Friday, May 29, 2015 Edition

Banking &
TOP
Finance
pg
STORIES
AFRICA TIPS
FINANCE
CHIEF
Nigerias Agriculture
Minister is New Head of

African Development Bank
NEWS EXTRA
HOPE
RESTORED
pg
Liberia Turns Over

US140K William Booth
School After Fire Disaster
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 9 NO.68
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015
PRICE L$40
PLEASE PAY YOUR

REAL ESTATE TAXES ON
OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2015
TO AVOID PENALTY
AND INTEREST.
ANY PAYMENT MADE AFTER
JULY 1, WILL ATTRACT
PENALTY AND INTEREST.
(SECTION 2002 LRC).
TAX SENSITIZATION MESSAGE
WWW.LRA.GOV.COM
GVL STILL ASSESSING DAMAGE, NOT CONSIDERING USE

OF SINOE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR REPAIR
NOT AN OPTION
Well that is something that is not on the table, the county development
fund is for the county, the government has not offered that to us and we
are not asking for that, the likelihood of us accepting this is small.
- GVL Corporate Communication Manager Virgil McGee
News Extra - pg.
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
BUYING
SELLING
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
Friday, May 29, 2015
Page 2 | Frontpage
Monroviahe Capitol Building is the official seat of the National

Legislature of Liberia hosting a two- chambers
law-making body comprising the House of
Representatives and the Liberian Senate.
It is one of the most important places and center of
concentration in Liberia- where all laws, bills, regulations
and other important issues governing the state are debated
and ratified. The lawmakers have so much power that they
allocate resources through budgetary appropriations to all
state institutions.
Despite the vast power of deciding what should be allotted to
various institutions the lawmakers rely on donors to provide
their basic needs as the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) is credited for the renovation of the
Capitol which lay in ruins during the early days of the 52nd
National Legislature beginning January 2006.
Until now, during legislative discussions, the lawmakers
had to talk loosely across the floor without the help of any
microphone until USAID again provided such to both the
House of Representatives and the Senate, with the US agency
also providing all the furniture in the offices of the lawmakers.
I am not fixing Snowes mess. I am only

continuing from where he stopped and I hope
to get the support from the Executive Branch
of government as was done in the case of
the judiciary but to be frank there are lots of
constraints, Representative Byron Brown
In allotting resources, the lawmakers allot trunk of money to

themselves something they have done for successive budget
years under the guise of personal pet projects. .
In recent budgets such as the 2014/2015 Fiscal year National
budget the National Legislature approved US$ 37,212 but
actually received a little more money as the fiscal outturn
published by the then Ministry of Finance detailing actual
receipts by state institutions disclosed that the body received
US$37,221.
The National Legislature in the same 2014/2015 year budget
allocated US$48,500 with US$48,499 disbursed as per the
outturn for cleaning material and services and another US$
57,427 received for maintenance, equipment and furniture.
Despite these allocations the Capitol Building lacks many basic
facilities including running water, operational lift, internet
service and proper ventilation. Recently, the building suffered
a fire outbreak in the joint chambers of the Legislature but
was brought under control minutes later.
On Tuesday news of a fire outbreak scared lawmakers from
the building resulting into the premature adjournment of
regular working activities. The fire started in the ceiling of the
joint chambers where the lawmakers usually gather for the
president to deliver her annual state of the Nation address.
BUCKETS PLACED TO CONTAIN LEAKING ROOF
Again on Thursday with the country now in the rainy season,

the lawmakers were embarrassed when the main entrance to
the House of Representatives was leaking from the roof with
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

four buckets placed in front of the door to help contain the
leaking water.
In an interview, the Chairman of the House of Representatives
Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, Representative
Byron Brown (Liberty Party-District #4 Grand Bassa County)
said he met the messy sanitation and other problems at
the Capitol and is continuing from where his predecessor,
Representative Edwin Snowe stopped.
On the filthy condition of the Capitol, Representative Brown
said: This is a National disaster but let me put this question
to you, Are your homes not leaking? Why make issue out of the
situation of the Capitol Building? We are working to address
the situation.
Representative Brown took over from Representative
Snowe who held that position since he was ousted from the
speakership but attempts by speaker Alex Tyler to replace him
recently was heavily resisted, a situation that almost led to a
fistfight amongst lawmaker.
NOT FIXING SNOWES MESS
Rep. Brown argued that he is not fixing any mess left behind
by his predecessor but working to get the building in good
sanitary condition.
I am not fixing Snowes mess. I am only continuing from where
he stopped and I hope to get the support from the Executive
Branch of government as was done in the case of the judiciary
but to be frank there are lots of constraints, Representative

Brown said.
The lawmaker moved to reject the use of the world filthy in
describing the look of the Capitol.
Filthy is not the right choice of words even though I dont
know from where you speak but since I took over I have
made some improvements especially the bathroom situation,
Representative Brown said.
Even though the House Rules and Order Committee Chair
admitted to the fact that allocations were made in the
2014/2015 budget for the Capitol Building maintenance
department he said, there are challenges.
Lawmaker Brown also promised that as committee chair he
will work to modernize the Capitol Building, hosting the 103
elected lawmakers and put in place basic facilities.
CAPITOL TURNS POOL
In recent days employees from the Maintenance Department

are seen on a regular basis carrying buckets full with water
on their heads from one bathroom to another on every floor
of the Capitol.
On Tuesday, fire outbreak led to the suspension of normal
legislative activities a situation that led to an invitation to the
Liberia Fire Service to investigate the incident.
Representative Brown said: We are concerned and we have
asked our electricians to contact the Liberia Fire Service to
investigate the cause of the fire and advise this legislature on
what measures to take.
The cause of the fire has not been established, but it is believed
that the fire started in the ceiling of the joint chambers of the
legislature where it was blamed on electric shock.
The Capitol Building is hosting the House of Representatives
which has seventy-three elected lawmakers while the Senate
has thirty with two from each of the 15 counties.
Calls for the renovation of the Capitol Building or the
construction of a new structure have been made by many
politicians and people in the public. Over the years budgetary
allocations have been made for renovation works on the
building, but up to present the building still lacks basic
facilities including; water, internet services and the renovation
of the lifts.
Recently the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC)
threatened to cut water supply to the Capitol if the Legislature
fails to pay its water bill, which has amounted to US$3,129.
A document in the possession of FrontPageAfrica shows that
the LWSC issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the leadership of the
Legislature at the level of both chambers to settle the bills or
be disconnected from the public water supply system.
In the House of Representatives 2013/2014 budget US$
19,582 was budgeted for water and sewer, but in the fiscal
outturn released by the Ministry of Finance, the House
of Representatives received US$ 26,307 while the Senate
received US$ 4,999 from government coffers. Despite these
provisions, the legislature continues to face problems with
water supply because of refusal to settle bills with the LWSC.
REJOINDER
Frontpage
Page 3
CORRUPTION ADVOCATES IN THE SENATE SENATORS TWARTING EFFORTS TO HOLD

APPOINTEES ACCOUNTABLE DURING CONFIRMATIONS CARRY EXCESS BAGGAGE
The Editor:
was shocked by the blatant

misrepresentation and malicious
account of the senate debate of 21
May, 2015 that apparently formed
the basis of your front page article of
reference suggesting that I was one of your
condemned advocates of corruption in the
Senate. Let me categorically state that your
article was unfair and to a large extent
untruthful. I have done nothing wrong to
deserve what you published about me and
my current service in the Senate.
For the purpose of helping public opinion
on the matters raised in your article, I wish
to provide the following information:
The Issues of Senator Lawrences letter
provoking Debate of 21 May 2015 Senator Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence
wrote to the Senate Plenary seeking
to put on hold Senate confirmation of
all Presidential nominees who may be
implicated or indicted in Audit reports
until they are cleared by the Senate Public
Accounts Committee (PAC). During the
debate on this suggestion, the issues on
the floor were: a) whether the mention of
ones name in an audit report is sufficient
enough to deny or delay the confirmation
of such a nominee? And, b) whether the
powers of Committees with oversight
responsibilities would not be undermined
by the new role being suggested for the
PAC?
Your article wrongly reported that there
was a vote in which I sided with those you
have now designated as pro-corruption
Senators while some other named
Senators voted for transparency. The
truth is that the only vote taken at the end
of that debate was on the motion for the
letter to be forwarded to the Committees
on Judiciary and PAC who should report to
Plenary in two weeks. That was the position
a number of colleagues and I advocated
for; and it was carried unanimously. I do
not know of another vote being taken on
that day or subsequent to that vote on that
matter. The Senate records are there to be
reviewed.
What I said during the debate
In my main contribution to the debate,
I argued that confirmation of each
Presidential nominee should seek to
ascertain the strength of character,
education, training and experience and
human rights record. I suggested that the
Rule of the Senate that empowers oversight
committees to conduct confirmation
hearings and report to Plenary should be
upheld and not undermined as the letter
proposed. (emphasis added) I strongly
insisted that in all that we do, we should
be guided by justice and fairness, by due
process, by our rules, and above all, by
the Liberian Constitution. I concluded
by clearly stating that no one should be
confirmed who is under indictment or
conviction by a court of law for economic,
financial, human rights and other crimes.
I do not know how this position supports
corruption. Please check the Journal of
the days debate at the Senate.
The purported GAC Report linking me to
corruption
WHAT SENATOR WESSEH SAID:

TRANSCRIPT FROM SENATE FLOOR
Mr. presiding, I always tried to look for the way that we can move forward and to be able
to identify the issues abide and look for long term solution.
I think the issue -why we speak about it as corruption generally, I think it is an issue
of justice, ensuring that there is justice in whatever we do. It raises the question that
I am always raising about when the presidents delivered her annual message and she
described corruption as a vampire. I am pleaded with you colleagues that we should take
this report, analyze it and deal with it in all of its facets. I am sure have we taken some time
to discuss corruption generally, we will add on and improve upon the integrity institutions
that we created and see whether they are fighting or not.
Since we speaking about justice therefore, I would think that the letter written is more
of an advisory note to various committees to remind the various committees to exercise
due diligence as we carry out our confirmation process. I think it is quite correct when
someone says that the GAC, LACC reports are not indictment. I think the media reports
always helping us and it is easy to, we use many words in our expression which is what
people call pedestrians talk, we use words that we dont really mean, indictments are not
done by the GAC and LACC. The LACC made it clear when they talked about the case of
the Port, the NPA, so since there are no indictments before us, I will think we should use
instincts and decide the implications that were talked about because every implication
may not necessarily be true. I think we have our lawyers, if we need, we should ask.
Mr. presiding I had an occasion one time when the GAC report came out and said that
I operated a company in Grand Gedeh that took Grand Gedeh Development fund and
expended it on my own use. So I wrote to the GAC that time it was Morlu, I said but which
company I have and why will I be in Grand Gedeh taking the people development fund
and Tom Kamara published it in the New Democrat, the only response I got was, it was
mistake, but it has been around and they say but you should take it to court but I have
been in government and when if I had taken it to court they will say they accuse him and
he is taking somebody to court because they accuse him.
I think therefore implications and sight-seeing must not be sufficient reason to deny
someone justice, that is why I am emphasizing that today, it is about justice and someone
said it means if we want justice for all, it means to all corruption is not stealing money;
we have corruption immorality when you kill people, when you steal people money, when
you lie on others, when do all kinds of things to people, grab other people families and
beat them up, these are corruption.
Mr. presiding I am saying that when the President said corruption was a vampire, we
needed a special session to discuss this matter because there are various definitions, even
definition when we hold double citizenship and come is corruption.
Mr. Presiding, I believe that this matter of corruption is quite a serious matter, it is quite a
vampire that can cause problem everywhere, that it is not and cannot only be discussed in
the context of confirmation hearing and because it is a matter of justice, I think we should
take this communication as advisory note that committees will do their due diligence and
if there are any detailed discussions, it should be sent to the Committee on Judiciary and
they continue the process underway, thank you and God bless.
Now let me address your GAC Report

about an NGO in River Gee County and the
so-called corruption thereof:
If what you published was actually quoted
from a GAC Audit Report, then you have
helped us in our argument that mere
mention of a nominee in an audit report
is not sufficient to delay or deny such a
persons confirmation.
Yes, my family set up an NGO called GeeGbeh Rivers Assistance and Development
Associates ( GRADA) in the early 1990s,
during the heat of the civil war, to
provide humanitarian assistance to our
community in Monrovia and our people
in the then Lower Grand Gedeh, now
River Gee County. As the war ended, we
expanded to development work.
We
helped build bridges, rehabilitated roads,
contributed to school, town hall and

church construction. We paid fees of needy
students. The organization undertook
some projects supported by LACE, the
local county administration and UNDP.
In some cases when it became apparent
that a project was under -funded or there
were material losses due to theft or other
causes, my wife, Attorney Medina Wesseh
and I put in our own resources simply
because the projects were in my home
district and for the benefit of our people.
For example, a total of US$23,000 (twenty
three thousand US dollars) of such support
was provided by us to underwrite the cost
of the shortfall in the hope that we would
be reimbursed by county authorities. A
penny is yet to be paid in addition to our
buildings being used to house county
officials and guests of the county with yet

unfulfilled promises to pay rent by the
officials. You may not know but the county
has very few modern dwelling places. We
are proud to have over the years been
associated with progress in our county.
At no time have I or any of the Project
Managers or Board Members (GRADA)
received any inquiry from GAC on
account of misuse by GRADA of County
Development Funds. My first time ever
hearing of an Audit report for work in
River Gee County was in the 26 May 2015
edition of the FrontPage Africa. The paper
did not even mention the reporting period.
It mentioned names of persons it claimed
are Board members of whom I know
nothing. Some of those named are deceased
and had no connection with GRADA. It
claimed that a cheque meant for GRADA
was issued to a county official, yet GRADA
should account for it. It unashamedly
dragged in the name of my wife and
other good people as collaborators in
crime simply because some of them were
incorporators of the NGO. As for my wife,
the Editor apparently enjoys to unjustly
scandalize her at every opportunity he
gets in the print and electronic media even
as we have chosen to ignore the mischief.
The article alleges that a commissioner
compound in Potupoh Jaytoken for
which GRADA received money was never
build; yet it was the building that only
three weeks ago became a meeting place
where the Potupoh District Commissioner
showered praises on GRADA and me for
not making them shame because his
project was one of the best executed with
county development funds.
A previous mention of GRADA, my
wife Attorney Wesseh and myself in
a purported GAC report was made a
couple of years ago in the New Democrat
newspaper which then claimed that we
had siphoned off nearly US$200,000 (two
hundred thousand us dollars) of Grand
Gedeh County Development Funds. When
challenged, the Morlu GAC and the New
Democrat simply said it was a mistake
but never had the courage to correct the
impression given.
As a public official who has been a lifelong
defender of press freedom and one who is
currently chairing the Senate Committee
on Information, Culture and Broadcasting,
I will continue to do everything to protect
the media. I will work for the creation of
a Media Commission that will help with
standards and social responsibility in the
medias relation with society.
I trust that you will gather the courage to
give this rejoinder the same prominence
you gave to the unfounded charges
previously published to which my
categorical denials and information are
provided.
Best Regards,
Conmany B. Wesseh
Senator
CC: The Senate Press Bureau

