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INSIDE THIS EDITION

EDITORIAL
In Loving Memory of Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela
See Pg. 4

300 Homes to Get Electricity Before Christmas

www.liberianobserver.com

COMMENTARY
When the Boughs Break: Liberias Educational Crisis
See Pg. 4

By Ishmael F. Menkor

ver 300 homes are expected to get electricity from the West African Power Pool before this Christmas the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has said. LECs Ganta office on Tuesday, December 10, began pole to house connections six

months after the electricity was tested upon crossing over to Liberia from neighboring La Cte dIvoire. According to the LEC Chief Engineer in Nimba, Mr. Joseph Leay, before the seasons, including Christmas and New Years Day, more than 300 houses in Ganta and its environs will be connected to electricity. This past July, electricity

Contd on pg. 10

LOCAL NEWS
CSO Launches Prison Program
See Pg. 3

FARMER
Peri-urban Farmers Face Land Crisis
See Pg. 6b

-UL President, Dr. Emmet E. Dennis

See story on Pg.10

UL Clears 1,316 for Graduation, Be Vigorous As Diplomats 985 Dropped ----Foreign Minister Ngafuan Urges Graduates
LEC in the process of connecting homes in Ganta

By David A. Yates

Ngafuan told graduates that the Foreign Service is a place

Contd on pg. 10

BUSINESS
LBDI Mortgage Scheme on Course
See Pg. 9

SPORTS
Sebwe: Mandela Inspired Us Through Hand Shakes
See Pg. 11

Test Gray First

-Public Challenges CDC Lawmaker on the Drug Test Hes Proposing
n the wake of Representative Acarous Moses Grays recent call for public officials--- especially those within the security sector---to take drug tests as a demon-

Dr. Emmet E. Dennis

he Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has urged graduates of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to be energetic in their operations as Liberian diplomats in foreign countries. Speaking Wednesday, December 11, at the graduation ceremony of 38 persons from the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, Minister

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DAILY OBSERVER Thursday,Thursday, December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013

Pope Francis Named Time Magazines Person of the Year

World News

Huge Crowds File Past Nelson Mandelas Body in Pretoria

Page 2

Foreign Briefs
(BBC) - Indias top court has upheld a law which criminalises gay sex, in a ruling seen as a major blow to gay rights. The Supreme Court ruling reverses a landmark 2009 Delhi High Court order which had decriminalised homosexual acts. The court said it was up to parliament to legislate on the issue. According to Section 377, a 153-year-old colonial-era law, a same-sex relationship is an unnatural offence and punishable by a 10-year jail term.

India

Pope Francis has struck a markedly different tone to his predecessors on several issues since his election in March
(BBC) - Pope Francis has been named Person of the Year by Time magazine. During his nine months in office, the Pope had pulled the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, managing editor Nancy Gibbs said. Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly - young and old, faithful and cynical, she added. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was runner-up. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the then cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires, was made Pope last March. He named himself Francis after a 12th Century Italian saint who turned his back on an aristocratic lifestyle to work with the poor. Ever since Pope Francis made his first appearance on the central balcony of St Peters Basilica on the evening of 13 March, the Vatican has basked in the glow of positive media as he touched hearts across the globe by embracing people with deformities, reaching out to the mentally and physically disabled, kissing the feet of young prisoners, including a Muslim woman, and launching a global consultation on the family. Since then, he has eschewed some of the more regal trappings of high office, made headlines by washing the feet of prisoners, and is planning some major reforms to the Church. In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very centre of the central conversations of our time: about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalisation, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power, Ms Gibbs wrote. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said it was a positive sign that one of the international medias most prestigious recognitions had been given to a person who proclaims.. spiritual, religious and moral values and speaks out forcefully in favour of peace and greater justice. The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honours, said Mr Lombardi. But if the choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the Gospel a message of Gods love for everyone - he will certainly be happy about that. This is the third time a Pope has received the recognition from Time magazine.

Mr Mandelas widow Graca Machel was among those who filed past his coffin on Wednesday
(BBC) - Thousands of South Africans have queued to view the body of former President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria. Mr Mandelas body was lying in state at the government buildings where he was sworn in as South Africas first black president in 1994. Among those paying their respects were his widow Graca Machel, President Jacob Zuma, celebrities including Bono and other relatives and officials. Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday. They came in wheelchairs and pushchairs - black, white and everything in between. Some broke down in tears and needed to be supported; others were just subdued. There was certainly no singing. I met an Asian and a black family who had made friends while waiting for hours in the queue for the buses coming to the Union Buildings. Some said that seeing the body meant they could accept their tata, or father, had really his death had united people all over the world. I think he would have been completely humbled by it, to see so many people just share their love, their appreciation, just the sense of appreciation that he has given them, he said. Patience of the crowds People queued in various parts of the city for the chance to see Mr Mandelas body. Thousands managed to gain entry, but the BBCs Peter Biles in Pretoria says hundreds more were turned away before public viewing ended at 17:30 (15:30 GMT). Mr Mandelas coffin will be lying in state for two more days, so the disappointed can try again on Thursday or Friday. Our correspondent says those queuing have shown enormous patience with the lengthy process of gaining admission, which involves stringent security checks. Earlier, crowds watched as the coffin was taken in procession shock to see that instantly recognisable face lying very peacefully Mr Mandelas remains

instructed its production staff to cut away from live footage of President Jacob Zuma, because he was being booed by sections of the crowd. SABC has denied the allegation. Nelson Mandelas body lies in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria 11-13 December Coffin taken every morning from the mortuary to the Union Buildings Public encouraged to line the route Mandela family and selected visitors viewed the body from 10:00 on Wednesday; open to public from midday The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday Ndaba Mandela told the BBC that his grandfather would not have been bothered by the

(BBC) - UN forces have launched an offensive against a Rwandan rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a new move to end regional instability. The FDLR was the next target following the defeat of M23 rebels and a key road had already been recaptured, the UNs force commander Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz told the BBC. Neighbouring Rwanda views the FDLR as major threat to its stability.The group is accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Some 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were killed in the conflict. (BBC) - The French army has confirmed that it killed 19 people in a clash with suspected Islamists in Mali. A spokesman for the operation said the dead men had been buried in the desert after a gun battle north of Timbuktu. He added that there had been no French casualties. France still has up to 3,000 soldiers in Mali, after intervening in January to oust Islamist and secessionist rebels who had occupied the north of the country.

DR Congo

Mali

South Africans queued for hours to get a glimpse of their hero

will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced. The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets, it said. Crowds cheered and sang as the convoy sped past. Seeing him passing by was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just wanted to see him passing for the last time, said one mourner, Grace. Meanwhile the government has been criticised over several mistakes in its handling of Mr Mandelas memorial service on Tuesday. Deaf viewers claim that the official sign language interpreter was inept, with signs that were arbitrary and did not make sense. There were also difficulties with transport: dozens of trains that had been reserved to take people to the stadium were delayed due to power failures. The South African newspaper City Press alleged that the state broadcaster SABC booing. He is a man of the people and one who respects and understands that the people must express their opinions no matter whether they are with you or against you, he said. But presidential spokesman Lindiwe Zulu said the booing was humiliating and those responsible would be dealt with. One of the dignitaries at the memorial event, former Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, had his home broken into while he was away, an aide has told reporters. After Mr Mandelas body has lain in state for three days, the military will fly him to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria. A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse. The BBCs Clive Myrie spoke to a group of mourners who said they wanted to see the late president for the last time Mr Mandelas body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony. A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings. Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events.

Small crowds had already gathered as the coffin was driven through Pretoria on the way to the Union Buildings
gone. Thobeka Mohlahlo came with her two young children and so did not actually see the body, but just being here helped. A white soldier was helping her by carrying one of the children towards the bus. Nelson Mandela would be proud how far his rainbow nation has come. His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday, as part of a series of commemorations. The former presidents grandson, Ndaba Mandela, said his grandfather would have been touched by the way from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings. The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances. Andrew Harding: Its a

(BBC) - Police have abandoned an attempt to dislodge anti-government protesters from their strongholds in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. Clashes erupted at the occupied city hall hours after riot police tried to clear nearby Independence Square - prompting the US to express disgust. The president said force would not be used against peaceful protesters. The demonstrations were sparked by the governments refusal to sign a deal on closer ties with the European Union. (BBC) - Nineteen fighters from Ugandas Lords Resistance Army (LRA) have surrendered following an offensive against the rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Ugandan army says. Six children were among those who gave themselves up, the army said. The LRA was forced out of Uganda in 2005 and since then has wreaked havoc in CAR and other neighbouring states.

Ukraine

Uganda

The mood was celebratory rather than sombre in most places

CSO Launches Prison Program Children Urged to

new civil society organization, Network of Prison and Judicial Monitors, Tuesday, December 10, launched a program that is aimed at ensuring higher standards in Liberias prisons as well as more humane treatment of convicts. The new organization will monitor prisons across the 15 sub-political divisions of Liberia and play an advocacy role on unsanitary and overcrowded conditions of various facilities. The Network also plans to look at cases that have seen the trials of inmates delayed. The head of the Network Mr. N. Russell Allen said, The organization is joining the United Nations Mission in

DAILY OBSERVER Thursday,Thursday, December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013

Page 3

By Alvin Worzi

Head of network of prison and judicial monitors

Liberia (UNMIL) and others civil society organizations (CSOs) for the improvement of prison facilities in the country. He said the organization has identified twelve independent civil society organizations

5-Yr Human Rights Action Plan Launched

By David A. Yates
Rights, and was held at the Multi Purpose building in New Kru Town. It was jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). In her launching remarks, Cllr. Wheatonia Y. DixonBarnes, Deputy Minister for Administration and Public Safety at MOJ, added that the plan outlines specific points of action that would be taken to improve the protection of individual rights, especially the rights of vulnerable or marginalized groups. She disclosed that civil society organizations from the private sector were all involved in

as partners for the efficient operation of the network in Liberia. Mr. Allen disclosed that the Catholic Justice and Peace (JPC) Commission (JPC), Community Aid for Sustainable Empowerment (CASE), and the Liberian Association of Psychosocial Services (LAPS) were signatories in support of the network. According to him, the network was being funded by member organizations as an initial way to begin operations across the country. Mr. Allen has described the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP), on Center Street, as one of their prime areas of concentration due to its over-crowdedness and other vices. He said MCP compound has outlived its usefulness and needs

to be relocated, stating the need to promote and protect human rights at prisons in the country cannot be understated. Mr. Allen added that the organization will engage stakeholders through the rule of law to achieving the networks goals. He used the occasion to urge the Judicial Branch to maintain its independence, because human rights are foreign to no culture, he furthered that, the government needs to create the environment for ensuring human rights are maintained in the country. According to Mr. Allen, the network would ensure prisons are monitored in collaboration with law enforcement and the justice sector as part of its initiative as a civil society organization.

