reform, decentralization and national
reconciliation - progress is very slow,
and several initiatives are almost entirely
dependent on donor funding.
National Reconciliation:
while the
Palava Hut programme was launched by
EJS six months ago, there is no concrete
progress in implementation. This was
just one of the recommendations of the
TRC, as you know, and is contained in
the National Reconciliation Roadmap,
adopted in Gbarnga in December 2012
and launched last year in June. The

National Reconciliation Road Map so

far has been almost exclusively funded
by the international community, with
the PBF disbursing $11.2 million over 2
years. There needs to be more operational
capacity and stronger political will by
GoL, including the disbursement of the
allocated budgetary funding [[it is only
US$500,000, but hasnt been accessed
yet]] if there is to be progress in the next
few years.
This is also true of constitutional review.
The timeline adopted by the Constitution
Review Committee was to complete
civic education and public consultations
by the end of March, and to validate
proposed amendments to the constitution
at a national conference this month. After
that, proposals would be presented to the
President, still this month, before being

Contd on page 5

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

Transcript of SRSG Karin Landgren

considered by the Legislature,

and then, after 12 months, a
national referendum. Time
is becoming very tight if
Liberians want to see changes
to the 1986 constitution within
the current timeframe. The
UN strongly encourages the
legislature, the executive, and
all Liberians to reflect together
on
reform
possibilities.
This is a unique window of
opportunity.
(3) Let me turn to the
Security Sector: in particular,
the Police. As you know, some
important steps were agreed at
a security sector reform retreat
last September.
Including:
to professionalize the police
by appointing senior officials
from within the ranks, and
increasing transparency in
tenure and promotion systems.
The LNP and BIN have been
working to become more
effective institutions. So it
has been frustrating to see the
facilities vacated by UNMIL
in Foya standing empty for
over a year, waiting to become
a BIN training center; and to
see a new LNP training centre
in Harper, inaugurated last
September still standing idle.
Over the past few months,
the Government has made
significant commitments to
strengthening the security
sector:
- The Minister of Finance
has been personally involved
in trying to make it easier
for funds related to UNMIL
security transition to be
disbursed to the police, the
immigration service and other
agencies. I am not sure this
has had measurable success
yet and we look forward
to good news. The police
training academy has over a
thousand recruits waiting to
start training and over 250
people ready to graduate.
- Second, the President
herself has committed to
activating
more
training
resources and better use of
facilities for training.
- And third, the President
has committed to having a
better balance in the 201415 national budget between
investments in infrastructure,
and investments in national
security.
UNMIL will continue to
offer support and to work with
the many partners contributing
to this sector.
(4) The first Justice and
Security Hub is operational
and the court house will be
inaugurated soon, currently
scheduled for 28 April.
Services are starting to be
rolled out in Hubs 2 and 3
in Harper and Zwedru. The
Governement of Liberia will
maintain the functioning
of these hubs and these are
recurring costs that will need
to be budgeted for. There
are other important actions
awaited in the justice sector,
also for the public to have
confidence that courts work,
and work impartially.
While the courts develop,
it is important to work on
Alternative Dispute Resolution
mechanisms. There are trained
mediators and [others] in
many counties to help people

settle their disputes amicably.

I visited one of Liberias Land
Coordination Centres recently,
in Harper - there are six of
these centres - and heard about
long-standing disputes slowly
being discussed and settled.
Also, this process is free. The
MoJ has begun nationwide
consultations to develop a
national ADR policy.
(5) Finally, I reported that
UNMILs drawdown has
continued smoothly. I expect
to report to the Security
Council on this in greater
detail later this year.
Thank you very much and
I think we will now open the
floor to questions Mathew.
Mathew
Elavanathoduka
(OIC-PIO): Thank you SRSG
Karin Landgren. Now we
can take some questions and
please introduce yourself and
your institution before asking
questions thank you.
Emmanuel
Flahn
(Microscope
Newspaper):
Good morning, my name
is Emmanuel Flahn and I
work for the Microscope
Newspaper. I am concerned
about the state of security in
Liberia. In your report to the
UN Security Council Madam
SRSG, you said the security
situation is stable. But on the
hand people have said the
security apparatus are doing
nothing in the interest of the
citizens. How you reconcile
the two assertions made?
Joseph Soko Konneh, Jr.
(Voice FM 102.7): Good
morning,
my
name
is
Joseph Soko Konneh, Jr.
I am concerned about the
challenges that you mentioned
Madam SRSG relative to
mob violence and sexual
gender based violence. What
is UNMIL doing about it to
help curtail mob violence and
SGBV in Liberia?
Fabine
Kwiah
(Radio
Veritas):
Good
morning
Madam SRSG. My question
focuses on the Justice and
Security Hub that you have
mentioned and you said
the public needs to have
confidence in the justice
system. Is it that you are
relating directly to Liberians
who have been trained by
UNMIL since its onset in the
country because much has
been pumped into the justice
and security sector? So I
think that needs to be further
explained. Another one is that
you mentioned about Liberias
constitution saying that time is
tight and that if Liberians want
changes we need to go back to
the 1986 constitution. Thank
you.
SRSG Landgren: Thanks
very much for those questions.
The first question is about
the state of security. UNMIL
works with the government
to monitor what is happening
around the country in terms
of security, both in terms of
incidence of violence, and
I mentioned concessions, I
mentioned
demonstrations
and issues like sexual and
gender based violence, where
we work to maintain statistics
of cases that are reported.
And on the one hand, when
I say we welcome the news

it is that since the last report

to the Secretary General,
security within the country is
generally stable which is to
say a lack of major outbreaks
of violence. It is not to say that
the situation is rosy in terms
of these types of violence that
I have mentioned. UNMIL
is
working
particularly
with different government
ministries and also with
communities which is very
important around gender based
violence and how to combat it
within communities; and on
mob violence, as you know
recently there was a launch of a
national campaign to stop mob
violence. Now some Liberians
call it mob justice, but we do
not call it mob justice because
that is not an acceptable form
of justice where people are
hunted down sometimes on the
basis of rumors alone and hurt
or killed by the communities.
So as these things continue we
are also working closely, and
so as many other partners, with
the security sector precisely to
help build up their capacity
and their presence around the
country and confidence in
them.
I have visited the LNP and
BIN all over the country and
one of the challenges which
UNMIL has raised many times
is that you find a vast majority
of the LNP in the capital. So
there is still not a good spread
of police covering the rest of
the country. When I visit them
in county capitals, I always
find that they have inadequate
logistics, their cars are mainly
broken, they have difficulty
getting fuel, they have no
communications equipment,
they dont have stationeries
and sometimes they dont have
furniture or uniforms and their
numbers are usually far below
the numbers that are officially
suppose to have. And you hear
about how little they earn and
how difficult it is to be stationed
out in some of these more
remote locations. So we are
advocating strongly for greater
support LNP and to BIN. But
for that to be effective, these
security agencies also need
well functioning internal
systems. So UNMIL has
been getting and sharing
with them expertise in how
do you manage budgets,
how you manage people/
human resources, how do you
manager vehicles, how do
you manager facilities so that
they get maintained and do
fall apart immediately? And
these are some of the systems
that need to be strengthened.
Also other partners, I want
to mention Ghana, has been
supporting this by bringing
groups of LNP officers
for training at the Ghana
Institute of Management
and Public Administration.
So strengthening how these
actors themselves manage the
resources that they have is a
big part in making them be
more effective.
SRSG Landgren: Regarding
the Constitution, the 1986
Constitution
is
Liberias
current Constitution. That is
the Constitution that applies
right now. But many Liberians

