Armed Men Attacked Saye Town Community

Residents of the Saye Town Community in Sinkor woke to the sound of three gun shots fired by armed robbers who attacked several business people and made away with about L$ 49,350 and other valuables.
The robbery took place yesterday at about 1:30 am when business houses were still opened and transaction was being carried out but nobody was severely injured.
How the robbery was carried out
According to eyewitnesses who monitored the execution of the robbery against money exchanger, Mr. Perry Clay, 34, at least three men armed with a ‘single-barrel pistol’, cutlass and baseball bat terrorized the area.
During the raid, Mr. Clay and the robbers tussled over his money bag and he was hit to the head with a stick to release the bag.
After the robbers hi-jacked Clay’s money, they rushed to a provision shop, Lagos Provision Shop, but did not enter because the shop owner closed the door before they could get to it.
Eyewitnesses said the robbers shot one round at the door and shot two more in the air to frighten away the crowd which were in the vicinity.
The robbers having taken their loots ran towards Jallah’s Town where they boarded some motorcycles and escaped the terrain before police could arrive.
Shells of the bullet was found by people on the scene and turned over to the Liberian National Police who arrived on the scene later and took
Perry’s story
Mr. Clay was the most victimized and explained what happen during the raid against him which he said has frustrated all progress he had made in business in business since the late 2000s.
“Right now I am confused and do not know what to do,” he began. “When the robbers came and start to demand me to give my money I thought they were some of my friends in the community but they begin arrogant when I was not going to let them have my bag.”
“One of them said shoot him, then I heard the gun sound. We were still fighting over the bag then the other man hit my head with a stick that was when I left the bag. They ran to the Nigerian shop and then ran toward jallah town.”
“I had US$707 [L$49,350] equivalent, 1 N gage phone value, US$ 500, 2 Nokia phone, value US$20 each and a ZTE phone value, US$ 10 in the bag. The N gage was pawned to me few days ago.”
34 years old Clay had entered into business in 2000 as a fanti bread seller and gradually progressed to selling car oil, gasoline and fuel until recently when he began money exchanging which was a clear indication of how determine he is in business.
Why the robbery
Some of the bystanders at the scene attributed the robbery to the high urge some people have for money because the Christmas season.
But others disagreed and said that such mischief happened because there is no more vigilant group in the area that could counter raids in the absence of the National Police.
However, many other attributed the gang raid to the late hours business owners in the area keep their businesses open.
Residents grateful, police watchful
Though Perry Clay lost a substantial sum of money and sustained ‘minor bruises’, residents of the area were grateful that no one was seriously injured or killed.
When contacted on the incident, Police Spokesman, George Bardue, said reports of the robbery have reached the Liberian National Police (LNP) but no arrest has being made.
He assure that the police are doing all that they can to investigate the issue and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Number of Ivorian Refugees Increases in Liberian Towns

Liberian towns bordering the Ivory Coast are being crowded day after day with Ivoirians refugees who are leaving their homes to find a place where they could dwell safely until the brawl over who becomes the country’s next president is resolved.
Among the refugees who had being crossing since December 1, 2010 after the results of elections which became a controversy, with Alhassan Ouatarra and Laurent Gbagbo claiming the presidency, were Dami Arnaud Carlos,26, his wife Kpan Deundo Octavie, 20 and 6 months old son, Dami Trezer.
“Two days after the election in Ivory Coast I had to leave with my family because we were being treating with beating for being supporters of Gbagbo,” Carlos said.
He then recalled the difficulties he, his family and friends trekked through bushes to cross the border but said “I am glad to be in Liberia alive.”
Carlos and his family, like many other refugees who have crossed into Liberia recently live in the homes of kindhearted Liberians rather than camps.
Situation
Reports gathered from United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) indicate that Ivoirians refugees are entering the Liberia at a minimum rate of at least 260 per day at all 18 entry points.
Latest statistics reports from the UNHCR have shown at least a little over 8,000 refugees have crossed into Liberia from the Ivory Coast between December 1 -20 2010.
These refugees whom number is gradually increasing in towns bordering Ivory Coast are being faced with an urgent need for food, clothing, sanitation and medical facilities.
“Since we moved into this place the people here have given my family and I a room to stay in but we do not have mattress, beddings or even cloth to keep us warm. My son have not being very well and I do not have money to buy him any medicine. There has being no medical aid here,” Carlos said.
Gomon Notia, 100, who provided shelter for Carlos and his family in Douplay said she and her family are trying their best to share what they have with the refugee family but does not know how long her family could keep providing for the strangers with their limited reserve.
Ivorian refugees are now accompanying their hosts to farms to be able to keep food the attic for some time. Such efforts will soon be futile when the rainy season sets in.
Aside from the problem of food, medicine and clothing some of the communities in which the refugees are occupying are faced with unsafe drinking water source which could give rise to outbreak of cholera and other diseases related to unsafe drinking water.
One such community is the kissiplay town situated about 30km from the border with Ivory Coast where Johanna Tuo, 21 was seen drawing chalk colored water from a pit.
“There is no source of good water here. We use this water for drinking, cooking and other things,” Tuo said.
Thought there is a hand pump in the township, Johanna said “when we try to get water from the pump, sometimes we get two buckets than the water will stop coming.”
The current population of Kissiplay is now put at about 3,500 persons including women, children and the refugees.
Hope
Many of the refugees who had crossed the border are expressing little hope of returning to the Ivory Coast until the scuffle over the country’s presidency is over.
Colibaly Mamadou, 47, a business man and father of four who fled his home, Danane, since the civil crisis that divided between the New Forces rebel movement and the Gbagbo Government in 2003 said his prayer is that the crisis in his country will be over some day when he will have a chance to go home.
“All my businesses in Danane got damaged during the first war that entered Ivory Coast. At least none of my children were killed, but I ran off from my businesses.”
“Since I left home in January of 2003, I have not returned. Though I have not forgotten all about my home, but I do not want to return now. I want my children to have a chance to go to school. I pray that one day the crisis will ceased so I can return,” he said.
It has being observed that several United Nations agencies in Liberia are responding to the situation by providing nonfood and sanitary items to the refugees.
Hitches
Though many of the refugees who have crossed into Liberia and other neighboring countries look forward to the day that the situation in the country will calm down, reports in the media show no signs whether Alhassan Ouatarra or Laurent Gbagbo will let go of state power.
Recent reports about violence in several parts of Ivory Coast indicate that there could be a fresh outburst of civil in the country which would force tens of thousands Ivorian refugees into exhale. – Bill E. Diggs, Newsline

