PYJ Pledged Support AFL

Having sat at the symposium held in advance of the 55th Armed Forces Day Celebration slated for 11th February, Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, chairman of the 53rd legislature committee on nation defence pledged unweavering support to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in terms of defending budgetary request to august body by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The militarily inclined Nimba Lawmaker urged the Defence Minister designate, Brownie Samukai, to find out the needs of the nation’s defence force and use allotted budget to solve problems that needed to be addressed to keep its members committed. He added that if there was a need for additional budget, the MOD should make that need known to the National Legislature and he along with his defence committee counterparts will defend it to the letter and have it passed. According to Senator Johnson, one thing that he came to learn while in military service was that no one ‘messes with a soldier money, food or woman;’ this statement pledge drawed appaulses from members of the AFL who attended the program. Also speaking at the symposium, Former Defense Minister, Daniel Chea, who give a brief history of the AFL observed that historians in Liberia have not done enough in cataloging facts about the existance of the army and the role the force have played over the past years. He said it will be a good that records of the force are kept to give the future generation an insight of the how the military have served the people of Liberia since its formulation in early 1957 with the constitutional responsibility to preserve the Liberian way of life and defend the borders. Mr. Chea lauded the pledge made to the Defense Ministry by the Senator Johnson and urged the minister designate to make use of the support being given him by the lawmaker to build a strong and proffessional army. During the taylor-led government when he served as the minister of defense, Mr. Chea said he did not have such support from the legislature to forge forward with the improvement of the AFL. In response to the pledge made by the Nimba Sanator, Defense Minister Samukai said he appreciated the support that the lawmaker have pledge but told the men and women of the AFL present not to be overly zealous because the House have shun him before.

50 Rounded up in Crack-team Raids

-Vlagba residents call for stronger measures

As a sign of commitment to ensuring a ‘crime free society,’ the crack-team of the Liberia National Police (LNP) Support Unit (PSU) raided about two suspected criminal hideouts yesterday arresting 50 suspected criminals in central Monrovia. Some of the areas raided by the LNP includes Vlagba (Center Street) and the old government hospital on Ashmun Street where several forms of drugs substances haave been sold. According to police spokesman, Commissioner George Bardue, at least 41 suspected criminals, drugs users and dealers were arrested at vlagba and another 9 were arrested at the old government hospital. He said this action was to ensure that no stone was left unturned in the fight against crimes which would haunt the citizens of Liberia and cast a negative image on the police. However, some of the suspected criminals escorted to detention pleaded they have gone at the raided locations to carry out activities other than using or selling drugs. Meanwhile, the Insight visited the Vlagba to find out how did residents, who had complained of the sale of drugs in the area, feel about the raid which carry nearly 50 alledged thugs to face the laws of Liberia, it was noticed that drugs activities were being carryout at areas suspected to be ghettos. Speaking to the Insight, a resident for this report named Mary Jones, said the raid in the community give her the confidence that the LNP was going to minimise criminal activities in the city. Ms. Jones said the police will have to keep on raiding the community until they can get hold of the drugs dealers in the area and put them away for good. “I am pleased by the action of the police; it shows that crime is going to end soon. But the police will have to keep coming to do this their raid thing because those who behind the whole thing are still in the community and have not being arrested yet,” Ms. Jones said.

U.S to give AFL More Support

United States Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Linda Thomas Greenfield, has committed her government to further supporting the Armed Forces of Liberia in terms of logistics and technical training which will prepard the force to support the foundation for long-termed security and economical development in the country. Delivering the keynote at the program commerating the 55th Armed Force Day’s celebration, Amb Greenfield said the United States Government was proud to be a partner of Liberia in the development of the new AFL. The US Diplomat said Liberia has come a longway since 2006 from basic training for the first class to the recruits to the graduation of at least one AFL officer fro the US Army Command and Staff College in December of last year. “you have come a long way: from a dream in 2007 to reestablished the Liberian Coast Guard to today’s small but competent maritime force with two patrol crafts,” she said. As a commitment to supporting the AFL, the US Ambassador said by later dates in 2012 two addition seacraft will be given to th ethe Coast Guardu to protect Liberia’s coastline and fisherise for the future. She said over the past six years, especailly in the last 12 months, Liberia and its partners have felt a sense of accomplishment because the US Government has been by the side of the Liberian Government; more visibly with the presence of 50 US military mentors known as Operation Onward Liberty. “The US Government is committed to helping Liberia Succeed, to helping Liberia beat the odds and defy the World Bank Statitics that indicates almost half of post-conflict countries slip back into conflict. And we are committed to helping the AFL become the ‘force for good’ that President Sirleaf called for anf that the citizens of Liberia longed for,” she said. She recalled, in 2010 as part of the US National Guard State partnership, the AFL and the Michigan National Guard esstblished a partnership which would significantly improved the AFL. The program was designed to assist with capacity development, built long-termed relationship and creat a mechanism for sharing experances, techniques and expertise. “The National Guard in the US plays a very significant role in emergency management, disaster response and search and rescue. Given that National Defense of 2008 assigns similar tasks to the AFL, it is certain that the Michigan National Guard’s expertise in these areas will contribute greatly to AFL’s development as a ‘force for good,’” she said. Ambassador Greenfield used the occasion to disclosed that at the request of the Minister of Defense, her Government is in the early stages of putting together a program, initially funded at US$3.5m, to assist the AFL develop an increased engineer capacity. The program according to Madam Greenfield will include acquisation of some engineer equipment and a requisite training component for the AFL because training is the ‘bread and butter’ of any armed forces in the world. She further added increased engineer capacity will enable the AFL to contribute in a small but tangible way to infrastructure rehabilitation, so necessary for the country’s economic development. Amb. Greenfield said Liberia has a rich array of partners including the U.S, Member States of the ECOWAS, other international partners and the UNMIL which indicates the serious commitment of the international community toward the success of Liberia. The outgoing U.S. Ambassador said the level of commitment attached to the sustainability of peace and security in Liberia by the international community meant that it is imperative that all efforts are fully cordinated and integrated so that all resources, whether international or local, are put to the most effective use. She said the world is looking forward to a day, in years to come, when Liberia will be prepare to provide troops to an international peace keeping mission as it did in the Congo in early 1960-1963. “Let there be no mistake: history will judge this effort to build a new AFL as a success or a failure, naot based on the efforts and policy of the US government or UNMIL or ECOWAS or any other international partners but on the character,ethics, and action of liberian men and women in uniform,” Amb. Greenfield said.

