VOL. 16. NO. 114 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 PRICE: LD 40

visit our website At www.

liberiAnobserver.

Com todAy!

www.liberianobserver.comINSIDE THIS

EDITION

EDITORIAL

Prevention Is Better Than Closure

COMMENTARY

The Mosquito Menace

LOCAL NEWS

3 Dead, Two Injured after Boat

Overturned

BUSINESS

CBL Galvanizes Support in Southeast

SPORTSA Worthy Support to

‘Street Children’

See Pg. 9

See Pg. 3

See Pg. 11

See Pg. 4

See Pg. 4

-Mills Jones Replies Critics

No Apology for Empowering Liberians’

Governor Jones assure residents in Zwedru

Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Ex-ecutive Gov-ernor, Dr. J. Mills Jones,

has made it plain to his crit-ics that he holds no apologies for helping Liberians through the CBL loan scheme which, he said, is meant to buttress the fight of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Administra-tion’s war against poverty in the country.

“What we are trying to do is provide resources that would enable our people to work and help themselves. We at the CBL see nothing wrong with that, especially if our people’s lives would be improved. If

Cont’d on pg. 10

Decent Work Bill Finally EndorsedPassed!

See story on Pg. 10

Boakai Wants Consolidated Efforts

Against Disasters

Vice Presi-dent Jo-seph Nyu-ma Boakai has told the High Level

Disaster Preparedness and Response Meeting that it is

only through a well-formulat-ed response strategy---both in terms of available resources and as a result of the train-ing required--that this nation might prevail against disaster.

The Liberian Vice President

Cont’d on pg. 10

West Point Townhall Project

Constitutes BoardAmbassador Charles A. Minor Elected Interim

Chair, Project Cost Estimated at US$1.5MSee story on Pg. 10

April 9, 2014-edition.indd 3 4/10/14 12:30 AM

Daily Observer Wednesday, april 09, 2014 Wednesday, april 9, 2014Foreign Briefs

Page 2World News Ebola Outbreak ‘Most Challenging’

as Guinea Deaths Pass 100(BBC) - It was “one of

the most challenging Ebola outbreaks we have ever dealt with” and could take another four months to contain, the WHO said.

The virus had now killed 101 people in Guinea and 10 in Liberia, it said.

Ebola is spread by close contact and kills between 25% and 90% of its victims.

Many West African states have porous borders, and people travel frequently between countries.

Southern Guinea is at the epicentre of the outbreak, with the first case reported last month.

The geographical spread of the outbreak is continuing to make it particularly challenging to contain - past outbreaks have involved much smaller areas.

“We fully expect to be engaged in this outbreak for the next two to three to four months before we are comfortable that we are through it,” Keija Fukuda, WHO’s assistant director-

general, said at a news briefing in Geneva, Reuters news agency reports.

The WHO said 157 suspected cases had been recorded in Guinea, including 20 in the capital, Conakry.

Sixty-seven of the cases have been confirmed as Ebola, it added.

In neighbouring Liberia, 21 cases had been reported, with five confirmed as Ebola, WHO said.

Mali had reported nine suspected cases, but medical tests done so far showed that two of them did not have Ebola, it said.

Last week, Mali said it was on high alert because of fears of an outbreak of Ebola and it would tighten border controls.

Saudi Arabia has suspended visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia, in a sign of the growing unease about the outbreak.

This is the first known outbreak in Guinea - most recent cases have been thousands of miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola.

The tropical virus leads to haemorrhagic fever, causing muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, organ failure and unstoppable bleeding.

 

The number of people believed to have been killed by the ebola virus in Guinea has passed 100, the UN World Health Organization says.

UN Warns of Syria Food Shortage Due to Looming Drought

(BBC) - The World Food Programme (WFP) said rainfall since September has been less than half the long-term average.

At the same time, WFP food

aid has been cut by a fifth due to a lack of funds from international donors.

Over 100,000 people have been killed since fighting broke out in Syria more than

three years ago.“WFP is concerned about

the impact of a looming drought hitting the northwest of the country, mainly Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama,” WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told reporters in Geneva.

“A drought could put the lives of millions more people at risk,” she said.

Up to 6.5 million Syrians could need emergency food aid as a result, up from the current figure of 4.2 million, Byrs said.

As a result of the drought, Syria could be forced to import more than the 5.1 million tonnes of wheat it needed last year, the WFP said in a report.

Syria was last hit by a drought in 2008, three years before the outbreak of the civil war.

On Monday, the WFP announced that it had to cut the size of its food parcels to Syrian families by 20 per cent.

It blamed delays in receiving funds from international donors, saying it has only received 22% of the funds it needs for its operations in Syria.

The WFP says it provided food for a record 4.1 million people in Syria in March.

Meanwhile, Syrian state media says that that Iran has sent an extra 30,000 tons of food supplies to the country.

 The UN has warned that a drought in syria could lead

to a record low wheat harvest and put millions of people at risk.

Bomb Attack by Separatists Kills 13 on Pakistan Train(BBC) - The explosion at

a station in Baluchistan on Tuesday injured dozens of people and officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

The United Baluch Army (UBA), one of several armed separatist groups in the region, said it was behind the attack.

The incident comes a day after Pakistani forces launched an offensive against militants in the province.

The train, known as the Jaffar Express, is a daily express service covering a 1,460km (900 miles) journey from Rawalpindi in Punjab province to Quetta in Baluchistan.

The bomb was set off as the train pulled to a stop and passengers were disembarking at Sibi station, around 160km (100 miles) south of Quetta, the provincial capital.

Mohammad Nazar, one of the police officers at the scene, said two of the train’s carriages

quickly became engulfed by flames and several passengers on board struggled to escape.

“We have recovered 12 dead bodies from the train,” he said, adding that one of the injured had died after being taken to hospital.

“I can’t say whether the dead are adults or children as they are beyond recognition,” he added.

Pakistan’s railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the same service had been attacked only a few days earlier, but there were no casualties.

“A few days ago terrorists fired upon a train when it came out of a tunnel [in Baluchistan), but they ran away when security forces responded to firing.”

“We will have to review the security and find out the cracks from where the terrorists slipped in and planted the explosives,” he added.

The Frontier Corps, a regional unit of the Pakistani army, said they killed 40 militants during an operation against separatist groups in Baluchistan on Monday.

A spokesman for the UBA said the bomb blast was a “revenge attack” for the Pakistani offensive and warned of more attacks in the region in the coming days.

Bordering both Iran and Afghanistan, Baluchistan has seen a low-level separatist insurgency for years as well as sectarian violence.

The separatists claim that the people of the region fail to benefit from its natural resources and are subjected to human rights abuses, which the government denies.

 at least thirteen people have been killed by a bomb blast on a passenger train in Pakistan.

Ukraine Crisis: NATO

Warns Russia Against Further

Intervention(BBC) - Secretary-General

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Moscow must pull back troops it has massed on the Ukrainian border.

On Tuesday, Ukraine regained control of one of the government buildings occupied by pro-Russian activists in the east of the country.

Moscow has said that using force to end the protests could lead to civil war.