PSI Conducts 3rd Annual HIV/AIDS Test

The youth population in Liberia is the larger portion of the entire population in the country and it is still growing tremendously.
As the population of the nation grows the amount of people who stand the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS also increase as well; which calls for massive awareness and prevention measures are put in place to tackle the spread of the virus.
Last Thursday, the Population Services International (PSI) SMART Choice conducted the third annual HIV/AIDs Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) promotional event at the Young Men Christian Association gymnasium on Crown Hill, Broad Street.
The promotional event held under the theme “Live at the Y” attracted many young people living within Monrovia and its environs to come up and know their HIV status and be counsel on what to do to avoid contracting the virus.
According to the Liberia Demographic and Health Services (LDHS) report in 2007, the average national prevalence of HIV in Liberia was at about 1.5% with infection levels varying from 2.5% in urban areas and 0.8% in rural areas.
The recent “Live at the Y” event was an educational campaign that was intended to help encourage healthy choices and responsible sexual behavior among young people and the Liberians populace as a whole.
During the 2009 edition of the Live at the Y, give more than 200 persons a chance to be tested to know their HIV status and promote a healthy HIV/AIDS negative live.
This year’s event sought to increase the amount of people receiving VCT services and reinforced the importance of young people knowing their through interactive outreach activities such as HIV quiz shows and debate which was broadcast on UNMIL Radio 91.5 FM.
There were also entertainment such as basketball tournament, slam dunk competition and Liberian musicians to massage away the stigma or phobia associated with being tested for AIDs.
At least about four high schools participated in the tournament which was won by the College of West Africa (CWA) basketball team.
The turnout for this year’s event was put at about 300 participants which show that the awareness against the virus is relatively increasing.

One of the attendant being tested for HIV/AIDS

Miss Liberia 2010 Reloaded set to explode

At least 18 contestants appeared during the pre-final which was held last Saturday in the conference room at the SKD Sports Complex. There they showcased their physical and intellectual talents.
According to Christopher H. Onanuga, Chief Executive Officer of CT.COM incorporated which is the organizing entity of the Miss Liberia beauty pageant; at least Grand Gedeh did not send any representative to the competition.
The exciting December 4th, event, the reloaded Miss Liberia Beauty Pageant, was graced by some of Liberia’s best recording artists Jamela, David Mell, K-Zee and stage dancer Little Michael Jackson who captivated the audience.
After each intermission by the artists, the contestants modeled up to the stage, displaying spectacular cat-walks which aroused the more than 250 beauty pageant enthusiasts. The contestants beautifully and vividly displayed their readiness for reloading.
Each of them was then given a chance to exhibit their intellectual and physical qualifications which they hoped would make them worthy of wearing the prestigious crown, by which they will be prepared to represent Liberia internationally.
After the contestants made three appearances on stage, the judges moved to the platform and presented the verdicts, based on eloquence and performance.
However, the irregularity in the appearance of the expected 30 participants compelled the judges to make some emergency adjustments. Hence, before the finalists were announced, the lead judge, Roosevelt Toe, disclosed a change in methodology regarding the selection. This made enabled contestants who did not have competitors in the pre-final to automatically qualify for the final.
He pointed out that the committee of judges was required to select one contestant from each county to go on to the grand final, but it had to change its mandate based on what he called “the objective performance of the participants.”
Having disclosed such information Mr. Toe then proceeded with the listing of the 13 finalists.
Contestants who made it to the final include: Miss Ruth of Grand Cape Mount County, Shelly Barclay of Bomi County, Corrina Peters of Nimba County, Tenna McGill of Margibi, Voseline Boteh of Maryland and Mennesha Supermane of Montserrado.
Others are Julie Preston of River Gee County, Miss Snohthio of Sinoe county, Anita of Bong, Hawa Shierrif of Grand Kru County, Annah Bangura of Grand Bassa County, Hawa Butler of Bomi and Erica McGill of River Cess County.
At least Annah Bangura was selected because she had no competitor, while Hawa Butler and Erica McGill were saved by the house.
Mr. William G. Greaves thanked the various contestants for taking part in the competition, and extended appreciation also to individuals and institutions that helped make the occasion a success.
Meanwhile, all of the selected contestants expressed confidence in claiming the crown being held under the theme “Beauty for Greater National Unity”.
One of the contestants, Annah Bangura, said she it did not came as a surprise that she was selected. She was very confident that she would wear the crown because with hard work and determination success is sure.

NEW Taste Added to Liberian Entertainment

Creative Young People in Liberia are advancing themselves in various aspect of live thus becoming positive sign of change in the way Liberian are carrying on with life.
the are adding new taste to entertainment in Liberia on daily basics by introducing acts that are not traditional to the west African Nation. Here are two balletomanes who displayed awesome ballet skill at the semi-finals of the Miss Liberia 2010 Reloaded. It is amazing to know how creative they were thought there is no dance school that teaches such act in the country.

Stakeholders Hold Meeting on Freedom of Information Act

--- Cllr. Warner urged liberians to work to have Freedom of Information Act Implemented

Several stakeholders within the information sector of Liberia, last Friday, gathered at the Catholic Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Monrovia for a one day interactive meeting on the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which was recently passed.
The meeting organized by the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) with support from the Danish International Media Support (IMS), brought together Public Relation Officers within government ministries and agency, members of civil society and journalists as well.
During the discussion of the FOI Act, Cllr. T. Negbalee Warner urged those attending the program and Liberians in general; to not only celebrate the passage of the FOI to Law but to work to ensure that Liberia is recognized for its implementation.
While he discussed the FOI, Cllr. Warner outlined some shared responsibilities of the Government of Liberia (GOL), Civil Society and the Media to ensure an effective implementation of the Law.
Beginning with the government, Cllr. Warner said the GOL has to develop processes to have all information are available.
He said as an obligation the GoL have to set up an information commissioner that would supervise and oversee the implementation of the FOI.