Logan Town Marketers Receive L$ One Million Micro loans

.. As District#15 Rep. Candidate Promises more if elected Marketers of the Logan Town Market on the Bushroad Island of Montserrado County electoral District#15 have received L$ one Million as micro loans in the area from the chief executive officer of the Abu developmental initiative Abu Kamara. According the Abu developmental initiative Chief Executive officer Abu Kamara the L$ one Million Micro loans is not the first of it kind to marketers of the Logan town Market on the Bushroad or the District#15 at large. He also indicated that the L$ one Million is intended to help marker of the Logan town market to improve on their little one they have present for bigger money tomorrow. The Abu developmental initiative chief executive officer Abu Kamara is on also an independent representative candidate who also vows to give more loans if elected to the 53rd nationals’ legislature comes October 11, 2011. It can also be recalled in 2009 the Montserrado County District#15 give out L$ two millions to residents and marketer of the former District#11 for return some he wave out the residents. He presented the L$ one Million to marketers of the Logan Mark Monday evening September 26, 2011 in the Logan market on the Bushroad Island. Candidate Kamara also called on the potential women of the Logan town marker to see the loans given them over the past building up their capacity as residents of the area. He added that change can only come to the District if the right people are elected in power by the resident and the money given to you women also consider it as women empowerment. The Montserrado County District#15 Representative hopeful Kamara further admonished residents and voter to make sound decision for the betterment of the district. Meanwhile the superintendent of the Logan Town markers Sabah Johnson lauded the effort by the showing so far by the representative hopeful and promises that the entire marker will stand strong for his election to the 53rd national. Superintendent Johnson also stressed that the L$ one million loans came the right time for marketers of the Logan Town market.

More Armed Robbers Nabbed

Amar Simogo, 28, Malian, Veaye Trawaly, 19 were picked up on Thursday, December 15, 2011, after they had allegedly robbed a lady identified as Rebecca Gborfua, 38, at her Zubah Town residence on Duport Road. The 28-year-old Malian was arrested with a single barrel short gun with a round. A third suspect, who is still at large is believed to have escaped with a bag containing several single barrel rounds. The suspects after allegedly committing the crime fled the scene but got involve in an accident with another vehicle after they were given a hot chase by some motorcyclists. Suspects Somigo and Trawally were fortunately rescued from hands of an angry mob by police officer on patrol, an LNP release disclosed. They are now in police custody undergoing preliminary investigation at the Zone 5 police station. In another development, in continuation of crackdown on criminals and their hideouts, the LNP early Friday, December 16, 2011 rounded up 91 criminal suspects from the Old Euro Bank building on Crown Hill, Broad Street; The 91 include 14 females and 77 males. The criminal suspects are being screened at the LNP HQ.

Prison Not very Conducive

Chief Justice, Johnny Lewis, last Wednesday February 1, 2012 urged the Magistrates of the City Court of Monrovia to help find common ground in ‘minor cases’ and stop sending people sending defendants to jail. The Liberian chief justice made this statement in regard to the condition of prisons in the country which he said are not very conducive to be keeping people; while he was on his normal routine visit to lower courts at the Temple of Justice. He said it was not good for judges to sent people to the central for minor cases which could reach an amicable solution in the courts of competent jurisdiction. Chief Justice Lewis made the said urge this after inquring of a case in which defendant Mary Blayee had been send to prison for receiving money, in the tone of US$ 180, under false pretend from complainant Sarah Vojolo, as rent for a room situated in the City Hall Community. The fund according to information gathered, was received in two folds from complainant Vojolo by defendant Blayee and her son, but thay did not live up to their side of the barging and was taken to court. Because they could not have somebody stand their bond, the defenant was sent to prison until they could pay back the money. They defendant having paid US$100 of the said amount had appeared in court, on Wednesday February 1, 2012 when chief justice lewis inquired and requested that a document should be made on how the rest of the funds would be paid.