However, in Luhansk, officials said “radicals” occupying the state security building had placed explosives and were holding about 60 people against their will. Activists in the building denied having explosives or hostages but said they had seized an armory full of automatic rifles.

Kiev says the unrest in the east is being fomented by Russia following its annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Russia took control in Crimea - where Russian-speakers are in a majority - after a disputed referendum.

“I urge Russia to step back and not escalate the situation in east Ukraine,” Mr Rasmussen said in Paris where he was attending a seminar on Nato reforms.

“If Russia were to intervene further in Ukraine, it would be an historic mistake. It would have grave consequences for our relationship with Russia and it would further isolate Russia internationally.”

The US and the EU have already imposed targeted sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the annexation of Crimea.

Mr Rasmussen added: “We call on Russia to pull back the tens of thousands of troops it has massed on Ukraine’s borders, engage in a genuine dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities and respect its international commitments.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry, addressing a Senate panel on Tuesday, said Russian Special Forces and agents had been “the catalyst behind the chaos of the last 24 hours”.

He said recent events “could potentially be a contrived pretext for military intervention just as we saw in Crimea”.

As tensions rose on Tuesday, Russian Senator Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defence and security committee, said President Putin could “theoretically” send troops anywhere in Ukraine under the powers given to him by parliament that allowed him to move forces into Crimea.

“The Federation Council gave its agreement to the president... to use the armed forces in order to preserve people’s lives. We have not cancelled this resolution,” he told Ukraine’s Unian news agency.

(BBC) The new French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has vowed to cut both taxes and spending in a bid to make the French economy more competitive.

He said France had “too much suffering and not enough hope” as he promised to cut the country’s large budget deficit.

Mr Valls also promised to cut labour costs by 30 bn euros (£25bn; $41bn) over two years to combat unemployment.

President Francois Hollande appointed Mr Valls last week after a poor showing by Socialists in local elections.

In his maiden speech to the French parliament, Mr Valls said he would remain committed to an EU agreement for France to reduce its budget deficit.

France

(BBC) - A coalition of Venezuelan opposition parties says it is willing to enter into talks with the government as long as certain conditions are met.

The meeting was proposed by foreign ministers of the Unasur regional group to put an end to two months of anti-government protests.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had earlier agreed to take part.

It is not yet clear though whether his government will agree to the terms demanded by the opposition.

In a letter addressed to the Unasur delegation, the umbrella opposition group Table for Democratic Unity (MUD) said it was “willing to hold a true dialogue, with a clear agenda, equal conditions [for both sides] and the first meeting of which will be transmitted live on national radio and television channels”.

Venezuela

(BBC) - A US contractor who has been in jail in Cuba for more than four years has gone on hunger strike, his lawyer says.

Alan Gross, 64, said he began fasting on Thursday to protest his treatment by both the Cuban and US governments.

Mr Gross is serving a 15-year prison sentence for taking internet equipment to Cuba.

The case of Mr Gross is seen as a major obstacle to better US-Cuban ties. The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1961.

Cuba

(BBC) The Supreme Court in the Philippines has approved a birth control law, in a defeat for the Catholic Church.

The law requires government health centres to distribute free condoms and contraceptive pills.

The court had deferred implementation after the law’s passage in December 2012 after church groups questioned its constitutionality.

Supporters of the law cheered as the court found that most of the provisions were constitutional.

Philippines

Daily Observer Wednesday, april 09, 2014 Wednesday, april 9, 2014 Page 3

3 Dead, Two Injured after Boat Overturnedby yewa sandy

A boat carrying passengers from Clara Town to the West Point

Community on April 7, at about 9 a.m. capsized leaving three dead and two in critical but stable condition, police reports.

Liberian National Police officers on the scene report that five victims were pulled from the Mesurado River, behind a number of stores in Clara Town. Amongst the five victims were two women, one pregnant, and three students who were all in uniform.

“All were women, what’s sad about it is that two of the deceased were students because you can physically see them in their school uniforms,” stated an officer of Public Safety at the LNP.

According to witnesses who were preparing to fish along the shore, the bodies of the deceased began surfacing when one man

ran to inform neighbors.“It’s sorrowful oh, I saw

something floating in the water just like old clothes, but when we looked real close, I saw more floating around, and that’s when I called for attention,” said J-Boy, a fisherman, who is familiar with the waters.

Deputy Commissioner Nelson Freeman, stated that the LNP was informed shortly after the first signs of a human body was seen in the shore by an unidentified person(s).

“We got a call around 9:30 this morning that there was a situation involving a boat from this side of the river and that’s when we responded. We weren’t here so we can’t be exact to you when this incident occurred,” he added.

According to witnesses at the scene, no one actually knows what occurred to cause the passengers to go over board, but relatives say they were aware of the victims getting aboard the canoe.

“I lost my aunty and my big sister. She was going home to go change to come back on ATS to go witness the game, and my aunty was going to go sell bread,” cried Clara, a distraught relative of two of the deceased.

Mr. Nelson Freeman also informed this paper that the LNP has not been aware of such commercial transport that normally carries people from Clara Town to WestPoint in less then 20 minutes.

“Actually that’s the puzzle we are all trying to solve, why they were on the boat? I am in charge of Public Safety for the Liberian National Police and to be frank with you, we don’t even know of such commercial activity going on behind here with a boat, when we got the call this morning we thought it was just a ordinary fishing canoe and we were all astonished when we got here and it was established that this is a boat that’s used for

commercial purposes on this river, its strange for us and we hope that we can all collectively from this moment on put in some measures to make sure to deal with this situation so that it can’t happen again,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the LNP held to push back sad and frustrated onlookers as they (officers) secured the area to allow security officials who specialize in water rescues a chance to look for missing persons/survivors.

“We were informed by bystanders that one of the survivors and a couple of victims are at the Mawah Clinic across the road and we visited there, yes it as established that there were victims, and the doctor also confirmed to us that three persons have passed off as a result of the accident and the other two were there receiving medication. We are still hoping to find those who are said to still be missing,” he added.

Further more, a woman who seemed incoherent due to her

Ken Best among 66 ‘World Press Freedom Heroes’ in Cape Town This Weekend

iPi back in sa 20 years On

“A Celebration of 20 Years of Freedom,” exclaims a banner

in bold, electric print on the website of the International Press Institute’s 2014 World Congress opening up this weekend in Cape Town, South Africa.

The message couldn’t be any clearer, a then-to-now perspective of the press freedom campaigner’s historic 43rd World Congress held in that same city 20 years ago, on the eve of South Africa’s first-ever multi-racial, democratic elections.

Two decades later, with another general election scheduled for May 7, much has evolved in South Africa, the media, and the world at large. “We recognize the significance of this 20th anniversary of the end of Apartheid, and also acknowledge [two] other significant anniversaries,”

says IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie, “the 20th commemoration of the Rwanda genocide and the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web.

“Although the Congress and 63rd Annual General Assembly are being held in Cape Town, you can see that we have issues to discuss that impact us

globally,” she added. According to her, the Congress

will explore a number of key topics, including: “the Chinese government’s role in the developing world; a look at the ‘new’ South Africa and its media 20 years after apartheid; anti-terror and other national security laws and their impact on press freedom; and many other important and relevant topics.