“The government also has to support agency of government to have information officers in each agency that would be the first point of contact when you go there to ask for information,” he said.
He added that information generated for the public should be organized into a system that would gathered and retain them and have them in a user friendly and easily accessible framework which will required support.
“It is one thing to ask information and another thing to weather the information is available,” he pointed out.
“Even as civil society, we have to show some little bit of understanding that when these agencies have difficulties [with providing information], especially during the formative stages, is not because they are doing it with bad minds but they have operational challenges,” he noted.
“Your advocacies,” he continued, “may want to recognize that so that after time you will enjoy the honey moon. But after several months if you see that still happening then you will the start to question whether there is a commitment ot underline the responsibility.”
He said it is the responsibility of civil society and the media to use the Law to request information because the GOL and its partners have done everything possible to have this Law in book.
Also speaking earlier at the program, Mr. Peter Quaqua, President of the press union of Liberia (PUL) said if Liberians do not seek to have the FOI Law implemented they would set a wrong example for creating this Law and having other people to not abide by it.
“It is an opportunity that we have to carry on this history that we’ve made in the West African sub-region of Africa. And the question of implementing this Law will rest on the shoulders of a lot of people,” he said.
He added that people who are public relation officers in various agencies are custodians of some of the information that will me need in the public domain and if they are the ones that would serves as an impediment of the access o information they would be doing injustice to the promotion of the freedom of information within the sub-region.
He further stated he believe that president Sirleaf sign the Law because she “feels strong” about the FOI Act and those with in the civil society and the media would have to help her implement said Law in the country.
Mr. Quaqua said the implementation of the FOI Law will make other nations see Liberia as “just making mockery or once again jumping into making history that we cannot maintain.”
Assistant Minister of information and services said the government believes that its citizenry should be well informed because an inform citizenry would be able to complement the government’s efforts and not make the wrong decision.
“For too long our people have been given queasy information from bias perspective. At least if you have the information available to you, except where you are just unprincipled minded, then you will give the public queasy information,” he said.
The program was also characterized by a parallel discussion in which participants suggested the way forward on the implantation of the law.
The participants suggested among others that awareness if the law and collaborative pursue for information would be ways forward for the smooth implementation of the act.

Arterial Network Launched in Liberia

An umbrella association for creative artist in Africa has been launched in Liberia to enable Liberians to start to appreciate their own culture.

The program was launched on November 13, 2010 in the auditorium of the university of Liberia main campus in Monrovia an array of universiterians and artist living in Liberia gathered to witness the birth of the noble organization in the country.

Speaking at the program the former director of the national bereau of cu;ture and tourism in Liberia, Ambassador Jallah K.K Kamara expressed disappointment in the way Liberians have depreciated their own cultural for western culture.

He noted that travelling across Liberia there is little artifacts to tell about the history of the Liberian cultural heritage that exist in the country.

“No matter how long a log remains in the river it will never become an alligator. Most Liberians have shied away from their original cultural and adapt to that of the western cultural. No matter how hard we try we cannot become Americans and there is no way Americans are going to see Liberians as American,” He said.

Following this speaker, Mr. Ras Kollie of the Renaissance Communication Incorporated urged Liberians that they should not neglect their culture because of western culture that is a borrowed culture in this land.

He give some analogies stating that no one rise is superior but the northern and western powers are making themselves feel superior because Africans are agreeing to the ill facts that they are inferior to the white race.  

Meanwhile, the launching ceremony makes Liberia the 33^rd country in the world that the Arterial Network in operating in.

The program was graced by performance from the ambassadors culture dance troop and Siafa K. Ballah, the son of liberia’s veteran culturist Peter Ballah.

also an election was to be held for the sake of democracy within the net work but thew gathering agreed that since there was little knowledge about the organization there was a need for the interim country representative spearhead the organization until it is well grounded in the country.

More news on the development of the Arterial Network in liberia will be visible on Newsline. keep reading

Young Liberian Holds High Ambition

-Says he need support in his endeavor

A young creative Liberian, Mr. Rabbia Saab, have called on potential people of the Liberian society to aid him on his endeavor to become a designer and builder of air and sea crafts.
Mr. Saab, 27, through his handy work designed two model Brussels airline planes with electricity and operational engines which can be powered up by an AC adaptor.
According to the craftsman, he single handedly build the model airliners over a period of twelve months to demonstrate that he could built a live aircraft if he had gone abroad to get advance training for building aircraft.
Speaking with the Daily Observer, Mr. Saab said he needs a scholarship to forward his academic status and his craft in designing and building planes and vessels that could put Liberia on the world’s invention map.
Asked if Mr. Saab have any previous tutorials in designing and building the model planes he had built, he said his craftiness was an inborn tendency which he believes could be further explored.
“I started building these planes on my own. It is an inborn tendency; it is a natural gift from God. As a little boy I have always being building planes though they were not as advanced as my latest Brussels airliners,” Mr. Saab said.
Mr. Saab, who resides in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, said he was working on a model ship that would sail on water with fully operational cranes that would load and offload model containers.
“Currently I am building a ship with two hatches,” he said, “it would be floatable and everything about it is going to work. I am going to build a remote control and drive it on water.”
27 years was born unto the union of Essan Saad, a Lebanese engineer, and Diannah Saab, Bassa; and is on the verge of completing his high school requirements to become a graduate of the W. P.L. Brumskin United Methodist High School in Grand Bassa County.
Meanwhile, Rabbia Saab said he would appreciate all the help he can get to meet his goal of becoming one of the designers and builders of ships and planes in the world and the first from Liberia.

