Law & Order pg 9 TOP STORIES

Magistrates Blamed For Overcrowded Prison Cells

POOR PERFORMANCE

JAILED

Diaspora

pg 10

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Liberian Gets Long Term Imprisonment for Tax Fraud

BUYING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31 , 2013 MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2013 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 , 2014 L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1

SELLING L$83.00/US$1 L$84.00 /US$1 L$84.00/US$1

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.

VOL 8 NO.510

BITTER CLASH
IS THIS A SPILLOVER OF THE CDC-UP PRE-2011 FAILED MERGER?

PRICE L$40

Tension between Liberias leading OPPOSITION political parties continues to rise as the 2014 special election draws near. The hard feelings over a merger that could not hold continue to stalk the Liberty Party and the Congress for Democratic Change.

Politics

Pg.7

See PG 2

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 8 NO.510

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Sports

PRICE L$40

WRONG
Goal.com picks Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh in their Malaysian team for 2013

PROVING THE SKEPTICS

I
Monrovia -

Page 2 | Frontpage

Thursday, January 9 , 2014

t is 278 days left until senatorial Elections 2014 and politicians are venturing into the process for various reasons some to test their popularity in preparation for presidential elections in 2017, others to push an agenda for specific political parties in certain localities of the country, yet still for some they want to be at Capitol Building after the election. Good performers in the pending senatorial race will be better placed to make political headways come 2017 as they will be hot cake for political parties to feature on their tickets on the road to state power. With a big void now created, courtesy of no incumbent factor as constitutional provision will certainly deny incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from contesting a third term of office, the race to the presidency will be wide open as any political party could take the day. Stakes are high in the ranks and files of opposition political parties, many of whom believe that the absence of Madam Sirleaf will pave the way for easy ride to power. The Congress for Democratic Change already feels it has the numerical strength to seize power, same as the opposition Liberty Party but until it is all done and dusted strange political bed followers could cause an upset at the polls 2017 which could begin with the pending 2014 midterm election. The senatorial race is expected to transcend the election of senators but rather it will provide a hint to the political parties with the better chance of winning the pending general and presidential elections. The CDC has made its intention known planning to win 8 out of the fifteen senatorial seats; a feat if realized will make the CDC, a force to reckon with come 2017. Many politicians will decide which political party to align with following the midterm elections and these political parties might not take the election for granted as it will determine their fate. The CDC in a statement issued in Philadelphia, PA, August 7, 2013 stated The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has agreed to embark on a series of reform initiatives intended to foster capacity building in preparation for the 2014 Senatorial Mid-Term Elections and the 2017 General and Presidential

Elections. The CDC is strongly urging well-wishers and sympathizers who are still sitting on the fence to jump onboard and make their views heard and impact felt The CDC in preparation for the midterm election vowed to establish a special committee that will ensure the party wins more seats come 2014 midterm election. Stated the CDC The party said it will constitute a CDC Senatorial Committee to lead the partys efforts in fielding candidates for all 15 senatorial seats, and will conduct primaries in the counties at least three months ahead of the The majority of Gbarpolu County consists of forest and mining was the primary economic activity prior to the war, in addition to subsistence farming. But despite the promise the area, like most of Western Liberia presents, innovation has been lacking and that portion of Liberia is far behind feeding itself with agriculture relatively non-existent in the area. During the 2005 elections, Samuel S. Tormetie won Gbarpolu County on the ticket of the National Reformation Party (NRP) with 4,693 votes out of a total 21,393 valid votes cast representing 22.2%. Tormetie succumbed to death prompting a by-election which was won by incumbent Theodore Momo in December 2007. Momo of the ruling Unity Party (UP) defeated his nearest rival in a runoff election, Kaine A. Wesso, an independent candidate with 5,417 votes out of 7,928 total valid votes cast representing 70.5%. Senator Momos nearest rival, Wesso managed 2,264 votes amounting to (29.5%) and it is not clear if he (Wesso) will test the political water again in 278 days. Incumbent Theodore Momo is expected to face a daunting task of been elected during the primary of the ruling Unity Party to serve as the candidate of the ruling party with the influential son of President Sirleaf, Robert Sirleaf, said to be contemplating a political bid. While he has not made an official declaration, Roberts candidacy should offer some intrigue here and a litmus test for President Sirleafs popularity. He is not a known member of any political party in Liberia with the exception of the ruling Unity Party. His bid for the senatorial race will first tip him against Momo in an in-house UP nomination race, which he could win easily given his influence in the Unity Party coupled with his financial strength. Ahead of the senatorial race, the Momo vs Sirleaf nomination will be a big race and could determine the ruling partys chances in the county.

National Convention for CDC senatorial candidates in 2014. However, the party said where necessary CDC will establish Protocol of Collaboration under which the party may agree to support other political parties or independent candidates for senatorial seats in 2014. With the clock ticking on the people of Gbarpolu to elect their next senator, three names are so far up in the air as they prepare to faceoff for the single seat.

INCUMBENT MOMO ON THE ROPES?

ROBERT SIRLEAF IN PLAY

Gbarpolu is located in the northern portion of Liberia and one of 15 counties that comprise the first level of administrative division in Liberia. The county has six districts with Bopolu servinve as the capital with the area of the county measuring 9,689 square kilometres (3,741 sq mi). The other districts include the Belleh, Bokomu, Gbarma, Gounwolaila and Kongba. As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 83,758, making it the eleventh most populous county in Liberia. Created in 2001 when it was split from Lofa, Gbarpolu is the youngest county in Liberia and is bordered by Grand Cape Mount to the west, Bomi to the southwest, Bong to the south, and Lofa County to the east and north. The northwest part of Gbarpolu borders Sierra Leone. The Gola Forest staddles the county border and is home to the Gola Forest community.

Robert is the former head of the National Oil Company of Liberia, a position he held for several years despite local and international condemnations of his mother for appointing her son to such high profile position. President Sirleaf was persistently accused of practicing nepotism but the Liberian leader stood firm, describing her sons serving in government as qualified to hold positions in Government. Robert resigned recently claiming that his job of reforming the oil sector of Liberia is over and it was time to leave the scene. At NOCAL, Robert became a self styled humanitarian implementing several sports projects in and around Monrovia and currently serves as president of a local football club, the Barrack Young Controllers. The son of the president will have resources, cash and kind at his disposal should he contest the pending election, putting him in the drivers seat to campaign in one of the poorest counties in Liberia.

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Thursday, January 9, 2014

In Liberian politics, money is a key factor as Robert has used his money to gain popularity in Montserrado and other counties across Liberia, thereby promoting his political ambition. Political observers say a Robert Sirleaf campaign in Gbarpolu County will be no different from a presidential campaign although at a news conference early this year, Mr. Robert Sirleaf told the Liberian public that he has no political ambition and does not want to contest for any public position, but stakes are high that Sirleaf will be a senatorial candidate in Gbarpolu. But some constitutionalists say, Robert faces a constitutional hurdle in his bid for the senate as a provision in the Liberian constitution could be used to disqualify him even though in Liberian politics the impossible becomes possible. Article 30 A and B of the 1986 Liberian constitution states Citizens of Liberia who meet the following qualifications are eligible to become members of the Legislature. a) for the Senate, have attained the age of 30 years and for the House of Representatives, have attained the age of 25 years; b) be domiciled in the country or constituency to be represented not less than one year prior to the time of the election and be a taxpayer. Opponents to Roberts senatorial quest are arguing that Mr. Robert Sirleaf, son of the President though has served in government as Adviser to his mother, and President of the National Oil Company (NOCAL), a position he just resigned but has not lived in Gbarpolu County for one year or more as per the constitution.

ALARIC TOKPA -PROGRESSIVE REBIRTH

Frontpage

Page 3

DANIEL FLOMO NAATHEN EYEING COMEBACK

Adding to the small list of contenders in Gbarpolu is a long-time progressive icon, Professor Alaric K. Tokpa who recently declared his intention to contest the 2014 senatorial election in Gbarpolu. Tokpa recently announced over ELBC radio that his declaration is in response to popular requests from citizens of the electoral and administrative districts of Gbarpolu County that the time has come for him to serve his region. He has also said that among his priorities are the encouragement of attention to quality education, better health service delivery, road construction, agriculture, the improvement of sports, accountability and the defense of the County against land grab which, he contends, are never the issues for job and money seekers who will also be in the race. Concession agreement signed between the Government of Liberia and Sime Darby grants 51% of Gbarpolu County to the Agricultural Plantation for the cultivation of palm. Tokpa is an outstanding professor of political science who received his education mainly in Liberia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Britain, and the United States. When many others were fleeing Liberia during the early 1990s, he returned home and brought fame to the Department of Political science at the University of Liberia when he served as head of that department. A humble character, his radical scholarship is highly respected and admired by many in and outside Liberia. Recently questioned by ELBC (on Wednesday, January 8, 2014) about the eventual effect of his intention for political leadership in Gbarpolu on his contribution to University teaching, he expressed belief in what he called activist scholarship and said that there is no tension in blending the political with the academic. He thinks that linking theory to practice is essential for extracting lessons for the better teaching of future generations. Tokpa served as General Secretary of the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) in the early 1980s. In January 1982, exactly about 33 years ago during the military government, he was among six national student leaders that were sentenced to death by firing squad for protesting the ban on democratic election in Liberian schools. Also in 1985, he was arrested at gun point and sent to the Post Stockade at BTC and then transferred to Belle Yella for hard labor. What was his crime? Patriotic pamphleteering, he says. Tokpa has served in many capacities in Liberia. He served as Civic Education Administrator and Instructor in the New Armed forces of Liberia. He provides consultancy for national and international organizations. Currently, he is the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) toward which progressive Liberians are said to be moving in rapid frequency. He is highly revered as the Founding Chair of the New DEAL Movement, Liberias social democratic party (which is the only opposition political party that was formed during the administration of Charles Taylor). Some political observers have classified Alaric Tokpa as Liberias most consistent revolutionary activist.

NATHANIEL MCGILL CDC IN PLAY

CDC is Liberias most populous political party but judging from results of the 2005 and 2011 elections the party is not very strong numerically in Gbarpolu, Grand Cape, Bomi to name a few counties where the party does not have a strong political foothold but a senior official of the party is not bothered by this factor as he has declared his intention for the senatorial seat of Gbarpolu. Nathaniel McGill, National Secretary General of the CDC recently declared his intention to contest as senator calling on the National elections Commission to properly handle the pending election. Says McGill individuals who have represented the county and are currently representing the county have done little, so we need a change of leadership because there are so many things we see happening that we believe should not happen, so we want to change that McGill criticized the incumbent and says he does not want to be bothered about the news of Robert Sirleaf contesting against him. I am not ready to talk about someone else; as far as I know Mr. Sirleaf has not declared his intention to contest. Until then I will leave it at that because it will be premature to discuss Mr. Sirleaf at this point. McGills performance will be used to measure the chances of CDC in Gbarpolu ahead of 2017, an indication that he and the CDC will take the political process head-on. Another new political party, the Alternative National Congress (ANC) is said to be lining up a candidate for the Gbarpolu senatorial race but a senior official of the party, Cllr. Theolophilus Gould could not comment on the partys plan despite inquiry from FPA.

