Miss Liberia Donates to orphanages

During the latter weeks of July, about four Orphanages and at least one displaced center in Montserrado County benefited from aid donated by the current Miss Liberia, Shu-rina R. Wiah.
Moved by compassion, Miss. Wiah visited Anna M. Enoch Orphanage in Upper Caldwell, the Gold Child Orphanage in VOA, among others, and identified with approximately 114 orphans between ages two and 18, on July 27, 2009 and donated about six 50kg bags of rice, four cartons each of candles, detergent soaps and Vaseline.
The day-long orphanage tour came to an end in Mount Barclay displaced center where she donated about three 50kg bags of rice, one carton each of candles, detergent soaps and Vaseline to the elderly people of the camp.
Miss Wiah was accompanied by some of her able lieutenants who aided her as she dispensed her tender aid to the orphanages and old folks in Montserrado County.
In an interview with a team of reporters, Miss. Shu-rina R. Wiah said her donations were based on her quest to be a role model for other young women and being Miss Liberia affords her that opportunity.
She prioritized education, saying that education is a medium for national development and without education the nation will not move forward.
She said the cause of education is her target as it will help young people in making the right decision for the country as well as themselves. She also stressed the need to eradicate teenage pregnancy in Liberia.
“The problem of teenage pregnancy is due to the high level of illiteracy in the country. I believe that if young people are educated on the effects of teenage pregnancy it would be eradicated,” she averred.
Miss Shu-rina Wiah, 21, is studying Public Administration at the African Methodist Episcopal University with the desire of becoming a lawyer to defend the rights of women and children.
With a strong empathetic disposition, Shu-rina condemned the act of rape and sexual exploitation, saying that men involved in such act are psychopaths and should be dealt with.

CRC Considers Assistance for TC

CRC Considers Assistance for TC
Plans are underway by the management of the Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) in Pleebo, Maryland County to provide support towards the rehabilitation of the William V. S. Tubman Technical College (T.C.) in Harper, the County provisional capital.
TC is the only higher institution of learning in the underserved Southeast but its camps was ruined by the civil war and effort are being garnered by the government and partners to restore the College.
In an exclusive interview in Pleebo with a team of journalists from Monrovia recently, the General Manager of CRC, John Y. Barkemene, said his company intends to soon offer material and financial support to have the Technical College working once again. He did not say what would be given or the amount to be involved. However, he said, if refurbished, the institution would serve as beacon of hope for thousand of young people in the south east as well as a medium for development in the region. He noted that the institution would also attract development to their area in terms of resource capacity building; providing both academic and vocational education free-of-charge.
Mr. Barkemene maintained that if Liberia was to progress in its post-war reconstruction, government should provide training to young Liberians in a way that they could meaningfully and effectively contribute to rebuilding process of the war-torn country.
He further explained that the civil war did not only destroyed lives and infrastructures, but it also created a huge gap in terms of brain-drain, which makes it incumbent upon all development agencies, key stakeholders as well as government to highly consider the provision of basic skills and techniques for Liberians in order to enable them meet the mounting challenges of the future.
The CRC General Manager pointed out that the United States of America, Great Britain, Japan, and other rich nations are what they are because they invested a lot in their people. Barkemene states that Liberia could achieve similar feat by drawing up appropriate national programs to develop its human resources.
“When we took over Cavalla in December 2007, paramount among out plans was the training and retraining of our employees in every sector of the establishment. Some of these trainings will take place in Liberia and others abroad.
He indicated that his company was bringing in new equipment to set up a modern process plant. He disclosed that the equipment would arrive in November and the plant will be commissioned in December by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Barkemene said once full production activities begin following the installation of his new equipment, CRC would employ more persons, increasing job opportunities and alleviating poverty among the population.
He promised that similar CRC scholarship scheme, which through several students hailing form Maryland County are being sponsored at various universities including Cuttington and University of Liberia would be introduced at TC to afford less fortunate students in the County an opportunity to attain tertiary education.