We’ll also have some of the most important and influential media practitioners from Africa and abroad.”

Some of these influential media practitioners have been honored by IPI and named World Press Freedom Heroes in recognition of their courage and resilience in fighting for press freedom. There are currently 66 in all worldwide, the first 50 of whom were named and

honored in 2000. Twelve of them are from Africa including Raymond Louw, South Africa (2011); Pap Saine, Gambia (2010); as well as Laurence Gandar, South Africa (2010). Others are from IPI’s first 50 World Press Freedom Heroes, including Liberia’s Kenneth Y. Best; Omar Belhouchet, Algeria; Gremah Boukar Koura, Niger; Gwen Lister, Namibia; Fred M’membe, Zambia; Freedom Neruda, Cote d’Ivoire; Pius Njawe, Cameroon; Percy Qoboza, South Africa; and Andre Sibomana, Rwanda.

Mr. Best, publisher and managing director of the Liberian Daily Observer, will attend the Congress in Cape Town.

One of the major events at this year’s IPI Congress is the launching of a book which has been produced in honor of the 66 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past 60 years. It is a coffee table publication that will be circulated worldwide. The biography of each World Press Freedom Hero and his or her reflections on their experiences in Journalism will be featured in the book.

In January 2014, IPI named,

as its 66th World Press Freedom Hero, Iranian journalist Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, who has been jailed numerous times for his criticism of government policies. He is scheduled to receive the prize at IPI’s World Congress in Cape Town on April 14, 2014.

Shamsolvaezin is the former editor, and in some cases founder, of four reformist dailies, Kayhan, Jame’eh (laterTous), Neshat, and Asr-e Azadegan, which were all successively shut down by Iran’s authorities.

He was jailed numerous times for his criticism of government policies, the longest detention period being the 17 months he spent in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison in 2000-2001 in connection with an article criticizing capital punishment, which was deemed insulting to Islamic principles.

A former recipient of CPJ’s 2000 International Press Freedom award for courage and independence in reporting the news, he is the third Iranian journalist to receive the IPI World Press Freedom Hero award, the others being Akbar Ganji and Faraj Sarkohi.

The boat that was carrying said passengers being pulled out of the water after being found in the middle of the

WestPoint sea

grieve cried out for a sister-in-law that was nowhere to be found at the moment. An unidentified man who tried assisting the women to calm her down stated that her sister was on the canoe and still presumed missing.

“We can’t find her sister-in-law!”

Morris G. Miller, the assistance assigned in the ER at Mawah Clinic under strenuous conditions tried describing to this paper the condition of the surviving victims.

“The two survivors, their condition has improved considerably because when they came they were not like that. Five victims were brought here around 9:15 a.m. by a car. Three were dead on arrival. We didn’t detect the survivors swallowing water, while one deceased has been identified by a relative,” he said.

The driver of the canoe has not been found nor has there been any further information on how the canoe managed to sink. LNP are still investigating and ask that anyone with information should please report to their nearest police station.

‘We Are Doomed for Failure, If…’-sen. Doe-sherif Warns senators, representatives

by J. burgess Carter

Mo n t s e r r a d o County Senator Geraldine Doe-Sherif is warning

her colleague Legislators that unless they start to adequately capacitate their staffers through empowerment and build their human resource capacity, the Legislature is doomed to failure.

When we are elected as Senators or Representatives we do not have all the technical knowhow or the knowledge to run our offices effectively; that is why we hire people to form part of our staff to help us run our offices. But if we as Senators and Representatives do not capacitate these people; empower them, build their human resource capacity, I think we are doomed to failure.”

Senator Doe-Sherif, who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Transport, was speaking Monday at program marking the launch of the Legislative Information Service (LIS) Electronic/E-Newsletter and official Facebook for the purpose of disseminating critical information to Members of the Legislature and the public on the work of LIS; as well capturing and lifting ‘cutting edge’ activities at the Legislature.

The launch of the program according to LIS, spotlights what it calls “Effective Service Delivery in the Public Sector in General and the Legislature in Particular.”

Senator Doe-Sherif emphasized the need for the LIS staff and others working for the Legislature to be capacitated and supported in the manner and

form to be compared to none. “It is incumbent upon all of us

that we support you financially, morally and physically, through individual means and take it through the different Chambers and then the leaderships,” Sen. Doe Sherif said about LIS staff.

She assured LIS of support from the Legislature and promised to champion their cause. “Maybe this initiative will help to reduce the amount of failure we have around here. And so I want to be the first person to give you a laptop to support the LIS and also a cash donation of US$500.”

Speaking earlier, the Director of LIS McCarthy Weh asserted that Liberia as a country is undertaking its transformation program called “The Agenda for Transformation,” and that for that transformation to be very successful there is a need to embark on critical reforms.

“We think individual institutions in Liberia must embark on critical reforms, and we think the Legislature must take the lead in this critical reform. Meaningful national transformation requires critical institutional reform,” Director Weh emphasized.

“We are saying that the Legislature must make it mandatory for both Chambers to run an electronic voting

system; we think by now there is no reason why constituents of lawmakers who are outside of Monrovia cannot know how a particular member votes on a particular issue.”

Director Weh challenged the legislature on the need to do a little bit more. “There is something in strategic management called competitive advantage. If there is need for competitive advantage between

and among the three branches of Government of the staffers let us do it. If the Executive thinks that their staffers can work, let the Legislators too show that their staffers can work; for you to do that, you have to support your department.”

The LIS boss regretted the absent of House Speaker Alex Tyler and Senate Pro Tempore Gbehzohngar Findley, who according to the program sheet, were expected to make special remarks. “This is why I wanted the Speaker and the Pro Tempore to be present, your department needs your support; we are qualified, competent and have all the requisite qualifications that our colleagues at the executive branch of Government have; your Chief of Staff that run your offices are qualified people, so let us support them.”

Meanwhile, Senator Doe-Sherif officially launched the newsletter known as REFORM 2 TRANSFORM, by clicking on the laptop “send.”

lis Director McCarthy Weh; senator Doe-sherif launches lis newsletter

Mashallah shamsolvaezin

Kenneth y. bestalison bethel, executive Director, iPi

Daily Observer Wednesday, april 09, 2014 Wednesday, april 9, 2014

Published by Liberian Observer CorporationP.O. Box 1858, Monrovia

Liberia’s First Independent Daily0886812888, 0886472772

www.liberianobserver.com

Page 4

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

Prevention Is Better Than Closure

The Guinean Ambassador to Liberia, Elhaji Abdoulaye Doré, has appealed to neighboring countries not to close the border with his country in face of the Ebola outbreak. He has rather suggested that serious preventive measures be taken to halt or minimize the spread of the deadly disease. Senegal closed its southeastern border with Guinea.

Following our publication of Observer Senior Reporter C.Y. Kwanue’s story on the Ambassador’s concern, the Daily Observer immediately contacted Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Walter Gwenigale, and Immigration Commissioner Lemuel Reeves, for their reaction to the Guinea’s envoy’s plea.

Both the Health Minister and the Immigration Commissioner readily concurred. Dr. Gwenigale referred to the International Health Regulation that preceded the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO). That Regulation advised against border closures in the event of a disease outbreak. At WHO’s establishment in 1948, where Liberian was represented by its first Public Health Director General, Dr. Joseph N. Togba, the WHO confirmed that Regulation.