As HOPE, Others, Host National Child Rape Conference

Report Rape

five-year action plan that would explain governments position on human rights policies, while detailing its intention toward promoting, expanding, and protecting the rights of all citizens and residents has been launched. Under the banner of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP), those involved seek to address civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights, with a specific focus on the issues of women, children, and persons with disabilities. The campaign launched on Tuesday, December 11, under the theme: Working for Your

the process of developing the NHRAP. According to her, not a single institution that can deals with human rights issue by itself, instead it will need to ensure the participation and cooperation of multiple actors. The Deputy Justice Minister explained that NHRAP is a policy document created to help realize the advancement of human rights in Liberia. Tamrat Samuel, the UNMIL Deputy Special Representative and Secretary-General for Rule of Law, admitted that government was making tremendous efforts to support human rights in the country. The promotion and protection of human rights has been a major

focus of the United Nations since its establishment in 1945, Mr. Samuel disclosed. He however called on every Liberian to respect the new (NHRAP) campaign, which, he said is intended to strengthen the human right case in the country. In her statement, Justice Gladys Johnson, the INCHR acting chair called on government, civil society stakeholders, and the international community, to monitor and assess the respect of human rights in Liberia. She said the plan is Liberias first-ever national Human Rights Action Plan. Therefore both public and private institutions, NGOs, and civil society shall have maximum publicity in the implementation of the action plan NHRAP. NHRAP is a governmentowned initiative with support from the European commission, and is developed in response to the 1993 Vienna Declaration and program of action. The operational and logistical costs to extend our loan programs in Rivercess as well as other leeward counties are enormous and no amount of interest on those loans can defray the costs of managing. But when we decided to open up shop in Liberia in 2006, we were driven by one motivation: to uplift the women and people of Liberia from the destitution they were experiencing after decades of civil war. It is a mission we have remain committed to and this is more than just a job for us. It is something that we are passionate about and fully committed to achieving, said Mrs. Peal, who was a speaker at the 2012 TEDWomen Conference, where she used the opportunity to share FFWLs poverty alleviation success story with the world. The story of FFWLs tenacious resolve to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea to uplift them from poverty despite the challenges is one that is being replicated in many manifolds all over Liberia. In only seven years of operation in Liberia, FFWL has already extended its microcredit program to 14 of Liberias 15 provincial counties. And this against the backdrop of daunting infrastructural, logistical and operational challenges that in some instances make the complications FFWL experienced in Modowhea seem rather moderate.

Going Beyond the Call of Duty to Assist the Poorest of the Poor
FFWL Employs a Unique Mixture of Innovation and Passion to Eradicate Poverty in Liberia
By Moco McCaulay
Rivercess County. But, even by Liberian standards, a country only beginning to find its footing after decades of a devastating civil war where basic amenities such as electricity and running water are a luxury even in Monrovia, Liberias capital city, Modowhea was a town caught in a time warp of an olden period. With no communications network readily accessible in the town, residents have to scale a 12-foot tree in the middle of the town or walk two hours through the forest to reach a high peak before they can get a signal to use their cell phones to reach the outside world. But the FFWL staff decided nonetheless to make a trip to Modowhea to independently review the situation in the town to see if they could find a means to extend their loan program to help those poor rural women claw their way out of poverty. The 200-mile trip from Monrovia to Modowhea over unpaved pothole-riddled roads is grueling even during the dry season, but it is even more treacherous during the rainy season when the roads are hen a group of women arrived unannounced at the head office of the Foundation for Women Liberia (FFWL) in Monrovia one sunny afternoon in March 2013, they had heard about FFWLs loan program to help women grow their small businesses and they had come to beseech FFWL to extend the program to their town. The staff of FFWL could have told the women that they needed to first set up an appointment or that they should present their request in writing and or even dismissed them saying that FFWL only made such decisions based on fiscal and operational considerations. And they would have been right. However, they did none of that. The staff of FFWL, led by its CEO, Emily Peal, sat down with the women and listened to their requests. The women had come all the way from Modowhea, a town located 200 miles from Monrovia in the boondocks of

transformed into a quagmire of thick soggy mud that literally swallows up vehicles up to the tip of the tires. In Modowhea, FFWL found that there was not even a banking institution in the whole county of Rivercess, and only one money transfer agent in Cestos City, the countys main city. That notwithstanding, and even when the sole money transfer agent demanded to be put on FFWLs payroll to wire the womens monthly loan payments to FFWL account in Monrovia, FFWL still found a means to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea. After considering other options including monthly commercial travel to Monrovia which was not cost effective, FFWL entered into an agreement with the only nurse in the town who made monthly trips to Monrovia to act as a courier to deliver the womens monthly loan payment to FFWL. Why did FFWL literally find a way out of no way to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea to help pull them out of poverty?

elping Our People Excel, Inc. (HOPE) in partnership with anti-child rape campaigners Monday, December 9, hosted a National Childrens Rape Conference. In that conference, children were told what to do when anyone attempts to or rapes them. The kids were also told how to report it. Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh from the Ministry of Justice, said that children should not be afraid to speak out when they have been victimized. She also urged parents across the country to be vigilant in reporting any rape cases when they are observed. From 2009 to 2013, 34 rapists have been convicted and are serving their sentences handed down by the Court, Mrs. Kerpeh disclosed. Cllr. Kerpeh is calling on parents to be brave in dealing with rape issue, adding that the justice system was only strong enough to prosecute perpetrators with support from the victims. A petition statement is in collaboration with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence that was launched on the 25th of November, by HOPE in the YMCA conference room. Speaking at a national childrens press conference held at the Ministry of Gender and Development, Mrs. Marimu Fofana, Chair Representative for the Committee on Gender at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said it was also highly important for the awareness of teenage pregnancy to be observed among children so they can understand that their reproductive organs are underdeveloped for child birth. She added that rape should be everyones business, because for a society to move forward its children must be protected. Mrs. Deddeh Kwekwe of the Ministry of Gender and Development said that the 2014 plan to combat gender based violence would focus on prevention and education of the public, adding that we must increase the awareness to talk And, despite the tremendous success of FFWLs microcredit program which has so far disbursed over 7000 loans to impoverished women in urban and rural communities across Liberia, helping to raise recipients incomes by 50%, FFWL is engaged in a holistic approach to poverty alleviation in Liberia. Not only does FFWL also offer loans to disabled individuals, but believing that education is a critical facet in its efforts to eradicate poverty in Liberia, FFWL also provides adult literacy classes for its members and offers education scholarships for their children. FFWL also recently launched a new loan program called The School Loan Program to support Liberian schools. Working in partnership with Edify, a Christian non-profit organization in San Diego, California, FFWL

Alvin Worzi & Gloria T. Tamba

Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh

more about it. She mentioned Montserrado and Margibi as the counties with the highest incidence of rape in the country, and maintained that parents should take serious measures to stop violence against their children for the betterment of their homes and the country as a whole. Mrs. Kwekwe said the ministry was also working with traditional authorities to curb the rate of early marriages in the rural areas. She called on all parents and guardians to stop acting as accomplices to in the early marriages of their children under 18, a practiced she described as the destruction of their future. The executive Director HOPE inc., Doctor Keturah York Cooper, warned rapists in the country to desist from killing the future of Liberia. Mrs. Cooper said the future of the nations children is uncertain due to the high level of rape in the country, saying that the war is not over for our children, we must fight for their future against rapists. She said it was time that Liberians stand up against rape and build the minds of the children for the betterment of future generations as well as the countrys image. During the conference a petition statement was read by Abraham Keita, the spokesperson of the child anti-rape campaigners, to the stakeholders present. Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh from the Ministry of Justice received the petition statement and promised to work with the children of this country to put an end to rape. has started disbursing loans to Liberian schools to help them improve existing infrastructures, construct additional classrooms, setup computer labs and other educational technology, acquire school buses and school equipment. With 80% of Liberians living below the poverty line, and despite the efforts of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Havard-trained economist and Africas first woman head of state, to attract investors into the country, it is certainly not a stretch to conclude that it is only through the complementary commitment of an organization like FFWL that a greater number of Liberians will finally be lifted from poverty. And, it is a task the staff of FFWL has set their hands on the plow to achieve through innovation and compassion.

Tuesday, November 5, 12, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 2013

Page 4

Published by Liberian Observer Corporation P.O. Box 1858, Monrovia

Liberias First Independent Daily 0886812888, 0886472772 www.liberianobserver.com

In Loving Memory of Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela

Guest Editorial By Varney Arthur Yengbeh, Jr.

Once upon a time, a man lived and walked on the earth. He grew up from humble beginnings in a village and reached a million points of light on earth and the highest stars in the heaven above. After 27 unbroken years in prison, he walked outside without bitterness and vengeance on February 11, 1990. He worked to either live or die for a free and democratic South Africa where blacks and whites are equal. With a strong spirit of true peace and reconciliation, he liberated both the oppressed and oppressors in his native South Africa and the World. During his lifetime, Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela embodied a character of a good human being who sacrificed self and family for liberty, justice and forgiveness of others. He showed genuine love to all without fear and favor. He wanted nothing in return while giving everything to everyone freely. His unwavering desire was that every man and woman must be treated equally. Never wanting material worth and power, Madiba, as he was affectionately called, changed the lives of millions of people around the globe. No creed, race and religion could even stop his unflinching love for humanity and courage. Mandela performed his duty on earth selflessly and faithfully. Everyone knew that the end was near, although nobody knew the precise hour when death would take him home to God. On December 5, 2013, at the age of 95, a great man has flown away to be with the great and faithful saints. Millions of people are praying, dancing and celebrating his good life, while more would pray and rejoice for the demise of tyrants in Africa. Even false rumors of death bring great joy on the faces of their citizens. A heart seems to stop just thinking about this. There must be no mistake, however! The moral dimension of each reaction in these cases is different. This is totally justifiable. If and only if African leaders would follow the examples of the Father of the Nation, African countries and World at large will be a better place. There would be no more wars and rumors of wars. Poverty and disease would be things of the past. Sons and daughters of Africa would not have to travel to faraway places and prefer to die there. Most Africans in the Diaspora would return home. Africa would be able to unleash its fullest potential and creativity as well as fully participate in a truly competitive multipolar world order. A giant is today gone; however, his legacy is timeless. Mandela lived and still lives on today, tomorrow and forever. The rainbow nation will celebrate and remember his good life. Mandela now rests in perfect peace with God who reigns over His throne of indescribable majesty and splendor. The whole world loves Nelson Mandela, but God loves him even more. Thanks be to God!

If and only if African leaders would follow the examples of the Father of the Nation, [Nelson Mandela] African countries and the world at large will be a better place... Sons and daughters of Africa would not have to travel to faraway places and prefer to die there.