Adding to the small list of contenders in Gbarpolu is a long-time progressive icon, Professor Alaric K. Tokpa who recently declared his intention to contest the 2014 senatorial election in Gbarpolu. Tokpa recently announced over ELBC radio that his declaration is in response to popular requests from citizens of the electoral and administrative districts of Gbarpolu County that the time has come for him to serve his region. He has also said that among his priorities are the encouragement of attention to quality education, better health service delivery, road construction, agriculture, the improvement of sports, accountability and the defense of the County against land grab which, he contends, are never the issues for job and money seekers who will also be in the race. Concession agreement signed between the Government of Liberia and Sime Darby grants 51% of Gbarpolu County to the Agricultural Plantation for the cultivation of palm. Tokpa is an outstanding professor of political science who received his education mainly in Liberia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Britain, and the United States. When many others were fleeing Liberia during the early 1990s, he returned home and brought fame to the Department of Political science at the University of Liberia when he served as head of that department. A humble character, his radical scholarship is highly respected and admired by many in and outside Liberia. Recently questioned by ELBC (on Wednesday, January 8, 2014) about the eventual effect of his intention for political leadership in Gbarpolu on his contribution to University teaching, he expressed belief in what he called activist scholarship and said that there is no tension in blending the political with the academic. He thinks that linking theory to practice is essential for extracting lessons for the better teaching of future generations. Tokpa served as General Secretary of the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) in the early 1980s. In January 1982, exactly about 33 years ago during the military government, he was among six national student leaders that were sentenced to death by firing squad for protesting the ban on democratic election in Liberian schools. Also in 1985, he was arrested at gun point and sent to the Post Stockade at BTC and then transferred to Belle Yella for hard labor. What was his crime? Patriotic pamphleteering, he says. Tokpa has served in many capacities in Liberia. He served as Civic Education Administrator and Instructor in the New Armed forces of Liberia. He provides consultancy for national and international organizations. Currently, he is the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) toward which progressive Liberians are said to be moving in rapid frequency. He is highly revered as the Founding Chair of the New DEAL Movement, Liberias social democratic party (which is the only opposition political party that was formed during the administration of Charles Taylor). Some political observers have classified Alaric Tokpa as Liberias most consistent revolutionary activist.

COMING TOMORROW

FrontPage EDITORIAL
v

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Thursday, January 9 , 2014

SPOT NEWS

WHAT A SHAME!!!
LIBERIA FOREIGN MISSIONS NEED TOTAL OVERHAUL

Suakoko, Bong County -

STORM DE-ROOFS MARGARET KENNEDY SCHOOL IN BONG COUNTY

heavy storm Tuesday blew off the roof of Margaret Kennedy School in Sergeant Kollie Town, Suakoko District leaving the staff, parents and students in shock.

RECENT EXPOSURE BY FRONTPAGEAFRICA of corruption in the rental deals at the Foreign Service that led to the recall of the Liberian Ambassador to Brussels and his entire staff by the government is troubling. THAT OUR DIPLOMATS WHO ARE representing our country abroad would resort to trickery to make more money is something that needs to be further investigated. IT IS A SEROUS EMBARRASSMENT to those in our foreign service and those wanting to join the sector and the entire country. We are also concerned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs do not counter check documents sent to it especially ones that require payments using taxpayers money. THE ENTIRE LIBERIAN diplomatic sector over he last two decades has been embroiled in corruption ranging from the sale of our embassies abroad to the use of double and fake lease agreements to the duping of our foreign service employees by the government of rightful remuneration, thereby the ordinary Liberian paying expensively in such dubious deals like the ones under investigation. Monies that should now go to roads and hospitals are being pocketed by just a few. THE ENTIRE LIBERIAN diplomatic sector is rotten. The government has sat idly by and watched as the Foreign missions degenerated into embarrassing scenarios that turned the countrys diplomats into laughing stocks abroad. A CASE IN POINT IS the Liberian embassy in Accra, Ghana, where a former Ambassador married his second secretary at the embassy while she was still employed with the embassy a role she kept until the couple was sent to embassies in Europe close to each other. They both are currently ambassadors representing Liberia. ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO it was also reveled that a Danish journalist Mads Brugger was granted diplomatic status after dubiously acquiring it with the help of top foreign ministry officials and some high ranking Unity Party members. This situation caused huge embarrassment for Liberian diplomats abroad but nothing was done to correct it and no one was punished. THE CASE IN POINT is a serious one with the broad day robbery at the Liberian embassy in Brussels Even though Karpeh tries to blame it on the system. HE SAID THAT UPON HIS ARRIVAL, he was told that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires a lease agreement, prior to providing funds for payment of rent, but what he fails to show is where he ministry requires fke lease agreements from diplomats. WE ARE DISAPPOINTED that the learned diplomat did not swiftly raise an alarm on such malpractice hat is commonplace. Leaders are required to lead by example. WE SAY THIS BECAUSE Ambassador Francis T. Karpeh has said in his response to us that the government of Liberia is aware of the system in place and we have gathered that it is happening across the twenty-six missions Liberia has abroad.

According to the schools Principal, Marcus Kerkulah, furniture and other teaching materials were damaged during the storm, which started Monday during lunch time. The storm also left houses in the area affected and destroyed hundreds of gardens forcing the local communities to make an appeal to the local government, Ministry of Education and the Disaster Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to come to their aid. Mr. Peter Flomo, the Town Chief of the town and an owner of a farm in the area, lamented that the storm left them with nothing since all their crops were destroyed. He is appealing for urgent interventions by those concerned. Chief Flomo blamed the storm on the increase in environmental degradation and urged the residents to starting planting trees around their homes, schools, and churches.

Commentary

THIS NEW FDA BOARD MUST DO MORE THAN GRANT TIMBER PERMITS

Wynfred Russell, wnrussell@hotmail.com, Contributing Writer

the granting of timber concessions, its priority must be to save wildlife and wild habitats across the country from destruction. We know that protecting wildlife, given the high rate of poverty in the country, will be delicate. Therefore, it must be done synergistically, interacting with various stakeholder groups. We can talk and chew gum at the same time; we can address poverty and protect our wildlife simultaneously. It can be done! Since the mid-1980s, Liberia has lost 19,000 forest elephants to poaching, reports CITES. The poaching of Liberia's elephants has cut the population by 95% leaving only 1,000 elephants currently roaming our lush forests. We cant wait for these species to be in the emergency room before protecting them. At the rate at which the elephants have declined, wildlife conservationists believe it may take almost 100 years or longer for them to get back up to previous levels. The FDA board should solicit help from all statutory agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and local conservation groups to cooperate toward a comprehensive common set of goals of conservation. Decision has to be made on the best available science and the data now shows that more than half of Liberias endemic species are threatened with extinction. We are rapidly losing elephants, zebra-backed and Jentink duikers, and manatees. We need to protect these animals urgently before we lose them for good. We can protect our animals and natural resources through science, conservation, education and management led by the new FDA board. Together we can change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. The Sirleaf Administration, like all other administrations before it, has been less engaged with endangered species conservation. Sister Mary Laurene and her colleagues can reverse this trend and establish the Presidents conservation legacy. Natural resource and land management laws need to be reformed. We need some innovative laws on the books to protect our wildlife, mammal life, wetlands, and forest ecosystems, and prevent large-scale poaching. By focusing on ecosystem, we can protect many species from the brink of extinction. Therefore, the board should push the FDA management to move to a more ecosystem-based management system, it would be a better habitat conservation system.

he news that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has resuscitated the board of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is a welcome development and could not have come at a better time. Our hopes are now that this new board headed by an eminent public servant, Sister Mary Laurene Brown, with proven leadership credibility would no doubt be courageous and innovative in the execution of her duties. Although one of the smallest countries in Africa, in terms of geography and population, Liberia possesses a large diversity of species, including 2,200 plants, 590 birds, 193 mammals, 162 fish, and a vast array of butterflies. This is according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But these animals are being decimated because of over hunting and because of destruction to their habitats. The country has the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the environmentally important Upper Guinea Forest region and the animals it shelters are a conservation priority. However, the rate of deforestation and illegal hunting are serious threats to the nations rich flora and fauna ecosystems. Wild animals and the bushmeat trade represent a resource from which a large number of Liberians benefit, unlike the timber and mining industries. This is why the new FDA board should formulate sustainable policies to find a compromise that meets the nations biodiversity conservation goals, while integrating the management of these valuable natural resources. These policies should form part of a broader framework that increases national and community management capacity. President Richard Nixon, more than 40 years ago, when he signed into law Americas endangered species act, said: Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life for which our country has been so blessed. The act passed in both the House and the Senate in 1973 with barely any opposition. As a result, 1,500 species listed as threatened or endangered are now protected under the law. More than 100 species like the gray wolf, bald eagle, and sturgeon fish have been delisted. This kind of bold leadership is what the Liberian people require and would expect from a Sister Mary Laurene-led FDA board. Given that the bushmeat trade is an important source of protein and income to the local and national economies, the FDA should make wild animal conservation a central plank of its forest resource management strategies. There must be a complete rethink with a focus on ecosystems conservation. This new board should be more than overseeing

THE AMBASSADOR ALSO discloses to FPA that the total rent is base rent plus communal charges, which is not fixed. WITH THE UNFIXED PORTION it has to be accepted total rent ultimately varies on a monthly basis. (2) With no guarantee that actual and adequate rent in the contract will be sent and on time, diplomats have in past instances been embarrassed, he said. CONTINUED KARPEH: While I do not totally agree with the arrangement, this was in place, prior to my arrival. Due to the limitations in the integrity of the arrangement, I as head take responsibility and am in the process, before your inquiry, of proposing some arrangements for adequately responding to the requirements here in Brussels, while at the same time, ensuring that embarrassment to diplomats are removed. NOTWITHSTANDING THESE ASSERTIONS it becomes disturbing when a Liberian diplomat gets involved in dubious activities all because the government cannot meet its obligation as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. WE WELCOME THE GOVERNMENTS decision to investigate the entire Foreign Service sector and we hope that corrective measures will be taken to address this embarrassment caused our country. But the government also must launch an investigation into the financial workings of the ministry of foreign affairs as it relates to its operations of our foreign missions.

FrontPage

Thursday, January 9, 2014

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB

Send your letters and comments to: editor@frontpageafricaonline.com

YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

The Reader's Page

THE PRESIDENT?