have said that it is... have

pointed out that it concentrates
a lot of power, a lot of decision
making in the hands of the
Executive. Many Liberians
also pointed out that the
administration of this country
is concentrated in Monrovia.
In fact for some of the
decentralization self-initiatives
that have been discussed to
be implemented including
the Local Government Act,
which is currently under
review, there will need to be
constitutional changes. So its
really is a question right now
for Liberians. Do you want
to see these things changed?
Because if you do than the
constitution will need to be
changed to make that possible.
Why is it important right now?
Well, right now Liberia has
a president who has named
this Constitutional Review
Committee and is opened to
the possibility of reforming
the Constitution, reviewing
the Constitution. For this to
happen, many things have to
come together the president,
the legislature, the public in
the form of a referendum - get
to agree or reject the proposals
that are made. So its very
important in this fairly
limited time because these are
complex processes. That there
will be more of an open debate
about do you want changes in
your constitution? This is the
chance if you do and what kind
of changes do you want to see.
So that is why we emphasized
this moment as a real window
of opportunity to make these
changes if Liberians want to
see them. Thank you.
Mathew Elavanalthoduka:
Some more questions
Arthur Douglas (ELBC):
Good morning, my name is
Arthur Douglas and I report
for the state radio, ELBC.
My attention is drawn to your
comment on the national
reconciliation strategy. And
you said there is not much
done, no credible or tangible
program in place for the
implementation despite the
presidents commitment to
the process. What exactly do
you mean? You also talked
about corruption, calling
for more robust approach
to corruption. You cited the
issue about the Private Used
Permits with the Forestry
Development Authority. I
have understood from your
presentation that the UN has
been following the issue of
corruption. But is the UN also
considering or let me just say,
what is your assessment of
governments own response to
clamping down on corruption
considering the presidents
assertion on corruption? My
final question has to do with
your frustration about the
idleness of some facilities you
turned over to government.
In Harper, I was there when
donors turned over the police
barrack. You also talked about
the one in Foya. Have you
engaged government to find
out why are these facilities still
idle? Thank you.
Joseph Soko Konneh, Jr.
(Voice FM 102.7): Again I
am Joseph Soko Konneh Jr.,
Voice FM. You talked about
the limited number of police
officers in Liberia in the midst

of UNMILs drawdown. How

is the security system going
to be like, especially UNMIL
is leaving Liberia gradually
and Liberia and what do you
think is going to be UNMILs
next move in strengthening
the security sector? And from
my end finally, the issue about
despite it wasnt mentioned
Ebola, it got some security
implications. Liberians are
saying government should
close its border with Guinea
and what is UNMIL doing
about it? Thank you.
SRSG Landgren: Thanks
very much. You asked
about the lack of progress
around
some
reformed
initiatives especially around
reconciliation and I think
what I said was no concrete
progress since the last time
UNMIL reported on this to the
Council. What is happening
is that Ill mentioned three
things that are have been
set in motion. But in all of
these three things, we see very
slow progress. The first is
the palava hut initiative. As I
mentioned, this was launched
last October in Zwedru. But
it is not yet being rolled out.
There are some studies being
undertaken of how different
communities
in
Liberia
themselves manage palavas palava hut type processes and
we would indeed like to see
that speedy up. Its a very long
time now since the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission
reported it will be five years
I believe this year. And again
it is in the hands of Liberians
how long do you want to wait
for some of these processes to
get underway. But to the UN
these appear to be important
processes to continue the
discussion
about
what
happened in the past and how
to make sure that this doesnt
befall this country again.
SRSG Landgren: A second
initiative is the national
symbols project. If you
recalled in July 2012 the
national orator of that year,
Dr. Elwood Dunn spoke about
Liberias national symbols
and was asked to head a
small process to review these
symbols. This is not the first
time in Liberias history that
the symbols have been looked
at. So, that is moving forward
again and we are coming up to
two years since that fantastic
speech in July 2012. I dont
believe we have seen real
progress or recommendations
with regards to Liberias
national symbols.
The third initiative is
Liberias
history
project
and looking at writing a
share history of Liberia to
have all of Liberias people
agreeing on one version of
what happened and how this
country developed. Now I
know that there had been
some plans put in place for
the writing of that history, but
my understanding is, that has
been stalled right now for lack
of funding. So that is the more
complete background to the
lack of concrete progress in
the past six months.
In terms of clamping
down on corruption, there
had been significant public
commitments made to do this
and I mentioned some positive

Page 5

examples. Now the country

has a new head of LACC
and the country will have a
new head of LEITI, these
are important institutions to
support and audit reports of
national institutions remain
extremely important. And
it is my view that there is
interest in being transparent as
possible, as public as possible
about both investigations into
allegations of corruption and
the measures taken against
people who are accused. So
we strongly urged that this
continue and strengthened.
There was another mention
of the idleness of the facilities
in Foya and Harper as I
mentioned the president has
recently committed to fasttracking training facilities and
so we are hopeful that these
institutions would not stand
idle much longer and would
be used in full to speed up the
training of the BIN and the
LNP. Now, more need to be
done clearly with the police.
Many people have observed
that outside the capital, almost
the further away you go the
harder it is to find police
presence in the number that
they are suppose to be and
effectively equipped with the
facility they need in order to
work.
UNMIL remains extremely
engaged on it, the police
need to lift their game, they
are committed to doing so
and what is important right
now is that funding has been
allocated in the current budget
specifically
for
UNMIL
transition in order words
specifically to fill gaps created
by UNMILs gradual draw
down and that is in addition
to the regular funding in the
budget for the security sector.
So the Ministry of Finance
has made this commitment to
make it easier for the security
agencies to get access to
those transition funds. And
that is USD6 million dollars
budget which include some
money for hubs two and three
as well. So we are waiting
to see the results of whether
the money in that pipe line is
indeed flowing to the LNP in
particular.
Let me say few words about
Ebola. And the first thing I
want to say is that this action
to combat the spread of Ebola
in Liberia is being headed by
the government by Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare
under Health Minister Dr.
Walter Gwenigale. So I am
not taking the place of Dr.
Gwenigale when I share this
information with you. The
government has drawn a
national response plan, they
have launched a national task
force and they are taking this
epidemic very, very seriously.
The latest news we have is
that there has been a total of
eight suspected or confirmed
cases of Ebola infection
reported in Liberia. But I
want to emphasize suspected
or confirmed, there is not
confirmed cases it is suspected
or confirmed that includes four
deaths of the eight, two were
confirmed Ebola infection, one
of whom died in Lofa County,
the other of whom as Dr.

Contd on page 8

Daily Observer

Monday, April 7, 2014

Republic of Liberia

William V.S. Tubman University

Invitation for Bids (IFB)

FOR THE DORMITORY, WATER TOWER, AND
ENGINEERING BUILDING - WVSTU
1.
These Invitations for Bids are for the Dormitory, Water Tower,
and Engineering Building, on the Main campus of William V.S. Tubman
University in Harper, Maryland County.
2.
The Government of Liberia through William V.S. Tubman University intends to implement the three projects indicated below, and is
inviting sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders to participate.
The projects are due to commence immediately upon receipt of funding
from the Government of Liberia.

Lot

Project

1 Renovation of the Dormitory

2 Revitalization of the Water Tower

3 Renovation of the Engineering

Building

Procuremen Pre-bid
t
Conferenc
Method
e
NCB
4/8/2014
@ 2-3 P.M.
NCB
4/8/2014
@ 2-3 P.M.
ICB
4/11/201
4 @ 2-3
P.M.

Bid
Opening
Deadline Date &
Time
4/28/201 4/28/2014
4
@ 3:05 P.M.
4/28/201 4/28/2014
4
@ 3:05 P.M.
5/12/201 5/12/2014
4
@ 3:05 P.M.

Page 6

No Silent crowd: Students

request answers in KAICT/
GIZ debate on land dispute
settlements
PRESS RELEASE - Land rights issues are regularly conflicting with con-

cession negotiation and awarding processes throughout Liberia. At a time where

approximately half of the countrys land is already allocated to concessionaires like
palm oil producers, logging firms and mining companies, communities and individuals are increasingly complaining about theirs interests and their land rights being neglected by the Liberian government and companies in concession agreements.