DEA Napped Several Grams of Narcotics

Gbarpolu- The Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) detail within Gbarpolu County had arrested at least two drugs smugglers at the Compound-su check point in the county with several grams of narcotics drugs.
The two smugglers identified as, Edmond Dweh, 33, and Onyeka Samuel Ogochukwu, 36, was arrested in October with approximately 724 grams of cocaine and four parcel of Italian white.
According to information gathered from source within the DEA detachment in the county, suspect Edmond Dweh was arrested on October 5, 2010 with four parcel of Italian white while he was transporting the drugs to Henry’s Town beyond Bopolu city.
Mr. Dweh in his statement at the DEA Charge of Quarter said he was transporting the drugs from a lady he identified as comfort in Grand Gedeh to a lady named sis Alice in Henry’s town when was napped by DEA officers.
The alleged perpetrator stacked the parcels of Italian white into the waist of the jeans the he was wearing but was discovered by the DEA agents at the compound su check point.
The second suspect Onyeka Samuel Ogochukwu, was arrested on October 26, 2010 at the compound su check point with 724 grams of cocaine which street value was put at about US$36,924.00 by the agents who arrested him.
According to the DEA charge sheets, both of the suspect, have admitted to the position of narcotic substance were charged for drugs trafficking and the possession of dangerous narcotic drugs.
Speaking with Newsline, Ltc George Ponney, Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Gbarpolu Dea Detail said drugs are flowing into that part of the country from across the borders and from Monrovia as well.
He said there is a steady flow of marijuana entering the country from Sierra Leone through Kungbor while other drugs including cocaine and Italian white were flowing from Monrovia.
“For example, those people that we arrested in Gbarpolu they came from Monrovia and were travelling to Henry’s town beyond Bopolu. We do not know where they got it from but we got information and we tracked them down,” he added.
Mr. Ponney said suspect Onyeka Samuel Ogochukwu camouflaged the 724 grams of drugs in a pack of female cortex and had the pack sealed up.
“The Nigerian suspect was arrested with 724 grams of cocaine from him. He placed in a pack of cortex and taped it fine as if it was a new one form the store. But because we are security and we believe in information, when he arrived at the checkpoint we searched him and found the drugs with him,” He explained.
He further said suspect Edmond Dweh hid the four parcels of Italian white inside a trousers waist band and pretended that the trousers was a dirty working cloth he was carrying in his bag.
However, the Ltc Ponney said, that his detail is faced with problems in executing their duties in parts of the county where there were drugs abuse due to the poor road network in the county and limited resources that they operate with.
“Beyond Bopolu in areas such as Henry’s town and Gayarmah crimes are very high. Officers and agents have to walk eight to nine hours some times to carry out arrest. This is risky for the officers. The road condition is bad,” he said.

Ellen Unshackles Ministers

As 2011 draws closer

President Sirleaf

With Just 11 months to the Liberian General and Presidential Election, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sacked her entire cabinet to allow them pursue their individual political ambitions.
Many of the Ministers within government had been petitioned for positions within the House of Legislature and for presidency as well.
At an emergency cabinet meeting held on last Wednesday evening in the city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, President Sirleaf mandated an immediate administrative leave for all Ministers within the republic until they were asked to return or their successors were appointed.
The President in an interview said her decision was influenced by individual pursuits of members of her cabinet and would therefore want to give them a chance to move on.
President Sirleaf further said her abrupt action was due to the fact that her administration was entering a critical stretch that could afford her the opportunity to start with a more committed people.
“Well, as I explained to the cabinet at our meeting, we are about to enter what I call the final stretch of this administration. I want to get a lot done in this last stretch and I know many ministers have other pursuits. I want to give them an opportunity to move on,” she said.
A cabinet restructuring, according to the President, would be made in the shortest possible time and that several ministers could be reappointed. In the meantime, designated deputies are authorized to act.
“And those who will continue on the team will need to know that their being in this final period means they’ve got to bring stronger commitment and have more effective results. I’m going to be asking them to set goals and objectives that will be time-bound and have them commit to it. So it’s just an attempt to add more dynamism to the work that we are going to do in this last year,” President Johnson Sirleaf further explained.
An Executive Mansion release said the President told the Ministers that she appreciated their contributions, but the leave could be used as an opportunity for reflection on their part, especially those who might be considering other career opportunities.
According to the President, those Ministers who are travelling and are on special assignments will be allowed to complete their missions before being affected by her directive. She, however, made one exception, asking Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr., Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, to hold on so as to collaborate with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai.
On behalf of the Cabinet, former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai thanked the President for providing Ministers the opportunity to serve her Administration and the country. He said they would be available to serve again whenever called upon.
Similar exercise is expected to be undertaken for the concerned autonomous agencies, the President said.
Meanwhile, some of the Minister have sent in their resignation and others are saying that they would not resigned and if the government was done with them it should dismissed them honorably.

“God Should Give Me One Day at a Time”

-Mother York at 85

Members of the Eliza Turner African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church last Thursday held a thanksgiving service in honor of Mother Louise C. Wilson York on her 85th birthday, a long time member of the Board of Trustees of the AME Church.
The program was observed in the edifice of the Eliza Turner AME Church on Camp Johnson road where friends of mother York, organizations that she belongs to and some members of her church showered statements of appreciation upon her.
Within the many statements of appreciation allotted to the 85 years old York, her friends, colleagues and fellow worshippers lauded her being an educationist, straight forward and passionate person and an encourager as well.
The honoree had served many positions as a professional person within the AME mission in Liberia. Some of the positions that she had held include President Women Missionary Society (WMS), President Stewardess Board, Member Pastor’s Aid, President Conference Branch and Episcopal District Pastor.
During her remarks, Mother York thanked the Eliza Turner AME Church for organizing such a program and said her motto through life was based on the gospel hymn “one day at a time.”
“You might know the history behind this song, but this has been my motto through life; that god should give me one day at a time because he knows what is best for me. I am not asking him what he has for me in the future, I can ask him that. But I only said to him –Lord what you have for me let me have it one day at a time. That have been my pray,” she said.
She further encouraged those in the congregation to develop or stick to a motto which would make them contended with whatever God gives them.
“God has a place for everybody on the globe, everybody he created he has a place. Yours is not mine, and mine is not yours. Learn to trust God and let him show you the way to take rather than trying to force your own way,” Mother York.
She thanked god for the four scores and five years she had lived and expressed how much love she harbored in her heart for her church.
In her closing statements, mother York urged everyone attending to take time in life and there is nothing to hurry for.
She received gifts from some members of the church including a purple gown from the International Gospel Translators (IGT) choir of the Eliza Turner AME Church.