Frontpage

Page 5

COMMENTS FROM FPA ONLINE

2014 KEY SENATE RACES TO WATCH - THE GRAND CAPE MOUNT FIGHT
JESSE FAHNGON METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY Very poor political analysis my friend! "All politics is local." You did not mentioned the voters - what the voters say about the candidates. In your out of touch n poor analysis, u did not tell or inform your readers how each aspirant has help to positive transform the lives of the citizens of the county. You can do better - moving forward, please tell insert the voters views. NIM'NE ELLIOTT MOMBO JR. MONROVIA, LIBERIA Your front page Africa people really like trouble business. why make sweeping comments like "Shannon is believed to have acquired some wealth during his tenure as Minister at the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy as during his tenure several mining agreements were entered into between the Liberian Government and foreign companies" one could denote that you are saying he stole money while he was minister. This is so so not ethical. ABRAHAM KIAZOLU II ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FINANCIAL ECONOMICS AT WILLIAM V.S. TUBMAN UNIVERSITY, HARPER What I have seen here is that above all, Grand Cape Mount County promises to produce a quality senator. All the three new candidates have experienced personal success in their professional endeavors; and so, they will only be coming to contribute their quota to nation building rather than a chase for the huge allowances in the legislature like others do. EDWARD KLA BREWER FORENSIC SCIENTIST AT FULTON STATES HOSPITAL Kindly let your analysis include a rapid opinion poll of the county. Let us have the taste of whats unfolding on the grounds and that will complete your analysis. But thanks for your political contribution so far. The next maybe better. MUSU PAYDAY WORKS AT BANK OF THAILAND I may not term it as poor; but getting the voters perspective will certainly be a nice ingredient to your analysis. MUSU PAYDAY WORKS AT BANK OF THAILAND I may not term it as poor; but getting the voters perspective will certainly be a nice ingredient to your analysis. DISCLAIMER

PROMOTING FREE TRADE BEST POLICY FOR LIBERIA

The Editor, Because of the widening trade deficit, Liberia's Central Bank Governor (Mills Jones) wants a "reverse in the country's export policy towards non-traditional exports".........Ok, great. But why do we have an export policy for "non-traditional exports" in the first place?? (Re "Liberia's Trade Deficit Widens") Promoting the free trade of ALL goods and services (traditional and non-traditional exports) is the best export policy for our prosperity! In the "Wealth of Nation", Adam Smith, the Father of Modern Economics said that "In every country it always is and must be in the interest of the great body of people to buy whatever they want of those sell it cheapest..." He also argued that in a free exchange of goods and services, both sides became better off! Because trade benefits both sides (importer and exporter), it increases our prosperity! But our imperial President (Madam Sirleaf) have issued several executive orders (#44 and #50), banning private citizens from trading (exporting) their private property (timber, unprocessed rubber, and other natural resources)! Don't we the people have the right to use, transfer, and trade property that we deem ours? If so, then why is the President using her executive orders to make life a living hell for private citizens who want to trade their goods and services with others in the global economy?? Hey Madam President, the hard currency (U.S. dollars) we get from trading our exports is what we use to pay for our imports--(Heinekens, Guinness Stout, bottled water, and Governor Jones's fabulous salary)! So why are you hostile to free trade?? Um, is there any way can we pay the Governor and the President in Liberian Dollars, since they are the ones wreaking havoc with our monetary policies? Since Jan. 1 2013, the Liberian Dollar have depreciated (rise in exchange rate) from L$72.5/US$1.00 to L$83/US1.00 in Dec 2013!.. And that depreciation of the Liberian dollar is the direct result of our monetary and trade policies. Look, if the President continues to ban private citizens from exporting (trading) their private property to willing buyers around the world, Liberians will soon start living like Zimbabweans! Hint Z$10,000,000,000,000 = 1 US Dollar! (Binyah Kesselly could be our first Liberian Dollar Billionaire!) But the best export policy is for lawmakers to pass legislation that nullifies the ALL executive orders that ban private citizens from trading (exporting) their private property (timber, unprocessed rubber, etc) with whomever they choose to around the world! Free trade is the best trade policy for our prosperity! Martin Scott martyretire@yahoo.com Atlanta, Georgia

WHOM SHOULD THE PUBLIC BLAME FOR THEIR WELFARE,THE LEGISLATOR OR

The Editor, LET ME FIRST EXTEND A HAPPY 2014 To the Hon Vice President of Liberia, the Speaker, Senate Pro-Tempore and members of both Honorable houses-Senate and Representative. The word lawmakers at the capitol building or in Liberia have been over used and underperformed for too long in past years under reviewed and this 2014 must bring about creativities and intuitiveness for the Liberians people. Lawmakers must learn to conduct analytical research and priorities needs assessment before submitting any bill or draft paper for discussion and stop calling letters BILL. They must make sustentative laws, when these lawmakers do not know what must be provided to the people as priority needs for each district or county. We do not need any letter to turn schools into community colleges but we need to research on mechanism for institutions establishment. Making laws for countys functionality must take into accounts continuation factors to address present and future needs so that we wont loosely approve expending just to show morale. The below conditionality and questionnaire could change over time from project to locality. 1. How do we recruit and maintain teaching staff that made have two teaching jobs with others professional activities that do not exist in his/her work environment? 2. What extra inducement can be extended for job consideration? 3. How do we raise operational fund for the college or project up keep? 4. Can we rotate professors on a semester or yearly basis? 5. What activities that could attract other professors to voluntarily migrant? The legislators are in the constant business of chastening the presidency of doing little or nothing but the point is what tangible bill have they passed without receiving brown envelopes from the very accuser? We are not against any lawmaker for such a huge salary they make but they too must learn do the Liberians peoples job with legacy. They were able to increase their salaries, allowances and other benefits in 2013 yet they held the presidency responsible for not adding any cent allegedly to Civil Servant Salaries. They advocated for their own increment yet regard themselves blameless and thereby discrediting the executive for doing nothing. They conducted budget hearing publicly and separately in committee rooms yet they did not give Civil Servants any hope 2013. It is my hope that their third opening session in 2014 will lead to conducting more research before actions are taken and concordance must be demonstrated with candid opinions. In this 2014, lawmakers must express themselves independently of the intellectual mind. If any lawmaker who wants to be FRIEND to another speaker then revert to the constituency to be a constituent member and wait for impact. Development isnt a guessing show either is it a game where any outcome is a chance for acceptance. Lawmakers do it and do it well with research and research can help improve our livelihood and nation as a whole. Jefferson G. Togba, togba26@yahoo.com

The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666; 077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com; rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com Wade C. L. Williams, News Desk Chief, wade. williams@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0880664793 Francis F.B. Mulbah, Layout Editor; 0886639382 REPORTERS Sports Editor, Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@ frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528 Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline. com Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline. com, 0886-304498

EDITORIAL TEAM

Sports Reporter, A. Macaulay Sombai,macaulay.sombai@ FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428 COUNTY NEWS TEAM Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042 Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@ frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666 Sinoe County, Leroy N.S Kanmoh, leroy.kanmoh@ frontpageafricaonline.com 0886257528 BUSINESS/ADVERTISING Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753, advertise@ frontpageafricaonline.com

Page 6 | Frontpage

Thursday, January 9 , 2014

THE WORLD BANK LIBERIA

INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR THE SALE OF ONE USED MOTOR VEHICLE The World Bank Liberia intends to sell one used motor vehicle listed below to any interested bidder. The item is to be sold on the basis of as is, where is and the World Bank will have no further liability after sale. The vehicle was tax exempt at purchase; therefore, the purchaser will be liable to pay taxes. The World Bank now invites sealed bids for the purchase of: 1. Make: Toyota Land Cruiser GX Colour: White Year of Manufacture: 2006 Mileage: 111012 Condition : Running Fuel Type: Diesel

Interested bidders may inspect the vehicle on week-days at the World Bank former office at Bright Building, Mamba Point, Monrovia from January 9-16, 2014 from 10am 2 pm. Bids should include the bid price in United Sates dollars and payment terms. The evaluation of bids shall be based on price, subject to acceptance of payment terms. The method of payment will be by certified check and payment instructions will be given to the successful bidders. The best evaluated bid shall be the highest priced bid and shall be recommended for award of contract, subject to any reservations regarding failure to meet the official valuation or reserve price. Bids clearly marked Sale of Motor Vehicle must be delivered by hand to the address below on or before Friday, January 17, 2014 at 3:00pm. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend in the World Bank Conference Room, German Embassy Compound, Congo Town at 3.01pm on the closing day Late bids shall be rejected. The World Bank reserves the right to reject any bid or to cancel the bidding process and reject all bids at any time prior to contract award. Att: Resource Management Analyst The World Bank Office Liberia German Embassy Compound Congo Town, Tubman Boulevard Telephone no: +2316606967

Is This a Spillover of The CDC-UP Pre-2011 Failed Merger?

Wade C. L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com
coming from the CDC. We are not found in the business of attacking the CDC. We have built our institution and CDC feels threatened by the fact that the Liberty Party is winning so much confidence from the Liberian people that it is perceived now as the possible alternative after Madam Sirleafs regime. Responding to Baikpehs statement that the LP is no challenger to the CDC as it came third place in 2011 runoff elections, Toomey said the CDC feels threatened by the LP terming the attacks as a hardcore distraction. Weve raised the standard of our national debate. When it comes to the policy issues, the CDC cannot discuss it, the only thing they can do is to drag us into personality attacks so that we can lose our reputation that we have in the eyes of the Liberian people he said. We are not going to relent. This has been for too long, weve complained to executives of the CDC to caution their followers but to no avail and so at this point it is only fair enough that constituent with our responsibility to our followers and to people that believe in us, that we bring the CDC to a check. Sanvees Scenario The LP, created another storm when its former standard bearer openly backed the candidacy of Benjamin Sanvee for the upcoming 2014 special election challenging Weahs candidacy for Montserrado