On March 26, entitled The Endless Argument-Land Dispute Settlement in

Large Scale Concessions, the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation
(KAICT) at the University of Liberia in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) held their 4th speaker event on Natural Resource Management. Taking the Golden Veroleum Inc. palm oil concession in Sinoe as example,
the objective was to discuss mechanisms for dispute settlements and to provide
opportunities for exchange between different stakeholders and the Liberian public.
As members of the panel, Tiswen N. Synyenlentu, Commissioner with the Liberia
Land Commission, Silas Siakor, founder of the Sustainable Development Institute

3.
These bidding procedures are specified in the PPCA and approved by the Public Procurement & Concessions Commission and is
opened to all eligible bidders as defined in the Bidding Documents.
5.
Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from
the Procurement Department on the University Campus in mHarper,
Maryland County, or at the Monrovia Office located on 15th Street,
Sinkor behind the Dona Maria Restaurant. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English can be obtained from the addresses herein
beginning Wednesday, March 26, 2014 to May 12, 2014 respectively,
from 9:00am to 4:00pm daily for an unrefundable fee of US$100.00.
6.
Qualification requirements include: current certificates of business registration and tax clearance, past performance report including
names and contact numbers of at least three clients, bid security - bank
guarantee representing 2% of bid price, social security clearance, Association of Liberian Construction Contractors Certificate, and current
construction permit Ministry of Public Works. A Pre-bid site visitation is a MUST prior to the above scheduled Pre-bid Conferences to
be held in the conference room of the University Campus in Harper,
and also at the Monrovia Office on 15th Street, Sinkor (behind the
Dona Maria Restaurant).
7.
Bids must be delivered to the Procurement Department of the
University in Harper, Maryland County and/or at the Monrovia Office 15th Street, Sinkor, behind the Dona Maria Restaurant at or before 3:00pm on the respective closing dates. Late bids will be rejected.
Bids will be opened physically in the presence of bidders or their representatives who choose to attend in person on the respective opening
dates and time. This event will be held in the Conference Room of the
University Campus and the Monrovia Office on 15th. Street (behind
the Dona Maria Restaurant). Please note that electronic bids are not
acceptable.
8.
All bids must be addressed to: Procurement Department,
William V.S. Tubman University, Harper City, Maryland County,
Republic of Liberia.
Signed: ________________
Approved: _____________________

Robert Hill
Dr. Syrulwa Somah
Director of Procurement
Vice President/Administration

Panelists Siakor, Azango and Synyenlentu (from left to right) facing students
questions

and journalist Mae Azango, faced the numerous questions of a well-attended auditorium. Unfortunately neither Golden Veroleum Inc. nor the Senators of Sinoe were
able to follow the invitation to enrich the discussion.
Mae Azango both addressed the audiences concern about the government often
taking sides of the concessionaires while giving away precious agricultural land
and criticized agricultural concessionaires in general, including Golden Veroleum,
for ignoring the dissent of the affected communities and for providing poor working conditions for their employees. Whereas the Land Commission representative
Synyenlentu stressed the importance of the recently adopted land policy and national legislature for dispute settlement, Silas Sinkor emphasized the weaknesses
of Liberias judiciary system that would prevent the poor and the rural population
from gaining justice. Therefore he talked about the importance of complaint mechanisms on the international level and actively encouraged Liberians to address international initiatives and agreements like the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil or
the OECD to find solutions for land conflicts in Liberia.
The panel members generally agreed that securing the livelihoods of communities
needs to be prioritized. The recognition of community land rights in the new land
policy is seen as a step in the right direction. At the same time, strong concerns were
expressed though about how to legally enforce the policy provisions and how subsequent conflicts will be dealt with. It seems that at this point conflict prevention measures as well as dispute settlement mechanisms on the local level are not sufficient.
Silas Siakor underlined that in his concluding words when he called for deeper and
more comprehensive discussions about conflicting customary and public land rights
and warned the government of Liberia about treating communities as step-children
in political decision making processes.
The KAICT/GIZ Speaker Events are organized as panel discussions addressed to
the general public with a focus on the young generation - in which local experts and
practitioners from civil society, government and the private sector will share issues,
challenges and prospects for improving the Natural Resource Management regime
of Liberia. The next Speaker Event will take place once the on-campus activities
have resumed and the semester will have started again.

Daily Observer

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Monday, April 7, 2014

MESSAGE OF THE REGIONAL

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VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Save the Children saves childrens lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfill their potentials. Save
the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the immediate
needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in eight counties across
Liberia and works in: education, health and child protection, child rights governance and response to
humanitarian emergencies.
We are seeking for qualified professional with solid background and demonstrated experience in the
below position:
(1) Job Title
Location

: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

: Monrovia with travel to other field locations as and when necessary.

ROLE PURPOSE:
Save the Children is looking for a creative individual for our programme in the Republic of Liberia who
has the experience and competencies to work as Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
(MEAL) Officer for the Education Programme. The main purpose of this role is to lead on enhancing
quality, accountability and learning for achieving breakthrough solutions in bringing immediate and
lasting changes in the lives of children. The post holder will work to facilitate the quality implementation of the education program according to projects design using measurable results framework or log
frame.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Lead and support design and implementation of an effective and efficient Monitoring &
Evaluation system for education thematic program.
Design baseline and end line assessments.
Coordinate and support data collection, input and analysis
Assist in the development of projects specific tools to monitor quality and impact of project
Ensure project M&E frameworks are aligned with global Indicators
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
University Degree in Sociology, Social Studies, Education or related field
Experience of work with education programs
At least 5 years experience of working in MEAL roles.
How to Apply:
Submit letter of application and CV as one document/attachment, a contact telephone number and
the names of 3 referees whom you have previously worked for, quoting their email addresses properly
and send to this email address: liberia.vacancy@savethechildren.org or to the HR/Support Services
Department. Clearly label/quote the job title on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard
at Save the Childrens nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Gbarnga, Zwedru & Nimba). Deadline
for the submission of application is 18th April 2014, at 4:00 PM. . Only short listed candidates will
be contacted.
Note: you could also download full job profile on the Executive Mansions Website: emansion@
gov.lr
Save the Children is an equal opportunities employer - Women are encouraged to apply.

DR LUIS GOMES SAMBO

oday, 7 April 2014,

we commemorate
World Health Day
under the theme:
Vector-borne
diseases:
small bite, big threat. The
aim of this commemoration
is to raise awareness about
the threat posed by a
group of diseases that are
spread by insects and other
vectors. Mosquitoes, flies,
ticks, and freshwater snails
are some of the vectors
that spread diseases such
as malaria, human African
trypanosomiasis or sleeping
sickness, river blindness,
bilharzia,
elephantiasis,
leishmaniasis, yellow fever,
dengue and chikungunya.
In the African Region,
the social and economic
impact of vector-borne
diseases is very high and
the poorest people are the
most affected. In 2012
alone, there was an estimated 564 000 and 36 500
deaths caused by malaria
and sleeping sickness, re-

spectively. More than 45

million people are at risk
of elephantiasis, and river
blindness is still prevalent
in 20 countries where 15.7
million people are infected
by it and 500 000 are visually impaired as a result of
this infection.
Factors that contribute
to the burden of vectorborne diseases include
environmental and climate
changes. Precarious living
conditions increase the risk
of vector-borne diseases.
Furthermore,
vector
resistance to insecticides
constitutes a serious threat
to vector control.
Today, it is encouraging
to note the progress made
in the African Region
to tackle vector-borne
diseases. For example,
between 2001 and 2012
an estimated 337 million
cases of malaria were
averted. Similarly, river
blindness is no longer a
public health problem in

West African countries.

Although the sustained
scaling-up of proven costeffective interventions has
led to significant reduction
of vector-borne diseases,
much more needs to be
done.
We can protect ourselves
and our families by taking
simple preventive measures for keeping our environment clean and less
conducive to vector breeding and survival. In addition using other personal
protective measures such
as insecticide-treated nets
avoids the bite of the insects that transmit diseases.
As we commemorate
World Health Day, I urge
governments and people
to take concrete promotive and protective actions
to prevent the big threat
caused by small bites.
The World Health Organization will continue to
promote integrated vector
management as the best approach to strengthen vector control. As the health
sector cannot, on its own,
prevent vector proliferation and vector-borne diseases, other sectors such as
environment, agriculture
and local government are
called upon to play their
role in the fight against
these diseases. It is only
together that we can end
the needless suffering and
deaths caused by vectorborne diseases.
I thank you

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

Transcript of SRSG Karin Landgren

Gwenigale who has reported

who has been isolated in
Margibi County who travelled
from Foya. There are two
probable and two suspected
cases located in Foya.
Yesterday, UNMIL Chief
Medical officer accompanied
the World Health Organization
Country
Representative
and the governments chief
medical officer on a visit to
Foya to access prevention and
containment measures that are
being taken by the authorities
and by partners. The WHO
doctor has remained in Foya
and is still in Foya to look at
those measures and of course
the international community
is eager to give all possible
support to the government
of Liberia as it combats the
spread of this epidemic. Thank
you.
Mathew
Elavanathoduka
OIC-PIO: Thank SRSG. Any
more questions?
Fabine
Kwiah
(Radio

Veritas): Hello again. I have

two questions on security. You
always mentioned that the
security situation is generally
stable and calm along the
borders. Nonetheless, a year
ago, I remember vividly, there
was this incidence down the
12th Street in Sinkor where
UNMIL
personnel
from
Uganda allegedly murdered a
Liberian girl. The incident was
reported in the newspapers
and on the radio. Now, during
a press conference in this same
room sometimes last year, I
remember Aleem Siddique
was here and I asked him
about the fate of the case. I
wanted to know the outcome
of the investigation. It took
him time to answer the
question and promised the
press that he would return with
the investigation outcome.
Since then nothing has been
said about it.
My next question is that
you have mentioned that

governance and reform are

being challenged, and therefore
the need for renewed efforts to
address the challenges. You
named some institutions like
LACC and LEITI. How do
you explain that?
Haji Massaley (SKY FM):
Good
morning.
Madam
SRSG you mentioned that the
security system is stable and
calm. You also said that the
country has witnessed mob
violence and demonstrations
as well as strikes under the
period in review. How can you
be more explicit in reconciling
that statement?
SRSG Landgren: Thank
you very much. That is a very
good question. I want to be
absolutely cleared with this
group what we mean when we
say generally stable overall. I
have reported to the Council
on the types of incidents or the
types of violence that continue
to occur; and they continue
to occur as you pointed out.

