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News about Liberia, its people, their culture, and diversities; -about corruption and human rights.
Index
Sunday, January 5, 2025
"Boikai image should be for official use only"
Unity Party sounds clarion
Use of president Joseph N. Boakai images on personal artifacts has been decried by the unity party as a sychophantic move by state and private actors to undermine the spirit of transparent governance.
“The President of the Republic of Liberia and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party is committed to breaking away from the imperial tendencies of the past. These practices must stop,” the party declared.
The party in a press statement, noted that such attribute is a hallmark of past administrations, which it has vowed to avoid.
The party labeled these actions as an unwelcome attempt to foster undue loyalty and to credit the president for personal favors, undermining the spirit of modest and transparent governance.
According to the party higher-ups, they have noticed the proliferation of President Boakai’s portrait on billboards, coffee mugs, clothing, trophies, and posters, often linked to public events or items distributed on his behalf.
"The Unity Party drew a clear line, stating that the president’s image should only be used for official purposes in line with established state protocols," the party said.
As such, the party has warned individuals and institutions involved to desist immediately, as such actions could erode public trust in a government striving to prioritize national interest over personal glorification.
These events according to him, include state visits involving foreign dignitaries or government-endorsed national initiatives.
“This government stands firm on principles of integrity, humility, and professionalism. We cannot and will not allow the presidency to be turned into an object of personal adulation,” the party stated.
The UP’s rebuke comes as President Boakai nears the end of his first year in office, a period marked by significant progress in governance reforms and developmental initiatives.
However, the party warned that such gains could be undermined if individuals and institutions replicate behaviors that the UP vehemently criticized during previous administrations.
Without naming specific culprits, the Unity Party pledged to hold accountable any individual or group engaging in these practices.
At the same time, the Unity Party urged its supporters and the Liberian public to focus on President Boakai’s developmental agenda, which it claims is positioning the nation for sustained growth.
It called for unity and vigilance to ensure that Liberia continues what it described as an “irreversible path to great.”
As the Liberia steps into 2025, the Unity Party reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a governance style grounded in modesty and national service, reiterating that the presidency is a position of public trust and not a platform for personality cult.
University of Liberia to get new president soon
As Prez. Boakai appoints American Professor
Dr. Layli Maparyan a Professor of African Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA has been appointed by President Joseph N. Boakai to serve as the 16th President of the University of Liberia.
This historic appointment follows the approval of the university’s Board of Trustees in accordance with the University of Liberia’s Charter.
President Boakai expressed confidence in Dr. Maparyan’s ability, integrity, and extensive experience, emphasizing his trust that she would demonstrate these qualities in service to the university and the nation.
Dr. Maparyan, a distinguished academic and prolific scholar, is currently the Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW).
Her selection followed a rigorous search process conducted by the University of Liberia Board of Trustees’ Search Committee, which identified her as a leading candidate for the position.
Dr. Maparyan holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Temple University and an M.S. in psychology from Penn State University. She earned her undergraduate degree in philosophy (cum laude) from Spelman College.
She has a distinguished academic career, having served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Georgia State University’s Women’s Studies Institute and Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology and Institute for African American Studies.
Her ties to Liberia date back to her tenure as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia in 2010. She has also been recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community (2009) and the Fulbright Specialist Program Award.
In accordance with Article IV, Section 1 of the University’s Charter, President Boakai nominated Dr. Maparyan for the role on December 18, 2024. The Board of Trustees subsequently convened on December 23, 2024, and unanimously approved her nomination.
Dr. Maparyan, will officially assume her duties as President on January 10, 2025, the day of her induction.
The University of Liberia and the nation at large welcome Dr. Maparyan’s leadership and look forward to her contributions to advancing higher education and fostering academic excellence in Liberia.
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Legislators Seek US$1.8million to renovate Joint Chamber
as citizens decry neglect
The joint chamber of the liberian national legislature that was burnt in the second week of November 2024 could become a prioty for renovation during the execution of the 2024/2025 fiscal year. At least the law makers are now utilizing the Monrovia City Hall located 4 blocks from the state capitol to conduct joint sections due the fire disaster. About US$1.8million has been proposed ensure the renovation is carried out in the soonest possiblle time.
This proposal has come under criticism from the locals who believe that the destruction of the capitol building joint chamber section is a result of negligence on the part of the lawmakers who has been caught in a stalemate about who would serve as a speaker of the national legislature. During the saga, they have been wars of words among the legislators who said that it would be best that they burnt the joint section. Few weeks later, the building experienced such ill fate.
"If it was up to me, not legislator will recieve pay until the building is renovated," Joe Sampson, a local intellectual said. He noted that though there is an ongoing police investigation into how fire got in the building, the legislators are the prime suspects because they do not have the interest of the Liberian people on thier minds by how to enrich themselves.
Mr. sampson is not alone in this line of thoughts, especially wherein health workers at public medical centers have been going on go slow in demand of better wages and salaries. Physician Assistant Miller Bright stated that the request for US$1.8million dollars by the legislators to renovate a problem they created was a clear manifestation that those elected as senators and representatives are only seeking better lives for they and their families.