Monroviahe fight between Liberias lead opposition political parties, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of soccer legend George Weah and the Liberty Party Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine is hitting boiling point. Wednesday saw the throwing of intellectual blows on radio stations and at Hatai shops in Monrovia. The two parties which were close to forming Liberias biggest merger to take on then incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the ruling Unity Party as she geared up for her second term bid, have become fierce enemies since then. The animosity is evident in every aspect of their political engagement. Both parties hold the other responsible for firing the first bullet that ignited this new war and as it seems both are far from calling a truce. The CDC has maintained that the fight is a spillover from the failed pre-2011 merger that broke down. The party says that the LP still holds grudge against it from that deal and always tries to sabotage its operations. We have done everything in our weak way to maintain our status as an opposition political institution, why are they still pushing since this deal broke down in 2009. We supported them just recently in Grand Bassa County, where you had CDCians wearing LP Tshirts, lamented Janjay Baikpeh Vice Chairman for Finance and Investment of the CDC National Youth Wing. Baikpeh who has taken the airwaves in recent days launching attacks on the LP called the party a regime collaborator accusing it of not speaking in the interest of the Liberian people and also showing blatant ingratitude to the CDC after the party helped campaign for it in Grand Bassa County Bi-election in 2013. The Bassa County leaders supported Nyomblee Karngar to become who she is today. Liberty party has always been against us. Liberty Party is a regime collaborator. When you raise critical issues against the government they say everything is well, he said. The CDC executive said he was authorized by the partys executive committee to respond robustly to the LP and he told Liberians at one Hatai center debate on Wednesday that the LP is no match for the CDC calling on it to get over the merger fiasco. There was a negotiation that broke down between the Congress for Democratic Change and the Liberty

BITTER CLASH
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Party and in every political negotiation you must give and take, he said. But what the Liberty Party refused to do at the time was to choose who they wanted to be in the negotiation, thus prompting the CDC with its huge number to pull out of that negotiation. We are sophisticated to take them on. They just have these few guys going around spreading lies. The Liberty Party maintains that the CDC is not a political party that should be taken seriously by any Liberian given the partys track record of failure. In fact the former Party Chairman of the LP Israel Akinsanya who declared his intention to run in the Grand Bassa Senatorial election in 2014 accused the CDC of taking US$180,000 from him and the Liberty party to seal the deal. Many say the cause of the animosity is that after the CDC through its head Weah received the money, the party then severed ties with the LP, choosing Cllr. Winston Tubman who ran on the CDC ticket in 2011 alongside Weah. The discussions for the merger which happened in 2010 between Weah of CDC and Cllr. Brumskine of LP, broke down when the Deputy Secretary General of CDC at the time now CDC lawmaker Acarous Gray (Representative Montserrado District 8) and Mulbah K. Morlu were bitter with the arrangements which they contended was not in the interest of the grassroots thus threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Liberia. But LPs Secretary General Jacob Smith opening up about the deal for the first time on Truth FM said the discussion that led to the merger with the CDC was a waste of time, resources and ideas. He alleged that Cllr. Brumskine who was then political leader even bought airplane ticket for Ambassador Weah to come from the United States for the merger discussions but said as the discussions were ongoing, Morlu and Gray made inquisition about what financial benefits the merger would yield for them. Both men not trusting Eugene Nagbe who was SecretaryGeneral at the time of the merger and Weah approached Cllr. Brumskine on the matter. But the CDC maintains that the deal was just another arrangement that did not come to fruition and it is not something that the LP should hold against the CDC. There have been some rumors and lies being spread by the Liberty Party that the CDC is a business institution, said Baikpeh. We will not be distracted by those distractions that are going on. Our primary objective is to create a situation more people will be part of the CDC. Somebody claims that the CDC comprises of criminals and hooligans and thieves but at no time has the Liberty Party proven that the CDC has carried out any criminal act. Kla Toomey, Assistant Secretary-General for Press and Propaganda of the LP said the CDC has lost its sense of direction and the LP will not be fall with the CDC in its political mud. He accused the CDC of starting the fuss. The Liberty Party is well noted for subscribing to the issues, weve never at any time reduced ourselves to personality attacks. It can be recalled that the CDC in recent times has engaged itself with attacking officials of the Liberty party, said Toomey. The party asserts that couple of months ago the CDC Youth Wing Chairman Jefferson Koijee launched a stinging attack on its former standard Bearer Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine, accusing him of planning a coup against the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led government. They didnt only stop there, few weeks later the vice chairman for operations unwarranted attacks coming from senior members of the party. When Ambassador Weah returned to Liberia as our peace Ambassador, we expected him to desist from attacking our party executives. But to the contrary, Ambassador Weah in fact nurtured Koijees statement by saying that our political leader once called for the resignation of the President, he said. It was a blatant lie. At no time did Cllr. Brumskine call for the resignation of Madam Sirleaf. What he did say was during the campaign period he would retire the President honorably and that

Thursday, January 9, 2014

POLITICS

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Mulbah Morlu repeated similar accusations; in fact, he went as far as insulting the national chairman of our party, he said. Toomey said that the CDC standard bearer has done nothing to stop these

was the political season and a political message. He said the CDC is bent on spreading lies about the LP and its leadership and what it has simply done is to respond to those comments that are

County. No one knows when this quarrel will end but many are calling for the two parties to put their houses in order and stop dwelling on what they call trivialities.

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n keeping with article 32 A, of the Liberian Constitution, members of the 53rd National Legislature are expected to return to active duties next Monday ( January 13) following the completion of their three months constitutional legislative break. Article 32 A. of the constitution states that lawmakers shall assemble in regular session once a year on the second working Monday in January. During a FrontPage Africa sampling interview with some lawmakers, many promised to be more robust during their 3rd seating in meeting the expectations of the Liberian people, the electorates. Ricks Yeah Toweh Representative (NUDPDistrict #6 Nimba County) I promise to be very robust during this third seating of the 53rd National legislature. As a lawmaker who was new to the National Legislature, the first two seating was a great experience for me and it has prepared me to front for the people of my District and the Liberia people as it relates to lawmaking, says Representative Toweh. The lawmaker wants the controversy surrounding the Decent Work Bill to be properly handled in order to have the bill passed successfully during this 3rd seating. Another bill that this legislature I believe was successful in crafting is the oil law. I believe the oil law is good but I only hope it will be used to benefit Liberians, the lawmaker asserts. Moses Acarous Gray Representative (CDCDistrict #8 Montserrado County) Monday, in my opinion is a new beginning in the history of the 53rd Legislature. Coming to work with new degree of dynamism and cooperation amongst critical thinkers will do us well during this seating says the CDC lawmaker. Representative Gray thinks the public relations at the legislature has not been good as a lawmaker I personally

RETURNING WITH RENEWED VIGOR Lawmakers promise Robust 2014

Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
corruption is curtailed. Munah Pelham Youngblood Representative (CDCDistrict #9 Montserrado County) We are going to be more robust during our second seating, we have to be robust because with the visit to the fifteen counties for me as Representative Pelham Youngblood, I have come to realize that the Nation does not have a developmental agenda rather the assets of the county and social development fund has now become the developmental initiative of the nation and such as peanut two hundred and fifty thousand cannot be enough for the development of the nation. The lawmaker acknowledged poverty across the country

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LEGISLATIVE BEAT

Thursday, January 9 , 2014

will want to see lawmakers renew a stronger relationship with the people of Liberia because friendly speaking the public relations of the Legislature with the Liberian people has not been that good. Lawmaker Gray amongst others wants the second seating of the Legislature to ensure that the Liberian people know how legislators vote on issues to provide the Liberian public a clearer picture of how decisions are made rather than lawmakers taking collective blame for decisions. I will be one of those lawmakers that will be firing on the Decent Work Bill and the code of conduct bill, there is also a need that the legislature maintains its independence during this third seating but one thing I can assure you is that there

will be a lot of internal indifferences on critical issues because we need to get stronger especially with year being election year. Warlea Saywah Dunoh

Representative (UP-District #7 Nimba County) For lawmaker Dunnah, he shares similar view as his counterpart from Nimba (Representative Toweh), been robust. I will be more robust this year especially in making reality some of my campaign promises to the people of my district. Representative Dunnah says It was realized during our break that Liberians are anxious about knowing the use of their resources and they are keen on ensuring that there is Transparency and accountability exhibited by public officials in the usage of their resources. Judging from the citizens concerns about addressing corruption in government, the lawmaker believes that there is a need to close the loopholes to ensure that

saying Our people are living in abject poverty and I believe that my colleagues who went into the fifteen counties have seen the reality and with that experience I believe they will make critical decisions in the interest of those who they serve. Edward Karfia Representative (NDCDistrict #5 Bong County) One of the youngest lawmakers at the Legislature says the expressing of mixed views makes democracy better. Lawmaker Karfia says The beauty of democracy in terms of what is it is where diversity of views comes about and is harness in a debate process and the best comes out. What is saddening about that is that because of the diversity, people term to stick to

their interest as it relates to representation and dont care about other areas because they are not from there even if there is evidence that there is a need. According to him since members of the House of Representatives went around the country as a unit and saw unfolding events in various parts of the counties it will help lawmakers in making decisions. It tells my conscience that when I am voting in plenary on issues of other districts or counties it will be free of biases. The people of Liberia should expect a renew commitment and vigor from us Legislators during this 53rd seating because if I saw a culvert been laid on a wet floor with no cement pavement and it cave in after one week than it beats my mind if the value of money was ever derive for that project, the lawmaker

observes. The Decent Work Bill is now the sticky issue at the Legislature and the lawmaker like other colleagues want the issue resolved, We have a conference committee that will be meeting to solve differences that exist in the two version of the Decent Work Bill and when that is done it will be passed but you should also know that the Decent Work Bill is not only for professionals it is mostly for the un-skilled laborers and if we go in that line we need to ensure that it does not become a problem for the ordinary Liberian whose work will be affected by it. He says if the bar for the bill is raised too high there is a likelihood that people will be redundant by employers who should employ them.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

iberians mainly residents of district #9 in Montserrado county are recommending to the National Legislature to change a clause in the draft oil law that gives government eminent domain in taking land from owners in the case of oil discovery. The residents at a one day National draft oil law consultative meeting organized by their Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood asked that the landowners be given the opportunity to negotiate with the Oil Company if there is any discovery of oil on their land. The clause in the draft bill gives the right to the Government of Liberia to exercise eminent domain if private land owners refuse to sell their land to a company at a price that is not profitable to them. The citizens are requesting that government provide them the opportunity to discuss with the company on a price level that will in return benefit them and their families. In separate comments the residents also accused the National Oil Company (NOCAL) and the legislature of insincerity to the plight of the disabled especially the visually impaired. According to Mr. Daniel Dagba, NOCAL and the Legislature have not printed into bills the draft petroleum law for them to be able to read and understand before making input. Dagba called on those involved in crafting the bill to include into the bill a clause that will

create a special account for disable people welfare. For her part Representative Youngblood told reporters that the consultation is part of a commitment made by the legislature during the nationwide consultative tour on the draft petroleum law to the people of Liberia. The lawmaker said the meeting will give residents of her district who did not have the opportunity to be a part of the nationwide tour to have an input into decision making as it relates to the Draft petroleum law of Liberia Representative Youngblood said: this meeting is with elders, religious leaders and students as well as youth groupings of this district. This meeting will empower me to be able to flag the issues of my people in plenary especially recommendations and concerns as it relates to the draft oil law. The CDC lawmaker also stressed the need for the Legislature to do more in exercising their oversight especially with the misappropriation of budgetary allocations by various ministries and agencies. She called on her colleagues to be more critical in their approach to appointed public officials who attend budget hearings during the period of budget allocations by the legislature to various ministries and agencies. More oversight needed The visibility of our roads, the medical facilities that our people go to for services tell me

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NOCAL EMINENT DOMAIN CONCERNS Liberians want draft law amended

Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
hundred thousand United States dollars tour. Lawmakers amongst several others are being criticized for taking huge money in the name of nationwide tour on the country draft petroleum law. The citizens who were to make input faced the committee during the nationwide tour with numerous challenges including the lack of access to the draft law. Citizens in some of the counties complained of not having access to the draft law, but to safe face the lawmakers promised that individual lawmakers will hold separate consultative meetings after the nationwide tour but up to present of the 73 lawmakers not more than 5 have conducted such meeting Insiders have also confirmed to this paper that the some lawmakers could taste sour relationship with the leadership the question that runs to mind is whether the comments by the lawmakers was political rhetoric.