There have been strikes and

demonstrations as well as
continuing mob violence and
sexual-based violence. And,
there is no one saying that there
is no crime in Liberia. But, you
also know that UNMIL is not
going to stay until there is the
day when there is no crime in
Liberia. What we are mainly
looking at are incidents of
the types that could challenge
the overall stability of the
country. So, when we look
at the past six months, that is
why we say generally, stable.
We are not saying no crime, no
violence. Similarly, when we
look at the border with Cote
dIvoire we are saying there
is no confirmed cross-border
attacks during this period.
When I look back to 2012 and
the situation prevailing then,
we had many suspected or
confirmed cross-border attacks
across that border. So, this is
a real change, and of course
the fact that countries in this
region have gotten together
and committed themselves to
regional security mechanisms.

It is immensely important
when one considers Liberias
history, how the problems
begun, and how problems
were instigated across this
borders in the past, this is a
fantastic state of affairs. These
are commitments from all the
countries in the Mano River
Union. So, that is the context
in which we saying that the
overall security is generally
stable and remains stable.
In terms of more details about
accountability, first of all, I
will encourage you to speak
directly to LEITI and to LACC
and get them to tell you the
different measures they have
taken or planning to take. The
head of LACC was confirmed
in his new post and, I think,
at his confirmation talked
about measures he foresaw
LACC taking and planning
to take. In the case of LACC,
they have worked on financial
disclosures of officials and
have made the information
public. In the case of LEITI,
there is a post-contract audit
process they have been

Page 8

involved in and also they are

looking at incomes from the
extractive industries. So, these
are very important initiatives
and I want to encourage these
institutions and their progress.
On the specific case you
have mentioned, we would
like to come back to you. I
would only have an update on
that case. Thank you. Thank
you all very much.
Mathew
Elavanathoduka
OIC-PIO: Thank you and
with this we have come to the
end of this press conference.
Thank you all for coming and
thank you to all the UNMIL
Radio listeners. Please note
that there are copies of the
27th Progress Report of the
Secretary-General to the UN
Security Council available
for your pick up. Also there
is a leaflet on the Ebola-virus
which describes the prevention
methods
and
symptoms.
Thank you SRSG.
SRSG Landgren: Thank
you.

As Lofa Senatorial Race Heats Up in Earnest David D. Bropleh, Sr

Cllrs. Zargo and Jallah on Empowerment Sprees
By Edwin M. Fayia III

s the Lofa County

senatorial
race
heats up in earnest,
two out of the
multiple aspirants have begun
to muscle in and put their
resources to work.
In a week-long survey
and sampling of views from
citizens and residents of
Voinjama and Kolba Cities
in Voinjama and Kolahun
Districts, Counselors Steve
Hamadu Zargo and Joseph
Kolako Jallah have made their
presence felt.
The
two
distinguished
Liberian lawyers are eyeing
the single seat that is up for
grabs in the pending senatorial
elections slated for October
this year.
Henceforth, the two Liberian
lawyers continue to parade the
seven administrative districts,
hoping to win the hearts and
minds of their people.
Opinions suggest that the
aspirants are both great,
but differ on every socioeconomic and political front
in Voinjama and Kolahun

Districts in Lofa County.

Opinions from administrative
districts in Lofa County say
that Cllr. Zargo leads the
poll and currently is the front
runner from Lofa.
He lost the previous
senatorial race to current
Senator
George
Tamba
Tengbeh though the race was
fiercely contested amongst
several candidates.
In a similar situation from
the past, Cllr. Jallah lost the
election but has come back to
contest in Lofa County.
Since then, Cllr. Zargo has
concentrated business people
in Voinjama District some
parts of Lofa County.
Besides that, Cllr. Zargo has
remained Lofa County. Said
he: I, Citizen Zargo believe
that living with the citizens
and doing what I can to uplift,
is what I am about.
His work with county
officials, chiefs, citizens, and
residents towards making
things better in Lofa County
shows what his focus is.
Cllr. Zargo has been
identifying
with
student
groups
by
providing

motivation,
encouragement
and critically needed funds
in the form of scholarships
in some of the administrative
districts in Lofa County.
The practicing Liberian
lawyer told the Daily Observer
recently in Voinjama City,
that the several investment
initiatives in Lofa County
are
aimed
at
making
improvements in all areas,
including
infrastructure.
A majority of Cllr. Zargos
assistants are people centered
around
community-driven
projects in Lofa County.
In a brief chat with a political
youth activist in Voinjama City
recently, he noted that Cllr.
Zargo has socio-economically
and politically managed to get
hold of the political key to the
pending senatorial contest in
Lofa County.
Youth
activist
Jallah
Mulbah Baysah intimated
that the several development
initiatives undertaken by
Cllr. Zargo and team speak
volumes of his commitment
and dedication to see Lofa
County at another formidable
level.

Even in Salayea and Zorzor

Districts, Cllr. Zargo has an
eighty percent commanding
lead in popular opinions from
well established Liberian
business people and keen
development partners in that
part of Lofa County.
For his part, Cllr. Jallah
according to some popular
opinions in Kolba City in
Kolahun District has done
exceptionally well in the
empowering of the educational
sector of the district.
However, several political
pundits have pointed out that
Cllr. Jallah needs to spread his
political wings to all parts of
Lofa County as demonstrated
by Cllr. Steve Zargo of the
Voinjama District.
Meanwhile, many citizens
and residents are of the opinion
that the pending senatorial race
and contest in Lofa County
would mean putting money in
the pockets of the electorate.
At the same time Cllr. Jallah
has visibly extended largess
to his kinsmen and women at
the Lofa Community College,
providing
critically-needed
scholarship funds to some of
the students.

MOE Inducts New National Education Advisory Board

By Alvin Worzi

he
Ministry
of
Education
has
inducted into office
members of newly
formed National Education
Advisory Board to stir and
carryout major responsibilities
of educational matters in the
country.
Speaking at the induction
ceremony of the officers on
Friday, April 4, at the Ministry
of
Education,
Education
Minister Etmonia D. Tarpeh
explained that the members
of the board were drawn from
several institutions, including
County
School
Board,

Monrovia
Consolidated
School System, National
Principal Association, National
Teachers Association and
Parent Teacher Association.
Other institutions include:
Association
of
Liberian
Universities,
Prominent
Liberian Educators, Federation
of Labor Union, Civil
Service Agency, Chamber of
Commerce, Private Schools
and West African Examination
Council amongst others.
She further explained that
members of the board were
appointed by her, the Minister
of Education, with approval of
the President of Liberia, Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, adding that
the board members will serve

Education Minister
Etmonia D. Tarpeh
for three years with eligibility
of one reappointment.
The
newly
inducted

officers of the Advisory

Board include: Mr. Charles
E. Collins, Chairman, Mrs.
Helen Roberts-Evans, vice
chairman and Mr. Mohammed
A. Nasser, secretary.
Minister Tarpeh, however,
stated that the objectives of the
board must be seen as a way
of upholding quality education
to its standard with a new face
to the rebuilding of the country
as well as students across
Liberia.
As it relates to the objectives,
they will: promote national
participation in the design,
development and support of
national education policies and
programs; they will assemble
public, private and faith-