When the Boughs Break: Liberias Educational Crisis

Jackie N. Sayegh (Jsb25@ cornell.edu)
That the government of Liberia, and by default the Ministry of Education, has abdicated its responsibility to educate our children is an understatement. Every church, cult, quasi agency and organization now operate a school in the country and subject our children to learning a term I use as loosely as possible. There are schools everywhere, but more schools mean nothing on its own. Inexperienced, underpaid, overworked teachers are forced to tackle overcrowded classrooms (thanks to free primary education) with few resources and even fewer support systems. The recent travel abroad of 17 educators to study early childhood educational systems is an exercise in futility. No tour, curriculum, or workshop will hide what our children and their parents face on a daily basis in their desire for an education or the education of their children. Given the 2012 report of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) that measures 15-year-old students reading, mathematics, cross-curricular competencies and science literacy, it would seem that Liberia would have been better served had the educators visited East Asia instead. Of the students that took the PISA tests, those from China, Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada performed the best. The US ranked 17. The stark reality is that our education system is in freefall and we need to examine and address the causes that underlie this crisis. Sen writes that in a society where so much depends on the written medium, being illiterate is like being imprisoned, and school education opens a door thorough which people can escape incarceration. We need to demand that the MOE turns the key to open the door. Let us start with some basics: Nimba County has the highest amount of registered primary school (grades 1-6) students in the nation - 55,605, Lofa has 31,082. It would seem the student to teacher ratio is more than adequate- Nimba has 2,309 teachers (21.8 student- to -teacher ratio) and Lofa has 1,446 teachers (23.3 student-to-teacher ratio). All things being equal, this would seem an ideal environment for the education of our kids. (Liberia Education Statistics) But to hope is to expect and all things are never equal. In Nimba, the percentage of primary schools without access to water is 49%, without toilet facilities - 34%, and without electricity - 97%. In Lofa, the percentage of primary schools with no access to water is 60%, no access to toilet facilities -25% and no electricity, 97%. The percentage of primary schools without a library in Nimba is 92.6% and in Lofa 90.5%. (Liberia Education Statistics). Now, is it possible for our children, or anyone, to learn in this environment, an environment where there exists easy access to mobile phones but not to clean and functional toilets? The MOE site touts that that - This Ministry is the first government entity to have a multi-language website (English, French and Spanish). Well, that is great, but could we start with toilet facilities first? Are there standard hours for a school day? How does one go about operating a school? What kinds of structures qualify for the designation of a school? Is just having a roof and walls to shield our children from the torrential rains and the scorching sun adequate enough to be called a school? Who teaches our children and what are they teaching them? The inadequacies are not present at all schools. There are some schools (mostly in Montserrado county) that possess all the necessary bells and whistles to be fully functional and to turn out stellar students. But these schools do not make up a large percentage of all schools and we need to have our children (of all income levels) educated to be able to take on the challenges of development and nation building. Education is not the cause of war but it does have the possibility either to intensify or to alleviate the conditions that contribute to war. Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair in Education at the University of Ulster Northern Ireland explains that we need to focus on education because unequal access to education is often one of the most powerful ways in which dominant groups maintain unequal access to power and wealth between groups within conflict-affected societies often reproduced from one generation to the next The old system of teaching in many African countries, introduced by colonists, was to learn by rote, memorization to become proper civil servants, not to question orders but to get the job done the way one was taught. The PISA report states that in the countries that led the ranking, students reproduced what they had learned in various situations. The world economy will pay an ever-rising premium on excellence, and that todays economy no longer rewards people simply for what they know -- Google already knows everything-- but for what they can do with what they know. We need transformative learning where our children can ask questions, delve into the answers, and create sustainable paths to sustained peace, so we need our students to be able to READ! The problem with Liberia is not that it is poor, but that it is poorly managed writes Robtel Pailey and that is true. Priority areas are not given priority. One only has to look at the nations budget to get a partial

OBSERVER CARTOON WITH A. Leslie Lumeh E-mail: leslie@leslielumeh.com www.leslielumeh.com

glimpse of the problem. The National Legislature budget of 2013/2014 touts transportation reimbursement as $1,104,900 and then other specialized materials and services which accounts for $ 1,366,113. The special allowance for the National Legislature is a pork filled barrel of unspecified goodies. Under the term special allowance we have $3,204,000 allotted and let us not forget their foreign travel which has as its budget $308,758 along with the foreign travel incidental allowance of $372,679 which should not be mistaken with foreign travel daily subsistence allowance of $595,164. That amount is more than the allotment for the basic salaries of educators at the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute -$200,000 or the allotment to Bong Community College - $219, 767. It is more than the MCSS gets to renovate all MCSS Schools and computer systems from 20122015 ($250,000) (Liberia National Budget 2013/2014). Of course arguably more funding on education would not automatically translate into better performance, but it is worth a try. Education must be at a premium in Liberia. If we want a transformed country, one that values law and order, one that is civil in its dissent and courageous enough to take a stand, our kids must become educated. Increase the salaries of teachers, train the teachers, build facilities for our children, enable them to learn in a nurturing environment and then see what happens. Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another writes Chesterton and we need to give the children a healthy soul to inhabit. Let there be a concerted effort from the relevant ministries and other agencies of government to educate and empower teachers, to make learning an experience that can happen within and outside the classroom and to let the class room be a place without fear and intimidation for our children. The government must direct resources for safe, sanitary and sustainable environment where all our kids can learn and feel that they are valued. Either that or sit back and reap the consequences of our inaction. References: CNN Opinion What Asian Students can teach the rest of the World Andreas Schleicher, Dec. 3, 2013 Liberian Educational Statistics Budget, Republic of Liberia 2013/2014 Drze, Jean, and Amartya Sen. 2013. An uncertain glory: India and its contradictions. Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair, University of Ulster. Education and Conflict. Pailey, Robtel Neajai. Liberias education system should take its cue from Robin Hood. The Guardian

UNICEF Boss Highlights Importance of Birth Registration

As UNICEF Celebrates 67th Anniversary
the awareness on birth registration, he stressed. He called on the media and citizens to work tirelessly by educating new mothers on the importance of birth registration. Birth registration and certification are recognized as a right of the child in Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, The Coordinator of Universal Birth Registration, Mrs. Esther G. Thomas stated. She said Article 7, of the Liberian constitution states that The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents. Mrs. Thomas disclosed that in the absence of birth registration, verification of age of any person is impossible, which has serious implications for young offenders, children working in the commercial sex trade, and child laborers who are being denied access to special protection or treatment provided by the law. This also makes the reduction of the early marriage of girls

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 12, 2013

Page5 4 Page

By Marcus Abayomi Flemister

Energy cant be destroyed It can only be contained Madiba has cast off his earthly remains, His vision calmed his peoples sorrow He fought the past to save tomorrow We cry not for him but what weve lost For others hate he paid the cost The world sings for him sweet songs of joy For his legacy gifts every girl and boy With a steady hand he wrote on historys pages A life we wont forget throughout the ages A warm smile and a serene look He gave to us more than he took Beneath the media hyperbole There was a man of profound soul He gave it all and now must sleep To honor him we should not weep A heros spirit has no end Like a phoenix Madibas ghost ascends Energy cant be destroyed

Lights out

By Gloria T.Tamba

he United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Mr. Sheldon Yett, has highlighted the importance of birth registration as societys recognition and acknowledgement of a childs identity and existence. The UNICEF Boss made the statement yesterday in Monrovia while observing its 67th anniversary, which is celebrated worldwide every year on December 11. According to him birth registration guarantees the child is counted so that they have access to education, health aid, and other important benefits that come from being counted in society. He disclosed that Liberia was in the bottom four percentile among the 10 countries with the lowest birth registration in world, with Liberia being ranked second overall. Liberia is the second lowest in the world for children registration. There is still more work that needs to be done to increase

MOE Dedicates Science Labs

By C.Y. Kwanue

more difficult. Educational and health planning is also hampered by the absence of demographic data provided by birth registration, she stressed. Discussing the importance of a birth certificate, Mrs. Thomas said they serve as achilds ticket to citizenship, which gives the child an identity, proof of existence, and the ability to exercise all other rights including civil and political rights. Birth registration at the MOHSW for children under 13 years is free of charge, while children above 13 pay five hundred Liberian Dollars ($500.00 LD) to get a birth certificate. She also told journalists that the implementation capacity has been strengthened in all the 15 counties to effectively manage, coordinate, and maintain a birth registration and certification system at the county level. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through its Bureau of Vital statistics will ensure that the births of 90 percent of all children less than 13 years are retroactively registered and birth certificates issued.

iniquities At the time they taunted he beckoned back with smiles At the time they planned he waited with valor and faith They in no way knew the hero he would one day become At the time they struck him his pains made him stronger The long time in prison he never let his dream die in there Out he came and proves that still his dream would emulate today In his time he made peace when all though he would fight back In his time he smiled when all thought he would have glared Retribution he refused but rather reconciliation he embraced He is gone but his legacy will forever be etched in millions of hearts Farewell Madiba as you rest in eternal peace with our dear Lord

By Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar
For a first time one is hailed as forever Free from that strings that binds to morals Faithfully he molded his path to be bright Fantastic was the cause for which he fought Famous the prison term for a freedom fighter Fringed near no other giant in living memory Flight on white wings away near to midnight Flameless now the single bright light of time Forever An Icon Created A Frame Friends in struggle torture and statesmanship Foe once to a system that suppressed humans Fastidious that this change had to come for all Fitness a treat for the soul in his four by four cell Frontline the cause of freedom of blacks Fear meant triumph plus for courage in the battles For to be free is not just so but live respectively From a black or white or brown hate is barbaric Forever A Legend Is Gone Home

Nelson Mandela Forever

DOWNFALL
By Varney Gean
Down I might be but it is just a chapter Fallen it seems but I will mount again Dark time befalls me but not eternally Through the torment my faith still firm My melancholic face will beam again My laughter will once more echo higher This is simply a passing time I reckon In all a lesson I learn but you rarely spot In time I will make heads quiver My repute they will bellow all day Down I might be but it is not eternity The bright sun to glitter my face again This chapter rewritten with triumph With honor and gallantry I return

he Ministry of Education (MOE) in partnership with the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) on Tuesday, December 10, dedicated the newly constructed science laboratories at the Harbel Multilateral High School (HMHS) in Lower Margibi County. The exercise, according to the consultant to the Minister of Education, Victoria Kahn Kennedy, is part of MOEs partnership with NOCAL aims at enhancing and or improving science education across the country. The exercise, she said, will cover the entire country, but in strategic locations of other high schools to benefit students in nearby communities or schools. The laboratories contain

(In honor of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela) By: Lekpele Nyamalon

When you stood up with hands in the skies, wanting to touch the face of the sky Vowing to invoke freedom to a land, struck by violence against your race- the black man You stood tall, taller than Kilimanjaro, your fist, mightier than steels back You did it son! You did it Madiba! From the gates of Robben Island, you were locked, chained like a cattle Nailed to the wall, stuck with yourself, filled with grief for a nation that lived in your heart In your dream, you could see horrors and nightmares, questions looming in your minds What am I doing? Can I fight the devil of apartheid? Can I nail his fist? Can I take him to the ocean and leave him there to drown? One day you will, echoed by the breeze and yea you did! You did it father! You did it Madiba! On the floor of Pollsmoor prison, you were thrown, bare, left to rot, forgotten from the minds of people Maybe someday youd freeze or fret, or get blown away with a storm that blows like a hurricane Or youd die, fighting for a cause, bigger than your heart, or youd bargain for your release, bargain for a house, or car or a place at the table. But you didnt, you kept doing your thing! You did it comrade! You did it Madiba! At victor vester prison, youd lie on your back, weary of the future, What a land did you dream of? A nation with arms wide as an octopus that can hold all of its citizens A land for the white, the black, the Indian, the Africans, the blue the purple- the rainbow nation! Today, youve made it! Youve written your name, solid in the caves of history, your country is a rainbow nation. You did it Nelson! You did it Madiba! country. In two separate remarks, HMHS Principal Bee Myers Mortee, and president of the student government, John K. Taylor, expressed gratitude for the ceremony. They promised to maintain them at all times, and also use them for the intended purpose.