Mother York

Bong Mines Camps to be Evicted

-Residents plead for compensation

Residents of the Bong Mines concession area over the week-end expressed grave concern about the coming of China-Union Mining Company to the area which would warrant the relocation of those who live within the camp houses which was built for workers of the German owned Bong Mining Company (BMC) the late 1970s.
In a telephone interview with Dr. Eugene Shannon, Minister of Lands, Mines, and Energy, he told the Daily Observer the area had been turned over to China-Union to carry out mining activities.
Minister Shannon further said all those living within the China-Union concession area had been given time to vacate the premises for the company to begin its operations.
He stated that those who legitimately own property backed by document(s) would be compensated based on the value of their properties and those who were just squatting would be given time to leave the area.
“In the concession agreement with China-Union, the property should be turned over to them. For those who owned legitimate properties in the area, their deeds will be brought forward and they will be rightly compensated. No one will be taken out without compensation if you own a property legitimately. And if you are just squatting, we will give you time to move,” he said.
Asked what would become of the BMC workers that are residing within the premises, Minister Shannon said the concession agreement with the Bong Mining Company had expired and if the government owes the workers anything, they should carry their grievances to the government.
“It is the responsibility of the government to access your pleas, your plights and address them properly,” he said.
However, according to some of the residents who had lived in the area since 1983, relocation would be a “big blow” to them because they have come to see the Camp houses as their homes.
Idris Nelson, a resident of camp Gotoria and a volunteer nurse at the Bong Mines Hospital, in an interview with this writer who visited the area last Friday, said he had heard of an eviction that would take place in the area.
“I have been hearing the rumor,” Mr. Nelson began, “that the government will evict us from the camps to create space for the China Union company that is coming to extract iron from here. But where will we go?”
Mr. Nelson, as a former worker of the Bong Mining Company (BMC), and his family have been living in the camp since 1983 when Bong Mines Concession was fully operational.
“I have lived here since 1983 with my family and we have nowhere else that we call a home. If the government says we should move, we will move. But I would like to appeal to the government to use its good offices to compensate us so that we can be able to relocate,” He said.
He further said those who live in the concession area were citizens of the country and hoped that the China-Union company that is going to the area would recruit those who are willing and able to work.
Also speaking with the Daily Observer, Mr. J. Randolph Parker, master of Camp Gbelkeh and a mechanic, who worked for the BMC for about 26 years, said some people from the Ministry of Land Mines and Energy had earlier gone to the area and asked him to take a census of the people that live in the Camp.
He added that they were then informed that the census was to be taken in order to help the government give them some compensation for renovations they had carried out on the houses within the camps.
“We have taken the census that the Ministry asked for, but we are yet to hear from them. The exact amount that will be given to us was not disclosed; all we can hope for is that the token should be enough to help us relocate,” Mr. Parker said.
“We cannot fight government,” Mr. Parker admitted, “but we are appealing to government to see reason to have us compensated.”

Woman, 25, Abducted, flogged and raped

Information gathered from the Township of West Point revealed that three residents of the Community on Sunday allegedly abducted a 25-year old woman for allegedly stealing US$20 belonging to the perpetrators.

Briefing Newsline a niece of the victim Sarah Dixon said her aunt was invited in Fatin Town, Community in West Point by one of her friends only identified as Winifred, while at Winifred Residence some security Personnel and raided a gang of drug addicts. She aid in this event, one of drugs addicts hid a US$20 in the sand near the beach, but when returned, he noticed that the money was allegedly taken away by an unknown person.


Sarah said according to her aunt, in search of the doer of the act, her friend Winifred told them that it was the victim who took the money from the sand and took away. As a result of this, the victim was adopted by these three guys and taken in an unknown room, tortured by these men.

According the victim niece, the victim hair on her private part was burnt, and other parts of the on

The girl also revealed that her aunt told her that the three, during the torture had sexual intercourse with her, throughout that night she was with them and dropped her in an empty room and departed the scene.

The victim friend Winifred did not report the case until after these men completed their task.

In the presence of Winifred, one of the perpetrators were arrested by officers of the Liberian National Police and taken place under their custody pending investigation.

When contacted as to whether Oscar as he is identified, police denied ever arresting any one in connection to such a case, and has no one by the name of Oscar in their possession .

But while in the premises of the Police Depot in West Point, it was observed that a well –built man dark in complexion in the cell of the of the depot responded to a called made by our reporter calling him Oscar.

Though according to family sources, Oscar was arrested Monday morning taken at the depot for investigation.

our reporter was also informed that the victim was taken at the Redemption Hospital for Treatment, but to our greatest surprise the nurses told the news man that they have not gotten any case as such at the hospital.

But our reporter observed that something resembles compromise was about to go on at the police depot, in West Point.

The reporter was told by some residents of west Point that there are a lot of cases that are compromised in that township with the victim been left without treatment.

Fire Victim Signals SOS

Monrovia - A victim of a fire incident which occurred on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in the Bato Town community, Red Light, Paynesville, has signaled an SOS call to the public to help her raise funds to have a plastics surgery in order to enable her to return to school.
Ms. Bendu Armstrong, 26, graduate of the Class of 2007 of the Henry Wilmot Dennis High School, suffered a major facial burn which deformed her face beyond recognition during the fire.
Though she has a high ambition to get into college, Bendu and her parents believe that if she gets into any institution with such a scarred face, she would be a distraction to the other students and this would also cause her serious embarrassment.
Bendu’s mother, Mrs. Annie Armstrong, last Friday visited the Daily Observer office and said that how her daughter’s face got burnt “remains a mystical story.”
On the night of Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at about 12:30 a. m. their family had got through watching television and everybody when to bed.
Having gone to her room to sleep, Mrs. Armstrong said that her younger daughter came knocking on her door and saying that Bendu was getting burnt in the other room.
When she reached the room the mattress was on fire and they rushed Bendu to the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital where she received treatment for a month and was then transferred to the Mercy Ship at the Freeport of Monrovia.
Asked what caused the fire, the mother said she did not know, neither did even Bendu nor did the little child who alerted their mother have a clue as to the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, the total cost of the Surgery is not known. Those kindhearted individuals wanting to assist Ms. Bendu in raising the funds toward having the surgery can contact the family on the following numbers: +231 (0) 668-2195 or +231 (0) 657-4339.