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that we need to do more about our oversight, she said. The meeting held by the

district #9 lawmaker is what many citizens in and around the country have expressed

that they expect from their lawmakers especially after the much criticized nationwide nine

Monroviaeries of reports coming out of prison facilities across the country which the Justice Ministry has acknowledged speak of over crowdedness of prison and detention centers where inmates are held. Some reports say besides overcrowdings most of the detention centers lack several basic social services including safe drinking water and latrines for inmates. There are reports also that the Monrovia Central Prison the largest detention center in Monrovia that hosts the largest number of inmates coming from within Monrovia and its suburbs is the worst in term of over crowdedness with rooms intended for five inmates now being occupied by 10. An official of the Ministry of Justice former Solicitor General Wilkins Wright during the opening of the August 2012 term of court indicated that the Monrovia Central Prison was built to host just 700 prisoners but said now the prison is overcrowded as the number has risen to 1,000 inmates. Former Solicitor-General Wilkins Wright continued that the over crowdedness at the Monrovia prison is squarely blamed on magistrates who keep prisoners on the bench from the morning hours without acquainting them with

MAGISTRATES BLAMED FOR OVERCROWDED PRISON CELLS

Kennedy L. Yangiankennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
protect human rights, Archie Ponpon told FrontPageAfrica in an interview Wednesday, that the lack of public defense lawyers in the various magisterial courts in the country is also causing prisons to overcrowd. Public defenders are lawyers hired and paid by the judiciary to represent people who dont have the financial will to hire private lawyers to represent their legal interest. Archie said most people are taken to the magisterial courts on minor crimes and the absences of public defenders have led most of them to detention without a lawyer. He made specific reference to a case in the Careysburg Magisterial Court before Associate Magistrate Francis K. Fayiah where a lady Jebbeh Tokpah was charged and sent to jail for a minor crime. He said he (Ponpon) has written the Public Defense

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LAW & ORDER

their rights and take them to jail in the evening hours. Nobody is causing our jail overcrowded but these magistrates who are sitting over there because they could settle some of these small cases but want to see people in jail said Former Solicitor Wright. Former Chief Justice Johnnie

Lewis before his departure also said that the overcrowding of prison and prolonged detention without trial was worrisome to the Judiciary and asked the Justice Ministry to work toward addressing the issue. Do you imagine that people stay in jail for up to a year or more when you have to serve

a month sentence for minor cases as required by law, said Lewis. In the wake of these assertions gay rights advocate now head of Respect Incorporation one of the countrys newest local non-governmental organization based in the swamp community of West Point with aim to

Chief James Flomo with no response up to present. When the Public Defense office was contacted Jallah Sumo one of the Public Defense boss admitted to Ponpons assertion saying there is no public defender in magisterial courts except in Circuit Courts. He said public defenders practice does not extend to magisterial courts. Troubled by the situation Ponpon has appealed to Chief Justice Francis Kporkor to extend the public defense program to other parts of the country for the people to have access to justice. This situation is becoming alarming, we are not saying send public defenders to all 15 counties; but to areas where there is high population density, including Monrovia, New Kru Town, Paynesville where most of these cases originate, said Ponpon.

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FALLING SHORT
A
Cape Town lthough two of every three Africans believe their governments are performing well in the fight against HIV and Aids, fewer approve of their delivery of basic health services and education, and most say governments are failing to provide enough power, water and sanitation. These are the findings of a new report from Afrobarometer, the 34-country survey which is becoming recognised as Africa's most comprehensive indicator of public opinion. The report, entitled What People Want From Government, is written by Joseph Asunka, a research associate of the Centre for Democratic Development in Ghana and is based on surveys carried out between 2011 and 2013.It shows that: Sixty-nine percent of respondents say their governments are handling the combating of HIV and Aids "fairly well" or "very well". A reduced number but still a majority - 59 percent - give the same ratings when assessing their governments' success in addressing educational needs, and fewer still, 57 percent, in improving basic health services.Only 38 percent say their governments do fairly or very well in guaranteeing a reliable supply of electricity, and only 41 percent in providing water and sanitation services."These findings are significant," says Afrobarometer in a press release accompanying the report, "in the light of recent trends where many African governments focus on expanding essential infrastructure in their bid to accelerate development." Although most Africans across the continent give a positive rating to government performance in supplying education and health services, they are more positive about the ease of access to those services than about their quality.So while nearly nine in 10 report having schools within walking distance, and seven in 10 say they can easily find places for their children in public primary schools,

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POVERTY ISSUES

Thursday, January 9 , 2014

OF EXPECTATIONS
around six in 10 say classrooms are overcrowded and that there are shortages of textbooks and supplies. "The adoption of free primary education policies in many countries has expanded access to basic education for many Africans," says the report. "[People] may be rewarding their governments for the improvements in access despite the ongoing... quality challenges." While 62 percent of people say there is a clinic or hospital within walking distance, and 55 percent that it is easy to get treatment in public health facilities, 77 percent experience long waits for treatment, and 69 percent a lack of medicines and other supplies. And nearly one in five told interviewers they had to pay bribes to get service. "In short," adds the report, "people who give high ratings to government services even as they note long waits and lack of essential supplies may be simultaneously giving their governments credit for improving access, while reporting that much work remains undone. "These results suggest that the mere presence of a primary school or a health clinic in the vicinity is insufficient to ensure popular satisfaction with government service delivery. People must also be able to access services with ease. And while access may still outweigh quality when it comes to public evaluations of government performance, quality matters as well. "Governments would therefore be well advised to concentrate on upgrading both access to and quality of primary education, healthcare and basic services; providing infrastructure alone will not meet the public's needs, or win its praise. "The transcontinental averages reported in the survey conceal wide differences in perception from one country to another. Governments in Algeria, Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa get good marks for supplying water, sanitation and reliable electricity, while that in Nigeria rates poorly. So do the governments of

Africans Give Govts Failing Marks On Power, Water Supplies

Liberia, Uganda, Guinea and Zimbabwe for those countries' lack of reliable power, and of Togo, Tunisia, Cameroon and Egypt for the paucity of water and sanitation. In education, the governments of Burundi, Mauritius, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia get the highest marks from their people, while those of Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan and Senegal get the lowest.And the people of Burundi, Mauritius, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia give the highest ratings for health services, while those of Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan and Guinea the lowest.On HIV and Aids, the report says that "popular approval of government performance... is very high in Botswana (94 percent) and Swaziland (92 percent), two countries with some of the highest adult HIV prevalence rates in the world. Meanwhile, in Egypt and Tunisia where adult HIV prevalence is less than 0.1 percent according to official data (compared to almost 27 percent in Swaziland), fewer than 20 percent of all adults think governments do well in combating HIV/Aids." Despite positive assessments in the 2011-2013 survey in many countries, on health and education in particular, the report shows that in the 16 countries which have been part of the Afrobarometer surveys since 2002, most people feel their governments' performances have declined over time. Rating of governments have dropped in four of five areas: by eight percentage points in water and sanitation provision, by six percentage points in education and by three points in health and electricity provision. Only in fighting HIV and Aids do people believe their governments have improved over the last decade.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania forty seven year old Liberian man with residence in Yeadon; Pennsylvania, United States of America(USA) has begun serving a 36 month jail time for income tax fraud. Mr. Friday O. James, a Tax Preparer was sentenced in October 2013 in Philadelphia and he is to serve 3 years in prison and one year of supervised release. Mr. James is being held at the MO Shannon Valley Correctional Institution located in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. Hewas convicted by a jury on 26 of the 27counts of charges levied against him for willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of materially false federal income tax returns which attempted todefraud the government of more than $200,000. An income tax return may be materially false by a reason of an understatement of income, overstatement of lawful deductions, or because deductible expenses are mischaracterized on the return. He was the owner of Frika Tax Services, which has since been barred from preparing federal tax returns for others in the US. The convicted Liberian reportedly prepared materially false federal income tax returns for tax years 2008 and 2009, which claimed that his clients were entitled to

IN US: LIBERIAN GETS LONG TERM IMPRISONMENT FOR TAX FRAUD

a timely post trial motion for judgment of acquittal under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29. He reportedly argued The government failed to prove his guilt on eleven of the counts on which he was convicted. However, the Court denied his motion for acquittal on all counts because The government offered sufficient evidence at trial for a reasonable jury to convict James of the charges against him, the ruling maintained. At the trial, the government presented 22 witnesses including, Shirley Ball, a witness coordinator for the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) Criminal Investigations Division; and Mrs. Victoria Chambliss, a Frika employee, who also, worked with Mr. James at Liberty Tax Services. The Court ruling further maintained that IRS Special Agent Brandy Taylor, who conducted an undercover investigation of Mr. James that involved hiring him to prepare and file a federal tax return for her assumed identity; and

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DIASPORA

the First Time Homebuyers Credit (FTHBC), and that they had incurred unreimbursed business expenses which resulted in tax refunds that the filers were not entitled to receive. FTHBC is a refundable

federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. To qualify for the FTHBC, taxpayers must have income below certain specified level, with qualifying income generally

connected to a taxpayer marital status whether he or she has children. According to a copy of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruling, which is in the possession of FPA, the convicted Tax Preparer filed

16 Frika clients also, testified against Mr. James. The Court ruling stated that many of Fridays clients testified that they were ultimately required to pay unexpected back tax liabilities to the IRS arising out of the service he provided, sometimes in large amount. Mr. James conviction and sentencing follows similar court action taken against three former Liberian tax preparers on September 14, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Then, a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the three Liberian tax preparers banned permanently from preparing tax returns in the US. The three men were also, ordered to surrender to the US Government the names and contact information for all clienteles served from 2009 to August 2011. In the last decade, the Justice Departments Tax Division has prosecuted and obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop tax fraud promoters and unscrupulous tax return preparers in the US.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Society-Fire