You did it, Madiba!

Where The Stars Fall

By Matenneh-Rose L. Dunbar
Reach high into the abstract skies With open palms cuddle the clouds Gather them like you fold cotton Picked white form the willowy shrub Someplace beneath the dried leaves Where The Stars Fall A shiny twinkle is laid covered in dust Search calmly the debris will fade off And to your amazement some reward Stand sturdy to withstand the fast darts Crystal strands flutter like dust particles Where The Stars Fall Right other greats fell in like manner Wiggling aggressively to bounce back Gaining the magnitude once possessed Priced as a place of up rising to the wean Somber for victory propels to new levels Where The Stars Falls Attired sharp for lost time robs winners Silver as the glow in the darkness of night Alleviate small thoughts which only slows Subscribe to the Heavenly for more gold Candid as the early dew flaunt your styli Where The Stars Fall

Mr. Norman (c) cut the ribbon to the labs as MOE officials and students look on with excitements
rican Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSC), and it is based on this that we are collaborating with NOCAL to encourage our students to turn out for that academic challenge. WASSCE is a type of standardized test in West Africa. and or better equipped laboratories. This, she said, was not healthy for the education sector of the country. Also, during another round of meeting with WAEC regarding the poor performance by the students, Mrs. Kotchi assured members of WAEC from other West African countries that Liberia students would do better in the exams in the coming years. WAEC is being controlled by the Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia. The Deputy Ministers assumption is due primarily to the construction and dedication of several other well-equipped laboratories across the country for high school students. With our ongoing exercise to recruit trained science teachers, coupled with the arrival of the Peace Corps and other volunteered teachers from the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS), who are focused in the sciences, we can rest assure that our students will come out with flying colors in the coming years. Deputy Minister Kotchi then expressed the MOEs gratitude to NOCAL for the partnership, which she believes would ensure that Liberia students have hand-on knowledge in the science subjects and to also get at-

Students view some of the items in the chemistry Lab

chemistry, physics and biology safety materials including goggles, gloves, coats, etc. Earlier in a special statement at the dedicatory ceremony, deputy Education Minister, Hawa Goll-Kotchi, informed the audience that the construction of the laboratories will enable them (students) perform better in the science subjects during the annual nationwide test administer by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). We are trying to establish laboratories in all our public schools because were moving toward the writing of West AfIt is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WACE). It is only offered to candidates residing in Anglophone West African countries including Liberia. The WASSCE, also known as the General Certificate Examinations (GCE) allow all students both private and public schools to take this examination. According to the Deputy Minister, at a recent meeting with WAEC officials in Monrovia, her office was informed that students across the country have always failed the science courses due primarily to the lacked of basic science teaching materials

Farewell Madiba (For You Nelson Mandela)

By Varney Gean
At the time they laughed he wiped his embattled tears At the time they smiled he frowned on their tracted to the courses. She then stressed the need for more corporate government partnerships particularly in the area of education. MOEs intention is to ensure that public schools are wellequipped and considered places for education to draw the attention of students. Before cutting the ribbon to

the labs, NOCAL vice president for Corporate Social Affairs, Pete Norman said, the dedication of the laboratories is to buttress governments effort aimed at enhancing education in the country. The laboratories construction is a three-year project, which NOCAL in partnership with the MOE is undertaking across the

DAILY OBSERVER

Thursday December 12, 2013

Page 6

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Nelson Mandela
Peter Engels www.peterengels.eu

In remembrance of one mans tremendous wisdom, heroism and forgiveness.

Ecobank expresses deepest condolences to South Africa on the great loss of their beloved former President Nelson Mandela. Ecobank celebrates Mr Mandelas great contributions to the African continent and the world and recognises him as one of Africas greatest leaders of all time. May his spirit of love, peace and unity continue to lead and guide Africa.

ecobank.com
3230_GRP_Press-ad_Mandela_Tribute_14x10in_P_EN.indd 1 06/12/2013 15:49

DAILY OBSERVER Thursday,Thursday, December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013

Jeanine Cooper of Brussels, with the United Nations, and Verica Cooper Hill Emmet married Nancy Richards Cooper, daughter of the famous Matilda (Tilly) Richards, grandmother of former Foreign Minister Olubanke Akerele and C.T.O. King III. Emmett and Nancys three daughters are Yvonne, who married a member of the Ferrari family of Italy, Geraldine and Precious Matilda Cooper. The third person on the photograph is Richard Abrom Henries, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. Henries came from a poor family and started his career as a school teacher. He was good in Math and immediately started teaching the subject at Liberia College. While in eldest son George E. Henries, named after his grandfather, that he, Speaker Henries had not thought of going into politics. But some members of the True Whig Party came and told him they wanted him to run for a seat in the House of Representatives for Monrovia. Thats where it started, and I got elected, he told his son George. In 1951, when Speaker Benjamin Greene Freeman was nominated as running mate to President Tubman at the TWP convention in Monrovia, the House chose R.A. Henries as their Speaker. He held that position until the April 12, 1980 coup dtat. Mr. Henries was on the Liberian delegation to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, and

he Daily Observer today presents our third History and Us column using a photograph we recently discovered of four outstanding Liberians, who were members of the Class of 1927 of the College of West Africa (CWA). They were all old Monrovia boys. The first in the photograph, far left, was James B. Dennis, most probably the tallest in the class, who rose to become Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Tubman administration. He was later appointed by President Tubman as Liberian Ambassador to the United Arab Republic (Egypt) and to Syria; and later as Ambassador to Spain. We know of two sons of James B. DennisMax Beverly Dennis, Consultant to the Minister of Justice, R.L. and former Minister of Youth and Sports under the administrations of Presidents Charles Taylor and Moses Blah. Max later became Ambassador-at-Large during the Taylor administration. Maxs younger brother, James B. Dennis, Jr., also entered the financial sector. He became the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia. Max and JBs paternal grandfather was Joseph Samuel Dennis, Secretary of War (now Defense), whose father was James Benjamin Dennis. He was the son of the Dennis patriarch of the Dennis family in Liberia, Henry Wesley Dennis. Joseph Samuel Dennis, the Secretary of War, was also grandmaster of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, but died in the grandmasters chair in the Masonic Temple, then located at the corner of Broad and Lynch Streets, just next to the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. According to Max Dennis, his paternal grandmother was Ma Williette Jesina Payne, granddaughter of President James Spriggs Payne. Ma Williette Paynes father was Beverly Yates Payne, one of three sons of President James Spriggs Payne. One was Samuel Payne, father of Mrs. Georgia Payne Cooper, who served for many years as Secretary of the Liberian Senate. She was first married to Jesse Reed Cooper, son

Four Classmates of Destiny

of Jimmy Cooper, the wealthy Liberian rubber planter, landholder and presidential aspirant, who lost to W.V.S. Tubman in the 1943 elections. Jesse and Georgia Payne Cooper were blessed with two sons, Sam Payne Cooper, a lawyer, who became Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during the

accountant and Deputy Postmaster General under McKinley A. DeShield, and Julius, who became an agronomist and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and later Minister for Action, Development and Progress. The third child was a daughter, Ora Cooper Butler, wife of Robert (Bobby)

(From left) James B. Dennis, John Louis Cooper, Richard Abrom Henries and R.S.S. Bright
Tubman administration; and Bismark Cooper, who became a geologist. Another son of Georgia Payne Cooper was Baccus Matthew, Sr., father of the revolutionary Liberian politician, G. Baccus Matthews, who became Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately following the 1980 coup dtat. Baccus mother was Rebecca Green of Sinoe County. Max Dennis mother was Angeline Watta Allison, who hailed from the Kissi ethnic group of Foya, Lofa County. J.B. Dennis mother, Sarah Hanky, was a Kru and German extraction. Her mother was Kru and her father German. John Louis Cooper, second on the photograph, was one of Liberias first telecommunication engineers. He was a pioneer of the Liberian Telecommunication system, headquartered at Lynch and Broad Streets. Mr. Cooper was married to Eugenia Simpson Cooper of Clay Ashland. They were blessed with two sons, John Louis, Jr., who became an Butler. John Louis Cooper was the eldest of several outstanding brothers, General Emmet Cooper and Ambassador Roland Cooper. They had a sister, Katherine (Kate) Roberts, who married Dr. Nehemia Cooper, founder of the Cooper S.D.A. Clinic. All of the Cooper brothers became rubber planters and made money. Roland Coopers children were Majorie Cooper Greaves, Eve Cooper and Roland Cooper, Jr. John Louis Cooper was twice married, first to Toulia Dennis of Careysburg, which union was blessed with Dr. Janice Cooper now County Representative for Health of the Carter Center; John III, regional manager for Darden Foods, a restaurant chain in the USA, Ora Eugenia and Helene Cooper, author of the bestselling The House at Sugar Beach and White House correspondent of the New York Times, and Marlene Cooper Vascilic of the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. Julius children include college he got a job cleaning the General market, at the foot Gurley Street, just below Coleman Hill. His father was George E. Henries and mother, Eliza Robinson. The grandmother was Rosina Robertson. Speaker Henries was named Abrom after his grandfather, Abrom Robinson. Richard A. Henries started legal work as Clerk of the Magisterial Court of Monrovia. He was also clerk in the office of the Monrovia City Mayor, James Minor, who lived on the block between McDonald and Carey Streets. He also traveled the country teaching and inspecting schools. That is now following his divorce from Angie Brooks, he befriended and later married Dr. A. Doris Banks Henries, an African American Methodist missionary, who later became a Liberian citizen and Deputy Minister of Education. Doris Banks Henries and her husband wrote many Liberian history books, although he wrote some on her own. Mr. Henries became Chief Clerk of the Treasury Department. He told his therefore became one of the signatories to the UN Charter in San Francisco, California, USA. While in San Francisco, he was appointed a member of the Reorganizing Committee of the International Court of Justice. Mr. Henries was twice married, first to Angie Brooks of Virginia. By that time, Mr. Henries first son was three years old. In later years Angie Brooks made a name for herself and her country by being elected, on September 16, 1969, President of the United Nations General Assembly, the second woman and the third African to hold that position. The union of Mr. Henries and Angie Brooks was blessed with three sons, Richard Abrom, Jr., Wynston J. and Richelieu Henries. He once served for five years as grand master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the nations highest fraternal order. His beloved son George, a true and devoted follower of his father, also became and remains one of Liberias outstanding lawyers and

former Associate Justice. And, like his father, George also served for many years and grand master of Masons. That was 50 years after his father was made grand master. The last person on the photo was Richard S.S, Bright, who became a wealthy rubber planter and real estate entrepreneur. Mr. Bright hailed from the famous Bright family that migrated to Liberia from Sierra Leone in 1898. He and his brothers and sisters were born in Liberia. His brothers were W. Oliver Davies Bright, who ran unsuccessfully against President Tubman for president; and Robert Bright, who became a wealthy poultry producer. Their sisters were Williette Bright Campbell; Mai Bright Robinson, mother of Rosina and Arnold Robinson, Mrs. Marie Davies-Johnson, mother of Mrs. Williette Johnson Jupiter, wife of Dr. Charles Jupiter, a dentist, Dr. Marie Brown, a dentist, married to George Brown of Switzerland; Nancy Knight, wife of Liberian Ambassador to Paris, J. Emery Knight; and Dr. Archie Johnson, the eminent Liberian gynecologist. Mr. R.S.S. Bright once served as Secretary to President Edwin Barclay up to his retirement from the presidency. Mr. Bright later joined the Liberian diplomatic service, and helped former President C.D.B. King open the Liberian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Mr. Bright also served at the Liberian Mission to the United Nations. He was married to Clavenda Sherman Bright daughter of the eminent Liberia politician and statesman of Grand Cape Mount County, Reginald Sherman. This union was blessed with three children, Clavenda who became Mrs. P. Clarence Parker. Clave, as she affectionately called, is Liberias first female pharmacist, a product of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Bright is Onike Bright-Togba, wife Liberias first plastic surgeon, Dr. Joseph N. Togba, son of the first Director General of the National Public Health Service of Liberia. The third child is Richard S.S. Bright, Jr., a Certified Public Accountant. Clave chairs the Board of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA). She is also chair of the board of Ecobank, Liberias largest commercial bank. Mr. R.S.S. Bright, Sr.s first offspring was the late Dr. Cyril Bright, former Liberian Minister of Planning and Economic. Affairs and former Minister of Agriculture.