Additional Nine Electoral Districts for 2011

Monrovia- The controversy over the issue whether Liberia will be plunge into becoming an interim state after the Unity Party-led government in 2011, has now come to a halt with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signing a Joint Resolution on the long awaited Threshold Bill submitted by the House of Legislature.
During the course of the last few months the 52nd National Legislature has been debating the passage of the Threshold Bill which sought to create about 23 additional seats within the House of Legislature.
It can be recorded that the population Threshold Bill was vetoed twice by the Liberian leader on financial and constitutional grounds.
President Sirleaf, in earlier reports, said signing earlier versions of the Bill would have meant diverting resources from other important priorities such as education, health and public works to accommodate the 23 additional legislators which the 40,000 threshold implied.
However, the Liberian leader, last Thursday, July 29, 2010, signed the Joint Resolution on the Threshold Bill which provives that nine additional seats will be added to the already existing sixty-four seats in the house of legislature.
According to Mr. Cyrus Wleh Badio, Press Secretary to the office of the President, the Joint Resolution which is cardinal to the holding of elections in 2011, has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be printed into hand bill for it to become a law.
Mr. Badio made this disclosure in a press briefing when he spoke to Executive Mansion reporters On Monday, August 02, 2010 at his office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill.
“The issue of setting the Electoral Threshold has been dragging along for quite a while now. It may not be the best documents but an instrument that can guide us toward an important exercise to sustain our democracy.”
“The National Elections Commission can now begin the process leading to the holding of successful elections next year,” he said.
Mr. Badio added that president Sirleaf wishes to call on all citizens, especially those who may share different opinions on the compromise to look at the greater picture of the decision and lend their support for a smooth and transparent process.
In further elaborations, Mr. Badio averred the Joint Resolution states that the sixty-four electoral districts set up and used by the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the conduct of the 2005 Presidential and Legislative elections will remain constant.
“But for the purpose of the 2011 Presidential and Legislative elections,” Mr. Badio stressed, “each county shall retain the existing number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, except the counties of Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Monsterrado, Bong and Nimba.”
In accordance with the Joint Resolution, the NEC will create nine additional electoral constituencies in the aforesaid counties.
“Accordingly, nine additional electoral constituencies are hereby prescribed and established. The National Elections Commission shall reapportion such additional constituencies herein prescribed to the counties specifically named in the Joint Resolution, based on a fraction of the percentage contribution of the current seats each of the counties herein named above to their total number of seats in the House of Representatives,” Mr. Badio Said.

Faulty Breaks Leave NPA Staff Barely Dead

Monrovia -The Director of Public Affairs and Costumer Care, Jacob Walker, of the National Port Authority (NPA), last Saturday, August 7, 2010, was nearly killed in a motorcar accident as a result of faulty Breaks.
Mr. Walker was driving a maroon Nissan Primera vehicle, license plate number BC-1829, when he lost control while coming down Johnson Street toward the Gabriel Tucker Bridge and dump into the Slipway ditch which has not been barred.
According to Mr. Walker when he spoke with the Daily Observer, he had brought some journalist who had covered the M.V. Logus Hope one of the world’s largest Christian ship Ministries vessel at the NPA to town when he noticed that his car breaks had problem.
“I brought two journalists from Real TV and Truth FM to town and drop them off at the office on Ashmun Street. My breaks first give up in front of CWA and I knew it had a problem,” he said.
It was then that he decided to drive slowly to reached Clara Town and get the breaks fixed but coming down Johnson street hill he lost control and steered the car into the ditch along the road.
“I was driving slowly to get to Clara Town and have the breaks fixed. While coming down Johnson street hill, there were pedestrians and cars ahead of me and I had no breaks. I try to avoid running into them by trying to park against the sidewalks, but I when over it and into the ditch,” he averred.
Meanwhile, the M.V. Logus Hope vessel is expected to be in Liberia for about three weeks. Their mission is to minister the word of God and offer free dental care to some Liberians as well.

Health Ministry Receives 20 Motorbike Ambulances

The United Nations Children Funds UNICEF, last Friday, April 30, 2010 handed over 20 motorbike ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in efforts to help reduce some of the biggest challenges remote communities face especially accessing timely health services.
Several districts in about six counties including Grand Gedeh, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Maryland and Lofa are expected to benefit from state-of-the-art motorbike ambulances which are capable to reach more remote communities and transport sick people and pregnant women to health centers as compare to cars.
Ms. Isabel Crowley, UNICEF Representative to Liberia, officially handed over the motorbike ambulances to Dr. Brenice Dahn, Deputy Minister for Health, who proxy for Dr. Walter Gwenigale at the UNICEF warehouse, Sawmill Community on Busrod Island.
According to Ms. Crowley, the motorbike ambulances are intended to create access between villages and main clinics and hospitals in other for women and children to be able to get to facilities that is available for them.
“As you know it is very difficult on access and transportation between villages and main clinics and hospitals and we hope this will in some way help to enumerate that, and help women and children get to the facilities that are available for them,” she said.
The UNICEF Liberia boss pointed difficulties for transportation in the rural parts of Liberia had cause people to die while being taken to the hospitals.
She indicated the efficiency of the motorbike ambulances which could maneuver to reach inaccessible communities and its less economic constrains because of its low petroleum consumption.
Ms. Crowley averred that trainers would soon arrive in the country to train people how to ride the motorbikes and how to maintain them because it is a little different from the ordinary bikes in town.
She hoped that in a while women will have access to health centers in order to reduce maternal mortality which is still plaguing the many society especially rural communities.
For her part, Deputy Minister for health, Bernice Dahn, thanked their donor for the motorbike ambulances and promised to deploy them in the communities that they are most needed urging those communities to take proper care of them.
“I will like to thank UNICEF for these motorcycle ambulances. I can recall when we were doing the planning process ambulances and something within the communities that could bring to the clinic, especially in areas that are very difficult to reach,” Dr. Dahn said.
In further elaborations Dr. Dahn said her Ministry and its partners have been planning to reduce maternal motility and child death which has been a major challenge for the ministry.
“Maternal motility is one of our challenges in the country right now,” the deputy minister acknowledged, “ it is one of the highest in the world, and we have plans called the ‘reach every woman approach, that is to reach pregnant women to be able to help them to have a save delivery . So initiative is part of the reach every woman approach.”
Dr. Dahn professed that the bikes will be taken to the identify communities this May and by the 21st a ten days training will commence to provide riders with basic knowledge on how the bikes operate.