The Press Union of Liberia
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL THE
LIBERIA ENVISAGED IN 1847: A NATION
OF RULE THE LAW OR RULE OF LAW
v
IGNORING LOCALS IN
CONCESSION AREAS
Commentary
A GLARING I
DANGER
SINCE RETURNING from years of civil wars in 2003, no
trend of events or occurrences threaten the fragile peace in
Liberia more than continuous quarrel over land between
concessionaires and the locals.
HUNGRY FOR INVESTMENT to create jobs and put the country
back on the path of recovery, the 52nd National Legislature
of Liberia was very busy during its six-year tenure signing
concession agreements, ratifying contracts and renegotiating
existing contracts.
IN MANY OF THESE AGREEMENTS, provisions were made for
social responsibility where these concessionaires are obliged
to provide certain basic incentives to the local population in
the concessional areas.
THE LOCALS EMBRACED these investors with high hopes that
the presence of these concessionaires in their communities will
bring relief in terms of improvement in livelihood, availability
of basic services such as health, education and other facilities
that required travelling miles to Monrovia for better services.
WHEN CONCESSION agreements were signed daily, people
in counties where these concessionaires were expected to
operate; woke up every day celebrating and hoping for the
start of operations to give them a new day.
SLOWLY TIME ELAPSED and many of these concessionaires
started operations, Arcelor Mittal commenced work in Nimba,
Sime Darby began planting palm in Grand Cape Mount and
Bomi Counties; Golden Veroleum moved to the South East
in Sinoe county and China Union announced as the biggest
investor in post war Liberia promising $1.6 billion investment
took over the former Bong Mining Company.
BUCHANAN RENEWABLE Energy promised to do what
sounded alien to many Liberians- changing old rubber woods
which are in abundance in Liberia to a useful material for the
production of electricity promising to provide electricity from
Kakata to Monrovia and other parts of the country.
DURING THE LATTER part of the first term of President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf-the remaining two years, the expression on the
faces of Liberians started to change as the country was inching
towards six years with no reliable jobs created despite boasting
of over $10 billion foreign investment flow to the country.
LOCALS STARTED TO GRADUALLY express anger over the
operations of nearly all the concessionaires mostly over the
use of communal land for concession operations. People were
angered by the destruction of their farmland for expansion
purpose by these concessionaires.
THERE WERE NO REAL viable jobs provided to locals by these
concessionaires evidenced by no real improvement in the local
communities where these concessionaires are operating.
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS DOWN the line, the anger and frustration
from the locals in these concessional areas began increasing
and exploded in 2014 when some residents of the Mittal
Concession area in NIMBA COUNTY PROTESTED against
the failure of Mittal to adhere to certain agreements reached
with the locals including payment for trees destroyed by the
company and the killing of a local citizen by the company heavy
duty machines. The violence led to the destruction of major
properties with the cost believed to be in the millions.
BEFORE THE YEKEPA VIOLENCE, county residents wrote
communications to Mittal requesting certain things to be done
by the company but the concerns of the people were ignored
by Mittal.
IN THE SIME DARBY AREA the people became disgruntled over
the company expansion which was taking away farmland from
the locals, palm nursery were set ablaze and other violent
actions taken by the locals.
NOW IN BUTAW DISTRICT, Sinoe County, the people angered
by the refusal of the authorities at GVL to allow them hold a
meeting with a visiting foreign official of the company, staged
a protest which is believed to have led to the destruction of
properties.
FROM THE CHAIN of communications, the people wrote the
company requesting an audience to discuss their plights but
the company delayed the meeting, setting no specific date for
such meeting.
GVL STATED IN A LETTER to the people of Butaw which
might have sparked the protest Accept my compliments as I
Moses Blonkanjay Jackson, Blonkanjay Jackson <blonkanjayjackson@gmail.com> , Contributing Writer
n my regular thinking thoughts, I pondered the recent wave

of lawlessness in Liberia and how it is threatening our peace,
security and economic stability. Latest reports from Sinoe are
that activities of Golden Veroleum Plantation were disrupted
by some aggrieved citizens in demand of settlement for desecration
of graves and land use; offices were ransacked, and warehouses
looted. At least a year ago, Arcelor Mittal, a major mining concession
in Nimba County faced similar situation.
The frequent mob actions vis-a-vis the burning of trucks full of
valuable commodities, vandalizing and burning of police stations,
alleged killing of bikers, and the recent stand-off between Finance
Minister Amara Konneh and Maritime workers are all gross displays
of defiance and lawlessness.
In my thinking thoughts I therefore asked myself, What kind of
country did the founders of this Republic, envisage? Was it a country
envisaged where the Rule of Law would rule men or where men
would Rule the Law because of their statuses and connections?
God forbid!!
You see, in 1822, when Elizabeth the Mayflower set sail, it was
simply to remove freed slaves from situations of lawlessness against
Gods plan of creation, that all men are created equal; in defiance to
Gods law, one race of people subjected another as less human It
was therefore to those ends that in 1847, the colony severed itself
from the American Colonization Society and declared the lawful
Republic of Liberia and not one of lawlessness where people rule
the law instead of the law ruling them.
Mind you, it is these minor stand offs and lawlessness that usually
metamorphose and lead to full bloomed disruptions of peace and
security. The April 14 1979 Rice Riot, the April 12 1980 vicious
takeover, and the 1990 Civil War etc., were all ushered by gross
insensitivity and callousness to the plight of the common citizens,
resulting to minor forms of lawlessness and defiance to constituted
authorities. Having placed those events behind us and enjoyed
a protracted period of sanity and civility, there appears to be a
renewed trend of lawlessness which could repeat one of those ugly
incidents.
RUTHLESS MOTORCYCLISTS
In a conversation the other day with some friends, they intimated,
Per mistake you knocked down a motorcyclist, you better escape
the scene or else you get beaten up and your vehicle set ablaze
While hit- and-run is also lawlessness, they maintain, my man, selfpreservation as the first law of nature
Illegally located Mechanic Shops and Trailer Truck Parking
Along the Somalia Drive from Freeport to Red Light, huge trailer
trucks, some abandoned and others under repairs, from either
Guinea or elsewhere, are illegally positioned at odd locations
which are apparently mechanic shops or simply parking. I suffice
GOL has made attempts to move them but has met with resistance,
defiance, and refusal to comply with the City Ordinance and rule of
law. The presence of those trucks along that busy highway remains
hazardous and more important, serve as complete demonstration
of lawlessness.
DISGRUNTLE STUDENTS AND DISHONEST TEACHERS
Lawlessness is also rampant among students and teachers. Each
time teachers put down chalk in protest for something, it is students
who go on the rampage as sign of solidarity. As demonstration of
lawlessness, aggrieved students set ablaze a Pentecostal Church
School near Vamuma House aggrieved students, on another occasion,
normal activities in Monrovia and its environs were disrupted few
years ago when the Youth and Sports Ministry delayed in paying
vacation school students, and lawlessness also occurs when WAEC
exam proctors connive with students and principals to cheat.
LAWLESSNESS AMONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AND HIGH
PROFILE CITIZENS
While the common man usually appears to be the agitator, I intuit
that his action could be a spillover from the rotten culture of
lawlessness among people in high places. These days, instead of the
law ruling men, men are ruling the law and this is prevalent among
Government Officials and legislators.
Do not be surprised, for there is a clich that a fish usually gets
rotten from the head and this country is culprit, considering how
Government Officials, and legislators themselves disregard the
law and do their own thing Apparently, it is the examples from
the rotten culture they have created that the common people and
the greater society are emulating these days. If an RL, SEN, or REP
plated vehicle or one illegally using a siren takes on the opposite
lane and a taxi follows, both are lawlessly behaved.
There are still license plates with HOR and REP in the street whereby
one was supposed to replace the other. Isnt this lawlessness? If GOL
Officials cannot observe simple traffic rules, one can only imagine
the level of lawlessness unfolding daily in their offices such as
violation of staff rights and misuse of the countrys resources.
BITTERNESS AND PASSIVE RESISTANCE
Each time these events occur, I sense an air of bitterness and
passive resistance amongst our kinsmen over the state of affairs in
Liberia. By passive resistance, it appears like everybody is resisting
the Government but rather quietly in their hearts; hence, when
something ugly like theses disruptions occur, they are derisive,
sarcastic, and feel gratified.
These days, the moment an opportunity for disruption avails, people
immediately rise to the occasion to ransack, vandalize, commit
arson, and shed blood or simply stand by, feeling vindicated. Hardly
anybody seems to be showing love for country these days; people
are either bad-mouthing GOL or condemning its efforts. Hardly
anybody stops to say, wait a minute, this is my country and this
action will affect my compatriots and my own wellbeing
Fellow Liberians, without equivocation, as we anticipate the 2017
Presidential Elections, if we do not put an end to this culture of Rule
the Law among us and transform it into Rule of Law, we stand
to lose more than we would gain. If both the common citizen and
GOL officials do not change their comportment, lifestyles, and their
exhibitions of lawlessness continues to serve as bad examples, and
continue to cause embarrassment and loss of lives and properties,
your guess of the repercussion is just as good as mine.
THE BENEDICTION
James chapter 4 notes, 1Where do wars and fightings among you
come from? Dont they come from your pleasures that war in your
hearts? 2 You lust, and dont have. You kill, covet, and cant obtain.
You fight and make war. You dont have, because you dont ask. 3 You
ask, and dont receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that
you may consume in your lustful desires
Now to him who is able to present this nation faultless and lawfully
before the throne of the Most High God; to him be dominion, glory
and majesty, in Jesus name. AMEN
I am simply thinking thoughts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Rivercess man, Moses Blonkanjay Jackson (The Mwalimu-Koh)
is a triple Ivy League product, and a Jesuit protg; Mr. Jackson is
a Yale University Mathematics Curriculum Fellow, and a University
of Pennsylvania Physics Curriculum Fellow. Mr. Jackson holds a
Master of Education degree from Harvard University and a Master
of Education with Secondary Mathematics concentration from Saint
Josephs University.
Blonkanjay Jackson (The Mwalimu-Koh) was recently removed
from the position of Assistant Minister for Teacher Education,
having diligently served the Government of Liberia for two years.
The title Mwalimu-Koh in Swahili means Veteran Educator and
Scholar; it was conferred on Blonkanjay in Philadelphia in 2008
by his Swahili colleagues for the demonstration of exemplary
scholarship, and when they learned that he (the first African
student) had been elected Senator of the Harvard Graduate School
of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 24 2015 which is

requesting a meeting with the CEO of GVL. It will be a pleasure
to have this meeting with you but will like to suggest that such
meeting be held on any day in next week at 10:00 am prompt.
There are other emergency situations that are being handled
by senior management team of GVL for which we are not in the
position to honor your request as per the date & time mentioned
in your letter. Please note that we will treat it as a matter of
urgency and management will be represented at the higher level
even if Mr. Matthew A. Karinen, Director of GVL is not present.
The venue for the meeting will be at GVL, Butaws head office.
Thanks for your usual understanding as we await the meeting
with you on the anytime specified next week.
NOW, THIS WAS clearly ignoring the concerns of the locals, the
true owners of land on which GVL is operating by refusing to meet
them and setting no specific date for such meeting. Apparently
angered by the refusal of GVL to allow them meet the visiting
official, the people of Butaw in return requested the company to
halt operations on their land.