CRC GM, Barkemene

FLY Executive Alarms Widespread of HIV/AIDS

Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) youth employment officer, Jerry B. Tarbolo Jr. has alarmed that the spread of the global pandemic HIV/AIDS in urban cities in Liberia is reaching a higher peak and has the propensity to impede the growth and development of youth in the country.
Presenting a paper at a one-day lecture series organized by the Alliance of none-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with vulnerable population and advocating for the rights center in Monrovia on Tuesday July 7, 2009. The lecture series was held in the court yard of actionaid-Liberia in Congo Town.
Quoting a report recently released by the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-services Information (LISGIS), Mr. Tarbolo said among other things that more young women in the Liberian society have been identified as those who stand a poor chance of being vulnerable to be affected with the HIV/AIDS virus in urban areas than those in the rural communities.
According to him, about 2.1 percent of people in urban areas are affected with females carrying the highest ratio. Giving some statistical problems associated with the factor, Mr. Tarbolo calls, ‘hard drive’ in human as something that serve as motivating factors for people to engage in acts that influence the spread of HIV/AIDS.
On the theme, “youth at a Work Place” the FLY Executive said the need for food, shelter, sex and self preservation are what cause people to behave the way they do to see themselves going through life.
He said sex being a need and poverty a striking situation facing many persons a lot of young people involve themselves in the act, which has greater influence on the spread of the disease.
He asserted that the effect of the spread of the disease will not only face the victims alone, but will also affect the nation because it shall bring decrease in the population that constitutes the human resource of the country.
Mr. Tarbolo said as women advocacy groups are all around encouraging girls and women to make use of the available opportunities to improve their lives, young girls should take the advantage to do what will improve them instead of giving themselves in sex trade that quickly spreads the HIV/AIDS.
In his recommendation to both the hosting organization and government for possible action, Mr. Tarbolo said youths should advocate for the accessibility of the Anti-Retrovirus drug to everyone who is a sufferer of the disease, training and information be carried out to prevent social discrimination and prejudice against AIDS sufferers and government should create more voluntary and testing centers where people cases will be confidentially maintained.
About 28 participants from various organizations attended the lecture series, while two other speakers, including actionaid Communication officer, E. Chesty Gbongon and actionaid Project Coordinator, Quitina B. Cooper in a separate remake called on the participants to be encouraged and remain focused as they grow to become more mature in society.
The Alliance is a network of 18-member organizations that comprise women group, media and youth organizations.
Since its formation in 2008, it has extended its advocacy activities and workshops in both the interior and around Monrovia, speaking against discrimination of HIV/AIDS sufferers and gender based violence.

LNP GETS NEW TRAINING FACILITIES

The UN Envoy, Ellen Margrethe Loj has said the handing over of new training facilities to the Liberia National Police (LNP) is a sign that efforts are being redoubled to train the Liberian National Police and to achieve the goal of a well and fully-functional democratic force.
Ms. Loj made these remarks when she handed a seven classroom-building at the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville, Monrovia on June 20th 2009.
The SRSG noted that she was particularly pleased to hand over the building because the UN has been working with the LNP for close to one year on a strategic plan for the LNP.
The plan which prioritizes areas in significant changes, such as in human resources and training; administration and operational effectiveness and efficiency.
Envoy Løj expressed appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands for supporting the construction of the building and called on the LNP to Endeavour to maintain the facility.

For his part, the UN Police Commissioner, Mr. Henrik Steirnblad said, “the Dutch Government has donated close to two million US$ to several programs in support of the LNP, and the building of these classrooms is the most costly and most significant.” He added that the funding would go further towards equipping the police with uniforms and basic defensive gear. It would also fund an educational support program aimed at female candidates entering the police service.

Ms. Løj further emphasized the need to recruit more women in the LNP as it would create the trust which is needed in the population, and is important for a well functioning police force.

Present at the ceremony were senior UN and LNP officials, including Mr. William K. Mulbah, Deputy Commissioner for Training and Development at the National Police and Training Academy.

The completion and handing over of the building was a significant development, taking place in advance of a donors’ technical roundtable organized by the LNP and the UN Police on June 23rd. The roundtable addressed the need to fund the Plan’s detailed priorities and support the LNP’s renewed service-oriented approach, which aims to be more responsive to the needs of the public and communities. The Plan hopes to instill public confidence in the police and criminal justice system. The UN Envoy challenged the Government of Liberia, partners and donors and the UN itself to show dedication and commitment to the implementation of the Plan; otherwise it will just be a piece of paper.