“Gays and Lesbians have Equal Dignity”

-Says Most Reverend Jefferts-Schori

The most reverend of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, in a press conference at the Trinity cathedral on broad street upon her visit to the country addressed one of the most burning issues of gay and lesbian within the Anglican Church.
The Episcopal most who visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Liberian and the America Episcopal Church said that the issue of gay and lesbianism have been under discussion for nearly 50 years.
Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said that God created every person differently and therefore every one have the right to have equal dignity.
“I believe that all Gods people was Created differently and have the right to have equal dignity,” Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said.
She said of her visit to Liberia as presiding bishop was a physical massage that men and women are equally dignified in the eyes of God and hope that Liberian women in the Episcopal Church will understand that.
The visit of Her Grace to Liberia marks the first time in the history of the Episcopal church of Liberia that a Presiding Bishop has come to visit the diocese.
The Episcopal church of Liberia (ECL) was established by the American church in 1836 when the first missionaries were sent to what is now known as Maryland and for most of its existence is was just another diocese of the church until 1982 when the ECL became a full member of the Anglican Church of the Provence of West Africa (CPWA).
It was during the episcopacy of the late Bishop George D. Browne, the first indigenously elected Bishop of the Liberian Church that the church became a full member of the CPWA.
However, the relationship between the two churches has remained intact defined by a Covenant agreement that is continually reviewed and updated by both churches. The Bishop of Liberia is a non-voting member of the TEC house of bishop and delegates of ECL attend the General Conventions of TEC.
Her Grace Jefferts-Schori was elected as the 12th female presiding of a church that comprises dioceses in not only the United States but also in Asia, South and Central America, the West Indies and West Africa.

‘It’s a mistake for a woman to lead’

NVP Kiadii told Students
The standard bearer of the National Vision Party (NVP), Bishop Dr. George Kaidii, last Saturday April 17, 2010 told students at the Vision International Christian College of Liberia (VICCOL), that it was a mistake for a woman to rule.
He said this at the induction ceremony of the newly elected students’ government at VICCOL where he served as a guest speaker.
As he spoke with a preaching rhythm, Dr. Kaidii said a lot, stating that the country was build on falsehood and said that the first civil rights abuse of indigenous Liberian took place in 1847, the same the country got its independence.
“The first civil rights abuse of indigenous in this land, took place in 1847. The book of isaih says because of the lack of knowledge the people of the nation perish,” he said.
During his hour plus elaboration the NVP standard bearer raised one of his famous choruses that the land reform policy of the government was not in the interest of the indigenous Liberians.
He described the efforts of the land reform as malicious and intends to take away lands from indigenous Liberians in the rural areas who understand little of the meaning of document that is being provided to them.
“It would not be too long when we can not locate the graves of our great grandparents in our villages, - Because the tyrant have driven up some sort of malicious, descriptive amendment for people to go in our areas and start claiming our land. Yesterday I have spoken and declared that; the land reform is not in the interest of the indigenous; because the indigenous has nothing but tribal certificates. A tribal certificate does not legitimize ownership of the land you must have a deed,” he said.

Liberia to Submit REDD Readiness Plans

On Friday, April 3, 2010, several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as well as donor partners including the World Bank and USAID gathered at a workshop organized by the Action Against Climate Change (AACC) Liberia under the theme building capacity within civil society to participate in policy dialogue on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Liberia.
The Government of Liberia is now developing a Readiness Plan (R-PP) and the purpose of this workshop was to create space for NGOs, Government, private sector and other stakeholders to discuss and develop a list of priority issues that should be addressed in the R-PP.

The government and partners have expressed commitment to broadening stakeholder participation and input to the development of the R-PP and to take into account the views of communities.

During the function which was held in the conference room of the Family Planning Building on 18th Street in Sinkor, several issues about the REDD R-PP were raised.
Some of the issues discussed at the workshop were about the components of red and how could civil society organizations participate the dialogue of the R-PP.
Though the REDD program is intended to help reduce deforestation and degradation as well as carbon emissions emitting from them, question was also raised about those Liberians who are dependent on the forests and their various products for their livelihoods.
The meaningful reduction of carbon emissions could also support pro-poor development by helping biodiversity and secure vital ecosystem services.
The attendants at the workshop agreed that to achieve these multiple benefits, REDD will require the full engagement and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other forest-dependent communities.
Though REDD is an emerging concept in the context of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its activities in developing countries must complement deep cuts in developed countries’ emissions.
The concept promotes the use of forests as carbon sinks as a critical action in the global efforts to combat climate change and slow down global warming.

The discussions on REDD/ REDD + (REDD plus) within the UNFCCC is concerned with how to reward efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation, how this relates to other measures such as drastic emission cuts, and a financing mechanism.

According to the overview of the workshop the UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen in 2009 failed to deliver an agreement. However, talks will resume this year with the hope of concluding a legally binding agreement on climate change.

But this is challenged by resistance to drastic emission reduction in US, Europe and other major polluters including China. Discussions on REDD have now been broaden to include plantations and sustainable management of forest (including logging).

Road Projects Doubts Clear

As Pres. Sirleaf discards notions of World Banks ownership


MONROVIA -President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday, April 20, 2010, during a press conference held in the C. Cecius Dennis auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address national issues clarified that road projects taking place in the country were not solely a World Bank’s undertaking.