Dr. Gwenigale fears that should Liberia close its border with Guinea or any other neighboring nation, “people will start dying in the bush because there are too many crossing points.”

He observed that many Guineans and Liberians cross the border daily working on each other’s farms.

Commissioner Reeves told the Daily Observer that from Grand Cape Mount to Maryland County there were 176 known border points, only 35 of which, until recently, were manned by Liberian Immigration. Now the number of patrolled border points has increased to 45. Mathematically, that leaves 131 border points unchecked.

He fears that if the borders are closed, people would begin using unofficial routes along our porous borders, hampering the Health Ministry’s ability to monitor and regulate possibly infected persons.

Dr. Gwenigale told the Daily Observer that Jorwah, the town built in the 1970s by President William R. Tolbert, Jr., behind his farm in Bellefanai, Bong County, was very near the Guinea border, where highly frequent crossings occur each day.

Commissioner Reeves yesterday told the Daily Observer in addition to human beings crossing the borders, there are also animals, including monkeys and deer, all of which are disease carriers. In addition, there are planes from neighboring countries bringing people into other countries. So, in his opinion, border closing would not solve the problem.

We think that all three officials, the Guinean Ambassador, Liberia’s Health Minister and Immigration Commissioner, make a lot of sense in arguing against closing the borders. All their arguments are cogent.

We are fortunate that there has not so far been a rapid spread of the disease. Of the 134 cases reported in Guinea there have been only 100 deaths. Of the 10 casualties in Liberia, the last person to die was on Sunday morning, April 6, in Foya, where news of the outbreak here was first reported.

The Health Ministry has disclosed that two labs have been created in Liberia to monitor and fight the spread of Ebola. The labs are linked to the Meta-Biotic Laboratories in Kenema, Sierra Leone. The first lab in Liberia is a permanent one, established within the Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research, located in Charlesville, near the Roberts International Airport (RIA). The second is a mobile lab, based in Foya, Lofa County, where the first casualties were reported. This lab is equipped to provide rapid response to any reports of Ebola incidences in the general area.

Commissioner Reeves told this newspaper that he will this weekend commence a tour of various border points, beginning in Grand Gedeh County. It may be a good idea for the Commissioner to consult with Health Minister Gwenigale with a view to taking along health workers familiar with the epidemic. These experts would know what to do immediately in the case of detection anywhere along the way.

BUT YOR WAIT NA. WE’VE LIVED WITH AIDS FOR DECADES, WHY ALL THE FUSS

ABOUT EBOLA?

BECAUSE EBOLA KILLS MORE PEOPLE FASTER THAN AIDS.

HUM... THE WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS TO WHAT WE DO, WHERE WE GO, WHO ENTERS LIBERIA AND FROM WHERE.

The Mosquito Menaceby Henry i. Miller and John J.

Cohrssen (Courtesy of project-syn-dicate.org)

STANFORD – Mosquito-borne diseases kill millions of people annually, and cause suffering for many more. In 2012, there were an estimated 207 million cases of malaria, leading to some 627,000 deaths. Dengue fever is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics, with as many as 100 million people infected each year. And there are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever annually, leading to 30,000 deaths worldwide.

It takes only one bite from a disease-carrying mosquito to transmit a debilitating or deadly infection – and mosquitoes breed and multiply with astonishing speed. Given that there are no vaccines or drug treatments for illnesses like dengue fever and West Nile virus, and that treatments for diseases like malaria are difficult to access in many at-risk areas, more effective mechanisms for controlling mosquito populations are desperately needed.

CommentsView/Create comment on this paragraphThe good news is that a promising new technology is ready for field-testing. It is now up to government agencies to facilitate its development.

Today, the dominant method for reducing insect populations – the so-called “sterile insect technique” (SIT) – relies on radiation to sterilize males, which are then released into infested areas to mate. But this approach, which has been used since the middle of the last century, has not been effective with mosquitoes, owing to their fragility.

Advances in molecular biology offer analogous – but far more sophisticated – solutions. Using molecular genetic-engineering techniques, the British company Oxitec has created a new

way to control the mosquito species that transmits dengue fever.

Male mosquitoes are bred in the laboratory with a specific genetic mutation. As a result, their offspring produce high levels of a protein that prevents their cells from functioning normally, causing them to die before reaching maturity. Male mosquitoes do not bite, so their release presents no health risk, and, because their progeny die, no genetically engineered mosquitoes persist in the environment.

If the males are released over a period of several months, this would, in theory, result in a marked reduction in the mosquito population. All that is needed now is to determine whether it works in practice.

Scientific research to develop products like irradiated sterile insects or the Oxitec mosquitoes proceeds progressively from more to less contained conditions – from the laboratory to confined trials to limited field trials. Now that Oxitec has conducted promising field trials in the Cayman Islands, Malaysia, and Brazil, it is preparing to conduct trials in other countries, including the United States.

Such trials are always appropriately controlled and monitored to ensure that they are safe and effective, with government regulation providing an extra safeguard. In order to determine the appropriate level of oversight, government bodies would presumably conduct a science-based risk analysis.

When it comes to genetic engineering, however, science seems to matter less than politics. The fact is that molecular genetic engineering is more precise and predictable than older, cruder techniques like irradiation. But, while SIT remains unregulated in most places, the regulatory reviews of genetically engineered living organisms have tended to be drawn out and excessive

worldwide, with politics delaying – and sometimes even preventing – approvals. As a result, research and development in genetic engineering is more expensive, discouraging investment and hampering innovation.

This is all the more problematic in the case of mosquito control, given the urgency of the problem. The World Health Organization’s Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases has called upon regulatory agencies to emphasize “science-based, case-by-case targeted requirements with a degree of practical parsimony,” instead of relying on “a precautionary approach that can require data to address all theoretical risks.” In other words, regulators should consider these innovations’ public-health costs and benefits, and expedite their review.

Given the degree of suffering caused by mosquito-borne diseases, government leaders must not subject genetic-engineering solutions for controlling them to the same kinds of political and populist headwinds that have impeded the approval of genetically engineered agricultural products. Only with pragmatic, fact-based regulation can the world realize genetic engineering’s full disease-fighting potential.

about the authorsJohn J. Cohrssen is an american

attorney in private practice who has served in senior staff positions in the White House and the Us Congress.

Henry i. Miller, a physician and molecular biologist, is Fellow in Scientific Philosophy and Public Policy at stanford University’s Hoover institution. He was the founding director of the Office of biotechnology in the Us Food and Drug administration and is the author of The Frankenfood

DAILY OBSERVER Page 6 Wednesday, April 9, 2014

 

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, INC.

The International Rescue Committee, Inc. (IRC) is a private international, nonsectarian, voluntary or-ganization providing relief, protection and resettle-ment services for refugees and victims of oppres-

sion or violent conflict.

IRC is implementing a Health Program in Lofa County under funding from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), and is seeking bids/proposals for the provision of Medical Supplies.