Dies

avid D. Bropleh,
Sr., 64, of Chicken
Soup
Factory,
Gardnersville,
passed away on Monday,
March 31, 2014 at his
residence, after a five-year
battle against his enlarged
heart, surrounded by his
loving family at 1 a.m.
Family visitation at the
deceaseds
residence
is
welcomed by the widow and
children at the house he spent
the last five years of his life.
Bropleh (Doyen) was born
in Grand Cess, Grand Kru
County. He graduated from
Tubman High and joined
the Armed Forces of Liberia
(AFL). He left the army during
the civil-war in 1990 and
became a businessman.
Donyen was a loving father,
said daughter Tete Bropleh,
an employee of the Daily
Observer newspaper. Tete is
a graduate of Sabegna School
of Travel and Tourism of
Monrovia.
His son David D. Broleh,
Jr., who was also in the
AFL, predeceased him on
September 3, 2011, following
a drowning incident at the
Barclay Training Center in
Monrovia.
Doyen is survived by his

loving wife Kumba Bropleh,

Doyen, 19, Muna, 14, Nahdi,
14, Juah, 13 and Tiaka, 10.
Abraham Roberts Funeral
Home of Chicken Soup
Factory, Gardnersville is in
charge of funeral arrangements
and the final celebration of
his life is on April 19, at the
Living Water Church, with
internment at the Katuma
Cemetery, Chicken Soup
Factory, Gardnersville.

based concerns, interest and

aspirations regarding policies,
plans and regulations.
They will also: ensure that the
education policies designed
for the country incorporate
local and regional inputs for
the people of Liberia; they
will undertake debates and
facilitate dialogues to create
consensus on vital issues
regarding the direction and
dimension of education with
emphasis on access, quality,
relevance standard at all levels
as well as coats and financing.
They
will:
enhance
transparency, accountability
and democratic tenets in
the education sector such as

would be transferable to other

areas of nation building.
According to her, the
National Education Advisory
Board will act in the manner
that focuses on improving
students achievements and
organization effectiveness in
all sector of the education of
Liberia.
The Education Minister
also used the occasion to
express thanks and gratitude
to the board members for
their acceptance to serve the
Liberian people and promised
to coordinate activities of the
Ministry with that of the board
in order to have a transformed
the education sector.

The late David D. Bropleh

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

Page 9

Liberia
Seeks
More
IMF,
World
Bank
Aid
-As Amara Konneh Heads Countrys Delegation to Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.
By George D. Kennedy

inance
Minister
Amara Konneh is
leading
Liberias
delegation to this
years Spring Meetings of the
International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank
Group (WBG) in Washington
DC, USA.
The Meetings are expected
to kickoff over the weekend
and government of Liberias
delegation is scheduled to
participate
in
high-level
meetings to discuss the
countrys development agenda
and conclude on commitments
made
by
international
organizations and other donor
partners.
Top on the agenda at these
meetings include discussions
with the World Bank vice
president Maktar Diop, the
IMF Director for Africa and
former Minister of Finance

of Liberia, Dr. Antoinette M.

Sayeh, as well as the Liberia
reviewer under the IMF
Program.
The Minister is expected
to meet with the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC)
on Liberia progress toward the
compact development.
He will also serve as one
of the panelists on a high
level ministerial level panel
discussion on the future of
concessional finance and
the World Bank Groups
International
Development
Association (IDA) allocation
for developing Countries led
by World Bank president Dr.
Jim Yong Kim. The IDA is the
World Bank Groups fund for
the worlds poorest countries.
As Vice Chair of the IMF
Constituency
I,
Finance
Minister Konneh will also
be participating in high level
constituency meetings. These
meetings, according to the

Ministry of Finance, are

expected to yield encouraging
dividends
for
Liberias
transformation.
While in Washington D.C,
Minister Konneh and party

difficult, said Chirag Shah,

an analyst at Barclays Plc in
Mumbai. The question is,
does Sesa want to invest at the
current rate of iron ore?
Falling Prices
Ore with 62 percent iron
content arriving at Chinas
Tianjin Port declined more
than 15 percent in the past
year. The price has slumped 35
percent since Sesa agreed to
buy the mines for $90 million
from Elenilto Minerals &
Mining LLC in August 2011.
In December 2012, it bought
Elenilto Minerals remaining
shares for $33.5 million.
Sesas mines in Liberia are
located about 70 kilometers
(44 miles) away from the
port city of Monrovia, the
nations capital. The company
is awaiting approval from the
Liberian government to build
a road to the port.
ArcelorMittal, the worlds
biggest
steelmaker,
runs
Liberias largest iron ore
operations. It plans to more
than triple production capacity
there to 15 million tons a year
by 2015, according to a March
19 presentation on its website.
Sesa spokesman Pavan
Kaushik didnt respond to
an e-mail and two calls to
his mobile phone seeking
comment on the companys
Liberia plans.
Series of Bans
A concerted effort by India to
stop illegal mining and prevent
environmental breaches by
mining companies prompted
the Supreme Court to order
a series of bans in the last
couple of years in the nations
most productive states. Those

sanctions,
coupled
with
difficulties in acquiring land
and a renewed threat from
leftist Maoist rebels in Indias
mineral-rich regions have led
companies to look overseas.
We plan to develop the
Liberia project in a phased
manner and are currently
reviewing even the first phase
of 2 million tons, Mahendra
Singh Mehta, then chief
executive officer at parent
Vedanta Resources Plc (VED),
said in an earnings call on
Nov. 15. The company had
planned to spend $230 million
to $250 million to develop the
initial capacity.
Revenue from Sesas iron
ore business tumbled to 13.1
billion rupees ($218 million)
in the year ended March 31,
2013 from 56.8 billion rupees
the previous year.
A
supreme
courtappointed panel on March 26
recommended ending the ban
in Goa, setting a production
limit of 20 million tons
annually, 40 percent less than
the company produced in the
year ended March 31, 2012,
the last full financial year
before the ban. The top court
in December lifted a similar
ban in Karnataka, paving the
way for Sesa to open its only
mine in the neighboring state
after a gap of more than two
years.
Should the court accept
the panels suggestions on
mining in Goa, it could lead
to trimming of capacity at
Sesas mines, which produced
13.3 million tons in the fiscal
year before the ban, one of the
people said.

Finance Minister Amara M. Konneh

Billionaire Agarwal Said to

Slash Iron Ore Project in Liberia

By Rajesh Kumar Singh

and Abhishek Shanker
(courtesy of www.bloomberg.com )

esa Sterlite Ltd.

(SSLT) plans to cut
an iron ore project
in Liberia by 80
percent after approval delays
halted infrastructure plans and
a mining ban in India sapped
cash flows, people familiar
with the matter said.
Initial capacity at the Western
Cluster mines may be slashed
to 400,000 metric tons a year
from 2 million tons, according
to three people, who asked
not to be identified pending
an
announcement.
Sesa,
Indias most valuable metals
producer, based in the western
state of Goa, had expected to
ship its first consignment from
Liberia last month and spend
$2.4 billion to reach 30 million
tons by 2017.
Billionaire
Chairman
Emeritus Anil Agarwals
strategy to tap western Africa,
dubbed the new Pilbara,
referring to the Australian
region where BHP Billiton
Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group have
mines, have been foiled by
falling ore prices and a cashcrunch arising from Sesas
mines lying idle for more
than 18 months. In October
2012, Indias top court banned
mining in Goa, where Sesa has
almost all its mines, effectively
shutting down Indias biggest
exporter of the steelmaking
material.
Sustaining 2 million tons of
output in Liberia with limited
infrastructure will be very

will make follow ups and

conclude on commitments
made by the two monetary
institutions as well as other
bilateral partners.
Minister Konneh, who is also
national coordinator of the
Liberia Development Alliance
(LDA), is expected to push
for the Banks intervention in
supporting Liberias mediumterm development strategy, the
Agenda for Transformation
(AfT). He is also expected to
show case progress made in
the implementation of the fiveyear development agenda and
to seek the Bank and its Funds
supports towards the energy,
roads and other ongoing
projects.
Officials traveling with
Minister Konneh include
Liberias
Minister
of
Agriculture Dr. Florence
Chenoweth,
Minister
of
Public Works Dr. Antoinette
Weeks and Liberias Central
Bank Executive Governor
Dr. J. Mills Jones. Others
are Liberias Minister of
Information Cultural Affairs
and Tourism (MICAT) Mr.
Lewis Brown, Youth and
Sports Minister Len Eugene
Nagbe as well as Deputy