Page 6a

Tuesday, December November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Thursday, 12, 2013

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Peri-urban Farmers Face Land Crisis

Call for Governments Intervention to Resolve Conflict
until the matter is resolved through the laws. The farmers are members of the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP). The CHAP farming program was introduced in 2010 with support from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the United States Agencies for International Development (USAID). It was meant to demonstrate agriculture production in urban settlements for food security enhancement. This project was highlighted in President Ellen Johnson Sirleafs 2010 Annual Message to the nation as one of her governments achievements in the fight against hunger. However, it is reported that the MoA has since ceased its support toward the program. The Board Chairman of CHAP, Mr. James Bimba, in an ver 100 farmers engaged in agriculture activities on a 75-acre swamp land in Zubah Town, Duport Road, Paynesville, are likely to cease from growing crops this farming season if the Liberian government does not intervene in the land crisis, the farmers are currently going through. The farmers have accused one Madam Oretha Logan, who allegedly took them to the Civil Law Court in Monrovia for using the land she alleged as her personal property. They disclosed that on many occasions, they have been harassed by this lady who, according to them, insists that farming activities must stop

By Judoemue Mohmoh Kollie

Farmers commenced the brushing of the CHAP farmland In Paynesville

exclusive interview on Tuesday told the Daily Observer that the situation concerning the farmers was taken to court since 2008 but not much effort has been applied by government to address the situation. Since five years ago, we were taken to court by Madam Logan for occupying the land she says is her property but government has done nothing to put the matter to rest. Madam Logan usually visits the farm to intimidate us from growing our crops, saying that no farming activities should be carried out until otherwise order, he sadly disclosed. According to Mr. Bimba the vast swampland was given them to cultivate through permission from the management of the Paynesville City Corpo-

Vast Land, But Immense Hunger

A Critical Look: The Case of Agri. in Bong County

Local Farmers Organization Makes SOS Call

ration (PCC). He stated that matter has since reached the attention of the PCC but yet to get a favorable response. We want PCC to step in quickly to put this long matter to rest because they give us the permission to use the land, he said. Mr. Bimba strongly argued that swampland is public land and as such it surprises him that someone could be claiming ownership. There is a document in our possession from PCC that gave us the right to use the land for agriculture purposes, he added. Meanwhile, Mr. Bimba has disclosed that the CHAP project is faced with several constraints such as the lack of financial aid and basic farming implements. We want the Government of Liberia, through the MoA to provide support toward the project, he stressed. He also disclosed that seed rice harvested at last farming season has not being pur-

chased as there is no buyer. We are indeed discouraged about agriculture activities in this country because there is no market to sell our produce, he lamented. When contacted, the Public Relation Officer of the PCC, Jani K. Jallah, disclosed that the concern of the farmers has reached the office of the Mayor of Paynesville. She said investigation into the matter will shortly be launched. At the same time, Madam Logan, who is claiming the land, told our Agriculture Reporter that the land belongs to her grandparents. The land is 75 acres bought by my grandparents with a document that I have presented before the court, she said. She confirmed that the matter is at the Civil Law Court pending speedy investigation. I have stopped the farmers from trespassing on my land until the court can established the issue, she said on the phone.

ong, Nimba and Lofa Counties were once considered the bread baskets of Liberia prior to the outburst of the civil crises that lasted for 14-long years. But, since the cessation (end) of hostilities more than 10 years now, that description of bread baskets has turned, and as the result, there are reports of hunger everywhere, thus causing production of food to overwhelm (over power) the few farmers in those counties. In 2008, the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Services (LISGIS) conducted the population and housing census and it was reported that the country has the inhabitants of 3.5 million persons. Information gathered by our Bong County Correspondent suggests that 89 percent of this population heavily relies

Mr. Stephen Matthews, Coordinator for communal farming

Mr. Joseph Urey, Administrative Assistant to Bong County Supt.

on subsistence farming for survival, 3 percent on rubber farm, 2 percent survives on life skills and 6 percent depends on white-collar jobs for livelihood. With this small population and huge natural resources, vast majority of the people are finding it extremely difficult to put foods on their tables or pay their children school fees. For many years, Liberia, with all the vast a wasted land, has had an entrenched culture of importing rice, its staple food, for its citizens. The Daily Observer sampled the views of the ordinary citizens including local farmers, students and stakeholders on the rapid decline of food production in Bong County. Mr. Stephen Matthews: The Agriculture Commissioner on Communal Farming for Bong County lamented the huge migration of people from the rural communities to the urban areas saying that it is another contributing factor to the increase of hunger in the county.

By Marcus Malayea in Gbarnga, Bong County

You see most of our people leave the villages to come in the city in search for opportunity such as market or job and as such they are no longer involved with farming activities Mr. Matthews emphasized. This migration from the villages to the main towns and cities is affecting the agriculture sector in the county, he added. Another citizen, Mr. Joseph M. Urey, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Bong County, Madam Selena Polson Mappy, said food production has considerably declined in the county due to the artisanal mining companies operations the in the county. If you go in these small, small mining areas, you will notice that the locals, who should be on their farms and farming, are deeply involved in the mining activities than farming, Mr. Urey stressed. The Bong county official indicated with the proliferation of mining activities in the county, many of the farmers are intensely involved with mining as compared to farming as the result the county is not producing the needed food as compared to the past years. Mr. Urey furthered that as the result of more people being involved with the gold mining, it is adversely affecting the agriculture sector, adding that the evidence is the acute disappearance of typical Liberian rice on the local market in the county and yea the country at large. The County Agriculture Coordinator for Bong (CAC), Mrs. Monica Honoree, said another thing which has dropped food production is that another group of the rural populations

Mr. Henry Bedell, Head of the Grow What You Eat farmer organization in Mar-gibi County By Judoemue Mohmoh Kollie
head of Grow What You Eat farming group in Weala. Bedell told the Daily Observers farmer desk that the initiative is meant to increase the production of food in Margibi County. We are determined to ensure that our county becomes self-sufficient in the production of food. But this effort of ours can become more viable if we are supported, he stated. He said that the project was a new one and they were encouraging residents of the community to join them to stage the project. We are working harder to graduate from subsistence farming to commercialization, he added. Bedell stated that they are lacking of basic farming implements such as fertilizer, tools and others. We also want government to assist us with loan to enable us extend our farm, he added He, however, expressed his disappointment that many community members found it difficult to join the organization due to lack of funding to improve the farm. If we get more supports from government we will mobilize the citizens so that we can produce more food for the county, he reiterated.

local farmers organization in Weala, Margibi County has launched an SOS call to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and nongovernmental organizations working in the agriculture sector to render them support toward the improvement of their agriculture project. The farmers have cultivated 45 acres of land with rice on a farmland that is a 5-minute walk away from the main town. Mr. Henry Bedell, 47, is the

has turned their attention to rubber planting, rather than growing food crops. If people were involved with the cultivation of rice as they are engaged with the growing of rubber, no one would complain of decline in food production Mrs. Honoree emphasized. Also speaking to this paper, the Regional Coordinator of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Mr. George Johnson, lamented that people are hungry in the county due to governments failure to provide loan to potential farmers

to maintain their farms. Mr. Johnson said past governments had given farmers loans from the Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank (ACDB) as a means of sustaining their farms and to buy themselves farming implements. The Agricultural Cooperative and Development Bank was closed down as the result of the Liberian civil war and it is yet to reopen to the public. Commenting also old man Flomo Tehtor of Kpelekpala blamed the decline in food production in the county due

to government inability to revitalize the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC), an agency of government that used to buy produce from the farmers such as coffee and cocoa. The production of cocoa and coffee has dropped because there is no where we can sell our produce. If you dry your coffee or cocoa, you either take it to neighboring countries to sell or leave to the mercy of bugs or insects to feed on it, Old man Tehtor said.

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Thursday December 12, 2013

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Request for Expressions of Interest

CDM International are implementers of the USAID funded Engineering Services for Rural Roads Rehabilitation (ES3R) project and request submittal of expressions of interest to be considered for pre-qualification in a series of rural roads projects to provide design, procurement support and construction supervision services to the road rehabilitation program. The selected firms will enter into a two-year program for A& E capacity building under the support, guidance, mentorship and supervision of the ES3R project. The project will support development of farm to market roads in rural areas in Bong , Lofa, and Nimba Counties. The project requests expressions of interest from currently incorporated local Architect and Engineering firms and graduate civil engineer professionals interested in forming A&E firms. A&E firms to submit a one page summary of experience, qualifications and interest with contact numbers and email addresses. Individuals must possess a Liberian business registration certificate and Certificate of Incorporation and submit a draft business plan not exceeding 5 pages for future engineering sector participation. Expressions of interest do not reflect a commitment on the part of ES3R. Extended interviews will take place in January for firms and/or candidates prior to final selection. This procurement is limited to local Liberian entities. Local Liberian entity means an individual, a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or another body of persons that: 1. Is legally organized under the laws of Liberia; 2. Has as its principal place of business or operations in Liberia; and 3. Either is a) majority owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Liberia; or b) managed by a governing body the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of Liberia. Send expressions of interest to the following: Mr Bruce Purdy by e-mail at basbjp@aol.com no later than December 20, 2013.

This is where business meets customer.