Interested and suitably qualified companies or service pro-viders in and around Monrovia may request complete tender information from the IRC office located at:

11th Street, Russell AvenueP. O. Box 3912Monrovia, Liberia

Contact Person: Operations CoordinatorTel: +231 777302938

Submission of all Bids runs from Friday 4th April 2014 and closes on Friday 11th April, 2014 at 5:00pm.

Only successful bidders will be contacted.

BID NOTICE

The US Agency for International Development (USAID)/Liberia is seeking qualified construc-tion companies to construct two (2) mini water systems in the city of Voinjama and Sanniquelle.

USAID/Liberia will award two separate contracts for work in each city.

USAID/Liberia is soliciting companies to compete for these contracts in accordance with United States Government acquisition regulations. Companies will be selected based on demonstrated competence and qualifications for the re-quired work. A company can submit a bid for both contracts, but can only be awarded one of the contracts. The period of performance will be 18 months (6 months construction pe-riod and 12 months defects liability period) from the notice to proceed. USAID/Liberia estimates giving the notice to proceed in early May 2014.

A firm that wishes to respond to this request must, at a mini-mum:

• Be a local Liberian entity• Have all licenses and permits required by the law of

Republic Of Liberia to legally transact business and perform the work;

• Have an established business with a permanent ad-dress and telephone listing; and

• Have no political or business affiliations which could be considered contrary to the interest of the United States.

An interested construction company can obtain a copy of the solicitations and drawings for free electronically via www.fbo.gov, or in hard copy for a fee of $50 USD at LMWP Office 19th Street and Payne Avenue Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia – LMWP contact information is provided in the solicitation on www.fbo.gov. Please direct questions about this process to USAID/Liberia’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) via email at oaaliberia@usaid.gov or telephone number 077-677-7000 ext: 7042 or 7076.

USAID/Liberia will have a pre-bid meeting at the Liberia Municipal Water Project office on 19th Street and Payne Avenue in Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia on 14, April, 2014 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm local Liberia time. Interested companies must submit the names of no more than two (2) employees who will attend the pre-bid meeting via email oaaliberia@usaid.gov by 10:00 am local time, 11 April, 2014.

In addition to the pre-bid meeting, USAID will organize an optional site visit for each site as follows:• Voinjama on 18, April, 2014 starting at 9:00am local

Liberia time. Participants will meet at: the Social Security Guest House in Voinjama at 9:00am local time.

• Sanniquelle on 16, April starting at 9:00am local Liberian time meet at: the Social Security Guest House in Sanniquelle at 9:00am local time.

Bidder will be responsible for covering all his/her costs and transportation required to and from the site visits.

USAID/ Liberia Municipal Water Project Announcement - Change of Name

This is to notify the general public that WATTA M. KARNEH name has been changed to MAMAWA J. KARNEH. Additionally, all documents bearing his previous name, WATTA M. KARNEH should remain valid. This

announcement should claim the attention of the general public.

Signed: MAMAWA J. KARNEH

5

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Daily Observer Page 8 Wednesday, april 9, 2014 6

CBL Builds, Dedicates Credit Union Banks in Gr. Kru, Gr. Gedeh, R. Gee & Maryland Counties: A Pictorial

some elders in Fishtown river Gee Countystudents on the roadside ready to welcome Dr. Mills Jones

Governor Jones cuts the rbbon to open the newly constructed bank in Fishtown, riv-ergee County

Grand Kru citizens escort Governor Mills Jones to the ceremony The National Petty Traders Union in river Gee County

Governor Jones presents the key of the newly constructed bank in Grand Kru County.

advertiser’s supplement

Continued on pg 7

The newly constructed Credit Union bank built by Cbl in Grand Kru County The newly constructed Credit Union building that was delicated by Governor Mills Jones

Daily Observer Page 9 Wednesday, april 9, 2014 7

(L-r) CBL Director of Adminstration D. Sheba Brown, Grand Kru County official, Cbl board of Governor John bestman and Governor Mills Jones in Grand Kru

CountyCbl Chief of staff Crayton Duncan chats with Cbl executive Governor Mills Jones

in Grand Gedeh County, traditional masked dancer performsCross section of Grand Gedeans gather for the ceremony

rep. isaac roland chats with Governor Jones

Grand Kru citizens escort Governor Mills Jones to the ceremony

Governor Jiones presents the key of the newly constructed bank in Grand Kru County

Citizens of river Gee County await Cbl Governor Dr. Mills Jones

The United Women based in Grand Kru

Daily Observer Page 7 Wednesday, april 9, 2014

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Watch out! It’s coming!! It’s almost here!!!The Central Bank of Liberia plans to launch the Secured Transactions and Collateral Registry in June 2014.

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

Operations of the Registry-The Registry will be operated and managed by the CBL. It is an electronic public database that contains information on security interests in movable assets and secured parties priorities. The Registry’s main purpose is to give public information that a security interest exists in identified collaterals and establish priority of secured parties based on the day and time of registration.The Registry will provide three (3) basic services to the public as follows: Searches, Registration and Amend-ments of financing statements.

i. Searches will be conducted on the Registry’s database to find out if there are prior security interests in the movable assets (properties) offered by the debtors as collateral for a loan. ii. Registration of a financing statement in the Collateral Registry will give notice of a security interest in a debtor’s collateral.iii. Amendments will be done to add, change or delete information previously provided in a financing statement through the submission of a financing change statement.

Enforcement-In the event of default (the debtor does not repay a loan), the secured party has the right to enforce their security interest in the collateral. The debtor also has the right through a court order to suspend enforcement if it believes that the secured party is damaging the collateral or has sold it for low value. The Secured Transactions and Collateral Registry has its legal backing from Chapter 5 of the Liberia Commercial Code of 2010 and The Secured Transactions and Collateral Registry Regulations issued by the CBL in 2013.Benefits-The Registry will encourage access to finance through the use of movable assets and will bring transparency to the credit environment. It will serve as incentive for secured parties to allow debtors especially MSMEs to use movable assets as collateral to access finance. In this way, the Registry will significantly sup-port the Government’s Agenda for Transformation.Target Groups-The Registry seeks to meet the needs of under-served MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, Factor-ing and Leasing Companies, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, individuals and etc.

Fees Payment- Under the Registry’s operations, searches will be free, while registration and amendments of financing statements will require service fees. The structure and method of payment will be communicated to the public at a later date.

For further information or inquiry, please contact: Mrs. Euphemia Swen-Monmia on cell #: 0886590575 & 0777445144 or Mr. Fonsia M. Donzo on cell # 0886517614; or at the Regulation and Supervision De-partment, Central Bank of Liberia.

Daily Observer Tuesday, april 08, 2014 Wednesday, april 9, 2014 Page 9

CBL Galvanizes Support in Southeast -Citizens Celebrate as Cbl Opens banks in river Gee, Grand Kru

by George D. Kennedy, business Correspondent

The Central Bank of Liberia has once again taken a major step to

enhance its financially inclusive program across the country. The latest move by the Bank is the construction and dedication of credit union banks in Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties, in the southeast of Liberia.

The two counties are among the poorest in Liberia, making access to bank loans extremely difficult. If made available, interest rates on bank loans in these counties could be very high.