Central Bank Governor for

Economic Policy Mr. Boima
Kamara and Mr. Tolbert G.
Nyenswah, Assistant Minister
for Prevention, Ministry of
Health.
During
the
high-level
meeting with the World
Bank vice president Diop,
Minister Konneh is expected
to highlight the progress
made on Liberias effort
towards achieving a vision
for sustainable growth and
development
particularly
investing in infrastructure,
with specific emphasis on the
rehabilitation of the energy
sector, roads and ports. He
will also use these meetings
to advocate for more IDA
allocation for Liberia for
infrastructure development.
In order to realize its vision
of sustainable growth and
development,
the government

of Liberia says it is working
closely with donor partners
to mobilize resources for
investment in infrastructure.
In fiscal year 2013/14, the
government and its partners
have disbursed funds for
national priority projects,
including the rehabilitation of
the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant,
the construction of new Heavy
Fuel Oil (HFO) power plants,
the erection of electricity
transmission and distribution
grids, including new roads
and bridges connecting major
urban centers and trade routes.
Investing in human capital,
leveraging
agriculture
potential
for
economic
transformation,
developing
the private sector especially
Liberian owned businesses
and investing in reconciliation
are key areas the Minister will
be soliciting donors support.
In order to address the
significant
infrastructure
deficit, the government has
assured the public of its
continuing efforts to unlock
additional resources, both
domestically and international

through donor partners, to

meet the development needs
of the country.
The Minister will also meet
key staff of the Fiscal Affairs
Department of the IMF to
discuss recent developments in
public financial management
(PFM). The Funds PFM
engagement with Liberia
is designed to respond to
contemporary demands in
the Liberian public financial
management landscape.
The IMF and World Bank
meet each autumn in what is
officially known as the Annual
Meetings of the International
Monetary Fund and the World
Bank Group and each spring
in the Spring Meetings of the
International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank Group.
The autumn meetings
are customarily held in
Washington, D.C, United
States, for two consecutive
years, and in another member
country in the third year. On
the weekend of the autumn
meetings, the G7 also meets.
During these meetings,
thousands of government
officials, journalists, civil
society organizations, and
invited participants from the
academia and private sectors,
gather in Washington, D.C
for the Spring Meetings of
the IMF and the World Bank
Group.
At the heart of the gathering
are meetings of the IMFs
International Monetary and
Financial Committee and
the joint World Bank-IMF
Development
Committee,
which discuss progress on the
work of the IMF and the World
Bank Group.
Also featured are seminars,
regional
briefings,
press
conferences, and many other
events focused on the global
economy,
international
development, and the worlds
financial markets.

Daily Observer
Monday, April 7, 2014

Protests against

workers what kind of facility was being erected, (put up,

built) did not get the answers
they expected.
We dont know, a worker
representative was reported to
have said; we are doing the
job that we were sent to do.
Lacking the details and
information they had to have--either from the workers or
hospital officials---residents

began to form small groups

to discuss the implication of
a steadily rising structure intended for those affected with
the Ebola virus.
Last Saturday morning,
many young children, supported by older siblings and residents, held placards, denouncing and protesting setting up
a camp for Ebola victims in
New Kru Town.

No Space for Ebola Center in New Kru Town, No! No!

No! a placard read, as kids
lined up in front of the construction site.
Another placard said, The
People of New Kru Town say
No, No, to Ebola Camp.
Fearing violence, several police officers arrived
and took positions across the
street, from the hospital, just
in case.
However, the children kept

their vigil and waited for anyone responsible to tell them

what the construction of the
facility was about.
Meanwhile the Daily Observer learned that a source
from Redemption Hospital
told the protesters that the construction was for a TB Annex.
The Daily Observer did not
get an official confirmation.
The heightened-tension was
the result of poor public education, as officials stumbled

Page 10
over how to tell residents the
way the virus works and how
it might be caught, one resident said, forgetting that news
about the contagion (infection,
disease) had been all over the
air-waves and in all of the papers.
We want to know what is
being built and what it will be
used for, he told this paper.
Another said, We live here
and want to know what to expect, after hearing that shak-

Ellen Meets Pope

from the Vatican in Rome,

Italy, the Liberian leader made
the comments during a meeting with the Holy Father at his
private library in the Apostolic
Palace in Vatican City on Saturday, April 5.
Pope Francis is the 266th and
current Pope of the Catholic
Church, in which capacity he
is Bishop of Rome and absolute Sovereign of the Vatican
City State.
During the cordial discussion, both the President and
the Pontiff discussed the
cordial relations between Liberia and the Holy See and
expressed satisfaction about
the positive progress made in

strengthening Liberias democratic institutions.

President Sirleaf, particularly highlighted Governments
efforts for peace and reconciliation; which he encouraged.
She praised the Church for its
immense contribution in the
fields of social welfare and
education.
The Liberian leader urged
Pope Francis to pray for the
country in order to have a
sense of holiness, reconciliation, peace and that all Liberians can love one another. She
also asked for the Pontiffs
prayers for courage of tolerance.
They later exchanged views

Guinean Embassy

Amb. Dor: Prevention is the first step to curing this

pandemic
rently being battled by the regional health authorities.
According to Ambassador
Dor, since the outbreak of the
deadly disease a few weeks
ago, the Liberian Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare,
(MOH/SW) in collaboration

with its international partners,

such as the World Health Organization, (WHO) Mdecins
Sans Frontieres in the two
countries have taken the contagion seriously.
For their combined efforts, the Guinean diplomat

LCC Declares

By C.Y. Kwanue

o help contain the

further spread of
the Ebola virus
in Liberia, the
Liberian
Council of Churches (LCC) over
the weekend declared a week
of National Fast and Prayer
throughout the 15 counties
seeking Gods Divine intervention.
At a press conference on Friday, April 4, LCC First Vice
President, Rev. Dr. Kortu K.
Brown, said the LCC is working in collaboration with the
various denominations under
its umbrella to observe a period of national fast and prayer,
which began Sunday, April 6.
Some of the denominations
in the crusade are the Liberian Fellowship of Full Gos-

pel Ministries, Association of

Evangelicals of Liberia, and
Christian Community of Liberia, Pentecostal Fellowship
Union of Liberia, and the Prophetic Call to Ministry.
The LCC is calling on all
Liberians and residents within
the countrys territorial limits
to observe a period of national
Fast and Prayer throughout the
country.
The LCCs decision, according to Rev. Brown, was
reached as a result of an Executive Committee meeting of the
Council on Wednesday, April
2, affirming a resolution of the
29th General Assembly to observe the 2nd Friday in April as
a Day of Prayer against hunger
and poverty.
The exercise will be hosted
on the theme: Heal Our Land,
Lord. It is based on 2 Chroni-

President Sirleaf is introduced to Pope Francis by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary

of State Pietro Parolin and Secretary for Relations with States Dominique Mambarti

ing hands can give someone

the virus.
Officials have now stopped
spreading the information
about shaking hands; now,
they are trumpeting that individuals avoid animals that die
on their own---chimpanzees,
antelopes, monkeys, and other
mammals that are first in line
as potential carriers.
At the construction site yesterday, work on the building
continued.
the years of the countrys civil
war. They discussed how relations can be strengthened, especially with support to social
welfare, health and educational institutions.
I think for us, this is more
or less a one time opportunity.
I found the Pope very affable,
President Sirleaf said following the meeting, adding that
she found him to be a very
humble man. President Sirleaf
is the first Liberian President
to visit a Pope at the Vatican.
President Sirleaf was later
taken on a guided tour of St.
Peters Basilica within the Vatican City, the largest church in
the world and one of the holiest Catholic sites.

on current regional and international issues, with particular reference on trouble spots
around the world.
Later, President Sirleaf met

with His Eminence Cardinal

Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Secretary for Relations with States,
Dominique Mamberti.