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

APM Terminals Liberia Limited is a part of the AP Moller Maersk Group which is an international container terminal operating company headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. APM Terminals Liberia operates the Freeport of Monrovia, which constitutes the gateway to Liberia. In addition to handling containerized shipments, APM Terminals Liberia is also a multipurpose facility composed of equipment and specialized personnel that handle all kind of cargo such as rice, cement, latex, unitized or palletized cargo, vehicles, frozen products and timber. To provide these services effectively, APM Terminals Liberia uses various heavy equipment like Tractors and Trailers, other heavy container handling cranes and equipment in its Premises. Other third party heavy equipment and registered vehicles also operate within the Port Premises for its operational and business needs. APM Terminals Liberia facilities works on a 24/7 basis, 365 days of the year. APM Terminals Liberia Limited therefore invites qualified companies to express interest in the Provision of Fourteen (14) Factory New Vehicles (Saloon Cars, 4WD Pickups & SUVs) on a Three (3) year operational lease (LEASED VEHICLES). Interested companies/firms must provide the following: Business Registration Tax Clearance Evidence of similar business over the last 3 years EOI must be delivered to the address below not later than 2:00 PM on or before December 20, 2013. EOI may be submitted by regular mail or email to: Procurement Office APM Terminals Liberia Ltd. Freeport of Monrovia Bushrod Island Monrovia, Liberia Email: procurement.liberia@apmterminals.com Any EOI coming after the deadline of 2:30 PM on December 20, 2013 will not be accepted. APM Terminals Liberia Ltd. Reserves the right to reject any call or all bids and declare a failure of qualification/eligibility at anytime, prior to short listing and awarding of contract. NOTE: APM Terminals Liberia Ltd. may waive any minor defect and accept the offer most advantageous to the company. Furthermore, APM Terminals Liberia Ltd. assumes no responsibility, whatsoever to compensate/indemnify would-be contractor(s) for any expense incurred in preparation of their Expression of Interest and /or Bid. Bid documents will be made available after a site visit of short listed companies/firms. For further information, contact cell No. 0886340066 & 0888341594 or email us at procurement.liberia@apmterminals.com.

MARYLAND OIL PALM PLANTATION (MOPP)

GBOLOBO, FLEEBO SODOKEN DISTRI CT MARYLAND COUNTY REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
The Maryland Oil Plantation (MOPP), involved in the production of Oil palm, operating in Maryland and County, Liberia, West Africa requires the professional services of the following: Position: HR Assistant (Ref #: HRA-001-MOPP/HRM) Duty Station: MOPP Plantation, Gbolobo, Maryland County Reports To: HR Manager CRC/MOPP Duration: Indefinite Duties and responsibilities: Explain company personnel policies, benefits, and procedures to employees or job applicants Process, verify, and maintain documentation relating to personnel activities such as staffing, recruitment, training, grievances, and classifications Record data for each employee, including such information as addresses, earnings, absences, and dates of and reasons for termination Process and review employment applications in order to evaluate qualifications or eligibility of applicants. Examine employee files to answer inquires and provide information for personnel stored in accordance with the established procedures Gather personnel records from other departments and/or employees Compile and prepare on a regular basis reports and documents pertaining to personnel activities. Arrange for advertising or posting of job vacancies Provide assistance in administering employee benefit programs and workers compensation plans. Introduce requests for newly-hired identification cards Assisting with the day-to-day efficient operation of the HR office Complete monthly and year-end reports regarding terminations, transfer, and new hires Qualification: Internal: Education: Bachelor Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field Experience: At least 2 years of related experience Eternal: Education: Resume Dgrees in Human Resources, Business Administration on related field Experience At least 3 years of related experience Technical Competencies Basic understanding of human resources functions Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records Understanding of human resources reporting and recordkeeping requirements Strong Typing and computer application skills Behavioral competencies Well organized Accurate and attention to detail Excellent communication and public relations abilities Address a cover letter of application with attached update CV and 2 passport-sized photos to the Human Resources Manager, Maryland Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP), Gbolobo, Pleebo Sodoken District, Maryland County. Please clearly include the position and Reference number at the back of the envelope and hand deliver same to the security guard on duty at the central office compound on the hall or Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) corporate offices on Coleman Avenue, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia on or before Tuesday December 17, 2013 at 4:30pm wdanny966@gmail.com

DAILY OBSERVER

Thursday December 12, 2013

Page 8

Terms of Reference for End of Project Evaluation

Title of the Action: Using evidence based dialogue to increase community engagement in Health service delivery funded by DFID in Liberia Save the Children Liberia, Country Program Commitment to Child Protection: Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates applying for these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures and checks. Accountability Commitment: Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their carers and communities with whom it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system which includes - sharing relevant information on its work with children, their carers and communities with whom Save the Children works; reporting concerns raised by children, their carers and communities about the intervention and involving children at all stages of the intervention. 1) Introduction Save the Children saves childrens lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfill their potentials. Save the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the immediate needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in eight counties (Margibi, Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, GrandGedeh, Bomi, Gbarpolu and River Gee across Liberia and implement projects focused on: Newborn and Child Survival, Education, child protection, child rights governance and response to humanitarian emergencies. Save the Children implement health programs which focus on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Margibi, Montserrado and Bong Counties. Our interventions in health are in-line with the 10 year National Health Policy and Plan and are guided by the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). We support 6 clinics in Bong, 7 clinics and 1 hospital in Margibi and work closely with 9 MOHSW supported health clinics in Montserrado County. The 7 clinics and the hospital in Margibi are supported by the EDF project. Over the years, our support for the implementation of the national health policy and plan have focused heavily on; i) provision of essential health services, ii) improvement of health infrastructure through minor and major renovation of clinics, iii) capacity development of human resources for health, systems support such as procurement and supply of essential drugs, iv) joint health services supervision with County Health and Social Welfare Teams and coordination meetings for health stakeholders at County level. Project details: Impact: To contribute to the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5. Outcome: Improved community engagement in the provision of quality health services to children under five and women of reproductive age in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia; Output 1: Improved community engagement in the management and governance of health services in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia; Output 2: Improved access to and demand for high impact maternal, newborn and child health interventions in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia; Purpose and Specific Objectives of the evaluation study Purpose of the Evaluation: The end of project evaluation will assess the extent of the results achieved through the outcome and outputs of the project and identify key underlying factors. Additionally, the end of project evaluation will review all programmatic aspects of the project focusing on status of the implementation, the target groups and beneficiaries, outcomes, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt. To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of project interventions to achieve improvement in Maternal, Newborn and Child health status; Timeline: The evaluation will be fully led by the external consultant. Save the Children staff will participate in the evaluations, but will not actively guide the process. The evaluation period will be conducted during January 13th February 15th 2014. The evaluation will be for a period of 30 working days, including debrief, feedback on draft report and submission of a final report. Sundays will not be included and will not be compensated for. The evaluator will be allowed two travel days if they are traveling from outside of Liberia. These days will not be included in the Contract period. The evaluation period may be structured as follows; Inception report (document review and briefings): 5 days Field phase (data collection and analysis): 10 - 15 days Drafting of provisional final report, comments and observations: 10 days Presentation, completion and validation of final report. The evaluator will have to apportion time, as appropriate, to ensure adequate time is allocated for both field work according to sampling methodology and report writing. The evaluation period will be considered as January 13th- February 15th 2014. The field itinerary will be developed with the field team upon signing of the Contract and arrival in-country. These schedules may be adjusted however, depending on several factors. Any adjustments will be discussed with Save the Children main office in Monrovia. Qualifications Health professional with advanced degree. Advanced degree in Social Sciences may also be considered. Experience of conducting such work with Save the Children a plus Proven experience implementing project evaluations Experience with participatory evaluation methodologies (at least 2 evaluations or a KAP study) Strong communication skills Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) in English are essential How to Apply: Proposal along with a contact telephone number and the names of any organization you have done consultancy for, quoting their email addresses properly and send to this email address liberia.vacancy@savethechildren.org or to the HR/Support Services Department. Clearly label/quote the consultancy title on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard at Save the Childrens nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Gbarnga, Zwedru & Nimba). Deadline for the submission of application is December 22, 2013, at 4:00 PM. If you fail to indicate the consultancy title on the envelope, your proposal will not be accepted. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Note: you could also download full terms of reference (TOR) on the Executive Mansions Website: emansion@gov.lr

Request for Consultancy

Request for Consultancy Terms of Reference for End of Project Review:

Title of the Action: Accelerating the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality through improved prevention and management of postpartum hemorrhage including the use of low cost innovative technology. Commitment to Child Protection: Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates applying for these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures and checks. Accountability Commitment: Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their carers and communities with whom it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system which includes - sharing relevant information on its work with children, their carers and communities with whom Save the Children works; reporting concerns raised by children, their carers and communities about the intervention and involving children at all stages of the intervention. I. Introduction Save the Children saves childrens lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfill their potentials. Save the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the immediate needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in eight counties across Liberia and works in: education, health and child protection, child rights governance and response to humanitarian emergencies B: Background Context: In the last 12 months, Save the Children has been implementing a project that aims to support the government road map on the acceleration of the reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality by addressing the issue of obstetric hemorrhage. The project is being implemented in support of and working closely with the Bong and Margibi County Health and Social Welfare Teams and MOHSW with focus on four hospitals (CH Rennie, Bong Mines, Phebe and CB Dunbar) and six health clinics ( Worhn, Yeamain, Totota, Sanoyea, Palala, Belefanai) The end of project evaluation will seek to inform Save the Children, project the health facilities and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, of the key outcomes of the project based on evidence, successes, challenges and lessons learnt. The evaluation will further seek to establish proof of the success of the low cost technology and present a viable public health need for its expansion/scale up or otherwise. II. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED REVIEW Overall Objective: The end of project review will assess the extent of the results achieved through specific objectives and expected outcomes of the project. Additionally, the review will assess the actual implementation on the use NASG in the management of obstetric hemorrhage and all other programmatic aspects of the project. III. METHODOLOGY Finally recruited Consultant will be supposed to develop the methodology for data collection after reviewing the existing and key reference. How to Apply: Proposal along with a contact telephone number and the names of any organization you have done consultancy for, quoting their email addresses properly and send to this email address liberia.vacancy@savethechildren.org or to the HR/Support Services Department. Clearly label/quote the consultancy title on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard at Save the Childrens nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Gbarnga, Zwedru & Nimba). Deadline for the submission of application is December 19, 2013, at 4:00 PM. If you fail to indicate the consultancy title on the envelope, your proposal will not be accepted. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Note: you could also download full terms of reference (TOR) on the Executive Mansions Website: emansion@gov.lr

JOB VACANCY
he Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) located in District #3, Grand Bassa County has vacancy in its ConstructionDepartment for the position of SECRETARY/CLERK on its Plantation.

REQUIRED COMPETENCE: 1. Must be a High School graduate (Submission of High School Diploma and WAEC Certificate). Basic knowledge in administration and or experience in working in the Construction environment will be an added advantage, 2. Must have the ability to efficiently enter and maintain electronic documentation 3. Must be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel 4. Must have good organizational skills and the ability to work independently. 5. Must have excellent interpersonal and verbal or written communications skills 6. Must be able to keep confidential information 7. Must be able to work within a small team but with frequent interactions with other departments 8. Ability to work under pressure and be willing to work long hours on the job.

WORKING EXPERIENCE: He/she must have worked in similar capacity for a minimum of two (2) years. Application, Resume and Supporting Documents including contact cell phone numbers should be submitted to the: HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANT MANAGER LIBERIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY (LAC) 20TH STREET, SINKOR TUBMAN BOULEVARD MONROVIA, LIBERIA. ONLY SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR AN INTERVIEW OR OTHERWISE. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION IS December 16, 2013.