CBL officials, led by Executive Governor J. Mills Jones, drove to the region last weekend to open the two banks, which would be used by registered credit unions and village savings

and loan associations to facilitate access to finances for businesses and residents in that part of the country.

The idea of this financial inclusion scheme emanated from Dr. Jones, who believes that unless the Liberian people can have access to the national cake and poverty is reduced, the economy will not be where it ought to be, and the suffering of the people would continue.

The Board of Governors of the CBL, comprised of former Finance Ministers, former National Bank governors and commercial bank executives, have endorsed this idea, which is making a strong impact in the lives of ordinary Liberians in the countries rural areas.

Thousands of citizens, including business owners, government officials, elders, and youth and student groups, lined up

along the roadsides in Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, Grand Kru and Maryland counties to show their support to CBL officials as they visited their counties.

Governor Jones’ trip to the Southeast was based on an invitation from citizens and officials of these counties, including Maryland County District #3 Rep. Isaac Roland, a

man who is desperate to see the people of Maryland County rise from poverty.

Mr. Harold K. Chea, head of the Unity Savings Credit Union in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, was also on hand to receive Dr. Jones and his delegation.

Chea told reporters that he is proud to welcome and honor Dr. Mills Jones for his “unprecedented,

invaluable, committed and dedicated service toward the empowerment of Liberians through the practical demonstration of his indigenous approach to building the Liberian economy.”

Mr. Chea noted that the people of Grand Gedeh were overwhelmed by the financial and technical support they have received from the CBL through its unprecedented loan initiative under the leadership of Dr. Mills Jones.

“Studies of performance for Liberian businesses after you took over as Governor of the CBL up to present reveal significant transformations in contrast to the past,” he said.

“Liberian businesspeople have seen a new day. Access to finance is no longer a major issue; acquisition of skills and knowledge through capacity building is a milestone achievement that is accelerating the

growth and expansion of Liberian owned businesses. We must commend you significantly for that,” Governor Jones,” lauded Mr. Chea.

Rep. Isaac Roland was among several Liberians who praised the CBL Executive Governor for his loan initiative “that is helping our people significantly”.

In response, Dr. Jones expressed his gratitude to the people of Maryland, Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Grand Kru Counties for appreciating the work of the CBL. The CBL boss reiterated: “no one, irrespective of his/her geographic location, should see poverty as their destiny or as a badge of honor.”

The CBL boss assured rural dwellers that the Bank remains committed to working with the Board of Governors, management and staff for the sustainable transformation of the Liberian economy.

 Cbl executive Governor Dr. J. Mills Jones

Money Laundering: A Foe of the Financial System

-Giaba Programs Director Describes Money launderingby David a. yates

Dr. Buno Nduka, director of programs and projects of the

Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, has described the act and terrorist financing as activities that undermine the stability and integrity of the financial system in West Africa.

Dr. Nduka made the statement Tuesday, April 08, at a one-day financial sector executive officers dialogue meeting held in Monrovia.

According to him, the dialogue was intended to provide a standards framework to act against criminals by clarifying and strengthening existing obligations and tackle the threat posed by ‘money laundering and terrorist financing’ in the sub region.

He said, “As part of the global efforts to ensure that the financial system is not misused for the purpose of laundering proceeds

of crimes; the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in February 2012, revised its standards to provide a stronger framework against criminals.”

The GIABA programs, according to Director Nduka, are providing new ways to combat threats to the international financial system and have competent authorities with knowledge and experience to counter the evolving dangers posed by money laundering and terrorist financing.

He explained that FATF recommendations two and 40 call for national cooperation and coordination as well as international cooperation amongst competent authorities. These authorities include regulatory institutions that ensure money laundering rings and terrorist financiers are effectively combated and shut down.

He said that recommendations one and from 19 to 21 of GIABA documents specifically

focus on money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment, customer identification, record keeping and reporting suspicious transactions on financial institutions.

“Money laundering and terrorist financing have adverse consequences on the financial system. They undermine the stability and integrity of the system and expose the system to reputational damage and legal risk. This reduces the contribution of the sector to economic development, while all the countries integrated into the international financial system become exposed to the risks of these crimes,” said Dr. Nduka.

He moved on to recommendation 26, which requires regulatory authorities to undertake supervision of financial institutions under their purview for Anti-money Laundering (AML) CFT and the financial sector, which is central to the implementation of the

AML/CFT standard in any country.

He disclosed that the outcomes of GIABA’s first round of mutual evaluation of member states (MS) reveal a generally low performance by the financial sector. This is owed to several factors, including insufficient commitment on the part of the management of financial institutions in implementing AML/CFT standards.

“The compliance status of the sector in relation to the implementation of AML/CFT standards has serious consequences on the integrity and stability of the sector, its role in economic development, and ultimately, the

achievement of ECOWAS’ overall objectives,” he maintained.

For his part, the Director for Regulation and Supervision of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Musa Kamara, on behalf of Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Deputy Governor for Administration, Charles E. Sirleaf, told GIABA members that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is fully committed to strengthening the AML/CFT of the country.

Money LaunderingMoney Laundering is the

process where the proceeds of crime are transformed into ostensibly legitimate money or other assets.

However, in a number of legal and regulatory

systems, the term money laundering has become mixed with other forms of financial crimes, and sometimes used more generally to include misuse of the financial system, including terrorist financing, tax evasion, and evading of international sanctions.

It is said that the term ‘money laundering’ was coined from the practice of the American mafia who, at one time, channelled the cash proceeds of their crimes through launderettes to legitimize the cash. Whether this is true or not, the term ‘money laundering’ is now widely used.

 Participants at yesterday’s launch of the program

Daily Observer Page 10Wednesday, april 9, 2014

we must take a chance on anyone or anybody, we must take a chance on ourselves. We must take chances on our very selves if somebody else is going to take a chance on us. I will not apologize for helping our people”---and by exten-sion, our nation,” he tacitly made the psychological con-nection.

The CBL Executive Gover-nor made these comments in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County where he dedicated the newly constructed Unity Savings Credit Union building. He had performed a similar ceremo-ny in Fish Town, River Gee County and in Barclayville, Grand Kru County.

Although the Governor did

not say to whom he was refer-ring, analysts say that the 53rd Legislature---whose members tried to make something nega-tive out of the widely applaud-ed way he runs the Central Bank---could not be as far his target from these statements.

The lawmakers had turned Dr. Jones into a folk-hero by suggesting that his financial method was shrouded in po-litical aggrandizement. They even went as far as orches-trating (arranging, scheming) a recent amendment to the CBL Act, mandating that CBL governors with an interest in elective positions resigned from the Bank three consecu-tive years before plunging into politics.

But Governor said that “If we are going to build an econ-omy based on more equitable distribution of income, then Liberians need to be empow-ered.”

He said building a middle class (middle income econ-omy) is crucial for the foun-dation of securing Liberia’s democracy, adding that “we must empower Liberians fi-nancially.”

“Helping Liberians should be discussed. It is not an op-tion, but a responsibility. It is imperative and we do it in order to move forward. This is why the CBL is trying to do by offering a helping hand to our people. We are not giv-ing handouts. We are not on the street distributing money to people. We work with Vil-lage Saving Loan Associations

and Credit Unions in order to achieve this goal,” the CBL boss clarified.