During the meeting, President Sirleaf extended thanks

and appreciation to the Holy
See for its support to Liberia
over time especially during

expressed gratitude to the respective leaderships of those

organizations, on behalf of his
government.
In the interest of our people
and countries, the best thing
to do for now is to educate
the general public about the
danger of the disease. Having
acknowledged that this is the
most important aspect, we believe that prevention is the best
approach to dealing with the
epidemic, the Guinean envoy
opined.
He said, since the outbreak
of the disease, the Guinean
government, through its Embassy near Monrovia, has been
in regular consultations with
relevant Liberian authorities,
to acquire the most reliable
updates on the situation.
We do not only call the
Minister of Health and Social
Welfare in Liberia for updates
on the situation in our country, but we also transmit to
him documents received from

Conakry as it relates to measures and evaluations on the

current situations since the
disease outbreakwhere the
situation has spread to, since
its outbreak to date.
As of the number of deaths,
the Guinean diplomat disclosed that up to Friday, April
4, 134 cases were reported in
Guinea, and of those cases,
84 deaths were related to the
Ebola fever. Four new suspected cases were notified in
the forest region, three in Macenta against two reported in
Guckdou near the Liberian
border, close to Lofa County
and to Conakry.
He said, four other cases
were completely treated and
the patients discharged on
Thursday, April 3 from two
hospitals in Conakry (Ratoma
and Donka Hospitals.)
Reading from statistics collected from his country, Ambassador Dor said that the
cases were stipulated in such

a way that out of the 80 cases

in Guckdou, 58 deaths were
recorded, in Macenta 26 cases,
14 deaths, Kissidougou nine
cases, five deaths, Conakry
15 cases, four deaths, Dabola
three new cases, two deaths,
and one case in Dinguiraye,
from which one person died.
Ambassador Dor has
meanwhile, disclosed that
one special health center with
a laboratory facility is being
currently installed in Guckdou where Liberians, Sierra
Leoneans as well as Guineans
are examined and treated for
the Ebola virus.
To further augment the
strength of medical practitioners in Guinea to contain the
spread of the virus, 27 medic
specialists from across the
world are being assigned to
various regions in Guinea.
The Ambassador, however,
expressed gratitude to the Liberian authorities for the enthusiastic solidarity being put

in place during the outbreak of

the disease.
According to him, efforts
by the Liberian authorities
were clear manifestations that
Guinea and Liberia constitute
one unified people, because
we share the same history, the
same geography, and therefore, our people live together
under the banners of the Mano
River Union. We are therefore
not surprised at the solidarity by Liberians because it is
in times of trouble that one
comes to know true friends.
As such, prevention just might
be the first major step to curing
this pandemic.
The Guinean diplomat buttressed health authorities who
have loudly sounded the preventive methods to those who
are opting for borders closure.
According to him, closing the
borders between both nations,
might not be an appropriate
move in times like these.

Therefore, from, Sunday to

Thursday, April 10, all Liberians are requested to fast and
pray for mercy, forgiveness
and compassion for the nation
in their respective homes, offices, market places and various places of worship.
On Friday, April 11, the National Fast and Prayer will be
climaxed at the Providence
Baptist Church in Monrovia be-

ginning at 10 a.m. for a Special

Intercessory and Thanksgiving
service to involve all churches,
intercessors, evangelists, pastors and national stakeholders.
Thereafter, Archbishop Lewis J. Zeigler of the Catholic Diocese of Monrovia will deliver
a special meditation to climax
the exercise.
The LCC has in that line requested churches in rural parts
of the country to climax the
weeklong event in their respective areas of worship instead of
coming to Monrovia.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of
Information has announced a
new radio program, dubbed:
Ebola Half Hour to respond
to the reported Ebola outbreak.
Acting Information Minister Isaac Jackson, Jr., said the
Chief Medical Officer, Dr.
Bernice Dahn or a designee
will appear on UNMIL Radio
from 12:10-12:45 p.m. to provide the latest information on

the status of the disease in the

country. There will also be simultaneous broadcasts on Radio Veritas, Fabric FM, Truth
FM, Power, Hott FM and the
LBS.
According to a statement
from the Ministry, the program
will be relayed on community
radio stations across the country.
Minister Jackson said the
information provided on the
Ebola Half Hour will be the
outcome of daily technical
meetings between the Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare
and its partners including the
WHO.
In addition, a situation
room is being set up at MOH/
SW. You can reach the Ministrys hotlines on 0770198517;
0777549805;
0886530260;
and 08869805 where local and
international journalists can
gather further information on
the outbreak.

cle 7:13-14, with a focus on the

prayer against hunger, poverty,
pestilence (a fatal epidemic
disease) such as Ebola, insecurity and lack of genuine love
amongst the Liberian people.
Liberia, Rev. Brown said,
is confronted with many challenges, the latest being the
development of the Ebola virus that is slowly stealing innocent lives because it has no
cure. Other issues like hunger,
poverty, lack of reconciliation,
love and care for one another,
stair us in the face daily.
He said, the LCC, as people
of faith, live according to the
words enshrined in the preamble of the Liberian Constitution which reads, We the
people of the Republic of Liberia, acknowledge our devour
gratitude to God for our existence as a free, sovereign and
independent state, and rely on
His Divine Guidance for our
survival as a Nation

Page 11

Fo
r
ad qu
ve ick
rt
ise bu
in sine
th ss
is re
sp su
ac lts
e
,

Fo
r
ad qu
ve ick
rt
ise bu
in sine
th ss
is re
sp su
ac lts
e
,

Daily Observer Sunday, April

06, 2014
Monday,
April 7, 2014

Read more sports articles on the Daily Observer website @ www.liberianobserver.com/sports

Darling Scorpions Steal The Show

-In African Youth Championship First Leg

found it easier to shoot the ball

off-target, many times.
While the Gambians played,
using long range passes to
center for the goal, their
Liberian counterparts played a
crowded midfield and on many
occasions restarted their game,
by kicking the ball back to
their defense.
Liberias defender Moses
Tokpa had a bad day, as he was
left struggling to keep up on
three occasions.
It was on one of such
occasions that Saloum Faal
beat him to the left and made
his cross for the winner.
With the 1-0 loss, the returnleg in Banjul, The Gambia
places the burden on the
Liberian side to win at least
2-0 to be able to qualify in the
African Youth Championships.
The drawback was the
lack of coordination in the
players team-work, in such a
competitive environment.
The Gambians played much

improved and confident game,

and striker Ali Sowe was at his
best.
His ability to eliminate
attacking players aided him to
connect the ball with precision.
He was strong and fast on the
ball, an important asset to the
team.
United States based Coach
William
Tenesio
Tarpeh,
presently visiting, told the
Daily Observer at half time,
The Liberians will have to use
the wings, like a triangle and
set up the goals, which could
not happen.
Liberias
goalkeeper
Koulibaly was effective and
agile, and he showed that he
was class of his own.
With youth in his favor,
Liberia stands a better chance,
and though the results were
unfavorable, Liberia stands
to benefit if they are made to
work together for a longer
time.
The Gambians, some of their
medics were seen with gloves
on their hands, (remember we
still have Ebola here) are ahead
with the away victory.
Every game has its own
development, said another
coach who has observed
football development for
a long time, with proper
organization the players could
give a different story in the
return leg in The Gambia.
Well, we wait to see.
Liberia: Abdilai Koulibaly,
Benjamin Gbamy, Raymond
Fancia, Fred Fofana, Moses
Tokpa,
Titus
Kamara,
Emmanuel Geeplay, Sam
Jackson, Nimely Blamo, Oscar
Dorley, Sporo Somah.

Gono told the Daily

Observer via mobile phone
yesterday that their third
argument of the insertion of
a 2nd Vice President in the
constitution is inarguably
proven that foreigners are the
major supporters of the game
in Liberia.

Meanwhile, beginning today

Cllr. Lloyd Kennedy, chairman
of the Constitutional Review
Committee
and
election
commissioner Neal are expect
to argue with the petitioners
lawyers about the injection
over the elections.

By Omari Jackson

he
statistics
of
the game favored
Gambias
U-20
national team, the
Darling Scorpions, as they
stole the show with a lone goal
in the 30th minute yesterday
against Satellites at the
Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
It was in the first leg
preliminary round match of the
African Youth Championships.
The Gambians created more
goals, and wasted all except
one in the 30th minute when
winger Saloum Faal outran
Moses Tokpa to center for
Bubacarr Trawally to connect
home.
They also earned 9 cornerkicks against two by their

A tussle for the ball in this action yesterday

coordinated game.
Their partnership more often
than not left their Liberian
counterparts struggling to keep
pace.