THE AFTERMATH OF ignoring a meeting with the locals is now
a crisis that has led to destruction and reported death creating a
standstill in GVLs operations.
IGNORING THE LOCALS in these concession areas is a glaring
danger which must not be ignored as it could have other greater
consequences on the peace of the country; the concerns of locals
need to be respected, their views heard and actions taken to
address their plights.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL aggrieved and ignored, actions with farreaching consequences are taken out of anger and in the end
what could be settled in an amicable manner leads to death and
destruction and other irreparable loss.
THE WARNING SIGNS are so glaring that ignoring the concerns
of the locals is a grave mistake that concessionaires and the
Government of Liberia must avoid in order to keep intact the
security of the country.
Frontpage
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editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
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ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
HOPING WEAH IS
NOT ON RADAR
GHOST
TOWN:
IN FIFA SCANDAL
20 ARRESTED, HUNT FOR
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
LOOTS IN CONCESSION TOWN
JOHN-LORD BAXTER TOP COMMENTER DAMANSARA, KUALA

LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
As a government, we cannot allow a few people to undermine the
interest of this country; to run investors away and to make sure that
we do not attract what we need to achieve our development goals,
the Liberian leader pointed out. She indicated that her government
cannot continue to go out and attract investment to create jobs, and
others engage in violence that scare away investors.
When I returned the last time you may recall, I said to Liberians that
we cannot continue to go out and attract investment, bring people
to do business and create jobs and then when you have these kinds
of violence, it takes away from our effort and people run away from
the country, a visibly concerned President Sirleaf said, cautioning,
Money only goes to the place where its safe. They [investors] dont
go where theyre frightened.
SIMON JOHN TOP COMMENTER GRANITE BAY, CALIFORNIA
This is very serious, I hope this story is untrue because there is no
one they can turn to. Everyone is in the company pocket. Just like
you said, only the president and the legislator can fix this situation.
NO one to cry for the poor. Where are the politicians , where are
the representative of the Butaw district? Where are the elected
officials of the county? Oh, I forgot, the newly elected senator is the
former superintendent of the county and is on the GAC audit list for
corruption.
LORENZO BERNARD TOP COMMENTER CLASSIFIED AT
CLASSIFIED
Madam Sirleaf, all
you have attracted in 11years is corruption. Your administration
encourages corruption and so citizens thinks it's okay and the
consequence is, it has become the norm in Liberia. Citizens who are
challenging those non profitable cheap concessions signed by your
corrupt administration are in no way undermining the interest of
Liberia. In essence they are simple undermining your selfish and
dubious campaign to steal and sent the country back into bankruptcy.
CHARLES E. KING TOP COMMENTER MONROVIA, LIBERIA
Greetings Mr. Weah: Not too long ago you wrote in FPA about Liberia
following the "..white man this and the white man that when you were
talking about Liberia following America in celebrating Valentine's
day. Now by your own admission you say you are applying for your
American citizenship. That means you will take an oath of allegiance
to the 'Flag and to the Republic of which it stands'. You know doubt
will be celebrating many of your new country's holidays and later
in life when you marry and have children who will be AmericoLiberians they will be celebrating their American holidays and more.
Now I see why you speak the way you do about Liberia. I sent you a
note some time ago as an older person speaking to a younger person
- try to "Temper" you speech-the words you use. Show that you have
more words in your vocabulary.
ANSU OPA DUALU TOP COMMENTER COALITION OF
CONCERNED LIBERIANS
This Gestapo -like enforcement measure being employed by this
administration is dangerous and unconstitutional. Perhaps they
should first try addressing what's causing the large majority of the
peoples in these concession areas to behave as they are. I guess this
is too common sense for our officials. There is something seriously
rotten in our vampiric state.
JOHN WEAH
I am so glad that i have my green card. I put in for citizenship.
Workers should Take GVL to court. The bush tactics of violence
helps nobody when this nation is experiencing 80% unemployment.
Ebola has not helped either. this is not the time. I LIKE Liberia but i
want my AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP. You bush Liberians dont get the
message.
SAMUEL JACKSON TOP COMMENTER DIRECTOR AT LIBERIAN
IRON
Working as serfs on a plantation may look good for the company,
but the model is not sustainable. I hope we punish the offenders, but
determine why this is happening so often. And so it goes.
SHANA IER TOP COMMENTER
Which "development goals" na Madam Pres???? Or you mean your
offshore accounts "development goals"?
ANSU OPA DUALU TOP COMMENTER COALITION OF
CONCERNED LIBERIANS
Lol Shana, 'offshore goals ' dis girl mouth bust.
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
Page 5
The Editor,
t is not over till the fat lady sings. This is all

guessing game by us with our individual
comments. The US officials said the investigation
is still ongoing. But one thing to remember is
if you are given any "free" money, be it a gift, from
lottery winning over $600.00 or from a FIFA godfather
that went into your US bank account, the question
becomes: did you report it on your tax filing and did
you pay any tax on that "income" to the almighty,
all powerful IRS-Internal Revenue Service of the US
government?
If you can answer those questions to the satisfaction of
Uncle Sam then you have no reason to worry because
$60,000.00 is no chump change if some godfather
paid it into your US bank account. So why would
US investigators interviewed Mr. Weah "one, two,
three or five times" about the source of the money
that went into his bank account in Florida? Unless
the US authorities are going after the ring leaders
in the mafia-type FIFA global money laundering and
racketeering free money bribery giveaway.
So it is up to US authorities on how far they want
to cast the net in this breaking story, and we are
simply playing a guessing game of weather Senator
George Weah could be arrested or not. If the dragnet
is lowered to the level of Senator Weah for the
$60,000.00 reportedly transferred into his Florida
bank account, then it means many more heads will
roll. We hope the US is going after only the ring
leaders in this international crime syndicate known
as FIFA.
Again, the US Attorney General, the FBI Director, the
US Attorney for the Eastern New York District, the IRS
point man for money laundering, racketeering, tax
fraud and cheats all said they don't comment on who
is next and that the investigation is ongoing. So we all
hope and pray Senator Weah is not on the US radar.
That is my take in this saga that could well mean
sleepless nights for many in FIFA.
Jerry Wehtee Wion,
Journalist and Political Commentator,
Washington, DC, USA
Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Danesius Marteh, Sports Editor, danesius.marteh@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
James-Emmanuel D. Cole, Jr, Graphics Designer
& Layout Editor, echange4life@gmail.com;
0886 211 390, 0777 027 030
Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.
com
Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.
com, 0886-304498
Sports Reporter, A. Macaulay Sombai,macaulay.
sombai@FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
POLITICAL IMMATURITY
EXPOSES WEAH, PYJ
The Editor,
olitical immaturity that will lead to the self-destruction

politically of both men's dream for the elusive presidency
and why we the tribal people are our own worst enemy.
It is mind boggling and it shows that these two political
heavyweights as Senators did not have prior consultations between
their camps to discuss such an important topic before agreeing to the
Gbarnga Rainbow Coalition meeting. Both men have their individual
liabilities, even by mere perceptions. Equally so, they both have
strong grass root support among their constituents.
We the native people can sweep the 2017 presidential elections if
we do our homework right. But what I see coming out of both camps
doesn't look good if both men lack self-confidence to build coalitions
and make a compelling case outside their respective camps.
Senator Prince Johnson's main liability lies with his role as a warlord.
But if the Liberian people elected the confessed chief architect and
financier of the war, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President, then why not
Prince Johnson? Some of Senator George Manneh Weah's liabilities
would include his political immaturity and his silence on national
issues. If Weah could allow a Congau, Winston Tubman to head the
CDC ticket in the 2011 presidential elections, then he should use
his huge popularity to make the case with Senator Johnson's strong
Nimba base that the international community will not do business
with a man implicated in war crimes. A Vice President Prince Johnson
will be good staying at home as most countries in the West will not
allow him to visit. When was the last time Senator Johnson visited any
country outside of Africa?
It is political immaturity that the Weah camp has not cleverly thought
out these intrigues as it reaches out to Senator Johnson. How can you
have a Liberian President who will not visit the United Nations and
our chief patron, the United States of America? We just witnessed the
VP and President of Kenya both indicted by the International Criminal
Court. Does Prince Johnson want to carry that baggage or monkey
on his back as President of Liberia? I don't think so and I believe the
Nimba people will therefore prefer George Weah to head the ticket.
Another positive that a VP Johnson brings is his outspoken qualities
and I believe he will leave no stone unturned in going after corrupt
individuals even from any previous administrations. If both men
are candid with each other on these issues, I am sure Weah can
convincingly make a compelling case as to why he needs to head the
dream ticket. So he needs to reach out to Senator Johnson.
We tribal people are fed up with being used by the Congau only to
dump us when they get the presidency. The arrogance of some
of the Congau makes it impossible for any of them to agree to be a
Vice Presidential running mate under a tribal person. Just watch my
words and see how Charles Brumskine, Mills Jones and other Congau
contemplating running for president will court tribal people as their
VP. They see the presidency as theirs despite the fact they constitute
a mere five percent of the population and how they have produced
over 20 Congau as presidents with only Samuel Kanyon Doe from
the ranks of the 95 percent tribal majority in nearly 170 years of
"independence."
I take God to beg you both, Prince Johnson and George Weah, to put
country first and put you ego on one side for the sake of our suffering
poor people. If not, the Congau will "win" again in 2017. They have
the money to divide us so that we fight among ourselves. I bet it is
already working with what is coming out of both Weah and Johnson's
spokesperson. Da me again, I tell it like it is because my head ain't fit
in anybody's mouth.
Jerry Wehtee Wion,
Journalist and Political Commentator,
Washington, DC, USA
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HOPE RESTORED
Page 6 | Frontpage
Liberia Turns Over US140K William Booth School After Fire Disaster
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910); FPA STAFF WRITER
Monroviaarely 43 days after

a
fire
disaster
completely
destroyed
the
William Booth Salvation
Army School Junior and
Senior High with the facility
burning to ashes, hope has
finally been restored on the
campus with government
turning
over the newly
constructed building to
school authorities.
The William Booth Salvation
Army High School in
Paynesville on March 4 was
gutted by fire through an
alleged arson attack by some
unknown individuals. The
Ministry of Justice through
the Liberia National Police
and the National Fire Service
are still investigating the
matter.
The Principal of the William
Booth High School, George
Williams, described the
situation as unfortunate for
students who were anxious
to learn after being away
from classes for over seven
months due to the Ebola
outbreak in Liberia that led
to the closure of all schools.
Mr. Williams said he had just
taken office three days prior
to the arson attack on the
school. I was disappointed
after being appointed three
days when the school was

burned down by some
unscrupulous
individuals,
many thanks to Finance
Minister Amara Konneh
for coming to the need of
our students in the time of
trouble," he noted.
After the burning of the
school, the Ministry of
Finance and Development
Planning submitted to the
school administration a
check of US$140,155.00
for the construction of the
school.
DISABLED FRIENDLY NEW
SCHOOL
Unlike the previous building

which did not have rams for
disable persons, the new
William
Booth
building
handicap is now handicap
friendly, with rams for
disable persons.
The entire project lasted
for about 43 days before
completion
and
the
Government on Thursday
cut the ribbon for the turning
over of the new William
Booth High School.
Speaking at the turning
over of the school, Deputy
Minister for Budget at the
Ministry of Finance and
Development
Planning
Tenneh Brunson said the
government was pleased
to fund the project, saying
it is the aim of President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to keep
students in schools.
The government was moved
and made a commitment
to construct the building;
however our immediate
concern, as plans were being
made for reopening of school,
was to ensure our students
did not lose additional time
out of school, as the result
of the Ebola crisis, they had
already incurred loss in their
academic schedule and we
TIPOTEH CALLS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF FIFA ELECTIONS
Monrovia r, Togba-Nah Tipoteh,

the retired undefeated
Tennis
Champion
of
Liberia
over
thirty years (1963-1993), is
calling for the postponement
of the Presidential Elections
of the Federation of Football
Associations (FIFA) scheduled
to be held on tomorrow, Friday,
May 29, 2015. Dr. Tipoteh says

that he is making this urgent
call because of the arrest of
seven of the top ten FIFA officials
by the Swiss government and
the pending extradition to the
United States of America of the
FIFA officials to face a variety of
corruption charges.
According to Dr. Tipoteh, these
charges range from bribery
in connection with decisionmaking related to the choice of
sites for the Football World Cup
matches and money laundering.
These charges have been filed
against the FIFA officials by
the Swiss government and the
United
States
government,
respectively.
Dr. Tipoteh says that once the
case gets into court, it is highly
likely that the President of
FIFA, Mr. Sepp Blatter would be
implicated, as it is unthinkable
that seven out of the top ten
FIFA officials would be involved
in FIFA-related decision-making
without the knowledge of the
FIFA President. Dr. Tipoteh
brings out the act that many
such charges have been brought
against FIFA officials over the
past two decades but President
Blatter, who is seeking his fifth
term in office, did nothing to
prevent the current scandal from
showing its ugly head. Clearly, Dr.
Tipoteh observes, if Blatter had
exercised good governance by
letting justice prevail, corruption
in FIFA would not have turned
into the vampire that it has
now
become,
threatening
dangerously the popularity of
the world's most popular sport,
football.
Dr. Tipoteh points out that the
FIFA corruption case should

be of great importance to
Liberians because of the way in
which corruption in Liberia has
turned into the vampire and
top Liberian football officials
continue to support the FIFA
President in his bid for the fifth
term as FIFA President.
Dr, Tipoteh made his call for
the postponement of the FIFA
elections through the social
media when he twitted his
appeal for world-wide support
for the postponement. Dr.
Tipoteh expresses the hope that
decision-makers of the Liberia
Football Association(LFA) will
instruct the LFA representatives
to the FIFA Congress being held
in Zurich, Switzerland to support
the call for the postponement of
the FIFA elections.
thought we should do what

was necessary for future
leaders, she noted.
Deputy Minister Brunson
further stated We therefore
instructed
our
project
team to work with the
William Booth High School
administration to ensure
that alternate arrangements
were made so that all of our
children were in school when
it reopened. Our goal was
April 6 2015; fortunately,
alternative
arrangements
were completed and all
students were incorporated
on March 30, 2015 ahead of
schedule.
She noted that the findings
from the school along with
cost to replace furniture,
established the basis for
costing the project at
US$140,155.00.
disclosed that on April 9, 2015
a check of US$140,155.00 was
issued to the management
of the William Booth high
school to commence the
work with oversight by the
Public Investment Unit at
MFDP, today we can see
those resources have been
put to use and our children
now have a safer learning
environment, she stressed.
She called on the Ministry of
Justice and the National Fire
Service to work speedily in
bringing the doers of the act
for persecution.
however called on the
students to report any
incident to the school
authority if in any way they
see someone or some strange
things going on.
Assistant Education Minister
designate Felecia Doe-Sumah
representing
Education
Minister Etmonia Tarpeh
at the program praised the
school for its steadfastness to
keep the students in school
even in the absence of the