Though there have been speculations around town that road projects being carried out in the country was a World Bank’s project, President Sirleaf disclosed that the world bank was only managing funding that it as well as other donors have provided through the Liberia infrastructure funds.

The Liberia Infrastructure Fund was established in line with the PRS; through the World Bank, at the major donor conference held 2007 in Berlin, Germany.

“That trust fund is managed by the world bank. Any donor and we encourage all donors supporting our infrastructure to put that money into that fund. Under our PRS, base upon consultation with the people, we have said in infrastructure, roads are our number one priority,” Madam Sirleaf said.

This statement came in wake of a question posed to the president by a member of the press who was to take credit for the road projects.

According to president Sirleaf in her elaboration, some of the roads in the country was being undertaking by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as the government of Liberia using taxpayers money but the rest was being funded by the trust fund.

The president pointed out the road to Roberts port, Cape Mount County, and Todee as a project funded and undertaken by USAID according to their policy.

Other projects such as the S K D Boulevard and the A B Tolbert Road among others undertaking by the Government of Liberia and funded with taxpayer money.

The president further pleaded with Liberians to understand, that ‘no donor has any project in Liberia.

“They support us, we appreciate their support, they provide funding to supplement our resources, but it is not their project. It is your project. It is the Liberian project,” she said.

LPRC Brings Relief to Vickey Community

As popular demand by the over 400 inhabitants of Vickey Community, Logan Town, for places of convenience intensifies, the charity wing of the Liberia Refining Petroleum Company (LPRC) constructed a six-room pit latrine for their use.
The head of LPRC’s Charity Program, Mrs. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, turning over the keys to the facility to Deputy Managing Director Jackson F. Doe, Jr, asserted that the pit latrine, which cost about US$6,500, was constructed owing to a request made by a local group, Citizen for the Reconstruction of Liberia (CRL).
Mrs. Lawrence disclosed that the latrine was constructed in collaboration with the community as a demonstration of LPRC commitment to the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).
The LPRC’s Charity head divulged that the construction of the pit latrine is one of the hundredth undertakings of LPRC since 2006. She added that such undertakings are a way of demonstrating their continued support to the Government’s PRS initiative.
LPRC’s Deputy Managing Director Jackson, on behalf of the Board of Directors and management, thanked the Charity division and advised the inhabitants of Logan Town to maintain and take good care of the pit latrine.
Cutting the ribbon to the pit latrine, LPRC Finance Director Elizabeth Matu Tubman told the community dwellers that there would be a monthly or quarterly inspection of the facility and appealed to them to keep the latrine clean.
Turning over the key to CRL Project Director Nelson Karmie, Madam Tubman reminded them that “cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Speaking on behalf of the Community, CRL Project Director Karmie thanked LPRC for the construction of the latrine and assured the Corporation that the facility would be kept clean.
“We are grateful for the timely construction of this six-room pit latrine and we can assure you of keeping it clean. This latrine has inserted smiles on the faces of more than 400 would-be users. We are happy because there will be no more ‘plastic flying’ and there will be no feces all around in this community. The latrine, we believe, will curtail sickness,” Mr. Karmie avowed.
The administrator of the pit latrine, George Paye told the Daily Observer that the construction of the latrine is welcoming.

Nordic Parliamentarians Visit Liberia

On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 one of a four-man delegation from Nordic (Norwegian) parliament arrived in Liberia to visit some of United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) sponsored programs in the country, especially the Sexual Gender-based Violence (SGBV) project.
The Nordic parliamentarian, Peter N. Myhre, along with Madam Esperance Fundira, UNFPA resident representative, visited Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK Inc) SGBV clinic in Du Port Road Clinic compound in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
The THINK Inc, which along with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are implementing partners of a UNFPA project, Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) Training and Services, which had already been carried out in four counties, Montserrado, Bomi, Nimba and Lofa, from June 2008 to December 31, 2009. The project was aimed at helping rape victims.
The CMR objectives were capacity building and training of clinical staff on the clinical management of rape, community awareness on the referral and clinical services and institutional strengthening of THINK to provide clinical services of rape survivors.
Madam Fundira, in her welcome remarks, acknowledged how critical the issue of rape is in Liberia, indicating that victims range from three years to adults. She added that the issue is of priority to the United Nations (UN) with the Nordic parliament playing a pivotal role.
She said that because of the critical nature of rape, the United Nations had joined programs with the Government of Liberia on Sexual and Gender-based Violence which comprises of five pillars, namely, coordination, health, psychosocial counseling, legal intervention and protection.
Madam Fundira lauded THINK for the their efforts in the health and psychosocial counseling in helping victims of rape from not only in Montserrado but also from other leeward counties that make referrals to them.
The UNFPA Liberia boss highlighted a number of other UN agencies which have been supportive to the CRM project and in combating SGBV, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), among others.
She further thanked the Nordic countries such as Denmark, The Netherland and Sweden, among others, for the support and funding that the UNFPA had been receiving and which had enabled them to reach out to the girls who are in need.
Also speaking at the gathering was Mrs. Rosanna D. H. Schaack, Executive Director of the THINK. She thanked the donors for their efforts in supporting the organization but stressed the need for more staffers at the THINK-operated clinic which, she disclosed, receives about 60 to 70 cases per month.
She added that THINK, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with funding from the UNFPA in 2009 identified a gap in clinical management that prompted a clinical management training in which the 60 health workers in three counties benefited by receiving reproductive health and rape kits.
She made mention of a ‘safe house’ for victims whose parents cannot afford to feed them while on their drugs.
Mr. Myhre, in his statement, appreciated the effort of the UNFPA in supporting the project.
In an interaction with journalists, Myhre said that his government was supporting such project because its security, especially for the young people, is fundamental for a prosperous society.

“Therefore,” Myhre said of his government’s support, “this is some initiative which is very important to maintain the good work and transforming Liberia into a country where there is security for all.”
He added that the purpose of their visit to Liberia is to get an overview of the country and the people that are working toward the development of this nation.
He added that monitoring the SGBV in the different counties where his country provides support, will help in the improvement of programs to meet the needs of victims of the SGBV program.