“Let’s Battle Corruption in the Education System”

The International Consultant at the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Peter N. Kerbay says if Liberians can fight corruption to be minimized, it must start in schools where the minds of people can be modeled.
Speaking at the 16th Thanksgiving Service and closing exercise of the Christ Foundation Elementary and Junior High School in the edifice of the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor on June 28, 2009, Mr. Kerbay observed that no other way corruption can be minimized if it is practiced in schools and students are learning it.
He said no one else can make Liberia corruption free but Liberians themselves. He said if this goal can be achieved, then government and parents who play cardinal role in the education system need to take all necessary steps to abolish corrupt practices in the school system.
Mr. Peter Kerbay who spoke on the theme, “The fight against corruption in Liberian schools”, noted that the fight against corruption in schools has nothing to do with the Ministry of Education but involves the collaborative efforts of parents, administration of schools and regulatory policy designed by government.
He said if students who are going to school to learn get to see teachers selling grades to students, sexually exploiting females for good grades when they (female) fail in a test and allowing students to pay money for a test which they cannot take but receive passing grades at the end, it means that the students will take it in as part of the education they have gone to acquire.
He said with this, corruption will always exist in every sector in the society and no one will consider it as evil even as it is the worst enemy to mankind.
Mr. Kerbay in his speech stressed that there need to be public awareness on corrupt practices that exist in the school system so parents, teachers and the students can be abreast of the danger it causes the society.
He said as a result of the corrupt practices in the education system, the examination process in the country cannot be credible and it can be difficult for people to determine its quality outcome.
Stressing other unethical issues, the Public Works Consultant said drunkenness on the parts of teachers as well as other favor for private gain need to be battled to bring improvement in the education sector.
He warned that if Liberians do not realize their shortcomings to adapt accountability and train teachers for effective work in the system, the upcoming generation will suffer the consequences of corruption; thereby carrying the country behind in the West African sub region.
Meanwhile, corruption is as old as mankind and it has been in the society, but its rampant emergence into the education sector, especially in schools, started during the war years.
Prior to the war, private schools could attract more students because parents felt they were on time in paying their teachers and the learning atmosphere was better as bribery was seriously restricted.
For the government schools teachers were not encouraged to teach because a lot of them were denied of salaries and those who could get salaries were unable to get it on time; therefore, irregularities on the parts of teachers were too much.
During that time, payment of money for free grades was very rare for the fact that many students could not afford the money to pay.
When more schools had sprung up during and after the war, proprietors and administrations adapted the act of denying teachers their salaries and what they offer could not enable teachers cope with the economic condition. As a result, rampant corruption emerged with students solely relying on paying money or females giving themselves to have sex with male teachers for grades.

Senate Somersaults

-Confirms Gongloe and Police Director

The Liberian Senate has somersaulted on its previous rejection decision on the confirmation of Former solicitor General of Liberia Cllr. Taiwan Gongloe.
Cllr. Gongloe was nominated by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf few weeks ago to serve the post of Labor Minster of Liberia.
The Liberian Senate took the decision on Thursday July 23, 2009 following more than three hours in executive session.
Speaking to legislative reporters following the confirmation of the nominees by the Senate, the Senate Pro-Tempore Grand Kru County senior Senator Cletus Worotoson said the action of the Senate to confirm both Cllr. Gongloe and Police Director Marc Ambrald was in the best interest of the Country.
Senator Worotoson said it was no mistake on the part of the Liberian Senate to confirm the two nominees since in fact the Senate had been provided with all necessary information on the two nominees.
When asked as to the information that was lacking to the Senate, Senator Worotoson could not say much but rather noted that the Senate was provided with additional information on the ability of the two nominees to serve in said positions.
‘There were lots of information to the Senate that was lacking that’s why we rejected Cllr. Gongloe the first time and nothing else’ Senator Worotoson told journalists Thursday.
It may be recalled that the Liberian Senate on last week rejected the nomination of Cllr. Taiwan Gongloe for what they referred to as his inability to function as head of the Labor Ministry in Monrovia.
At the same time the Senate did also place legislative hold on the confirmation of Police Director Marc Ambrald.
The placing on hold of the confirmation of the Mr. Ambrald was based on what the Senate referred to as lack of security knowledge of the nominee.
The Liberian Senate for the pass days has received lashes from the public for the rejection of Cllr. Gongloe on grounds that he prosecuted several officials of Government during his administration as solicitor general of Liberia.
The Senate on its grounds for rejection for Cllr. Gongloe said the nominee did trial Margibi County Junior Senator Roland Kaine on charges on Murder and Bomi County junior Senator Richard Devine on the charges on Economic Sabotage to the tone of over US$1million.
With the confirmation of the two nominees it is now left with the executive branch of Government to commission the two presidential nominees in order to get ready to serve the Liberian people.