building.
Minister
Doe-sumah
encouraged the students to
take their lesson seriously,
saying, "the future of all
of you students lie in your
own hands, whatever you
do today will reflect on your
future tomorrow, so please
study your lesson to prepare
you for the future.
The
General
Secretary
of Salvation Army, Major
Samuel Amponsah expressed
appreciation
for
the
assistance to the school.
He said if it has not been
the help of government
rehabilitation work on the
school would have delayed.
I would like to express
our sincere gratitude to the
government of Liberia for
the kindness exhibited in
renovating our destroyed
school
building,
which
could have been an eyesore without the help of
the government of Liberia,
our words are not adequate
to express our innermost
feelings to the government
of the Republic of Liberia, he
said.
Speaking on behalf the
student populace, student
Mitchell Sannoh said the
burning of the school brought
an immediate closure of
the school something he
described as setback for
the students community of
William Booth High School.
Student Sannoh thanked the
government of Liberia and
school authorities that have
been working expeditiously
to bring the school back to
normality.
He urged his fellow students
to keep their campus
protected, "to my fellow
students let us all work to
protect our campus from the
hands of evil minded people,"
he noted.
Change of Name
DAVIS JONES
NAME CHANGE TO
CHARLES
OLDMAN
KOLLIE
Frontpage
Page 7
NOT AN OPTION
GVL STILL ASSESSING DAMAGE, NOT CONSIDERING USE OF SINOE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR REPAIR
Monroviahe government of
Liberia
says
the
social or the county
development fund of
Sinoe will be used to pay for
the properties damaged at the
Golden Veroleum site in Butaw.
The relevant authorities have
also been directed to work
with GVL in a full assessment of
the damage to the concession.
Consistent with the practice
of this administration, when
determined and agreed, the
cost of the assessed damage
will be offset by the social and
or county development funds
of Sinoe, the government of
Liberia declares in a statement
issued Thursday.
The Government of Liberia
says it regrets the mayhem,
looting
and
destruction
which occurred on the Golden
Veroleum Oil Plantation in
Butaw, Sinoe County.
As expected, this act of
violence, looting and the
wanton
destruction
of
properties
will
not
go
unpunished, the statement
added.
But Golden Veroleum Liberia
has said that it has not
established the actual damage
caused by the protest and is
still assessing but does not
take the use of Sinoe County
Development Funds to pay for
damages as an option.
Well that is something that
is not on the table, the county
development fund is for the
county, the government has
not offered that to us and we
are not asking for that, the
likelihood of us accepting
this is small, GVL Corporate
Communication
Manager
Virgil McGee told journalists in
Monrovia.
McGee said, the company has
not done any assessment to
determine the value of loss at
the Butaw operation site.
We will assess the damages
and come up with a way
forward, we do not know the
damage that has been done, we
are conducting an assessment
which has not been completed,
McGee said.
o keep Ebola at
bay, students must
wash their hands
with a light chlorine
solution before entering their
classroom.
Photo:
Victor
Lacken, IFRC
Anita Dullard, IFRC
Being the principal of a large
school can be a challenging
role, but never more so than
during the Ebola outbreak
in Liberia which forced the
closure of the countrys more
than 4,500 schools for eight
months.
Reverend Matthew Borbor
Barkon closed the doors
of W.P.L Brumskine United
Methodist School in July
2014, and reopened them in
February this year with the
help of the Red Cross and other
agencies.
It was a hard and necessary
decision for the government to
close schools, and thank God
Ebola is slowing. But the impact
on our students is great. We
already had challenges aplenty
for education in Liberia, says
Reverend Barkon.
Liberia is a country that can
ill afford further challenges
to education. After decades
of civil war, literacy rates in
Well that is something that is not on the table, the county development fund is for the county, the government has not offered that to
us and we are not asking for that, the likelihood of us accepting this is small,- GVL Corporate Communication Manager Virgil McGee
Al-Varney Rogers alvarney.rogersfrontpageafricaonline.com 0886304498
McGee Continued: there has

been no assessment done and
that will be done in the coming
days to know the extent of the
damages and cost of any repair
that may be done.
The Liberian Government said
action by the youth in Butaw
portrays Liberia as country
unsafe for foreign investment.
The violence in Butaw does
not only threaten our peace
and security, it undermines
our collective livelihood, and
unfairly portrays our country
as an unsafe destination for
foreign investment.
No plans to leave
Despite the violence, GVL
Corporate
Communication
Manager averred that the
company has no plan to leave
Liberia.
I want to make it very clear
that GVL does not have a plan
whatsoever of leaving Liberia,
we absolutely have no plan of
leaving Liberia, McGee said.
McGee added that GVL is using
the protest by locals to reevaluate its activities.
What we have planned to do
is to re-evaluate our activities
Liberia were already among
the worlds poorest. The most
recent statistics show that 43
per cent of adults have basic
literacy skills, with the literacy
rate actually falling over the
past ten years (UNESCO, June
2013).
Reverend Barkon says the
closure was a setback for
students. Those who were the
age of 18 who were supposed
to have entered college, have
still not graduated. Those who
were going to the seventh
grade in the junior school, they
are behind.
And he says the time away
from the classroom has led to
other complications. Some
of the guys got involved in
activities that are wrong, like
drinking, and some of the
girls got pregnant. While they
were home, their minds were
not being motivated and they
got bored and went their own
way.
Education a priority
As Liberia began the downward
trend to zero Ebola cases
in January this year, getting
children back to school became
a key priority for the Red
Cross. Cytirus Kerbay, national
Ebola response coordinator
in Sinoe and other areas and

reassure our workers and the
local community that we are
going to stand by them, McGee
said.
McGee said, giving information
to the public in a timely manner
and addressing grievances
quickly are some of the new
plans that will be developed by
GVL.
McGee said, the Liberia
National Police has reserved
the company site as a crime
scene adding that non GVL
employees have been asked to
stay away.
Kudos to UNMIL, LNP
He praised the intervention
of UNMIL personnel and the
officers of the LNP.
We have gotten a lot of
assistance from UNMIL and
the Liberian government, they
deployed troops to evacuate
our people from Butaw,
since than the farm has been
described by the LNP as a
crime scene, McGee said.
The government release added
that the Ministry of Justice
through the Liberia National
Police has begun a thorough

search and seizure operation
in Butaw for the looted
properties of the GVL.
Wherever they are properly
identified and found, the
homeowners will be arrested
and the looted properties
retrieved,
logged
and
returned to the company, the
government stated.
All persons said to be
responsible for the Butaw
Mayhem are being arrested
and will be prosecuted in
keeping with the law. The
Justice Ministry has also
been instructed to pursue the
additional charge of economic
sabotage against such persons
wherever applicable, release
added.
McGee added, GVL operation in
Liberia has not stopped adding
that workers should not have
anything to fear.
The LNP is there and they
have designated the area as
crime scene, McGee said.
McGee
furthered:
The
Company is still operating
and we want to reassure our
people that they dont have
anything to fear.
GVL Corporate Communication
Manager added that without
the local communities the
company will not exist.
McGee said, the youth were
complaining
about
the
slow rate of progress in
development by the company.
The youth were complaining
about the slow rate of progress
in development, we had an
agreement and there is a
timeline for things that should
be done, unfortunately where
we find ourselves is a boundary
dispute, if there is boundary
dispute we will not extend our
operation, McGee added.
McGee refuted claims that
the company was preventing
the youth from meeting the
visiting executive of Golden
Veroleum.
We did have an international
person but we did not tell
them that they could not meet
this person, everything will
be conducted under the law,
we do not condone any mob
violence, McGee said.
The Government said, it will
not accept the misuse or abuse
of international protocols that
undermine its sovereign duties
and responsibilities.
We reject the creeping
abuse of well-intentioned
international protocols such
as those provided for by the
Roundtable Sustainable Palm
Oil (RSPO) by individuals or
groups of individuals whose
intentions are wholly selfish
and seeks to undermine the
economic wellbeing of our
country and its people, GOL
added.
RED CROSS HELPS LIBERIAN CHILDREN RETURN

TO SCHOOL FOLLOWING EBOLA OUTBREAK
for the Liberia National Red

Cross Society, says education
underpins the future of the
countrys children.
Education can influence their
job and income hopes, even
their health outcomes. We
wanted to make sure Ebola
didnt keep students out of
classrooms for longer than
absolutely necessary. And
weve done this by making
sure the school environment
is Ebola-free and a safe place
where the children are able to
learn.
Schools reopened in February

while there were still cases
of Ebola. The Red Cross
mobilized to ensure the
Ministry of Healths safety
protocols were being met,
and trained representatives
from
1,016
schools
to
measure temperatures, check
for symptoms, and ensure
washing of hands. Volunteers
supported schools in this way
until school administrators
were able to take charge of the
precautionary measures.
The Red Cross continues to
work with schools to address

stigma faced by survivors,
healthcare workers and their
families. In collaboration with
other agencies, the Red Cross
is providing workshops for
teachers and leaders to help
them identify and address
issues of stigma faced by
students and their families.
Reverend Barkon says this
pre-emptive action has been
a great success. We have not
really noticed stigma because a
workshop was conducted. We
created a health team that the
students are part of, they talk

to their peers to say it is not
good to stigmatize others.
Not all students have returned
to W.P.L Brumskine United
Methodist School. There are
still many livelihood challenges
from Ebola impacting parents
ability to get their children
back to school. In Reverend
Barkons community, mining
companies
and
other
businesses closed operations
during the outbreak. This
caused
an
increase
in
unemployment and has meant
families are struggling to
afford school fees, uniforms
and other school items. But
Reverend Barkon is confident
that now that Liberia is Ebolafree, things will begin to return
to normal.
I enjoy imparting knowledge.
Its not just a job. Time has been
wasted, but these students
dont take their education for
granted. They will come back
and keep striving.
Page 8 | Frontpage
PAYMENT TO ROUTINE HEALTHCARE

WORKERS ON COURSE
Monrovia he Ministry of Health

& Social Welfare
(MoH) on Tuesday,
May 19, commenced
back pay hazard payments
for the months of Oct-Dec
2014 to at least 1,587 routine
healthcare workers in 13 of
Liberias 15 counties.
With support from the
United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), four
Teams comprising personnel
of the County Health Team
(CHT), Ministry of Finance
and Development Planning
(MFDP), Ministry of Health
and a bank staff have been
deployed to carry out the
payments across the targeted
counties.
This process is in continuation
of a payment scheme, which
initially began with the
disbursement of salaries and
rick benefits to Ebola Incident
Management staff during the
first phase, sometime last year
(2014). The payment scheme
is under a $US2 million dollar
World Bank grant, using a
Multi Partner Trust Fund
(MPTF) which UNDP manages.
To jumpstart the payment
plan, UNDP had conducted
an independent audit of
the list of workers to verify
its authenticity. The audit
illustrated poor planning
in the recruitment and
resource management for
these workers, but concluded
that the workers had been

contracted
and
working
officially in counties for a
period of 4 months.
In the far north County of Lofa,
one of the worst hit, especially
among predominately Muslim
farming district of Quadugboni,
the Ebola virus disease swept
away entire families, including
children, women and men.
The Ebola virus first came to
Liberia through Lofa County,
when a traveler crossed the
border from neighboring
Guinea in March 2014. As of
the 2008 national census, the
population of Lofa County
stood at 26,594.
During one of the payment
processes in Voinjama, Lofa

County on Wednesday, May
20, 2015, Health care workers
who dont have bank accounts
were successfully paid. The
payment process continued on
Thursday in Salayeah/Zorzor
district.
64-year-old
Gertrude
Yarkpawolo, an experienced
Certified Midwife (CM) was
amongst those paid at the
Salayeah Clinic. Gertrude has
worked as a midwife since
1974. She said even though the
Salayeah Clinic did not record
any case of Ebola, but they
operated in panic.
This clinic was never close
during the Ebola time. We
worked here throughout but

with caution and fear that
anything could happen.
Gertrude said.
The 64-year-old single mother
of five said: We became even
more afraid when we started
hearing about the deaths of
some medical doctors and
other
trained
healthcare
workers in the country,
especially in Lofa County.
She said it was a horrible
experience to have worked in
such a fearful environment.
She expressed appreciation
to the Government, through
the Ministry of Health, local
and international partners
and the people of Liberia for
collectively working to ensure

that the virus is eradicated
from the country.
The World Health Organization
(WHO) officially certificated
and declared Liberia free of
Ebola on May 9. Like other
professional routine healthcare
workers
without
bank
accounts, Gertrude received
hazard back payments for Oct.
to Dec. 2014.
Gertrude lives in a dilapidated
five bedroom house near the
Lutheran Training Institute.
She said the house was
destroyed during the countrys
civil war.
The grave of Gertrudes late
husband whom she said died
immediately following the civil
war is situated in the back of
the yard. Gertrude had since
lived in the partially roofed
house while gradually trying
to complete it. I will use this
money to try and complete the
other side of the house she
stated.
Also, 53-year-old, Esther Kollie
has worked at the Gbargbota
Clinic as a cleaner for nine
years. Esther said the Ebola
virus killed nine members of
her family, including her sister
and her children at her rented
house in Monrovia. I was here
when they called me and told
me that my sister was dead,
two weeks later, they told me
that they had taken all the
children and our mother-inlaw to the Ebola Treatment
Unit. When I went there the
following week, all of them
were dead. Esther said.
She said even though there
was no case of Ebola reported
at the Gbargbota Clinic, but
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they worked under terrifying

condition during the EVD
period.
Like Gertrude, Esther is also
hoping to use the hazard back
payment to complete a four
bedroom house project in
Monrovia.
Payment to the 1,587 routine
healthcare workers is in two
categories. Professional health
care workers which include
certified midwives, nurses
and doctors are receiving a
maximum amount of US$900
dollars, while those who fall
in the category of service
providers; examples security
and janitorial staff, are
receiving payments within a
range of US$200 to US$250
dollars for the period Oct. to
Dec. 2014.
The
United
Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP) together with the
Government of Liberia has
been working to ensure
payment of Ebola Response
Workers (ERWs) through
the establishment of an
information
management
system for those paying Ebola
workers and by strengthening
existing payment systems.
The workers were registered
in the information system
with job titles, harmonized
rates of pay identified,
and bank information for
payments, where applicable.
UNDP had also put into place
a contingency plan to cover
payments where existing
payment systems or resources
could not deliver salaries,
hazard pay, and allowances to
ERWs.
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INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
eports
from
international media
suggest that the
Liberian government
indeed are looking after their
interests related to their
major development goals,
making sure that their priority
investments are properly
managed and moved forward,
with the following Press
Release being publicized in
international media on 14th
May, 2015:
BACK ON TRACK
Frontpage
The Mt. Coffee rehab set to commence following Liberia Ebola free- certification
power grid, something that of

course should make it easier to
attract investments to develop
such hydro electric potential
fully out for the benefit of all
countries being connected.
This would in turn if this indeed
would happen also become a
source of income for Liberia as
long as they can produce more
energy than what is actually
internally consumed.
Hydro
Electric
power
production is a clean and
renewable means of energy
production and very much
in line with the global efforts
to reduce the co2 emissions
and thereby also long term to
contribute to a overall cleaner
and more healthy environment
worldwide.
HIGH-LEVEL VISIT TO VOITH:

LIBERIAN ENERGY MINISTER
GETS
INFORMATION
ABOUT
HYDROPOWER
TECHNOLOGY
Last
Thursday,
Liberian
Energy
Minister
Patrick
Sendolo visited the technology
group Voith to find out about
the company's hydropower
offering. In the process,
the Minister also learned
more about the status of the
Mount Coffee modernisation,
which is currently Liberia's
only hydropower project.
I am delighted to have
the opportunity to get my
own impression of current
activities on the Mount
Coffee hydropower project.
Following the modernisation,
the power plant will supply
more than a million people in
Liberia with clean electricity
from renewable resources,
said Energy Minister Sendolo
during the visit.
The
high-ranking
visitor
was received by Christer
Parkegren, CEO of Voith Hydro
Heidenheim. Over recent
years, Liberia has suffered
considerable setbacks due to
civil war and the Ebola crisis.
So we are all the more delighted
to be able to make a major
contribution to the country's
economic development, said
Christer Parkegren. Following
the Ebola epidemic, we are
now getting ready to resume
on-site work on the Mount
Coffee project and are in close
consultation with the Liberian
Government in this regard,
adds Parkegren. Start-up of
the modernized Mount Coffee
hydropower plant is scheduled
for the end of 2016.
For the project in Liberia, Voith
Hydro is modernising the
Francis turbines and supplying
new generators, the control
technology and the electrical
and
mechanical
power
plant equipment, which will
increase capacity by a third.
In addition, Voith is currently
implementing various projects
in Africa, including the supply of
equipment for the Cambambe
II hydropower plant in Angola
and modernising the Inga
I hydropower plant in the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
All in all, Voith can look back
on many years of involvement
on the African continent.
Although there is considerable
hydropower
potential
in
Africa, estimated at around
300 Gigawatts, only around
26 Gigawatts of this potential
is actually being utilized at
present.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
HYDROPOWER
Hydropower is the largest,

oldest and most reliable
form of renewable energy
generation.
Worldwide
it
Page 9
ABOUT THE COMPANY BEING

AWARDED THE MT COFFEE
ELECTRO / MECHANICAL
CONTRACT:
makes
an
indispensable
contribution to a stable power
supply and thus to economic
and social development
in industrialized countries
and also in regions seeing
strong growth. In addition,
hydropower
contributes
significantly to climate-friendly
energy production. Since the
early days of hydropower
exploitation Voith has been
a leading supplier of this
technology and is constantly
developing it further.
From a historic perspective:
The Mt Coffee Hydro Electric

project, first developed in the
late 196oies, to be the back
bone in the Liberian energy
production, the entire history
is not quite clear with regards
to why the present site of Mt
Coffee, actually was selected
for this very much important
project. The main reason for
having said that is the fact that
Mt Coffee was designed and
built as a run of the river
power station, this meaning
that the installation had no
or very much limited storage
capacity for the huge influx of
water during the rain season
and more or less no water
during the dry season.
The result being that during
the rains, more or less 60 % of
the water reaching the power
station was directly wasted
thru the way of the spill
ways, and actually thereby
by-passing the turbines that
produce the energy to generate
electricity. As a result of this
the dry season part of the
year always experience a lack
of energy, energy that needed
to be supplied from other
means of energy production
sources to meet the Liberian
overall demand. Diesel and
Heavy fuel oil powered power
stations were developed, to
make up for the dry season
short coming in energy
production from Mt Coffee,
with at time only one (1) or at
time not even one (1) turbine
being able to run and produce
energy to the grid, due to the

fact that the water level did not
allow for the safe running of
the station.
The energy production from
fossil fuels like diesel and
heavy fuel oil (HFO), was of
course quite costly, with all
fuel being imported to Liberia,
with complete dependency to
the selected suppliers and the
general vulnerability to the
global price fluctuation and
availability of these products.
In addition energy production
from these fossil fuel powered
power station, is done by the
use of engines similar to what
is used for large size ships and
marine vessels, such machines
need parts and maintenance to
enable operation. This kind of
operation require a very good
management of the resources
and maybe most important
that the energy produced is
indeed paid being for, as else
the cash flow will rapidly
go negative and the adequate
operational procedures simply
cant be maintained.
This is also what actually
happened in the past, with
the overall revenue from
energy sales only accounted
for about 30 % or less of what
was actually being produced,
meaning that the fuel, spare
/ replacement parts and
technical services, simply
could not be paid for and the
end result of course being that
the power stations were ended
up to be mismanaged and
destroyed, already within quite
limited operational hours.
The advantage of hydro electric
energy production is the fact
that the water is actually more
or less a free source of energy,
the investment in establishing
these facilities of course comes
with a quite huge amount of
funding being required initially,
but then thereafter, with a
minimum of maintenance and
a relatively long life span for
the installation. This being
quite different from fossil
fuel power stations that will
required regular maintenance
and fuel, lubricant and spare
parts (all being imported and

need to be paid for) for their
entire life span a life span that
is at best 15 -20 % of that of a
hydro electric installation.
So lets learn from the past not
to repeat the earlier mistakes
and make sure that the Liberian
hydro electric potential is now
being properly managed and
developed, this to secure the
Liberian long term energy
requirements and also to
potentially enable energy sales
to the neighbouring countries
in West Africa.
The Liberian hydro power
potential is estimated to be
around 1000 -1500 MW, if
all already mapped out and
partially studied site are
being developed, this is a
huge amount of energy for a
country of the size of Liberia.
The present overall energy
demand maybe require 200
-300 MW, if the transmission
and distribution systems were
built and developed to actually
allow transfer of that amount
of energy all around the
perimeters of Liberia.
We are of course right now
far away from having a
transmission and distribution
system that can facilitate
such energy transfer, but
some recent indications are
suggesting that this might
change rather sooner than
later. The WAPP Project
looking at the inter connection
of the West African power grid
is gaining momentum and will
soon reach the tendering stage
for the actual works to begin
to build these transmission
lines, that will connect Liberia,
Guinea and Sierra Leone with
the rest of the eastern parts
of West Africa through power
lines already being available in
Ivory Coast, such power lines
being constructed already
some time back to reach quite
close to the Liberian border.
With this inter- connection
transmission line in place,
the Liberian hydro electric
potential will then of course
become available to the entire
region being connected to this
Voith sets standards in the

energy, oil & gas, paper, raw
materials and transport &
automotive markets. Founded
in 1867, Voith today has more
than 39,000 employees and
earns 5.3 billion euros in sales.
It has locations in over 50
countries in all regions of the
world and is one of the largest
family-owned companies in
Europe.
In addition, Voith is currently
implementing various projects
in Africa, including the supply of
equipment for the Cambambe
II hydropower plant in Angola
and modernising the Inga
I hydropower plant in the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
All in all, Voith can look back
on many years of involvement
on the African continent.
Although there is considerable
hydropower
potential
in
Africa, estimated at around
300 Gigawatts, only around
26 Gigawatts of this potential
is actually being utilized at
present.
Page 10 | Frontpage
MINISTRY OF LANDS, MINES AND ENERGY

Notification of contracts awarded by ICB
Project Name: LIBERIA ACCELERATED ELECTRICITY EXPANSION PROJECT (LACEEP)
Country: LIBERIA
Project Number: P133445
Bid/Contract Reference No: ICB/LEC/ Bid/Contract Reference No: ICB/LEC/

LACEEP/01/2014 Lot 1
LACEEP/01/2014 Lot 2
Scope of Contract: Demolition of old LEC Tanks and pipeline, Removal Scope of Contract: Construction of New Facilities for HFO handling and
of Debris, Cleaning and Preparation of Site
Storage for LEC Power Plants at Bushrod Islands, Monrovia
Duration of Contract: 2 Months
Duration of Contract: 6 Months
Evaluation Currency: Liberians Dollars (L$)
Evaluation Currency: Liberians Dollars
Awarded Bidder
Name: China Harbour Engineering Company
Address*: Beijing, China
Bid price at bid opening: USD539,915.00
Evaluated Bid Price (in evaluation currency): L$ 45,622,817.50
Contract Price (in evaluation currency): L$ 45,622,817.50
Evaluated Bidders
Name: International Energy Services Limited/SEVAN Consultants (JV)
Address: Abuja, Nigeria
Bib price at bid opening: USD 1,242,100.00
Evaluated bid price (in evaluation currency): USD 104,957,450.00
Name: Lutech Engineering & Project Management Consultants
Address: Dubai, UAE
Bid price at bid opening: USD 2,485,250.00
Evaluated bid price in (evaluation currency) L$ 210,003,625.00
Name: City Construction Inc.
Address: Monrovia, Liberia
Bid price at bid opening: USD3, 208,327.50
Name: Semoh Group of Companies Inc. (JV)
Bid price at bid opening: USD3,208,327.50
Name: New Makes Engineering Limited
Address: Lagos, Nigeria
Bid price at bid opening: L$15,697,516.00
Evaluated Bid Price (in evaluation currency): L$15,697,516.00
Rejected bidder(s)
Name: Brandstor Operations
Address: USA
Reason(s) for rejection: Substantially non repressive bid, letter of bid
not signed, did not provide
Power of Attorney
Name: Global Construction Afrique
Address: Burkina Faso
Bid price at bid opening: No Bid read out price
Reason(s) for rejection: Bid was substantially non repressive, No Bid
Form, No Bid securing Declaration
Awarded Bidder
Name: China Harbour Engineering Company
Address*: Beijing, China
Bid price at bid opening: USD 7,041858.00

Contract Price (in evaluation currency): L$ 595,037,001.00
Evaluated Bidders
Name: International Energy Services Limited/SEVAN Consultants (JV)

Address: Abuja, Nigeria
Bib price at bid opening: USD 7,353,086.00
Evaluated bid price (in evaluation currency): L$ 621,335,767.00
Name: Lutech Engineering & Project Management Consultants

Address: Dubai, UAE
Evaluated bid price in (evaluation currency) L$ 611,318,123.00

Name: Tristar (Liberia) Inc.
Evaluated bid price in (evaluation currency) L$ 1,204,809,112.00

Rejected bidder(s)
Name: Brandstor Operations
Address: USA
Reason(s) for rejection: Substantially non repressive bid, letter of bid

not signed, did not provide Power Attorney.
Name: Global Construction Afrique
Address: Burkina Faso
Bid price at bid opening: No Bid read out price
Reason(s) for rejection: Bid was substantially non repressive, No Bid

Form, No Bid securing Declaration
Frontpage
Page 11
TERMS OF REFERENCE
LIBERIA USAID GEMS PROJECT
IBI USAID GEMS IT: Management Information Systems Specialist
Background:
The USAID Governance and Economic Management Support Program (GEMS) is a five-year technical
assistance program which began in June 2011 to strengthen public sector capacity in Liberia. GEMS is
working with key ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises of Liberia to build management
capacity, implement a comprehensive civil servant training initiative, strengthen the governments capacity
to manage natural resource concessions, facilitate the implementation of the governments national ICT
policy, and enable the Central Bank of Liberia to operate a modern national payment system. The MIS
Specialist will work closely with the IT Infrastructure Specialist and will report to the IT/ICT Advisor.
Scope of Work:
1. Activities will be conducted in a collaborative multi-disciplinary team often including staff of