The CBL Executive Gover-nor believes that “if we have to develop Liberia, we must work by creating an environ-ment that would encourage people to work. This financial institution building that we are dedicating here today should be seen as a symbol to move forward,” Jones declared.

The Governor insisted that Liberians should “look to the future and think bigger be-cause it is the only way we can improve---by thinking big. You cannot get far by think-ing small. Those who reach the sky were willing to think big and work hard. Progress comes through hard work and if we have to build our nation we have to build it ourselves.

People can only help us, but at the end Liberians must build Liberia.”

“We must understand the challenges we face. If people in villages and towns do not have something to give com-mercial banks in Monrovia as guarantee, what should we do? Should we fold our arms and continue to complain? It will not be enough. If we must fight poverty we should go where there is poverty. It is no secret that poverty is suffered by low-income earners, espe-cially those in the towns and villages.”

Repayment of CBL LoanGovernor Jones reported that

borrowers are repaying the CBL loan. “People are repay-ing their loans. We are encour-aging them. We are making

progress because things don’t change overnight. We cannot keep doing the same old things and expect different results,” he stressed.

Governor Jones informed the public that development is not a budget, meaning that de-velopment is about hard work and producing in order to get higher income.

“By producing,” he said “you help the government sig-nificantly to get more income, through which government can in turn improve the living condition of its people.”

He maintained that the CBL remains a friend of the private sector, where jobs will come from in helping the govern-ment meet its goal to fight and reduce poverty in the county.

No Apology

by Keith Morris

The House of R e p r e s e n t a -tives finally agreed with the Liberian Sen-ate Tuesday,

April 8, on setting a minimum wage for Liberian workers.

The House agreed to set the

minimum wage for skilled workers at US$6 per day while unskilled and domestic work-ers are subject to US$4 per day. Said legislation covers all sectors of the economy includ-ing government and conces-sionaires.

The latest decision is based on recommendations from the Joint Committees on Labour,

Ways and Means, Finance and the Judiciary, which reported to the plenary after working on the proposed legislation.

Both Houses passed the bill last summer with conflicting versions, forcing both cham-bers to constitute a Conference Committee to further discuss and agree on a single position.

According to the Constitu-tion, both Houses must agree under the same accord before sending said legislation to the

President for signature.In Representative Acarous

M. Gray’s motion, the House’s Plenary concurred with the Senate while taking into con-sideration the protection of employers and employees un-der this proposed legislation.

However, Gray’s fellow Montserrado County Repre-sentative, Edwin Snowe, filed a motion for reconsideration and is expected to reopen the debate soon.

Following Snowe’s motion, the Plenary agreed that a Min-imum Wage Board be consti-tuted after two years in order to study the economic vari-ables of the nation and make increments in wages when necessary.

The bill is now on its way to President Sirleaf for signature and onward submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be printed into handbill if the President signs it into law.

Passage of the bill by the Legislature comes as a relief to many industrial workers and organizations, including the Liberia Labor Congress, a body of labor advocates.

The group has, over the years, advocated for said leg-islation; forcing them to stage several protests on the grounds of the Capitol Building pre-vailing on their lawmakers to act in their interest.

Passed

said that bitter experiences have taught us that irregular or knee-jerk responses to situa-tions of disastrous proportions, usually leave us with casualties that should not have been, had we been better coordinated.

Vice President Boakai made these remarks on Tuesday when he formally opened a Government High Level Di-saster Response Meeting that convened at a local hotel to consider guidance for the fu-ture organizational structure of disaster management in the Country.

He identified mechanisms to coordinate activities between government ministries and agencies and other stakehold-ers in the event of a disaster. The Vice President also identi-fied requirements which need further research and action to improve the ability of the Libe-rian Government to effectively manage disasters and to recog-nize actions needed for Liberia to comply with Ecowas’ man-date.

Hon. Boakai pointed out that no matter how many volunteers or resources one may be able to command from the outside in the event of a disaster, disaster preparation must begin with the host, saying “The better prepared you are, the better you can effectively guide the efforts of those who come to assist.”

Speaking further, Vice Presi-dent Boakai cautioned the meeting that the purpose of the forum was to examine the Li-berian Government’s disaster management plans, policies and procedures, and assess their adequacy to respond to a major local, regional or global disaster event. He told the meeting to take into account the low-level of Liberia’s pre-paredness and noted that we can do far better and we should.

VP Boakai furthered that “Government remains focused, and there is a political will; with our eyes set on the course---even in the face of scarcity of needed resources and technical knowledge---we will explore the most efficient measures of preparation. Disaster does not discriminate and does not choose its victims whether rich or poor, partisan or opposition, weak or strong,” he added.

On Monday, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai met with Of-ficials from the National Disas-ter Management Organization of Ghana, the United States Af-rica Command, National Emer-gency Management Agency of Nigeria, and the Chair on the Committee on Disaster of Ni-geria on Capitol Hill ahead of the High Level Disaster Pre-paredness and Response Table Top Exercise.

The Officials were, Mr. Kofi Arthur, of the House of Parlia-ment of Ghana, Mr. Ebenezer Kofi Portuphy, of the National Disaster Management Orga-nization of Ghana, Mr. Erik Threet, of the United States Africa Command and Mr. Mu-hammed Sani Sidi, Director General of the National Emer-gency Management Agency and Sunday Ifedayo Abegunde. They were accompanied to the Office of the Vice President by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Rennie Jackson.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morris Du-kuly, the purpose of the meet-ing was to stimulate discussion among senior officials of the Liberian Government on mat-ters related to improving na-tional disaster management and preparedness capabilities of the country.

The meeting was organized by the members of the Liberian Technical Core Team, National

Disaster Relief and funded by the United States Africa Com-mand and their implementing partner, the Center for Disas-ter Humanitarian Assistance Medicine.

During the Monday’s meeting Vice President Boakai stressed the need for a clear-cut man-date and implementable terms of reference for Liberia’s disas-ter relief program, as the Ebola virus continues to “snowball” in the region.

In his address today, Vice President Boakai recalled the No Way Camp Disaster, and so many others including the recent fire disaster that left

many dead and homeless at Johansson and other fires and storms across the country that destroyed lives and properties.

“Today’s meeting is expected to provide a deeper understand-ing of the challenges that are likely to arise during a major disaster event, identify gaps in the Liberian Government’s disaster management, and recommend changes to plans, policies, and procedure.”

Health Ministry authorities in Monrovia have announced that eleven persons have so far died from the Ebola Virus as the Government continues to take measures including awareness

programs to stop the spread of the deadly virus that has also left many dead in neighboring Guinea.

United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac, the Program Manager of the Unit-ed States Africa Command, Erik Threet, Louis K. Davies-Morris, Director of the Nation-al Disaster Relief Commission of Liberia, Daniel Gambo of the National Emergency Man-agement Agency of Nigeria and George Kofi Arthur of the House of Parliament of Ghana, and Mr. Ebenezer Kofi Portu-phy National Coordinator of the National Disaster manage-

ment organization of Ghana among several international guests as well as Officials of the Liberian Government were in attendance.