~ News Brief ~

LNFS, US-Based Group Sign Accord By Robert Dixon MONROVIA, Jan 7 (LINA) - The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) and the United States-based Fire Rescue Alliance (FRA) have a signed a five-year partnership agreement under which the FRA will help build the capacity of the LNFS. Col. Jassah Gayah, LNFS Director of Public Affairs, told the Liberian News Agency Tuesday that the agreement was signed between FRA and LNFS during a visit to Liberia by the Alliance in November last year. During that visit, the FRA donated three fire engines, and an assortment of firefighting equipment and materials. The FRA also trained a number of Liberian firemen in techniques of tackling various forms of fire. Col. Garyah confirmed that most of the 15 political sub-divisions lack fire-fighting equipment, and that in some instances, firemen were aided by residents using buckets to tackle fire outbreaks. She said, however, if the public would install fire extinguishers at their various homes, offices and vehicles, many fire incidents will the curbed before they reach disastrous proportion. LINA RD/TSS/PTK

UNDP COUNTRY DIRECTOR URGES INFORMATION COMMISSION TO GUARD CONSCIENCE OF INTEGRITY

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US$24m Projects For Lofa In 2014

By Korboi K. Gbelewala VOINJAMA, Jan 7 (LINA) -Several projects totaling US$24 million are earmarked as part of development projects to implement in 2014 by the administration of Lofa County, an official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs(MIA) has disclosed. Gayflor Wenwoi, IA Political Liaison Officer in the office of Lofa County Superintendent, said the projects include pavement of major streets in Voinjama, reconstruction of roads linking Voinjama and its environs and farm-to--market roads across Lofa County. Others are the construction of modern football fields in the seven political districts in Lofa as well as several agricultural projects. Wenwoi disclosed that funding for the projects have already been provided by the World Bank and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) as part of their contributions towards the reconstruction of Liberia. The Internal Affairs official said the agriculture projects and construction of the football fields across Lofa would be led by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Liberia Football Association. He said the Public Works ministry, in collaboration with SIDA, will oversee the farm-to-market roads and pavement of the major streets in Voinjama, which is currently underway. He disclosed that pavement of Voinjama city kicked off in November 2013. LINA KKG/TSS/PTK

Society-Education

About 75% Of Schools Government-owned By Calvin Brooks MONROVIA, Jan 7 (LINA) - Majority of schools in Liberia are government-owned, with private schools accounting for just over 25 percent of all academic institutions in Liberia, according to a Ministry of Education report. The report revealed that of the 2,849 school units captured in its annual school census in 2013, majority are based in Nimba, Montserrado, Bong and Lofa counties, proportionate to the populations of these counties. It also disclosed that majority of schools in Liberia operate early childhood education and primary level sections, with only 63 schools not operating either of these sections. The report pointed out that in comparison, only 776 schools deliver secondary instruction, and it is worth noting, that for the purpose of 2013 year annual census effort, early childhood education was recorded only in schools which also offer primary and secondary education. The report stressed that for planning purposes, a school represents a building or an entity as opposed to the level of schooling under operation. LINA CB/TSS/PTK

Monroviahe Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme in Liberia has commended the Liberian Government for efforts made to establish the Liberia Independent Information Commission. Dr. Kamil Kamaluddeen said Liberia is among very few countries in West Africa that has taken this giant step. He was speaking during a courtesy call paid by a team from the Independent Information Commission, headed by its Chairman Counselor Mark Bedor-Wla Freeman. The UNDP Country Director described the role of the Commission as a unique and honorable responsibility that guards the conscience of integrity. He urged the Commission to use independent information not only to expose the wrong things in society but to ensure that the right things are done to strengthen integrity. Access to information is power and UNDP is interested in all aspects of your work said Dr. Kamaluddeen. He encouraged the Commission to take its task as a challenge and an opportunity to write and make history through its work. Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Liberia Independent Information Commission Counselor Mark Bedor-Wla

Freeman narrated that the Commission is soliciting support from development partners in the execution of its mandate. Counselor Freeman informed the UNDP Country Director that the Commission has already commenced the hearing of cases with one on asset declaration, now up for appeal. He spoke of plans by the Commission to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan and expand its activities to all parts of the Country. The LIIC Chairman pointed out that the Commission is galvanizing technical, operational, financial and policy support from Development Partners interested in promoting good governance. He mentioned support being received from the Carter Center, and OSIWA but appealed to the UNDP to use its influence in helping the Commission mobilize additional support. Liberias Freedom of Information Act (FOI) was signed into law in 2010 and its first Independent Information Commission was named by President Sirleaf in May 2012. The FOI provides all persons the right to access public information.

He revealed that already the NEC central office in Monrovia has provided the elections office in Kakata with the required logistics to facilitate the Voter Roll Update process. About 14 electoral supervisors have met the required qualification following a rigorous vetting process, Swary said. LINA RDB/TSS/PTK

~ News Brief ~
The report also disclosed that almost 10 percent of teachers in Grand Bassa, Lofa and Bomi Counties receive their salaries from households. It indicated that nationally, 10.1 percent of primary school teachers in Liberia are volunteers and that in seven counties over 10 percent of primary school teachers are volunteers. The report did not, however, name the counties. LINA CB/TSS/PTK House Rent Jumps in Bong Mines By Richard D. Baysah KAKATA, Jan 7 (LINA) In the wake of the ongoing relocation of occupants from the former Bong Mining Company buildings, house owners in the Bong Mines area have hiked house rents to astronomical heights. Speaking in an interview with the Liberia News Agency in Bong Mines Monday, Pastor Joseph Abu said rent for rooms that previously cost about L$200 has now jumped to around US$15 as nearly a thousand families seek relocation. A fortnight ago, the Liberian government started paying relocation packages to some 828 family heads to leave houses owned by the former Bong Mining Company for turn over to its successor the China Union Investment.

Education-Report

Politics-Election

NEC Trains Electoral Supervisors By Richard D. Baysah KAKATA, Jan 7 (LINA) - A three-day workshop for electoral supervisors of the National Election Commission (NEC) opened Tuesday in Kakata City, Margibi County. NEC Elections Magistrate in Kakata, Mr. Fumba Swary said the workshop is intended to train electoral supervisors ahead of the Voters Roll Update slated for January 13 to March 5, 2014. Magistrate Swary told the Liberia News Agency that the election supervisors serve as middle-men between the magistrates office and field workers. He said the workshop doubles as a Training-of-Trainers exercise that will empower the electoral supervisors to train other field staff to effectively conduct the voters roll update exercise.

Govt Pays 80% of Teachers Nationwide By Calvin Brooks MONROVIA, Jan 7 (LINA) - The Liberian Government pays more than 80 percent of teachers in Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru and Rivercess counties, and the Monrovia Consolidated School System, according to an Education Ministry report. The report, however, indicated that in the country as a whole, about 60 percent of teachers get their salaries from government. The report named the counties where government pays the lowest percentage of teachers salaries as Montserrado, 27.7 percent, Margibi 44 percent, Grand Bassa 44.7 percent and Bomi 56.4 percent. The report further pointed out that private institutions are the most common source of teachers salaries in these counties, noting that in Montserrado County more than 50 percent of teachers get their salaries from private institutions.

Society-Rent

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Washington DC, United States of America he Chief Elder of Suakoko District, Bong County, Sulunteh Yeibah, who is the father of Liberia's Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh recently visited the White House. Chief Sulunteh Yeibah is currently visiting his son, Ambassador Sulunteh and was recently a member of the Sulunteh family that was invited to the White House as part of the American Christmas tradition. During the tour of the White House, Ambassador Sulunteh and family were received by a protocol officer, who guided their tour. Ambassador Sulunteh served as an interpreter for Elder Sulunteh as he does not speak English. They were taken to the Presidential Dinning Room, the Red Room and the Blue Room, respectively, as well as, other historical areas of interest of the White House. In addition to the White House visit, Elder Sulunteh was a guest at the United Suakoko Development Association in the Americas meeting in

A LIFE TIME EXPERIENCE

Bong Chief Visits White House in Washington
a question on how Suakoko Town was built, informed the gathering that the town Suakoko was originally called Nyalinsue before Madam Suakoko migrated there. Ne-sua Koko, as she was affectionately called, had fled inner fighting (referred to as the native or country war) from her home in Gbansue Korlorkwe), Zota District. Ne-sua made a stop over in Nyalinsue and later sought refuge there. She had traveled with a group of people, who were also fleeing the war. Nesua later requested the elders of Nyalinsue area for a piece of land to make her a cassava farm in order to feed her followers. Her request was granted and she made a big cassava and plantain farm, where she built a large kitchen. As years went by, many of Ne-sau's followers began to make their own little gardens and build individual kitchens. Ne-sua's farm soon developed into a little village and began a famous meeting place, that would be called Ne-Suata (Ne-Sua's place) and later Suakoko-Ta. Many of the followers of NeSua were young girls and as they grew up, their hands were sought into marriages with young men from Nyalinsue and its environs. This made Ne-Sua very influential as these young couples would later make farms for Ne-Sua and that was the beginning of establishing what is today called Suakoko-Ta or Suakoko Town. Ne-Sua's only son Mulbah Yonko became a paramount chief of Suakoko Chiefdom, now District. Although in a very cold weather, Chief Sulunteh continues to enjoy the comfort of his grand and great-grand children, who had traveled from Toronto, Canada to spend the Christmas and New Year in Washington D.C. cloth. According to Axel by purchasing the country cloth women in Lofa who grow cotton and weed will have income to support their family adding with that money will remain in the economy. The president of Liberia Business Association Dee Maxwell Kemayah said, the initiative by Chevron-Liberia is laudable adding with training tailors will able to add value to the work they do. LIBA president said, Liberian should take control of their economy adding this can only happen when Liberian business are empowered. LIBA boss who seem passionate about Liberia taking the economy vowed to continue his fight for legislation that will see certain sectors exclusively for Liberians. We have good tailors in Liberia why the government cannot empower them to be able to produce our police uniform, immigration and even the AFL, Kemayah asked. Kemayah believes by doing so Liberians will become Landlord [owner] of their economy and not tenants.