the various MACS.
2. The MIS Specialist will work within GOL MACs as well as in the GEMS offices.
3. Activities could require the performance of a range of Management Information Systems
Analyst and Advisor functions, and/or on advising and assisting clients on their adoption of
such functions within their organisation. A major part of their work will be in assisting with
the implementation and operations of IT Service Management tools and techniques at
selected MACs, but will also include:
i. Provide clients with assistance solving computer related problems, such as
malfunctions and program problems.
ii. Test, maintain, and monitor computer systems, including coordinating the
installation of computer programs and systems.
iii. Liaise with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation
needs a computer-based system is to address.
iv. Consult with decision makers and management to ensure agreement on system
principles.
v. Modify systems to serve new purposes or to improve their effectiveness or efficiency
vi. Determine what information is processed and how it is processed.
vii. Determine computer software or hardware needs to meet an organizational
requirement
viii. Develop training materials, and train clients at all levels to work with their systems.
ix. Analyze client needs and plan and design computer-based systems, using structured
and standard techniques.
x. Assess the usefulness of application packages and their adaptability to a client
environment.
xi. Define the goals of the computer-based system and create flow charts, workflows and
diagrams describing logical operational steps of programs.
xii. Develop, document and revise system design procedures, test procedures, and
quality standards.
xiii. Produce and implement training materials in client organizations
xiv. Design process charts and other information resources to help clients understand,
implement and manage the information systems in their organization
xv. Review and analyze reports and performance indicators to locate problems, to
identify errors, and to inform corrective actions.
xvi. Recommend new equipment or software packages.
xvii. Learn how to develop and improve systems by reading manuals, periodicals, and
technical documents
xviii. Supervise and manage staff to improve computer systems
xix. Prepare motivations, such as cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to help
clients make informed decisions on acquisition and adaption of new or modified
systems.
1. Deliverables:
Deliverables will be wide ranging and could include: Assessment reports, recommendations on information
systems improvements, training materials and coursework, quarterly reports, acceptance certificates for
newly installed or upgraded systems.
2. Period of Performance:
Level of Effort: The contract period is expected to begin on July 1, 2015 and last until June 30, 2016.
The estimated level of effort for this assignment is approximately 228 work days.
3. Location:
This assignment will be carried out primarily in Monrovia with occasional travel to the various regions of
Liberia
4. Qualifications:
An undergraduate Information Systems related degree or 3-year technical diploma essential, with a
post-graduate degree preferred
Experience with ITIL (or other) Services Management framework; preferably with at least Intermediate
level certification/experience
7 years proven experience in the field of Management Information Systems. Experience in the design,
specification and setup of new systems would be a distinct advantage
The ideal candidate will have prior experience at designing, specifying, building and administering
management information systems for small, medium and large organisations. The ideal candidate will
have experience with a number of organisational systems such as Financial Accounting and Management
Systems, IFMIS/ERP Systems, Procurement, Asset Management, HR/Payroll Systems, Messaging
systems, Knowledge management systems.
The ideal candidate will be an active listener and critical thinker who can troubleshoot complicated
issues, and who is client and service focussed. The candidate and will be willing and able to train
personnel at all levels in an organisation on their IT roles and responsibilities
The ideal candidate will be able to document systems designs, and to communicate these designs to
client organisations in simple, non-technical language
Previous experience in a developing country, preferably in post-conflict countries in Africa, is strongly

preferred. Experience with donor financial management/capacity building programs and procedures are
required. The proposed candidate must be fluent in English, fully computer literate, and possess
excellent oral and written communication skills.
To Apply:
Please send your CV & Application to careers@gemsliberia.com. Please include information about your
availability in your application. IBI appreciates all applications, but only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted. No phone calls please.
For full consideration, please apply by: Tuesday, June 8, 2015
For more information about IBI International, please visit www.ibi-usa.com. IBI International is an equal
opportunity employer.
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
Liberia Revenue Authority
Provision of Staff Background Check Consultancy Services
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) was established by an Act of Legislature in
September 2013 for the purposes of assessing and collecting national revenues
as specified in the Revenue Code of Liberia and other related laws; administering,
accounting, auditing, enforcing revenue collection laws and regulations; and
educating taxpayers to facilitate tax and Customs compliance. The Authority
replaces the Department of Revenue. The LRA mission is to professionally, fairly,
transparently and effectively collects lawful revenue; facilitate legitimate trade and
social protection for the people of Liberia.
In order for the LRA to meet its core mission objective, it must identify and recruit
a highly qualified workforce with impeccable character. Pursuant to relevant
provisions of the HRMP Manual, a complete vetting of all key employees must be
conducted. The LRA is seeking for qualified firm/individual to complete this task.
The firm/individual must have experience in conducting employee background
investigations.
This Request for Expression of Interest focuses on the ability of a Firm to provide
consultancy services to the LRA on Staff Background Checks. This Firm is to develop
and guide the LRA's overall strategy and implement activities to facilitate and
perform Background checks on its staff.
Objective:
The purpose of the assignment is to conduct full background investigations of all key
LRA employees in an efficient and timely manner.
Consultant Qualifications and Experience
This consultancy should be a firm, or joint venture of firms, with demonstrated

experience in conducting background investigations. Members of the firm
should have proven experience in providing background investigations. Previous
experience in providing Comprehensive Background Investigation services in Africa
and particularly in Liberia would be an advantage.
Must indicate methodology to be used and demonstrative ability to use such
method
Current Business Registration
Current Tax Clearance
Duration, Deliverables and Administrative Arrangements

The consulting firm will report directly to LRA Deputy Commissioner General
Administrative Affairs and Security Coordinator and is expected to officially interact
with other members of the Professional Ethics Department staff.
The duration of the contract will be mutually agreed upon, as the background
investigation exercises will be a continuous process.
Expressions of interest are now invited from eligible firms to indicate their interest
in providing the above-mentioned stated services. Interested firms must provide
information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brief corporate
profile, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions,
availability of appropriate skills, etc.). Firms will be selected in accordance with the
procedures and provisions set out in the Public Procurement and Concessions Act
(PPCA) revised Sept 2010.
Expressions of Interest must be clearly marked "Expression of Interest for the
Provision of Staff Background Check Services for the LRA and delivered to the
address below (by hand or e-mail) at Proposals must be submitted at the NASSCORP
House, ELWA Junction, Paynesville, Liberia on or before Thursday June 4, 2015,
12:00 p.m.
Provision of Background Staff Check Services to the LRA
Liberia Revenue Authority
NASSCORP House
ELWA Junction
Paynesville, Liberia
Note: This EOI and other LRA related information are also available at www.
lra.gov.lr and Liberia Revenue Authority Facebook page.
AFRICA TIPS T
Page 12 | Frontpage
BUTAW VIOLENCE UNDERMINES

LIVELIHOOD IN LIBERIA, GOL SAYS
FINANCE CHIEF
Nigerias Agriculture Minister is New
Head of African Development Bank
N
LAGOS -
igerian Agriculture
Minister Akinwumi
Adesina was elected
president of the
African Development Bank,
beating other candidates from

the continents west.
Adesina secured 58 percent of
the votes in the final round at a
meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
on Thursday and will take over
as head of the development

bank on Sept. 1, the AfDB said
on its Twitter feed. He faced
off against Chadian Finance
Minister Kordje Bedoumra,
who secured 32 percent
support, and his counterpart
from Cape Verde, Cristina
Duarte, at 10 percent.
Adesina, known for his
trademark bow tie and
mustache, became agriculture
minister in 2011 after former
central
bank
Governor
Lamido Sanusi recommended
him to outgoing President
Goodluck Jonathan. Adesina
had impressed Sanusi with his
work on programs to improve
agriculture credit. Adesina has
said the AfDB needs to focus
on promoting investment by
businesses.
He is an example of a leader
in the Nigerian political space
who has done well, Ebenezer
Essoka, vice chairman for
Africa at Standard Chartered
Plc, said in an interview.
Adesina, 55, takes over from
Donald Kaberuka, 63, at a
time when falling prices of oil,
copper and other commodities
dim the outlook for economic
growth and investment in
WANTED URGENTLY
Part Time
Africa. The AfDBs loans and

grants amounted to $7.8 billion
in 2014, 22 percent more than
the previous year.
As
agriculture
minister,
Adesina has tried to revitalize
farming after decades of
neglect following the discovery
of oil in Nigeria in the 1950s.
He has been praised for
bringing more transparency to
fertilizer subsidies, a program
riddled with corruption in the
past. Nigerias government
estimates that food production
increased by 21 million metric
tons during his tenure.
He received a bachelor's
degree
in
Agricultural
Economics from the University
of Liberia (Obafemi Awolowo
University) and a PhD in
Agricultural Economics from
Purdue University. (1988).
He worked at the Rockefeller
Foundation since winning a
fellowship from the Foundation
as a senior scientist in 1988.
From 1999 to 2003 he was
the representative of the
Foundation for the southern
African area. From 2003 until
2008 to the present he was
an associate director for food
security.
SPECIAL STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA ON THE

VIOLENT DISTURBANCES IN BUTAW, SINOE COUNTY
Monrovia he Government of Liberia regrets the mayhem, looting

and destruction which occurred on the Golden Veroleum
Oil Plantation in Butaw, Sinoe County, on Tuesday, May
26, 2015. As expected, this act of violence, looting and
the wanton destruction of properties will not go unpunished.
The violence in Butaw does not only threaten our peace and
security, it undermines our collective livelihood, and unfairly
portrays our country as an unsafe destination for foreign
investment. Together, we have all worked too hard to return our
country to an enviable place for foreign and domestic investments
in order to create much-needed jobs and improve the living
conditions of our people. Accordingly, we will decisively and
effectively resist any effort by anyone or any group to either alter
our course or reverse our collective progress.
As such, the Ministry of Justice through the Liberia National Police
has begun a thorough search and seizure operation in Butaw for
the looted properties of the GVL. Wherever they are properly
identified and found, the homeowners will be arrested and the
looted properties retrieved, logged and returned to the company.
All persons said to be responsible for the Butaw Mayhem are
being arrested and will be prosecuted in keeping with the law.
The Justice Ministry has also been instructed to pursue the
additional charge of economic sabotage against such persons
wherever applicable.
The relevant authorities have also been directed to work with GVL
in a full assessment of the damage to the concession. Consistent
with the practice of this administration, when determined and
agreed, the cost of the assessed damage will be offset by the social
and or county development funds of Sinoe.
Let it also be known that the Liberian Government takes seriously
its commitments to all international protocols, as well as
acceptable procedures and practices. However, this Government
will not accept the misuse or abuse of international protocols
to undermine its sovereign duties and responsibilities thereby
making it difficult, if not impossible, for the Government to meet
the needs and fulfill the expectations of its people. Especially
in this regard, we reject the creeping abuse of well-intentioned
international protocols such as those provided for by the
Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) by individuals or groups
of individuals whose intentions are wholly selfish and seeks to
undermine the economic wellbeing of our country and its people.
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma
Boakai will remain actively seized of this matter.
OMEGA INSURANCE (0IC)

IDENTIFIES WITH CLIENTS
Recently, the company also

traveled to Bomi County
where a presentation of LD
400,000.00, sum assured was
given to another beneficiary.
Also Management revealed
that there are still more
insured Ebola victims claims
that are being processed to
benefit from the companys
gesture soon.
The below positions are available for qualified,

experienced applicants:
1. Part time experienced COOK to prepare early

continental Breakfast and Grill foods, four (4) times per
week.
2. Guests Services Assistants for three (3) days,

and one (1) night, per week. Ability to operate a stand by Generator.
3. Guests house Supervisor For four (4) times per

week - to supervise the House-keeping, Supervise the
Cook and Front Desk Receptionist; must have at least one
(1) experience with reputable entities.
Applicants must include at least three (3) references with
telephone numbers, two recent passport photos.
Forward all application to the below address:
Mokos Bed & Breakfast
19th Street
Payne Avenue, Sinkor
Tel: 0777-96262
mega Insurance Company (OIC) paid death

insurance claims to the beneficiaries of several of
its clients who died as a result of the just ended
Ebola outbreak which hit the Country since last year
March. The claim settlements are not part of the companys
insurance coverage especially; death related cases such as the
Epidemic which could be treated as Force Majeure. However
Management realized the need to assist the relatives of its
clients who felt prey to the disease.
The Omega Insurance Company is the first to reach out to
the beneficiaries of its insured victims in such manner. The
gesture was carried out in Monrovia where the company paid
various death claims to family members /beneficiaries.
Omega Insurance Company

provides
quality
and
mutually rewarding financial
services in Insurance to the
private and public sectors
of the Liberian economy as
well as financial security and
comfort of the mind.
At the same time they are
introducing new insurance
products to the financial
services market.
In Liberia Omega Insurance

Company is considered the
fastest growing underwriter
providing the most reliable
and efficient financial service
with a goal of removing fears,
and establishing confidence
amongst policy holders.
Thus this Company is
creating financial security for
investors and contributing
to the development of a
sustainable and vibrant
capital market.
LAWSUIT
HANGS
OVER HANS
WILLIAM
BROTHER AT
MONROVIA
CITY COURT
Frontpage
PRODUCING MORE THAN 10 TONS A DAY

President Sirleaf Visits Two Manufacturing Companies, Extols Them for Creating Jobs
for Liberians; Warns Encroachers on the Monrovia Industrial Park to Stop Immediately
Kennedy
L.
Yangian
kennedylyangian@
0777296781
MonroviarontPageAfrica
has
reliably
learned
from a source at
the Monrovia City
Court at the Temple of Justice
about plan of possible lawsuit
against the younger brother
of Hans Williams who is
currently residing in the
United States after he was set
free of murder charge by the
Supreme Court last year.
The lawsuit to be issued
against the younger brother
of Hans, Barsee Williams
according to the source is to
be issued by a used car dealer
been identified as Philip
Mulbah.
The source who was presence
during the discussion of
the lawsuit claimed that
the compliant Mulbah is
contemplating on issuing
the lawsuit in a coming date
which was not specified after
informing courts official
that he has offered Barsee
the amount of US$3,600.00
in March 2014 to occupy a
three bed room house in the
Old Road Community for two
years at the time Barsee was
in charge of his brothers
property when his brother
Hans was in jail.
The source quoting the
defendant stated that when
Hans was relieved from jail
he ordered that he be evicted
from his property
Accordingly, Hans said he had
revoked the power of attorney
given to his younger brother
and that the fund he (Mulbah)
paid to his little brother
Barsee was used outside of his
authority.
The compliant is reported to
have told the source that based
on Hans request he has asked
Barsee to refund his money
but up to present Barsee is
claiming that he cannot pay
such money because it was
used by him to hold press
conferences and facilitate
other activities on his brother
behave which he has failed to
consider.
Efforts to contact businessman
Mulbah at his Old Road
Residence prove futile as
it was reported that he has
traveled to Europe and will be
back in the country soon,
Hans Williams could not
be contacted on this latest
lawsuit issue as he has left the
country and currently residing
in the United States but when
contacted Barsee confirmed
the threat of lawsuit from
Philip Mulbah and said he
will address the issue at an
appropriate time
Page 13
Monrovia
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf has praised
two
manufacturing
companies that have
begun production in the
country for creating jobs for
hundreds of Liberians in the
private sector and for proudly
helping to uplift Liberias
economy.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the assertion
at the end of a tour of
the facilities at the TIBA
Industrial Group and Garson
Manufacturing both situated at
the Monrovia Industrial Park in
Gardnersville at the weekend.
TIBA
Industrial
Group
produces 11 types of biscuits,
while Garson Manufacturing
produces variety of nails.
Im very impressed by
efforts made by TIBA to move
us to another stage of our
development in which we now
have manufacturing. We now
have value added, President
Sirleaf said when she spoke
to journalists accompanying
her on the tour, adding, That

creates jobs for hundreds of
our young men and women
who are engaged in different
aspects of the processing at
the manufacturing plant. This
pleases us and its in keeping
with our development agenda.
She noted that during her
closed-door meeting with the
management of TIBA Industrial
Group, she commended all
of those who have supported

the Group in carrying out
governments agenda.
Earlier, the general manager of
TIBA Industrial Group, Mackel
Gharib, welcomed President
Sirleaf to the companys
premises. Providing a short
history of the company, he
said it is a Lebanese-Liberianowned manufacturing plant
of biscuits and other food
NOT PROVEN
PUP Indictee Wogbeh Request Dismissal of Charges
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedy.yangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
Wogbeh and Other Defendants Leaving Court
Monroviahe Criminal Court