Who gets the ball? Action in yesterdays action

Liberian
counterparts.The
Gambians showed a more
purposeful game, and their
strikers, inside left Bubacarr
Trawally, winger Saloum
Faal and center forward
Bakary Daffeh played a more

In the post, Gambian

goalkeeper Bubacarr Sanyang
cooperated well with his
defense, but it was the Liberian
goalkeeper Abdulai Koulibaly
whose effective responses
frustrated his attackers who

Court Halts Tennis

Elections Again

By Leroy M. Sonpon, III

ggrieved members
of the Liberia
Tennis Federation
(LTF) have halted
the Fridays elections of the
federation owing to alleged
voters discrepancies in the
new constitution through a
Writs of Injunction from the
Civil Court.
Mr. Adolphus Wade, a
presidential hopeful in the
deferred LTFs elections
and the Coaches, in separate
petitions, prayed the Court for
sanction, which was handed
last Thursday and Friday
respectfully.
This marked the second time
for the Tennis elections to be

frozen by court after the death

Prof. Harold Monger, who led
the federation for over four
years.
Wade, in his petition, said
the voters listing contained
unqualified members who
are not players, coaches, and
former leaders.
Coaches Josiah Gono, John
Wolo, Alfred Kandakai and
Jeffery Martin argued pointed
out the discrepancies in the
voters registration, and the
failure of the membership
to adopt the newly drafted
constitution for the pending
elections and the inclusion of
a 2nd Vice President in the
constitution, to be called, Vice
President for International
Affairs.

Team Liberia Pays

Respects to Fallen
Street Children of Brazil

eam Liberia joined

with every other
nation participating
in the Street Child
World Cup to remember all of
the street children who have
passed away, particularly those
who were killed at Candelria
21 years ago in Brazil. A
memorial service was held
in the very spot where eight
street children were shot dead
by Brazilian police in 1993, to
highlight the issue that since
then not enough has been done
to protect vulnerable children
who are dependent upon the
streets and that more needs to
happen.
Paulo Roberto de Oliveira,
11 years old
Anderson
de
Oliveira
Pereira, 13 years old
Marcelo Candido de Jesus,
14 year old
Valdevino
Miguel
de
Almeida, 14 years old
Gambazinho, 17 years old
Leandro
Santos
da
Conceio, 17 years old
Paulo Jos da Silva, 18 years
old
Marcos Antnio Alves da
Silva, 19 years old
Street children used to gather
at the fountain of Candelria
outside of the church to wash

Nimba Underestimated
Bassa, Coach Fofana
By Ishmael F. Menkor

imba
County
football
coach,
Muta Fofana, has
said that he lost
the County Meet soccer finals
to Grand Bassa because his
boys underestimated their
opponents.
He was speaking for the first
time since the team lost the

finals 1-2 to the champions,

Grand Bassa in the 2013-2014
National County Meet.
He said, I think we were
so overconfident for victory
so when our boys made up
their minds it was too late to
recover.
I always told my boys not
to underestimate any team, he
said, but they failed to adhere
to my advice.

Coach Muta Fofana

Under Coach Fofana, Nimba
became the only undefeatable
team and didnt draw any of

and for shelter to sleep, but

since the killings it is now
used as a place of tribute, with
eight red bodies painted on the
ground to remind everyone of
such a travesty.
Deche, one of the survivors
of Candelria was present to
say a few words: I am really
proud to be here and I want to
thank everyone for joining me.
We are a global community
across five continents; today
we remember the eight young
Brazilians and all of the street
children around the world and
demand a positive change.
In a shocking statistic 24
street children are killed in
Brazil every day, something
that
local
organizations
are desperately trying to
stop by reaching out to the
Government for more aid in
this matter.
Rodrego, aged just 16 was
meant to be captaining Brazil
at the Street Child World
Cup this year, unfortunately
he was one of those statistics
that did not make it as he was
murdered just four weeks
before the tournament.
Meanwhile, Team Liberia
lost the quarter-finals 3-0 to
Burundi.
her games in the last County
Meet. The team only suffered
its 1-2 defeat to Grand Bassa
in the finals.
He has meanwhile called
on the leadership of Nimba
County to give all necessary
support for preparation of
the next County Meet in
early August, this year. He
commended his players for
reaching the finals, since only
the best teams reach the finals.
Nimba County reached the
soccer finals of the County
Meet, and only lost to eventual
champions, Grand Bassa
County in match that brought
the best in Liberian County
Meet football.

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What Did Dr. Owl Say?

Is there no balm in
Gilead? Is there no
physician there? Why is
there no healing for the
wounds of my peple?
Dr. Owls Biblical Guest

VOL. 16. NO. 112

MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014

PRICE: LD 40

Bruno Killed by Unidentified

-LACs
Security
Officer
Claims
Bullet

By Abednego Davis

benco
Ya r p a ,
the officer of
Plant
Protection Division (PPD) of
Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) has taken
the stand and gone public with how his charge,
Michel Bruno, was ambushed, shot and killed in
a District # 3 Grand Bassa
County forest, hundreds
of miles away from his
home, in Belgium.
He died instantly from
a bullet wound to the
torso (upper body, chest)
(launched from a singlebarrel gun. The weapon
was wielded by an unknown assailant who has
remained at large over the
past seven years, according to the facts elicited
(obtained, drawn out) by
the Prosecution.
During his testimony as
the Prosecutions second
witness in the ongoing
murder trial of twelve persons, said on Friday, April
4, at Criminal Court A,
Yarpa a bodyguard assigned to Bruno prior to
his death, said that he was
on the spot when his boss
was shot.
When they defendants
appeared in Court, they
denied that they had done
the deed.

Bruno, a Belgian national and Plantation manger

of LAC, was allegedly
shot twice with a single
barrel gun in November,
2007, while surveying a
site for his company in
District #3, Grand Bassa
County.
Testifying on Friday,
prosecution second witness said, the shooting
happened when Bruno,
along with LACs surveyors and the companys
Superintendent, went to
survey land for extending
the companys compound.
Two shots went off
as soon we entered the
forestwe all then ran
helter-skelter (chaotically, in confusion). When
we could not find Bruno
amongst us, we immediately contacted the office
for reinforcement, Yarpa
alleged in his testimony.
When the reinforcement arrived, the witness said, officers of the
United Nations Mission in
Liberia, (UNMIL) and the
Liberia National Police,
(LNP) were part it.
They arrived and we

Brunos vehicle was ambushed and he was murdered in

November of 2007

all started to search for

Bruno. It was during the
search that the team came
across the defendants;
We asked them to join
the team to find Bruno.
After
we
discovered Bruno lying on the
ground, we lifted him
up; we found two bullets
marked on his body and
immediately arrested the
defendants. We packed
them into truck and took
them away, the state witness recalled.

Interestingly, when earlier asked where the 12 had

been headed that fateful
morning, the defendants
told us that they were
headed for a farming trip.
Before, the shooting
incident, he said, some
employees of LAC had
advised him not to allow
Bruno to go to the forest
on that day; according to
them, some people had
already set an ambush to
kill him.

He did not say who had

planned the ambush; instead, he based his testimony on what he claimed
had amounted to a veiled
threat said defendants had
issued to LACs employees.
The defendants, earlier,
had promised to deal drastically with any of LACs
employees that dared to
occupy their land, Yarpa
said, when responding to
how he concluded that
the defendants had fired
the fatal bullet (the shot
that killed Bruno).
During cross-examination, chief defense lawyer, Atty Arthur Johnson
sought to discredit Yarpas testimony by asking
whether the deceased,
Bruno, had been shot in
his presence, the witness
replied: yes.
Again asked if he was
aware about the threat to
kill Bruno, he once again
replied, yes.
Further asked when
he heard the gun sound,
Yarpa replied I heard the
shots sound immediately
after we entered the for-

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est.
Further asked to explain
Brunos position before
he alone was shot, the
PPD officer response, he
was between one of my
bosses, Prince Tarwo and
the Surveyor team that
included the Companys
Superintendent.
Asked again what the
distance between him and
the victim was before the
shooting, Witness Yarpa
again replied: I was
standing behind Bruno.
But I did not see or know
who shot the gun.
As a PPD officer, what
was your responsibility,
the witness was asked,
My responsibility was to
protect Bruno and other
LCAs staff as well as the
companys property.
Asked why he had allowed Bruno to travel to
where he was killed, witness Yarpa explained that
Bruno had insisted that
we went to the location,
as nothing was going to
happen to him. That was
how I followed him. He
was my boss; and anything he said, I did.
The case continues.
(With an assist from
Keith Neville A. Best)

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Generator
Web: www.dpwonderful.com

Published by the Liberian Observer Corporation (LOC), 23 McDonald Street, P.O. Box 1858, Monrovia, Liberia; Tel: 06 812-888; 06 578476; and 06 472772;
Printed by the Observer Printing Press;
Bai S. Best, Marketing Manager; Lindiw Khumalo Yasiah, Business Strategist;
Publisher & Managing Director, Kenneth Y. Best.

April 7, 2014-edition.indd 2

4/7/14 12:48 AM