"every year or two, we in the health sector will complain about the lack of medication, lack of equipment and low wages but nothing changes. They don't even make allocations for fuel that would ensure electricity at some of the public facilities. but they now need 1.8 million united states dollars to fix the building they burnt. This is a total neglect of the people," Mr. Bright said.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Hadid Electronics Suffers Fire Desaster
Hadid Electrionics Incorporated, sole distributor of Samsung products in Liberia, yesterday April 10, 2012 gutted fire which brought normal traffic activities on Randall Street to a standstill for more than four hours.
Smoke began to rise from the store’s warehouse at about 12:30pm according to eyewitnesses who looked on as firefighters of the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), and United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) struggled to have the fire extinguished by about 5:00pm.
According to information gathered from some of the firefighters who braved the thick fumes rushing out of the warehouse, they had problem entering the store which had being on fire before they arrived.
Speaking to Mr. G. Warsuwah Banoul Sr. Director of the LNFS, he lauded the effort of the sister fire services that worked along side his agency to contain the fire from not spreading to other buildings that were in close proximity to the scene.
He used the occasion to call on archeticture who design buildings to include fire escapes and sprinklers which are vital in dealing with fire before the LNFS and other fire services can come in.
He said the firefighter faced problem reaching the source of fire because the building had a one way entrance which was heavily guided by steel door that they had to break through before commencing extinguishing the fire.
He said that people needed to revisit the way they constructed houses in the country so as to have enough space between the houses to avoid the fire from spreading to another building if there was an incidence like the one yesterday.
Director Banoul cautioned Liberians and business people to be mindful in handling fire because if could be a good servant or a wicked master if it in not handle properly.
Friendship Turned Deadly
Flower Pot Community off the Du Port Road turned into a scene of drama on March 19, 2012 when two intimate friends, Augustine David and Prince Zammie, got involve into an argument which left one of them dead.
The alleged aggressor, Augustine David age 20, having fled the scene that day was arrested by Liberian National Police (LNP) Corporal Jerry Wymah in the Chicken Soup Factory Community on March 20, 2012, investigated and subsequently charged with murder.
Defendant David was charged for violating Chapter 14; Sub Chapter B; and Section 14.1 of the revised penal code of the Republic of Liberia have since been forwarded to court to face trails for purposely, knowingly and intentionally causing the death of Prince Zammie.
According to the details of offense stipulated in a police charge sheet dated March 27, 2012, both defendant David and his victim Zammie attended the same school and played for the same football team, the school team.
Besides attending the Chirstain Bible Faith Academy located in the Joe Bar Community in Paynesville, the defendant and victim lived as next door neighbors in the community where the young Prince Zammie met his untimely dismay.
The police charge sheet furthered that it was revealed by detailed inqueries coupled with eyewitnesses’ accounts that on March 19 both the victim and defendant returned from school together and when off back to Joe Bar for football practice.
When the practice was over, the defendant and victim were accompanied by two other players who were going to have meal at the victim’s (Prince) home.
According to one of the players that was with them (victim and defendant), while they enroute to the victim’s house, an argument broke out between the victim and the defendant which called out the bad blood that led to the death of the late Prince Zammie.
The eyewitness said that the victim call off the argument saying he (victim) did not want noise with the defendant on grounds that the defendant once visited his (victim) home and vomited over the floor.
Besides that the eyewitness said the victim further accused the defendant of misbehaving at his (victim) parent’s home in the presence of his grandmother who reported the defendant misconduct to his (victim) mother.
By that accusation the eyewitness said defendant David called the victim’s grandmother a liar but the victim cautioned him (defendant) not to insult his (victim) grandmother because by that he (defendant) was insulting his (victim) mother and if the defendant did not refrain from that there was going to be a fight.
The eyewitness narrated that the defendant asked the victim if he (victim) have never insulted his (defendant) parents, when the victim refused to accept that he have ever insulted the defendant’s parents, the defendant exclaimed “F*C* your people.”
It was then according to the eyewitness that the two friends entered into a fight that the eyewitnesses intervine and had calm.
When they got home, as the eyewitness puts it, the victim brought his food outdoor for them to eat; while eating the defendant came from the back of the victim and stabbed him (victim) in the upper right back with a kitchen knife and throw it away; the weapon was later recovered from the crime scene by the police.
The victim was rushed to the ELWA hospital where he expired while undergoing treatment for the severe wound inflicted by the blow of the aggressor’s blade.
When he was arrested, defendant without cohesion admitted to the committing the murder and is awaiting cour trial in due time.
Guns and Drugs Seized in Salala
Joint Security officers operating in Bong County last Sunday arrested several guns and a huge consignment of marijuana during a routine check at the Salala Check point.
The firearms and drugs arrested were in the possession of Alfred Dellond, 33, who was conveying the illegal items on board a commercial vehicle from Gbarnga to Harbel, Margibi County.
How the arrested weapon and confascated drugs was going to be used remain a mystery yet to be answer.
According to police spokesman, Commissioner George Bardue, when he give an update of the police activities in the country, suspect Dellond was arrested with three single-barrel pistols and a bag of marijuana.
He said that the suspected was informed of his constitutional rights, investigated and has been forwarded to court on charge of illegal possession of firearm and the illegal possession and sale of narcotic drugs.
The police spokesman futher said that at least one person identified as Fred Saylee have died in Gbarnga due to maltreatment against him by two individuals who claim to be agents of the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Commissioner Bardue said the suspects identified as Henry Flomo and Francis Kollie alledgedly pursued victim Saylee and subdued him with stick (baton).
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