C at the Temple
of Justice was a
scene of heated legal
argument Wednesday between
state and defense lawyers over
a motion filed by the defense
to dismiss the charges against
former Forestry Development
Authority (FDA) Managing
Director, Moses Wogbeh and
four others.
State lawyers are claiming

that the five former FDA
officials have been indicted for
illegally issuing over 60 Private
Use Permits (PUP) to some
logging companies that caused
government to loss US$6m in
revenue, claims that have been
denied by the defendants.
The former FDA officials
prosecution has been based on
findings and recommendations
of a Special Independent
Investigation Board (SIIB)

headed by James Dorbor Jallah
set up by President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf in 2012 to
probe the issuance of Private
Use Permits (PUP) amid public
outcries that the permits were
illegally issued by officials of
FDA at the time, prosecution
lawyers say.
In continuation of the trial
on
Wednesday
lawyers
representing Wogbeh and
products officially opened for

production in November 2013.
Their
production
line
comprises 11 types of biscuits
including, Cream Crackers,
Digestive, Football, Ginger,
Marie, Milk, among others.
He assured the Liberian
leader that his company will
be extending its operations by
the first week of July 2015 by
adding another line that will
manufacture Wafers to be sold
locally and internationally.
New machines are expected by
mid-June, and will be installed
immediately.
TIBA has 256 employees (six
expatriates and 250 Liberians)
of which 80 percent are
women. After installing the
second production line, TIBA is
expected to hire an additional
55 employees which will
increase employee strength
to 305, enabling them to run
three 8-hour shifts.
The
company
assured
President Sirleaf that they will
continue to do its part in lifting
the nations economy. You
have our fullest support in
building capacity and reducing
the poverty level in Liberia, as
long as we have a continuous
flow of raw materials into the
country, Mr. Gharib assured.
Later, at Garson Manufacturing,
the general manager and chief
operating officer, Mr. Alfred
B. King, extoled the Liberian
President for the visit and said
he and the employees were
very grateful.
For
a
company
which
commenced production in
February 2015 and has a
workforce of a 100-strong,
with 45 percent women, he was
hopeful to increase production
to meet the demands of the
general public shortly.
four others told the court in
a motion filed to dismiss the
charges against the defendants.
Defense counsels want the
charges dropped because the
state has failed miserably to
prove the case.
Cllr. Yarmie Gbeisay the lead
defense lawyer argued that
the defendants were brought
before the Special Independent
Investigative Board (SIIB)
without acquainting them with
their rights which he claims is
the violation of the rights of the
defendants.
According to Cllr. Gbeisay,
the state claimed that the
defendants allegedly issued
61 Private Use Permits
(PUP) illegally that caused
government to loss US$6m
but failed to establish the
role played by each of the
defendants in the process.
He argued further that during
the course of the trial no
prosecution witness has been
able to testify and say how
the defendants counterfeited
money as alleged in the
indictment.
Your honor, please dismiss the
charges against the defendants
as the state lawyers are not able
to prove their own indictment
against the defendants said
Gbeisay as the defendants
sitting at the far corner of the
court listened eagerly to the
arguments.
Right now we are producing

over 10 tons a day. In the next
three to four months we will be
doing at least a container a day
which is 27 tons, he assured,
adding that from his survey,
the Liberian market will be
able to consume 16 containers
monthly.
Meanwhile,
President
Sirleaf has issued a strong
warning to illegal squatters
to immediately leave the
Monrovia Industrial Park in
order to allow government to
carry on investment through
industrial
manufacturing
activities.
She reminded residents that
they will not be allowed to
build on areas designated in the
last ten years by government
as the industrial park. This
place was designated by the
government several years ago
to put industries here so it
could create jobs for people.
Many people have started
to build in this area. The
government has said it would
not bother those who came
there during the period when
they didnt have a place to say,
the Liberian leader stressed.
However, she pointed out
that where there was no
encroachment,
government
will not allow any further
encroachment;
strongly
warning, Let the word go out
that the part that government
has now designated as the
industrial park, no one should
build there because if you build
there, government will break
the structure down.
President
Sirleaf
has
designated the Ministry of
Public Works to determine
the perimeter of the Monrovia
Industrial Park and put up
signs in the designated areas
to avoid any encroachment or
squatting.
In counter argument state
lawyer Atty. Tony Sillah asked
the court to deny the motion
to dismiss because the state
through all of its evidence
produced during the trial
proved the case beyond a
reasonable doubt.
Your honors please deny the
un-meritorious motion filed
by the defense counsel as
the state has proven its case
beyond a reasonable doubt
said Atty. Sillah.
The defense counsels motion
was filed at the time the
defendants were to take the
witness stand after the state
has announced that it has
rested with the production of
evidence.
The state produced eight
material witnesses coupled
with several documentary
evidence that it believe are
cogent to convict the five
defendants who are charged
with
multiple
offences
including economic sabotage.
Judge Peter Gbeneweleh of
the Criminal Court C at
the Temple of Justice has
scheduled next Friday at 2: pm
to decide whether to uphold or
dismiss the charges against the
former Forestry Development
Authority (FDA) officials.
The decision of the court will
be the first major task for Judge
Gbeneweleh who is serving as
both a judge and jury defacto.
Page 14 | Frontpage
IN BRIEF
RUSSIA RESET
ARCHITECT TO NEXT
PRESIDENT: DONT
TRY THAT AGAIN
ormer
U.S.
ambassador
to
Russia
Michael
McFaul,
a
key
architect of President Barack
Obamas attempt to reset
relations with Moscow, has
some advice for the next
president: Dont try that
again.
Dont say, We need another
reset with Russia. And Im
the guy that said that to
the president the last time
around in the Oval Office,
McFaul told Yahoo News,
describing his support for
the effort to reboot relations
with Russia in 2009.
PATAKI ANNOUNCES
PRESIDENTIAL BID
ormer New York Gov.

George Pataki joined
the already crowded
field for the 2016
Republican
presidential
nomination on Thursday,
announcing his White House
bid in an online video.
America has a big decision to
make about who were going
to be and what were going
to stand for, Pataki says at
the beginning of the fourminute video highlighting
his leadership as governor
following 9/11.
PAGE
MOSCOW (AP)
ussian
President
Vladimir
Putin
accused the United
States of meddling
in the affairs of soccer's
governing body and hinted that
its corruption investigation is
part of an attempt to take the
2018 World Cup away from his
country.
Putin said in televised
comments Thursday that he
found it "odd" that the FIFA
probe was launched at the
request of U.S. officials for
crimes which do not involve its
citizens and did not happen in
the United States.
Corruption charges in the U.S.
were announced Wednesday
against 14 people, at least
two of whom have American
citizenship. Seven of the 14
were arrested Wednesday
morning in Zurich ahead of
a FIFA meeting and Friday's
presidential election in which
Sepp Blatter is expected to win
a fifth term. Much of the money
that allegedly changed hands
went through U.S. banks, which
is why U.S. officials were able
to bring charges.
In a separate probe, Swiss
prosecutors opened criminal
proceedings
into
FIFA's
awarding of the 2018 World
Cup to Russia and the 2022
tournament to Qatar.
Putin said even if "someone
has done something wrong,"
Russia "has nothing to do with

it." He then tried to portray
the probe as a U.S. attempt to
go after dissenters, likening
the case to the persecution of
RONT
WORLD NEWS
RUSSIA "HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT
PUTIN ACCUSES US OF MEDDLING INTO FIFA AFFAIRS
whistleblowers Julian Assange

and Edward Snowden.
"Our American counterparts,
unfortunately, are using the
same methods to reach their
goals and illegally persecute
people. I don't rule out that this

is the case in relation to FIFA,"
Putin said. "I have no doubt
that this is yet another evident
attempt to derail Mr. Blatter's
re-election as FIFA president.
We are aware of the pressure

that he was subjected to in
relation to Russia holding the
2018 World Cup."
Russian
Sports
Minister
Vitaly Mutko, who is also a
TIGHT SECURITY
For Nigerian Presidential Inauguration
CAMEROONIANS DONATE 3
MN EUROS TO HELP ARMY
FIGHT BOKO HARAM
Yaound (AFP) fundraising

campaign to help
Cameroon's army
battle
Nigeria's
feared Boko Haram fighters
has brought in more than
three million euros and
hundreds of tonnes of food,
local media said Wednesday.
"2.1 billion CFA francs (3.2
million
euros)
already"
collected to help troops
fighting the Islamist group
on Cameroon's northern
border with Nigeria, said the
national CRTV radio and TV
network.
But with corruption rife
across
Cameroon,
the
government has set up an
inter-ministerial committee
to ensure "transparent"
management of the funds
offered up by citizens of the
struggling African nation, the
broadcaster said.
Abuja (AFP) ecurity was beefed

up in and around
Nigeria's
capital,
Abuja, on Thursday,
as final preparations were
made for the inauguration
of Muhammadu Buhari as
president.
The
72-year-old,
who
defeated
incumbent
Goodluck
Jonathan
in
elections
two
months
ago, will be sworn in at a
ceremony from 9 am (0800
GMT) on Friday before world
leaders and other dignitaries.
Among those who have
confirmed attendance are
South Africa's President
Jacob Zuma, US Secretary of
State John Kerry and French
Foreign Minister Laurent
Fabius.
Soldiers were out in force

on the streets, including
at main entry points into
the city, while there was a
visible police presence at key
locations such as hotels and
government buildings.
Roads have been closed
around the Eagle Square
inauguration venue, where
dozens of international flags
have been hoisted alongside
the Nigerian green, white and

green tricolour.
Nigeria's federal police chief
Solomon Arase said the
measures were imposed
"to ward off possible plans
by insurgents to carry out
widespread violence and
coordinated attacks".
Boko Haram Islamists waging
a bloody, six-year insurgency
in Nigeria's northeast, have
FIFA executive committee

member and is in Zurich for
the governing body's congress
and presidential election, said
Wednesday that his country
welcomes the investigation.
hit Abuja before, including

twice in the space of a month
last April and May, killing
nearly 100 people.
On those occasions, the
bombings were at a bus
station on the outskirts of
the city but in June last year,
21 were killed when a blast
rocked a shopping mall near
the city centre.
In 2010, twin car bombings
claimed by militants from the
oil-producing southern Delta
region killed 10 people near
ceremonies in Abuja to mark
50 years of independence.
Arase urged members of the
public to remain vigilant and
cooperate with the security
services "to stamp out
crimes, including (the) war
against terror... to ensure (a)
hitch-free inauguration".
Tourism minister Edem
Duke, who is involved with
the preparations, told AFP:
"All the issues that will make
for a successful inauguration
have been validated.
"Security has been enhanced.
The ceremonial elements
have been firmly put in place.
The registrar of the Supreme
Court is working on the
elements of the swearing in."
Buhari, who headed a
military regime in the 1980s,
takes office just days after
a deal was reached to end a
crippling fuel shortage that
brought the country to a near
standstill.
There were still long queues
for petrol and diesel at filling
stations, as distributors tried
to clear the backlog.
ith billions of
dollars at stake,
Morocco, Egypt
and
South
Africa jockeyed in 2004 for the
privilege of hosting soccers
most prestigious tournament,
the World Cup. The outcome
hinged on a decision by the
executive committee of FIFA,
soccers governing body, and
a single vote could tip the
decision.
And at least one vote,
prosecutors said Wednesday,
was for sale.
Jack Warner, a committee
member from Trinidad and
Tobago, shopped his ballot
to the highest bidder, federal
prosecutors said. In early 2004,
he flew to Morocco, where a
member of that countrys bid
committee offered him $1
million. But South Africa had a
sweeter deal, offering
$10 million to a group that
Mr.
Warner
controlled,
prosecutors said. He voted for
South Africa. South Africa got
the 2010 World Cup. And Mr.
Warner got his
$10 million payout, much of
which prosecutors said he
diverted for his personal use.
For
decades,
that
was
how business was done in
international soccer, American
officials said Wednesday as
they announced a sweeping
indictment against 14 soccer
officials
and
marketing
executives who they said had
corrupted the sport through
two decades of shadowy
dealing and $150 million in
bribes. Authorities described
international soccer in terms
normally reserved for Mafia
families or drug cartels,
and brought charges under
racketeering laws usually
applied to such criminal
organizations.
Hours after Swiss authorities
arrived unannounced at a
Zurich hotel and arrested top
FIFA officials early Wednesday
morning,
the
Justice
Department and prosecutors
for the Eastern District of
New York forcefully declared
that their investigation had
only just begun and pledged
to rid the international soccer
organization
of
systemic
corruption.
These
individuals
and
organizations engaged in
bribery to decide who would
televise games, where the
games would be held, and who
Frontpage
Sports
CLEANING
UP
FOOTBALLS
MESS
After Indicting 14 Soccer Officials, U.S. Vows to End Graft in FIFA
would run the organization