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COUNTY NEWS

Thursday, January 9 , 2014

Washington DC. Offering a word of encouragement to the group, Elder Sulunteh told the gathering no matter whatever

they do in the USA, how long they live there, they should never forget about their homeland, Liberia. The Association is currently

supporting the Suakoko Central High School and the G.W. Gibson High School in Sinyea, Bong County. Elder Sulunteh responding to

TAILORS IN MONTSERRADO AND GRAND BASSA TO BENEFIT FROM CAPACITY BUILDING AND ACESS TO FINANCE FROM CHEVRON
Al-Varney Rogers alrogers2008@gmail.com 0886304498077296781
Tailors to emanate the examples of the Chinese in producing clothes adding that tailor move from the mind set of only producing clothes few persons. Chevron Country Manager said: someday I will take my new job in the U.S or Indonesia, I want o walk in store where I pick a cloth and see made in Liberia. The president of LNTTGAWU Lassana Dawon thanked Chevron for providing the fund for the training of Tailors in two counties. Dawon said, tailors in Liberia have not been seen as professional people who can contribute to the economy of Liberia. He also thanked the ministry of Commerce and the Liberia Business Association for the role played in turning their dreams into reality. Dawon said, his organization will use the money for its intended purpose adding that tailors will be selected for the training on a merit basis. He urged his fellow tailors who will be selected to take the training seriously adding that with such training they can add value to tailoring in the country. For his part the Commerce Minister Axel Addy said, the empowerment of small business

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NEWS EXTRA

in the country is important to drive the economy. The Commerce Minister thanked, Chevron for supporting Liberians businesses by building their capacity adding with this the [Liberians] can be able to provide for their home. I travelled all around Liberia, one question every Liberians are asking is with good things you people [government] how do we put food on our table, Axel said. Axel said, the Tailor Union should develop an initiative where every government official will on every Friday wear Liberian made country cloth shirt. Every Friday I have decided to wear country

n official signing ceremony of USD $ 180,000 sponsor project by ChevronLiberia for the Liberia National Textile, Garment and Allied Workers Union [LNTTGAWU] for capacity building and access to finance has taken place Wednesday in Monrovia. The project will target two counties Montserrado and

Grand Bassa and will recruit tailors who will have advance SMES development training, standard garment construction and fashion designing and online exhibition, marketing and sale of made in Liberia garment. Chevron-Liberia Country Manager Karl Cortell said that Chevron is extremely excited to work with the Tailor Union of Liberia.

Cortell disclosed that his company is currently carrying out fifty six projects in Liberia adding that Chevron is not here to only do business but to empower Liberians. He urged, Liberian tailors to utilize the skills acquired adding that they should think beyond Liberia in producing garment or clothing for the market. Cortell challenged Liberians

Thursday, January 9, 2014

ILLICIT GOLD RUSH IN RIVERCESS L

iberia is rich in natural mineral resources but ironically counties with these resources are amongst the poorest lacking basic social services with citizens living in destitution, yet these resources are extracted with little or no benefit to the people. The gold rich Rivercess County can perhaps be graded as one of the poorest counties in Liberia as the capital, Cestos is no different from an ancient settlement with several primitive houses and makeshift structures interesting the county has become a place for illicit mining. The massive search for gold is leading Liberians and other foreign nationals including Chinese to look everywhere in one of Liberias poorest counties, digging for the minerals mainly gold and diamond in rivers and other creeks across the county. The amount of gold and diamond that is taken from our river on a daily basis, can improve our lives and make us better but instead it is making outsiders rich while we the citizens remain in abject poverty, Says David Garway, a 12 grade student at the Cestos High School. The alarming situation of illicit gold mining by Chinese and other foreign nationals, taking place in Cestos River, ITI Rivercess County, is on a massive scale and has claimed the attention of Garway and other citizens of the County. During a recent visit to the County, it was observed that just few meters away from the Liberian National Police Stations in ITI, the foreign Miners, using water machines and canoes were mining gold

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COUNTY NEWS

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Mae Azango maeazango@frontpageafricaonline.com

and diamond from the river. Risky Business The rush for gold has led gold thirsty individuals to use risky means in search of the valuable mineral. Miners were seen diving in search of minerals, a method of mining that has recently claimed the lives of some miners in Nimba and Sinoe counties, but yet still; miners on the Cestos River are using this method ignoring the risk associated with such process. Some miners dive as deep as 30 feet beneath the river, while others await the divers in a canoe over the river to receive the gravels and sand which is in turn washed to extract the minerals. The duration of the stay of miners under the river to collect sand and gravel has proven in the past to be a death

trap as miners have died under such circumstances. Chinese Using Machines to mine Across the Cestos river, the Chinese have a very huge machine mounted on top of the river, which is been used in extracting huge quantity of gold and diamond from the river, residents told this reporter. Through their interpreter, the Chinese told our reporter that since they mounted the machine on the river, they are yet to find any gold or diamond, but a local Liberian miner disagrees with the Chinese assertion. Do you believe that those Chinese people have not found any minerals with that big machine they have, when we who are using canoes and water machines are getting gold daily, then what about them Moses

Bryant, a local miner inquired. The Chinese, through an interpreter also disclosed that they are working for a Liberian, Lucy Belleh, who they claimed is licensed by the Ministry of Land Mines and Energy to mine gold in the river. A man claiming to be Madam Lucy Bellehs agent said his boss has a Class C mining license. He provided an identification card bearing a female photo with the name Lucy Belleh to our reporter, but it was observed that the ID expired since July 13, 2013 and that it was issued for Margibi County instead of Rivercess. During separate interviews with the miners they denied allegation of working illegally, explaining that each miner pays L$1,500 worth of gold daily to Madam Belleh for mining in her claim. Accordingly gold is collected at the end of each working day. A mobile phone number provided for Madam Belleh was switched off when contacted. Shifting blames Rivercess County Superintendent Gevon Smith via mobile said he is not aware of the situation, blaming the Ministry of Lands, mines and Energy for the unfolding situation, of illicit mining in the county. Says Superintendent Smith The Ministry of Lands and Mines is just giving license to anybody to mine, so who do you hold responsible? Superintendent Smith who was out of the county at the time of this reporter visit told FPA that he was meeting one of the Deputy Ministers responsible for mining on the issue and was going to get back to our reporter but could not do so up to his departure for RiverCess. RiverCess is one of the richest counties in Liberia in terms of natural resources, but one of the poorest in terms of

government intervention, Says Dallas A. Gueh, Rivercess County Junior Senator. Senator Gueh insists This country has the natural resources that can help you and me to live like 21st century citizens in the world, and not be living in a stone aged era. Machine Miners are violators The Ministry of Land Mines and Energy has disclosed that Grade C or Class C mining license holder is a violator when such person uses machine to mine. The Ministry says the mining on the Cestos River is illegal and will be investigated. Class C license is restricted to local Liberians who do not use big machines to mine but outside of that, the Ministry of Lands and mines would not condone such illicit mining, Says Fahnseth B. Mulbah,

Inspector General for Mines. Explaining the classes of mining licenses, Mulbah said grade A or Class A license is merchandise mining that associated with big companies like Arcelor Mittal and permits the use of bigger machines like bull dozers, dredges and other mining equipment which are allowed to be used. While Class B or Grade B License, Inspector Mulbah said is Semi merchandise mining and also permits the use of equipment but it should include some level Liberians participation. He concluded that only local Liberians can hold class C or Grade C license and are not allowed to use equipment like dredges to mine, which is illegal and considered illicit mining.

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Thursday, January 9 , 2014

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IN EGYPT, MANY SHRUG AS FREEDOMS DISAPPEAR

WORLD NEWS

CHINESE CONSTRUCTION CAMPS EYED AS IVORY TRADE CONDUITS IN REPUBLIC OF CONGO

IN BRIEF

C
(CNN) --

DENNIS RODMAN APPEARS TO BOW, SINGS 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' TO NORTH KOREA'S KIM

ourting yet more controversy, Dennis Rodman on Wednesday led a singalong of "Happy Birthday" to the leader of North Korea, a man he calls a friend and a "very good guy," but considered by many a brutal dictator who recently lauded the execution of his own uncle. Images released by The Associated Press also show Rodman appearing to bow to Kim Jong Un at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the site of a basketball exhibition Wednesday -- Kim's birthday -- between a North Korean team and Rodman's squad of former NBA players and others. "It was, as you might imagine, a bizarre and unusual occasion that won't easily be forgotten," Simon Cokerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, said in a YouTube video posted after he accompanied tourists to watch the match. Even before Wednesday's spectacle -- in which his team lost to a North Korean squad 47-39, according to North Korean state media -- Rodman's visit to North Korea had already generated enormous controversy. he colorful former NBA star known as "The Worm" elicited widespread condemnation Tuesday when he suggested in an exclusive interview with Chris Cuomo of CNN's "New Day" that American Kenneth Bae had done something to deserve his 15-year sentence. On Wednesday, Bae's family accused Rodman of "playing games" with Bae's life. Relatives and U.S. officials have insisted Bae committed no crime. "There is no diplomacy, only games, and at my brother's expense," Bae's sister, Terri Chung, said Wednesday in a prepared statement.

CAIRO

he charges are often vague. The evidence is elusive. Arrests come swiftly, and the convictions follow. And there is little transparency in what analysts have called the harshest political crackdown in Egypt in decades. But many Egyptians say theyre all right with that. There is a growing sense here in the Arab worlds largest country that the best path to stability after three years

of political turmoil might be to do things the militarys way: Crush the Islamists who made people angry enough to support a coup; silence dissent; and ask very few questions. Right now, the country is in exceptional circumstances, said Ahmed Abdallah Suleiman, a government bureaucrat who saw the windows of his office shatter in the bombing of a nearby police station last month. We are facing a highly organized terrorist organization, and it makes sense that this violence is met with violence. Egyptians are set to vote next week on a constitution drafted by people appointed by the military-backed government. The military shelved an earlier constitution ratified under former president Mohamed Morsi when it overthrew him in July. But as the country also marks the third anniversary of the uprising that ousted longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, many Egyptians have lost faith in democracy and freedoms it briefly delivered. Every year is worse than the one before, said Ahmed Gad, who makes a living delivering sweets. Now, he said, the country might just prosper but only if Egypt could rid itself of the Muslim Brotherhood, formerly the countrys elected ruling party, now labeled a terrorist organization by the state. They should all be imprisoned, he said. And if the law provides that they should be executed, then they will disappear, and with them, all of their problems, he added. Burdened by economic hardship and political turmoil, Egyptians are also grappling with a violent insurgency born

of last summers military coup. Much of the nations deeply impoverished populace no longer sees democracy and free expression as the mechanisms to solve the economic despair that drove them to revolt in 2011, said H.A. Hellyer, an Egypt expert and nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution. When given the choice between a democratic system that may or may not deliver stability in the short or medium term, and a system that is backed by an extremely strong military institution, I think the majority of Egyptians have unfortunately decided that the latter is what they want, Hellyer said. It was the Brotherhood along with other Islamist parties that captured the lions share of vote in the countrys first democratic elections two years ago. The Brotherhood had renounced violence decades earlier and gained popularity by establishing a vast network of charitable organizations. These days, those images of benign Islamist leadership have been erased in many minds by the hyper-nationalist rhetoric promoted by the countrys military-appointed government, which has portrayed the Brotherhood as bloodthirsty terrorists bent on destroying the nation. On Wednesday, a judge adjourned the trial of Morsi and 14 other Brotherhood members, who have been charged with inciting the murder of protesters under Morsis rule, until Feb. 1. Court authorities said Morsi, who has been held virtually incommunicado since his ouster, could not be transported to the court because of weather conditions.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo (CNN) -he Republic of Congo's main northsouth road runs right on the edge of Odzala-Kokoua National Park. For now, it remains nothing more than a narrow dirt track and Odzala, the country's largest park, very much remains one of the world's last isolated natural Edens. But Mathieu Eckel, head of the park's anti-poaching unit, knows that is quickly changing. For the past year, Eckel has been gathering evidence of Chinese involvement in ivory poaching, carving and trafficking right along the very same road. He now suspects that the global trade that ends in the markets of Asia is more entrenched in this remote corner of Central Africa than many could have ever imagined.