DAILY OBSERVER Thursday,Thursday, December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013

Page 9

LBDI Mortgage Scheme on Course

-CBL Says; As 89 Households Benefit
earners) can become homeowners. In order to qualify for the LBDI mortgage loan, ones monthly income must be no less than US$200.00. The person must also be in the position to make available not less than 30% of the total cost of the house he/she wants to build, that includes the cost of the land and whatever materials that person would want to use to build the house, amongst others, the mortgage team at LBDI have said. According to LBDI authorities, the scheme is a long term program that has a repayment period ranging from five to 10 years. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, Liberia needs about US$100 million to revamp its housing sector. Many Liberians have welcomed the CBLs decision to take the bold entral Bank of Liberias (CBL) Executive Governor Dr. J. Mills Jones has disclosed that the CBLs US$10 million mortgage scheme placement with the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) is generating good results. According to Dr. Jones, 89 households have already benefitted from the mortgage program with LBDI. In his keynote address at the Liberia Bankers Association (LBA) Dinner in commemoration of this years Bankers Week held over the weekend, Dr. Jones observed that most of the beneficiaries of the scheme are those targeted under the program. This scheme, he said targets low income earners so that they (low income

By George D. Kennedy

---LIBA President Discloses

r. DeeMaxwell Kemayah, the President of the Liberian Business Association (LIBA), says Dr. Mills Jones has bridged the relationship gap that existed between banking institutions and Liberian owned businesses. Mr. Kemayah explained, Liberian owned businesses felt marginalized by banking institutions when it came to lending. They found it difficult to cope with the requirements and stringent procedures instituted by banks before they could qualify for debt financing, he continued, Since Dr. Jones took over as Executive Governor of CBL, there have been remarkable achievements made in narrowing the relationship gap between banking institutions and Liberian owned businesses, said Mr. Kemayah. The LIBA president made the assertion on December

Dr. Jones Rescues Liberian Businesses

By David A. Yates 5, while delivering a concept paper during a one-day symposium in observance of the Liberia Bankers Week, in Monrovia. The paper focused on the suggestions and contributions of Liberia Bankers Association (LBA), addressing the challenges faced and opportunities to be had by the financial sector through the enhancement of the Credit Union in Liberia. The symposium was under the theme: Ensuing Stability of Liberias Financial Sector through Credit Culture Enhancement. According to him, the Liberian owned businesses were finding it unattractive doing business with banking institutions in the county. Liberian businesses found it more convenient to patronize susus, clubs, and other informal savings and loans schemes. They felt these were guaranteed sources of savings and secured ways of meeting

step to invest US$10 million in the sector particularly at a time when global economic outlook continues to highlight grim prospects. The CBL boss reminded the gathering that Liberians must lead the development process of their country. Meanwhile, Governor Jones has announced that the CBLs agriculture financing initiative is on course. According to Dr. Jones, 60 farms from 11 counties have benefitted, with about 2,000 workers. The CBL, it may be recalled made available over US$7.5 million to the agriculture. The CBL agriculture support scheme is being implemented by Afriland Bank. Earlier 2013, the CBL made available US$5 million placement with three banks to enhance medium-term credit to members of the Liberia

(L-r) Flashback: LBDI CEO John B. S. Davies, III at LBDI 48th Anniversary Business Association (LIBA), headed Mr. DeeMaxwell Kemayah. According to the CBL Executive Governor, 65 businesses have benefitted in eight counties. Dr. Jones, however, noted that the CBL is not satisfied with the pace at which this placement is going. We are not satisfied with the pace at which the program is going. But we want to let the county coordinators of LIBA know that we have received assurances from the commercial banks involved that, in particular, the major one involved in the program, that the outstanding issues will be resolved within 60 days, he said. Jones announced that the banks will meet with LIBAs executives over the next few days to agree on a timetable for visiting the counties together to fast track the process that would lead to disbursement. They know that we expect results, he stated amid applause from the audience.

LIBA president Mr. Dee-Maxwell Kemayah their emergency financial needs without stress, the LIBA executive disclosed. Explaining about LIBAs strategic plan, Mr. Kemayah said, Under our leadership LIBA has formulated a strategic plan for making the association more relevant in the country, and taking its rightful place in the rebuilding of our domestic economy. That is why we have agreed to desist from patronizing informal savings and loan bodies Conscious efforts continue to be made by the association to change the status quo, he explained. He continued, Now our members have developed a positive culture of savings and credit that is centered on the need to develop active business relationships with banking institutions. He continues, While initiatives were being undertaken to achieve this objective, we were engaged with the Central Bank of Liberia to consider the plight of Liberian owned businesses and reduce the restricted access to credit. In recognizing LIBAs efforts and the enormous

CBL Governor Dr. J. Mills Jones challenges facing Liberian owned businesses, Kemayah disclosed CBL took the bold step, in keeping with its mandate and policies, of making a placement of five million US Dollars at three commercial banks; Ecobank, International Bank, and First International Bank, for credit to our association members. All of which was geared towards stimulating growth and the expansion of Liberian businesses in the economy. LIBA continues to build the capacity of its members through business incubation services and other forms of short term training at a national and international level, conducting prescreening of initial candidates, due diligence, and recommending them to the banks for credit/loan. He was quick to point out that the banks then employ their normal procedures to determine who qualifies for the loan or credit. We are quite aware of the challenges facing the enhancement of credit culture in Liberia, Mr. Kemayah admitted.

DAILY OBSERVER Thursday, December 12, 2013

from the West African Power Pool was finally tested in Liberia, a year after the poles were planted and wires ran. The delay to connecting houses was one of the primary issues citizens had been complaining about, a situation Chief Engineer Joseph Leay

300 Homes

Page 10
tor, If there are no customers for the night, we are at loss, she explained. According to the LEC, customers will be paying US$ 0.25 per kilowatt hours for electricity, a price some consider to be cheaper than what is paid in Monrovia. The West African Power Pool is running wires into three counties in Liberia; demic system, but they were denied in the process. Meanwhile, the UL in its calendar of events for the 95th Convocation has scheduled, Thursday, December 12th, as Alumni Home Coming Day, while the 2013 Class Day/ Night Program is also scheduled for Friday. Other events include: the UL Faculty Association Day on the 14th; the Baccalaureate nominees appearing before the Senate for confirmation hearings would be mandated to include a drug free clearance among its requirements. Rep. Gray remained adamant during the discussion on the seriousness of his call and allayed any notion that he was targeting specific persons. He maintained his willingness to go with any group of top officials, who want to accept his challenge and said he would go through the test with them. I would be the first, he added. Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland. The wiring has now crossed major towns and cities of Nimba, including Karnplay, Sanniquellie, Ganta and Saclapea and it is expected to connect Tappita very soon. The project is being implemented by Energy Venture a Ghanaian firm. on the 15th; Oath and Honors Day at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine on the 16th; and the Commencement Convocation itself will take place on December 18th, 2013. Protocols for the Commencement Convocation begin at about 8:30 a.m. at the S.K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville with the arrival of the UL faculty and staff, the chorus, and the Graduates. Gray is one of the few opposition lawmakers, who are forceful in discussing issues at the Plenary of the House of Representatives Sessions. Though it has not been openly challenged, political pundits believe the lawmakers stance is another clever move by him to change the public perception that he may be a drug user himself and wants to clear the air once and for all. The Foreign Service Institute director reiterated that the (training) has the mandate to create a program conducive for the exchange of ideas on the political understandings of global economic relations, culture diversities, integration, and the issues of conflict. The valedictorian of the class, Sondah Geepea-Wilson, lauded the Ministry for the level of cooperation given to the graduates over the past nine months. She promised that they would use the knowledge wisely in performing their duties as diplomats.

acreddited to the setting of standards so they could avoid electrical shock in homes. Some of the standards were telling the customers to wire their homes with LEC prescribed wire that could withstand the high voltage instead of the Chinese twin wire that

By C.Y. Kwanue

UL Clears

is commonly used by builders. Before we connect any home, we will send a team of LEC qualified men for inspection to know the type of wire you intend to use and how it has been run before connecting your house, said Mr. Leay. Prior to the connection of homes and business places in Ganta, the LEC carried on an ment. Of that number, 312 were cleared for graduation. In the case of majors in Sociology, and Biology, 385, and 202 applied respectively, but only 292 and 74 were declared competent to graduate, while the rest were dropped due primarily to academic deficits. In the Agronomy area, of the 23 candidates who applied, only two persons, following meticulous scrutiny of each of clean from usage of those substances. Gray said he observed during his recent visit to the United States that the issue of drug traffickers using West Africa--- and Liberia in particular--- as gateway for the smuggling of narcotic drugs to the rest of the world was still a serious issue of concern. He explained that the high number of drug seizures that take place coming into the country should serve as warnings that galvanize those who are fighting this menace. He said it was

awareness campaign informing the public about the process before being connected. Bessy Gegbe, the proprietor of Planet 44 Night Club in Ganta said, I am very happy with the connection of electricity because it will cut down cost for running my generator. Every day I use over six gallons of fuel to run my generathe candidates grade points. Those disqualified candidates reportedly failed to meet up with the required grade points, and so they were dropped from being part of the pending December 18 convocation, a source told this paper. According to our source, most of the students, who initially applied for graduation, had wanted to cheat the acanot unreasonable to check that those making the arrests and seizures are sober enough to do their work efficiently. However, a government official who participated in the program, Ministry of Information Deputy Minister, Isaac Jackson, suggested to lawmaker Gray that he proffers a Bill in the Legislature that would make it mandatory for those who desire to hold public office to sit a drug test as one of the major criteria. If such legislation is passed, the Deputy Minister asserted,

f the 2,301 candidates that applied for graduation at the University of Liberias (UL) 95th Commencement Convocation, only

1,316 were qualified, while 985 applicants were disqualified. According to statistics obtained by the Daily Observer from the office of UL Enrollment Management Wednesday, December 11, 553 candidates applied for graduation from the Accounting Depart-

stration of their willingness to fight the nations worsening drug trade, some Liberians are challenging him to show his resolve by being the first to go for the test. On a radio talk show in Monrovia Wednesday, December 11, several callers welcomed the idea proposed by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) District #8 lawmaker, but threw the ball back in his court by challenging him, in

Test Gray

of competition, and as such they should get ready for the struggle. He also challenged them to be diplomats every where there go to represent Liberia. The Foreign Affairs Minister also suggested to the graduates to keep holding onto their dream as Liberias diplomats. He said that protocol can sound both stuffy and mysterious at the same time, and that most of them have had little experience in their non-government lives to prepare for what comes ahead. He stated that the rules and processes of diplomatic protocol are based in pragmatic thinking, common sense, and good mannersareas where

Be Vigorous

reference to the Bible, to cast the first stone, meaning he should be the first to take the very test he had proposed. Rep. Grays contention is that the Governments international pledge not to allow Liberia to be used as a frontier for the smuggling of drugs must be demonstrated by setting an example; one that demonstrates those who will be fighting the battle against drug traffickers are themselves