overseeing organized soccer
worldwide, said Attorney
General Loretta E. Lynch, who
supervised the investigation
from its earliest stages, when
she was the United States
attorney for the Eastern
District of New York. They
did this over and over, year
after year, tournament after
tournament.
Soccer officials treated FIFA
business decisions as chits
to be traded for personal
wealth, United States officials
said.
Whether through
convoluted financial deals or
old-fashioned briefcases full
of cash, people were expected
to pay for access to FIFAs
river of money and publicity.
Thefederal indictment
lists 47 counts, including
bribery, fraud and money
laundering.
Despite the broad nature of the
charges, the case itself arrived
at the Justice Department as
something of a surprise. The
four-year
F.B.I.investigation
grew out of an unrelated
inquiry into aspects of
Russian organized crime by
the Eurasian Joint Organized
Crime Task Force in the F.B.I.s
New York office, according
to people with knowledge of
the cases origins. Authorities
soon realized the potential
scope of an investigation
into the sporting worlds
most
powerful,
secretive
organization.
Once we really began to
peel back the layers of the
investigation, it became clear
that corruption had been

rampant for years, Ms. Lynch,
who was the top federal
prosecutor in Brooklyn at the
time, recalled in a telephone
interview. We always knew
it was going to be a very large
case.
Though many of the charges
revolve around activities that
occurred abroad, Ms. Lynch
said she never had qualms
about bringing charges in the
United States. United States
law allows for extradition
and prosecution of foreign
nationals under a number of
statutes, and court documents
say that the activity affected
interstate
and
foreign
commerce, and took place in
part in New Yorks Eastern
District.
Ms. Lynch compared the
FIFA investigation to cases
involving Mafia members in
Rome or Sicily. In this case,
she said, FIFA officials used
the American banking system
as part of their scheme. They
clearly thought the U.S. was a
safe financial haven for them,
she said.
FIFA has been dogged by
accusations of corruption for
years, but the organization
and its top officials typically
avoided any punishment. That
has been especially true for
Sepp Blatter, the organizations
longtime president, who is
widely regarded as the most
powerful man in sports. Mr.
Blatter was not named in the
federal indictment, and after
FIFAprovisionally suspended
the officials who were named,
he issued a statement saying

the investigations would make
the sport stronger.
But American authorities
were adamant that they were
not finished. The indictment
represented the beginning
of our effort, not the end,
said Kelly T. Currie, acting
United States attorney for the
Eastern District of New York.
Neither he nor Ms. Lynch
would comment on whether
they were investigating Mr.
Blatter. But one federal law
enforcement official said Mr.
Blatters fate would depend
on where the investigation
goes from here.
Some of the means used
to hide the payments were
intricate,
the
indictment
says: using fake consulting
contracts; sending money
through associates working in
the financial industry; creating
shell companies in tax havens;
hiding foreign bank accounts;
using safe deposit boxes;
and bulk cash smuggling,
prosecutors wrote.
Others
were
more
straightforward. When FIFA
was considering which country
would host the 2006 World
Cup, Mr. Warner sent a relative
to a Paris hotel room to collect
a briefcase filled with cash in
$10,000 stacks from a South
African bid-committee official,
according to the indictment.
In 2011, an associate running
for FIFA president wired
about $360,000 to an account
controlled by Mr. Warner,
who, in turn, arranged for
the associate to give a stump
speech to Caribbean soccer

officials at a Hyatt Regency
in Trinidad. When the speech
concluded, Mr. Warner told the
officials that a gift awaited
them in a Hyatt conference
room. The gift: envelopes
containing $40,000 in cash
from the associate, one for each
of the member organizations.
Even facilitating the bribes
was lucrative: One man who
helped funnel money between
officials and those seeking
officials favor said in 2014 that
the charge for such services
was a $150,000 annual fee and
a 2 percent commission per
payment.
Prosecutors built their case
with help from a former
FIFA executive and New York
resident, Chuck Blazer, who
secretly pleaded guilty in
federal court in 2013. Mr.
Blazer, who was close to Mr.
Warner, forfeited $1.9 million
when he entered his guilty plea
and agreed to make a second
payment at sentencing. Mr.
Blazers lawyer, Eric Corngold,
declined to comment.
Prosecutors also went after
Mr. Warners sons, Daryan and
Daryll, filing a case against
them in 2012. In 2013, each son
pleaded guilty: Daryll to wire
fraud and illegally structuring
financial transactions, and
Daryan to the same structuring
charge, along with wire
fraud and money laundering.
Daryan forfeited $1.1 million
and, like Mr. Blazer, agreed
to make another payment at
sentencing.
Jos Hawilla, who owned an
influential Brazilian sportsmarketing group, pleaded
guilty
to
racketeering
conspiracy and other charges
late last year, and agreed to
pay $151 million. Each of those
related cases was sealed until
Wednesday.
In New York and Washington,
it had been clear for many
months
that
indictments
were inevitable, two law
enforcement officials said.
The annual meeting in Zurich
provided the perfect setting.
Rather than seek warrants and
extradition hearings in several
countries, the authorities
could wait until most of the
suspects were in one place.
IE MEET BRILLIANT LISCR IN SEMIFINAL CLASH

A. Macaulay Sombai, sombai121@gmail.com
Monrovianvincible
Eleven
(IE)
will this Sunday face
brilliant LISCR FC in
the last semifinal match
in continuation of the 2015

Presidents Cup tournament at
the Antoinette Tubman Stadium
(ATS) in Monrovia.
IE qualified for both the
tournament
quarter
and
semifinals without kicking a ball
after being awarded free three
points due to Might Barrolles
failure to honor the tournament
opening match against the

Yellow Boys.
IE also booked a semifinal spot
without kicking a ball after
being left alone during the
quarterfinal draw early Monday.
LISCR FC made it to the
semifinal stage after defeating
tournament favorite Barrack
Young Controllers (BYC) in the
quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The both teams settled to a 2-2
draw during the 90-minute play
but it was LISCR who took the
day 8 goals to 6 through penalty
shootout.
LISCR earlier made it to the
quarterfinal stage through a 1-0
win against Mighty Blue Angels

in one of the opening matches of
the competition.
Already, one of the tournament
favorites FC Fassell has reached
the grand final after standing
alone during the semifinal draw
on Wednesday.
Fassell made it to the semifinal
of the tournament after a 4-2
victory against Watanga FC
from spot kicks in one of the
quarterfinal clashes.
Page 15
SPORTS
PLATINI: I ASKED BLATTER
TO STAND DOWN AS
FIFA PRESIDENT
tearful
Michel
Platini has revealed
that he begged
Sepp Blatter to
stand down as Fifa president.
The
game's
governing
body is reeling after the
arrest of several officials
on Wednesday as part of
an FBI-led investigation
into corruption and moneylaundering dating back to
1991.
Blatter has not been
implicated in the enquiry but
there have been widespread
calls for the Swiss to resign
given that it has been
alleged by the US Justice
Department that corruption
was widespread within Fifa.
BENITEZ CONFIRMS
HE WILL LEAVE NAPOLI
THIS SUMMER
afa Benitez has

confirmed he will
leave Napoli at the
end of the Serie A
season in a move that paves
the way for him to take up the
reins at Real Madrid.
The
former
Liverpool
coach will depart following
Sunday's Serie A climax,
which will see him lead
Napoli into their final game of
the season knowing victory
over Lazio will secure a
spot in Champions League
qualifying.
Napoli released a statement
on Wednesday stipulating
that Benitez would not
answer questions regarding
other clubs, meaning he
could not confirm whether or
not he would succeed Carlo
Ancelotti at the Santiago
Bernabeu next season.
"My time in Naples has ended,"
Benitez said on Thursday in a
press conference.
"I had a two-year contract
with Napoli which ends after
the match against Lazio. Then
we will start talking about my
future from Monday.
"I would like to thank the
president, the club and all
the fans. On Sunday, we face
a very important match and
I want to finish my two years
here with a victory.
"It's always sad to leave a
job where the people have
treated you well from the
start and Napoli was like this
to me."
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
DEFIANT BLATTER HANGS ON

VOL 9 NO.68
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015
PRICE L$40
Footballs Embattled World Governing Body chief Denies Responsibility in Corruption Saga
ifa president Sepp Blatter

has condemned the "action
of individuals" for bringing
"shame and humiliation"
on football in a corruption
scandal.
But he said that although many held him
"ultimately responsible" for the football
community, he could "not monitor
everyone all of the time".
He was speaking at the opening of Fifa's
congress, a day after seven top officials
were held in a US inquiry.
Mr Blatter has faced calls to quit but is
seeking re-election on Friday.
Many of Fifa's major sponsors have
expressed concern over twin corruption
investigations by both the US and Swiss
authorities.
'Dragged through the mud'
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the
Fifa congress in Zurich, Mr Blatter said
the events of the week had "cast a long
shadow over football".
In his first public appearance since the
scandal broke, he said: "The actions of
individuals bring shame and humiliation
on football and demand action and
change from us all.
An astonishing speech from Sepp Blatter:
17 years as Fifa president but when it
comes to corruption he cannot "monitor
everyone all the time".
He did say the allegations had brought
"shame and humiliation" (words, cynics
might say, that are not normally in his
vocabulary) to football, but he did not
mention the fact that a great many people,
from David Cameron to Uefa boss Michel
Platini have called on him to resign.
Instead he addressed the future, secure in
his own personal conviction that he has a
future in Fifa. It was time to change, "for
football, for the world, for peace". Then
he swept out again, to the strains of the Fifa

anthem. On Friday, he stands for re-election.
And he's likely to win.
"We cannot allow the reputation of football and
Fifa to be dragged through the mud and it has
to stop here and now.
"Many people hold me ultimately responsible
for the... global football community... I cannot
monitor everyone all of the time. If people want
to do wrong they will also try to hide it."
But he added: "It must fall to me to bear the
responsibility for the reputation and well-
being of our organisation and to find a way

forward to fix things."
Mr Blatter admitted the "next few months will
not be easy - I am sure bad news will follow"
but that with Friday's vote, "we have the
opportunity to begin on what will be a long and
difficult road to rebuilding trust".
Mr Blatter had faced calls to resign, including
from UK PM David Cameron and the head
of European football's governing body Uefa,
Michel Platini.
Mr Platini had earlier taken part in an emergency

meeting with other Fifa confederation heads
and Mr Blatter.
Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter "as a
friend" to resign, saying: "I have had enough enough is enough, too much is too much."
The president refused, and the other
confederations agreed with him that Friday's
vote, in which Mr Blatter is seeking a fifth term,
should go ahead.
Uefa will back Jordan's Prince Ali bin alHussein, Mr Blatter's only challenger.
Mr Platini said that if Mr Blatter won, Uefa
could hold an extraordinary meeting in Berlin
at the time of the Champions League final.
When asked if this could include withdrawing
from Fifa competitions, Mr Platini said: "We
will raise all possibilities."
Britain's David Gill said he would not take up
his post on Fifa's executive committee if Mr
Blatter were re-elected.
Swiss investigation
Some of the 14 people indicted on Wednesday
in the US investigation are accused of receiving
bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage
football tournaments, such as the 2010 World
Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America
in the US.
South African government officials have denied
the claim.
Fifa on Wednesday provisionally banned from
football-related activity 11 of the 14 people
charged in the US. On Thursday it added
another, Aaron Davidson.
Fifa's major sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas,
McDonald's, Hyundai Motor and Budweiser
are pressing Fifa to take immediate action to
restore its reputation.
Swiss prosecutors plan to interview 10 Fifa
executive committee members as part of a
separate investigation into the bidding process
for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in
Russia and 2022 in Qatar.

Friday, May 29, 2015 Edition

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Banking &

Minister is New Head of

Liberia Turns Over

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015

PLEASE PAY YOUR

GVL STILL ASSESSING DAMAGE, NOT CONSIDERING USE

News Extra - pg.

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

Friday, May 29, 2015

Monroviahe Capitol Building is the official seat of the National

I am not fixing Snowes mess. I am only

In allotting resources, the lawmakers allot trunk of money to

Again on Thursday with the country now in the rainy season,

Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

but to be frank there are lots of constraints, Representative

In recent days employees from the Maintenance Department

Friday, May 29, 2015

CORRUPTION ADVOCATES IN THE SENATE SENATORS TWARTING EFFORTS TO HOLD

was shocked by the blatant

WHAT SENATOR WESSEH SAID:

Now let me address your GAC Report

contributed to school, town hall and

officials and guests of the county with yet

CC: The Senate Press Bureau

Friday, May 29, 2015

Moses Blonkanjay Jackson, Blonkanjay Jackson <blonkanjayjackson@gmail.com> , Contributing Writer

n my regular thinking thoughts, I pondered the recent wave

acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 24 2015 which is

halt operations on their land.

Friday, May 29, 2015

The Reader's Page

Send your letters and comments to:

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

LOOTS IN CONCESSION TOWN

JOHN-LORD BAXTER TOP COMMENTER DAMANSARA, KUALA

t is not over till the fat lady sings. This is all

Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

olitical immaturity that will lead to the self-destruction

Friday, May 29, 2015

Monroviaarely 43 days after

days when the school was

Unlike the previous building

TIPOTEH CALLS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF FIFA ELECTIONS

Monrovia r, Togba-Nah Tipoteh,

May 29, 2015. Dr. Tipoteh says

FIFA corruption case should

thought we should do what

even in the absence of the

Friday, May 29, 2015

Al-Varney Rogers alvarney.rogersfrontpageafricaonline.com 0886304498

McGee Continued: there has

in Sinoe and other areas and

Police has begun a thorough

RED CROSS HELPS LIBERIAN CHILDREN RETURN

for the Liberia National Red

Schools reopened in February

work with schools to address

students are part of, they talk

Friday, May 29, 2015

PAYMENT TO ROUTINE HEALTHCARE