SOUTH SUDAN TALKS HANG IN BALANCE OVER DETAINED REBELS

ADDIS ABABA, Jan 8 (Reuters) alks to halt violence that has killed at least 1,000 people in South Sudan faced further delay on Wednesday after the government rejected rebel calls for an immediate release of detainees in the world's newest state. Three weeks of fighting, often along ethnic faultlines, has pitted President Salva Kiir's SPLA government forces against the rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar and brought the oil exporting nation close to civil war. Both sides met face-to-face for a first time on Tuesday in Addis Ababa but quickly took a break for African mediators to head to Juba and push for the release of 11 rebel detainees, who were arrested last year over an alleged coup plot. But Kiir's government rejected the request, saying the detainees would only be free as long as the requisite legal processes have taken place. "We are willing to hear what the IGAD mediators will suggest and we will confer as a group," said Mabior Garang, spokesman of Machar's delegation to the talks in the Ethiopian capital.IGAD is the East African grouping leading the mediation. Its mediators were set to arrive in Addis Ababa on Wednesday evening.

CHRISTIE DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN CONTROVERSIAL LANE CLOSURES

ew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, responding for the first time to newly published emails that indicate a top aide was involved in controversial lane closures last year that snarled traffic, said Wednesday the intervention was "unsanctioned" and "unacceptable" -- and claimed he would hold people "responsible." The governor released a brief written statement late Wednesday, following a report in The New York Times detailing emails involving his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly. They pertained to a bizarre incident in September, when lanes at the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, N.J., were closed for four days. Christie faced accusations that the lanes were blocked in retaliation over Mayor Mark Sokolich's refusal to endorse him for reelection last November. But Christie maintained Wednesday that he was "misled" and had no

knowledge of his staff's apparent involvement. "What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable," Christie said. "I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my Administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions." The report Wednesday fueled Democratic accusations that the closures were political retribution against the local mayor. The local scandal threatens to become a national issue for Christie as he weighs a possible presidential run in 2016. The New York Times reported Wednesday that emails show his deputy chief of staff suggested closures to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey two weeks before the incident.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

t his regular news conference in October, Liberia Football Association (LFA) president Musa Bility disdainfully attack journalists for promoting Liberian footballers based in Asia. Bility said the exploits of players, some of who play for the national team, is not felt when European teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona hold preseason friendlies with teams in Malaysia, Australia or Thailand. When you read the papers every day, you will notice that this player score here and there or is doing fine in Asia but when Manchester United play a Malaysian league all-stars, you dont see any Liberia on television. What has happened to all the good things we read about them, Bility teasingly asked. But sport journalists may have been granted a reprieve with Patrick Ronaldinho Wlehs selection in goal.coms team of 2013. 2013 marked an action-packed year for Malaysian football with LionsXII securing their maiden super league title (MSL), Sarawak winning the premier league title unbeaten, Kelantan successfully defending the FA Cup and DollahSallehs Pahang overcoming the odds to win the FA Cup. In Goal Malaysia's 3-5-2 formation, Kelantan custodian Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is the man in goal. He continued to show why he is one of the best in the country

Goal.com picks Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh in their Malaysian team for 2013
DanesiusMarteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

PROVING THE SKEPTICS WRONG ETHICS VERSUS

Portugal's Beira Mar. He quickly put the embarrassing episode behind him, silencing his critics by showcasing his wealth of talent and helping his team to the quarter-final of Malaysia Cup. The performance also helped him regain Ong Kim Swee's confidence, and he was back in Malaysia under-23 squad for the Southeast Asian Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar in December. On the right wing, we have LionsXII skipper Shahril Ishak who led by example, providing his team with pinpoint passes and assists that led to goals and contributing to their first ever MSL title. Sarawak's Kalang Tie had always played well for Terengganu during his threeyear stint with them, but when he decided to return home to captain his home state at the start of this season. He shone even brighter in leading the Crocs to an unbeaten premier league title and to the semi-final of the Malaysia Cup. Up front, 36-year-old ATM goal-scoring machine Marlon James leads the line with an impressive tally of 25 goals scored this season. The veteran striker continues to improve with age and has adapted to the demands of the league by relying less on his pace and more on his game intelligence. Partnering with Marlon is PKNS FC's Ronaldinho Wleh, who time and again showed his goalscoring prowess and struck

Sport

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INTIMIDATION Sayon reveals why Grand

Kru may not beat Nimba on Sunday

Danesius Marteh, 0776 236 528/0886 236 528

by bouncing back from a disappointing MSL campaign to lead his team to FA Cup glory and the Malaysia Cup final. LionsXII centreback Safuwan Baharuddin started in 18 out of the 22 matches which Lions XII played en route to winning the MSL title, with a defeat. He was hard to beat in the air and on the ground. Joining Safuwan in central defense is the physically unmatched Obinna Nwaneri, who ensures Kelantan doesnt get caught out aerially. He was colossal in Kelantans FA Cup run and was missed considerably in the final of the Malaysia Cup. Rounding off the solid back three is Razman Roslan, who struck up a good partnership with Damion Stewart and has advanced in leaps and bounds since his Selangor days. Less prone to mistakes these days, Razman also reads the

he President and Head Coach of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) third division club FC Satellite has called on the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the LFA, football enthusiasts and major companies operating in Liberia to help fund his team trip to Sweden to participate in the 2014 Gothia Cup tournament in Sweden Europe. Coach Gablah Rockson Francis in an interview Wednesday, three days after receiving a letter of acceptance for his teams participation in the tournament from the tournament Secretary General

Anna Holmberg said the team needs financial support to under the trip. The tournament starts July 14 and runs to the 20, 2014. The Satellite boss highlighted that it is time for every football official that have the financial power to join hands with him as he struggles to help develop the future players of the national team of Liberia. Coach Rockson said he owns Satellite but the team will be participating in the tournament to represent Liberia and not him as President, noting that any victory the team scores in that competition will be in the name of the country. Most of my players have played in the first and second division national leagues of the LFA for almost 10 years and we were relegated last season all because we lacked the necessary financial support but not withstanding they still

FC SATELLITE RECEIVES GREEN LIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2014 GOTHIA CUP IN SWEDEN

have the talent to show to their opponents in that tournament so we need everyone support in order to make our trip a successful one, the coach added. It can be recalled that Liberia Lone Star Under-13, 14, 15 teams participated in the same tournament winning four times during the days of Dulee Johnson, Dioh Williams, Zack Krangar and Melvin King among others. The coach emphasized that players for the tournament will be selected based on merit and not friendship because he needs to choose qualified players that will help to make the difference for the country against their opponents in the tournament. To you Satellite players please dont take the training for granted because it is from the training the final squad for the competition will be selected and there will be no

game very well and puts his pace to good use. Leading our formidable midfield is Badhri Radzi, who maintained his role as skipper and the engine of the East Coast outfit in all four fronts they competed in; he also scored several spectacular goals from corner kicks. Now with an incoming new head coach for Malaysia, perhaps Piya will finally get his time to shine at the international level. Starting alongside Radzi would be Amirul Hadi Zainal. He excelled at central midfield, providing tight cover at the back. His performance helped the Elephants win their first Malaysia Cup in 21 years. 19-year old Nazmi Faiz made up his lack of playing experience with sheer technique, after joining PKNS FC midway through the season from a doomed stint at

Grand Kru technical committee head Alfred Sayon

interference of any outside force when it comes to the selection of players. If you fail to perform to expectation you will not make the trip, says Coach Rockson. Coach Rockson said he is now in contact with the LFA to quickly provide all necessary information about satellite to Gothia headquarters in Sweden before the resumption of the tournament. Gothia Head office made the following clarification in a letter sent to Satellite FC for the team registration to the Gothia Cup 2014. The letter stated thank you for your registration to the Gothia Cup 2014. All teams are welcome to register as long as they are member of their FIFA affiliated national association. In countries where football is operated by the schools we also allow teams affiliated by their school football association.

he quarter-finals of the 2013/2014 national county meet is expected to begin at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex on Sunday. The preliminary rounds, which kicked-off across the country on December 14, ended with Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,Grand Kru, Lofa, Montserrado, Nimba and Sinoe qualifying in the football category. Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru, Margibi, Montserrado and Nimba qualified for the kickball section. Grand Kru are upbeat about winning at least two titlesbut the tournament, traditionally held between December and January, has never ceased with its unending problems. Alfred Sayon, Grand Kru technical committee head, has threatened to protest unfavorable refereeing decisions when his side square-off with Nimba in the football division. Already, it is being said that Nimba County will win the tournament. And the person, who has said that, told me Sayon, you guys can play but I dont see your chances. And I asked why? He said that you know you are going to play Nimba County. Do you know what it means to play Nimba County? The president of the LFA [Musa Bility] comes from there. LFA director of referees [Stanley Ebenezer Konah] comes from Nimba and he assigns referees for the tournament. So with the revelation from my friend, there are two issues: professionalism and loyalty will come into play. As much as the referees will want to be professional, they have a loyalty to Konah. And I am throwing this out as a challenge that it is already known that Nimba County will win the game, Sayon pointed-out on UNMIL Radios Sport Extra program on Monday. From Buchanan, Grand Bassa to Voinjama, Lofa and from Greenville, Sinoe to Gbarnga, Bong Counties, there have been outcries of poor officiating in favor of the hosts. But Sayon, a seasoned sports administrator, was quick to concede that he will be a good loser if the match officials prove their skeptics wrong. I am a sports man. So that will be it if I lose fairly. While I dont allude to that but that is a factor that cant be ruled out. Last year when Cape Mount beat Nimba, Stanley Konah suspended the referee despite that fact that the referee handled a fair game but because Nimba lost to Cape Mount, Sayon recalled. It is still not clear whether the games will go ahead following threats by Gbarpolu, who lost Tuesdays protest hearing filed against Sinoe, to seek a writ of injunction from the Civil Law Court.