-Rep. Chambers Admits

I Never Owned a House

never owned a house in Liberia, and that is nothing to me. My only worry is to seek the welfare of my people, Dr. Chambers insisted. That should not be the concern of people, the Maryland County Rep. stressed. Comparing his situation to that of the 42nd, President of the United States of America (USA), Bill Clinton, Dr. Chambers explained that, President Bill Clinton of the United States of America (USA) lived all of his days in his parents house, even before becoming president. He even lives there when he served as governor of Arkansas, Rep. Chambers noted.

we all have had some experience. Giving an overview of the institution, Dr. Augustine Konneh, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute at the MFA, said that the institution was established to train young men and women who are interested in the field of diplomacy. Dr. Konneh explained that the diplomatic training lasts for nine months and at the end they award post-graduate diplomas (PGD), which qualifies them to enter the Foreign Service of the Republic of Liberia. As the result of this, we now send young men and women who have gone through the institutes training to do a

Cross section of graduates of the Foreign Service Institute of MFA

practicum in Development Diplomacy. He said that many of the trainees have been posted to relevant positions in there various missions. Dr. Chambers continued, He was not living in his own house; instead he was there and worked effectively to improve the livelihood of people living in that state. What is that matter with being a leader without building

a house? the Maryland lawmaker wondered. The only thing I have to do is be concerned about the welfare of my people, building houses is a non-issue, Dr Chambers noted.

aryland County District # 2 Representative, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, has admitted that he has never owned a single house in the country. Dr. Chambers confession comes in the midst of speculation over his living arrangements. Appearing on a talk show this Wednesday December 11, airing on Love FM, the lawmaker said his major priority is to see how he can improve the lives of those he represents in the House of Representatives, not to build a house. Look my brother, I have

Rep. Bohfal Chambers of Maryland County

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Wednesday, December 2013 Thursday, December 12, 11, 2013

Page 4 Page 11

Fo r ad qu ve ick rt ise bu in sine th ss is re sp su ac lts e ,

Sebwe: Mandela Inspired Us Through Hand Shakes

Read more sports articles on the Daily Observer website @ www.liberianobserver.com/sports

when they got to Mr. Mandelas place, he (Weah) handed it to him. He received it with a humble spirit; prior to that, he had given Weah many pieces of advice and it was great seen

By Leroy M. Sonpon, III

ormer Lone Star midfield maestro, Kelvin Sebwe, said the handshakes with Mandela in January 1996, might have inspired them to win a game in South Africa. On the 16th of January 1996, Liberia defeated Gabon, 2-1 at the Kings Park Stadium in Durban. The retired penalty shooter and ball-distributor, converted the first goal in the 5th minute through a lottery shot and another player who also shook hands with Mandela, Mark Sarr, Jr., netted the winning goal, in the 54th minute. Sebwe, 41, told our reporter yesterday in an exclusive interview, that seeing Mandela on the afternoon was a privilege, honor and fated. He said, the pleasure to meet the former First Black South Africas President and antiapartheid freedom fighter, was owing to his demand to see yet African FIFA World Best Footballer. We woke up one day while thinking of warm-up, we were greeted by some security offi-

Back: Joe Nagbe, George Weah, the Late Nelson Mandela and his granddaughter and Issa Hayatou; Mass Sarr, Jr., stands in front George Weah; front row: Willie Russell with camera and glasses hang-on and 3rd from Russell, is Kelvin Sebwe
cers from Mandela requesting the presence of George Weah it was a humble event, but scary, Sebwe said. He added: Only four of the players accompanied George Weah, maybe because of fear (he laughs) --- it was me, George Weah, Mark Sarr, Jr., and Joe Nagbe. Willie Russell and our supporters, our friends also went. Interestingly, the President of CAF, Issa Hayatou was there, too. Kelvin, dressed in a khaki suit, said they were humbled to be in the presence of the late Nelson Mandela, the formidable and tireless champion of human rights, who struggled to address inequality and indignity wherever he found them. Be it in his own country or beyond South Africas borders. He warmly welcomed us and shook everybodys hands. The roughness in his palm, would tell us of the 27 years of hard labor in prison. He added: His granddaughter was there to project our voices to him, so that he will hear and understand us. We enjoyed his hospitality. Prior to their departure, Kelvin said, Weah affixed his autograph on one of AC Milans number-14 jerseys, the Italian team he (Weah) was playing for when he won the FIFA World Player of the Year, and they (trophies) are always taken away from Montserrado and nothing is left with us. But the trophies have informed us that they are tired going in the dust and want to remain in the city. We want to say Montserrado County is ready to take all the silver wares, the Montserrado District # 6 Representative boasted. Montserrado County Superintendent Florence Brandy, hailed her Countys Legislative Caucus, and urged the players to play to win. Meanwhile, the countys Steering Committee chairman, Mr. Alieu Bah, told reporters that he has confidence in all the countys teams; adding: This is Montserrado Coun tys time. Montserrado County, inarguably the most populated county, has been very unlucky in the County Meet. Last year, incredibly, Montserrado Countys splendid performance led them to emerge as the runner-up, in the narrow 1-1 pulsating draw that ended in a lottery shot. Meanwhile, Bong County, one of the hosts of the County Meet, is in full confidence for the Games. both of them together, Kelvin said. He added: It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of former South African President and an inspiration. The world has lost a true statesman, a leader and a pragmatic visionary. Meanwhile, Africas football legend George M. Weah described Mr. Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela, as a fallen

he Chairman of the Montserrado County Legislative Caucus, Representative Edward Ford, has announced that the countys Caucus, through the Edwin M. Snowes Mobilization Committee has projected a US$150,000 budget as an initial support, to Montserrado County in the National County Meet. The Montserrado lawmaker said, the funds is aimed to support the five disciplines, namely, football, basketball, kickball, athletics and volleyball, in the County Meet. Ford, who is Montserrado Countys District #16 Representative indicated that the money will be given to the teams per stages, and hope that the early financial assurance coupled with their moral support would serve as motivation for the trophies. We are putting to your disposal US$150,000.I repeat, I am not saying we are giv-

US$150,000 Budgeted for Monsterrado County

tower that Africa and the world cannot easily rebuild, given his unrelenting fight for social justice. The 1995 FIFA Best Player and former skipper of the Lone Star of Liberia said he was humbled to meet the former South Africa President in 1996, two years after his election as South Africas President. He welcomed me warmly and jokingly cautioned me not to be intimidated by his presence. Thats the kind of person he washe was a soft, gentle, loving, caring and a kind, fatherly figure, Amb. Weah intoned. He also revealed that when he was appointed as Peace Ambassador, the late Nelson Mandelas advice contributed to his acceptance of the challenge. Mr. Mandela encouraged me to see the appointment as both an opportunity and a public service to my country and its people, Amb. Weah explained. I will always cherish his memories and friendship farewell Baba, Madiba, Tata, Nelson Rolihlahla. May our ancestors accompany you through you journey home may the angels open wide the gates of Heaven for you and the Good Lord, God the Most High, receive you with gladness, he petitioned.

Montserrado County Superintendent Brandy makes remarks

Rep. Edward Forh makes remarks

ing you, I said we are putting to your disposal a total of US$150,000, Rep. Forh said. He added: This is a challenge to the team --- if you advance to the group stage, you have a part of that money, you go beyond the quarter finals, you also will get another portion ---and if you advance beyond each round, you have some of that money to support---so the usage of the money depends on how far you guys will go. Earlier, the Chairman of the Montserrado Countys Mobilization Committee, Representative Edwin Snowe, announced that it is Montserrado Countys Time, arguing that it has been too long that they have failed to capture the trophies. For too long Montserrado has been a good host and when everyone meets in Montserrado to fight for the trophies,

Rep. Snowe: This is Montserrado County Time.

Fo r ad qu ve ick rt ise bu in sine th ss is re sp su ac lts e ,

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VOL. 16. NO. 36 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013

What Did Dr. Owl Say?

Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
--Nelson Mandela, Dr. Owls South African Guest

Says Governor Jones; As Nimba Lawmakers Fuss over Who Took the CBL Governor to Nimba

Fight Poverty by Dividing Wealth

By Ishmael F. Menkor

PRICE: LD 40

entral Bank Governor Mills Jones has told citizens of Nimba that poverty can only be fought by extending wealth. Speaking at a program marking his welcome held at the Federation of Road Transport Union of Liberia Nimba Branch in Ganta on Tuesday, December 10th, Dr. Jones said one of the initiatives of the Central Bank of Liberia is to help the people so they can help themselves. He added that CBL is recommitted to continuing its micro finance program, as well as its policy of financial inclusion. The Governor said CBL intends to continue reaching out to the public in order to give them the opportunity to be able to get credit as a means of fighting poverty. Dr. Jones: We will stay on course, the Board of Governors are committed, and we are receiving the governments full support. You can count on that going forward as we continue the program and see how we can further strengthen it so all of us can benefit. The CBL Governor and entourage were warmly received in Ganta by a group of business people, members

CBL Governor Speaking in Ganta, Nimba; Dr, Jones welcomed by an elderly lady upon his arrival
of the FRTUL, the motorcyclists, and other well wishers while on his way to Karnplay; where he is expected to break ground for the construction of a Central Bank branch. The welcoming ceremony had residents of Ganta carrying banners, palm branches and some on motorbikes singing: Governor Jones, we want you. Our hope for Liberia is that there be empowerment in its private sectors , that is the only way we are going to build a middle class, and that is the only way we are going to fight poverty, the CBL head explained. We are going to fight poverty by dividing wealth, he stressed. Detailing his statement, Dr. Jones said those who have the opportunity to work hard should be given that chance so they can improve their living condition. The coming of Dr. Mills Jones to Nimba has been greatly politicized by divided lawmakers from Nimba. Some of the residents believe that Dr. Jones coming was under the influence of Sen. Prince Y. Johnson. But Members of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus have had to go out to arguing that the initiative to bring the Bank Governor to Nimba was the work of the Caucus and not Sen. Johnson, as he and his supporters are claiming. It was widely expected that Sen. Johnson and Dr. Jones were supposed to have arrived in Nimba together, but Dr. Jones arrived with Sen. Thomas Grupee instead; something that caused some resentment in the minds of Senator Johnsons supporters. Sen. Grupee has derailed the plan and brought Governor Jones ahead, leaving PYJ behind to make him look small. But, we will show him that we still love PYJ, said one Cooper Teahdeh, a fan of Senator Johnson. The Ganta City Mayor, Dorr Cooper, criticized those politicizing the issue of opening /establishing banks in Nimba. Mayor Cooper said every focus should be on the eradication of poverty. We want the opening of the bank to be free of politics, said Mayor Cooper.

To all of our readers: The Daily Observer is back online! Also check out our digital version (the electronic version of the Observer as it appears in print). Visit www.liberianobserver.com today!

Published by the Liberian Observer Corporation (LOC), 23 McDonald Street, P.O. Box 1858, Monrovia, Liberia; Tel: 06 812-888; 06 578476; and 06 472772; Printed by the Observer Printing Press; Bai S. Best, Marketing Manager; Lindiw Khumalo Yasiah, Business Strategist; Publisher & Managing Director, Kenneth Y. Best.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, VOL, No.36.indd 1

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