There were presentations on the United Nations and Ecowas mandate, disaster preparedness program overview, the legisla-tive process, committee over-sight and resources, Ecowas Policy and guideline disaster relief management structures and systems and disaster coor-dination and legal structures, according to a release issued by the Office of the Vice Presi-dent.

Boakai Wants

The West Point Townhall Con-struction Proj-ect held its first board meeting Friday, April 4,

at the new Evelyn’s Restaurant in Sinkor.

Representatives of the town-ship of West Point in the per-sons of the Commissioner, elders and governors of the various ethnic groups, the Eu-ropean Union, architects and patrons of the project were in attendance.

After welcome remarks by West Point Commissioner, H. Miatta Flowers, and an over-view of the project by Mr. Kenneth Y. Best, whose brain child the project is, a corp of officers was elected as fol-lows:

Mr. Charles A. Minor, In-terim Board Chair; Mr. Amos Sie-Snowie, Kru Governor of West Point, Vice Chair; The European Union, Treasurer; Ms. Nelly S. Cooper, repre-senting the women of West Point, Vice Treasurer; Ms. Lindiwé N. Khumalo, Board Secretary; Mr. Isaac T. Rob-

erts, Chaplain of the board; Mr. Kenneth Y. Best, Sr. and West Point Commissioner H. Miatta Flowers, Patrons.

Lead project architect, Mr. Adolphus McCritty, gave the board an overview of the de-sign of the building, allaying fears that based on the beach front location designated for the town hall, the building might be undermined by sea erosion. McCritty explained that the structure has been de-signed like that of a bridge to withstand water the force of a tsunami. The building, he said, will have a finished floor 18 feet above sea level as well as four via ducts for water to pass through.

Partnering with Mr. McCrit-ty as an architect on the town hall construction project, Mr. F. Augustus Caesar explained to the board that in order to circumvent land ownership is-sues, the elders of West Point had designated two acres of land for the people’s use. No transfer of ownership is being requested or required. A dec-laration prepared by a lawyer will be signed by the elders

of West Point, attested to by Commissioner Flowers and submitted to the Ministry of Public Works.

While the building itself would not require the demo-lition of houses, some West Point home owners may have to make sacrifices to make way for an access road to the site Caesar said.

Construction is scheduled to begin after soil tests have been completed. The project has been estimated at US$1.5 million. The actual size of the building, the architects explained, will be dependent upon the amount of funds raised.

Two financial institutions, the Liberia Bank for Develop-ment and Investment and Af-riland First Bank, have been designated by the board; and also signatories authorized.

Supporters and friends of the project wanting to give to the project may deposit funds of any amount into the project’s escrow account currently set up at LBDI. An online portal will, in short order, be set up for overseas-based supporters wishing to make donations to the construction of a town hall

for the township of West Point. All supporters making do-

nations of any amount to this cause will have their names engraved on the wall of the building upon completion.

The West Point Townhall Project was launched on Sat-urday, October 27, marking the 75th birth anniversary of Kenneth Y. Best, publisher and managing director of the Daily Observer newspaper.

Mr. Best said he wished no celebration for himself but, with the assistance of family, friends and well wishers, to reach out to the people of West Point, from where the Daily Observer got its first front page story at its launching on February 16, 1981. The story was headlined, “West Point Dwellers Are Angry”.

The board expresses its thanks to all who have already contributed to the project and calls upon all well-meaning Liberians, especially those whose peoples constitute the township of West Point, to give charitably to this most worthy cause.

West Point

Daily Observer Wednesday, april 09, 2014 Wednesday, april 9, 2014 Page 11For

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

A Worthy Support to ‘Street Children’-Putu Mining, NOCal, aqualife show the Way

by Omari Jackson

Nine Liberian street children took part in the just ended Street Child World

Cup in Brazil and the results are encouraging and would make a difference in their lives.

The nine children are part of a larger number of Liberian kids, over 300, being helped

by Street Child Liberia, a non-governmental humanitarian organization recently organized with support from Street Child UK.

The organization’s primarily goal is removing street children from the street and re-uniting them with their parents.

The Street Child Liberia was recently established in the country, with volunteers

and support from Street Child United Kingdom.

Who is a street child? Public Relations Officer Ms. Tarsha Mathies Jackson, said, “Is a child who practically lives on the street; who finds food for himself and runs his own affairs.”

Street Child Liberia has succeeded in re-uniting several parents with their children, has paid for two years’ school

Team liberia in a happy mood in brazil, arriving tomorrow

fees, as well as providing them with school materials.

“Parents are additionally supported with financial assistance,” Tarsha said, “after the two years the parent is helped to continue a business to support the child, not to return to the street.”

The idea to participate in the Street Child World was born and experimented in the last World Cup in South Africa.

Street Child of Liberia decided to apply for participation, which was accepted with Street Child UK, Putu Mining Company, AquaLife and NOCAL throwing their financial and moral support behind the idea.

With funds from Putu Mining Company and NOCAL and with free provision of safe

drinking water during the preparation, Liberia was able to send a team, as the only West African representative, to Brazil.

Reports say the nine Liberian

children, ably represented Liberia and West Africa as worthy ‘Ambassadors.’ They joined 19 countries, including USA, Pakistan, Rwanda, Brazil and the eventual champions, Tanzania, to tell the world that they are ‘somebody’ and their voices need attention. They are returning home tomorrow (Thursday, April 10, 2014) to carry the message to their colleagues to live and live large and shape their future for a better tomorrow.

While the new heroes are yet to touch the Liberian soil, we

want to commend Putu Mining Company, NOCAL and AquaLife for their tremendous support towards such a life-changing endeavor.

The liberian heroes visited the city of rio Favela, brazil

Liberian Tennis Star Meets Biggest Names in the Gameby Nicole Mulvaney/The

Times of Trenton

TRENTON — When Liberian Nu-Kermeni Kermah came to Trenton

in 2003 to escape Liberia’s second civil war and live with her grandmother, she’d never picked up a tennis racket, bounced a neon yellow ball or watched a match.

But Kermah, then 8, saw children playing the game on the Cadwalader Park tennis courts and eventually decided to join in, she said.

“We live right across the street from the tennis courts, so when it started to get warm outside, I’d just walk over,” said Kermah, now Trenton Central High School’s senior class president and girls’ tennis captain.“Tennis gives you power when you don’t really feel like you have power. It’s a sport that makes you feel like

you’re the boss.” The 18-year-old, nicknamed

Q, is a member of the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton. When its executive director, Rob Howland, learned the nonprofit was going to be one of four beneficiaries of the United

States Tennis Association’s fundraising event in New York City on March 2, he chose Kermah to attend and represent the organization, he said.

“I’ve known Q for about seven years, and I couldn’t think of someone more

deserving,” Howland said. “She’s a leader for us as a member of our junior staff.”

On March 3, World Tennis Day, the event raised money to support USTA’s scholarship funding and programming grants to NJTL chapters, Howland said. During the

reception, Kermah met top-ranked tennis players, including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and brothers Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, all of whom competed at a recent BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden.

Brothers John McEnroe, a Hall-of-Famer, and Patrick McEnroe, ESPN analyst and USTA director of player development, also participated, Howland said. Kermah said she was excited to her meet her big-name role models on center court.

“Djokovic lived up to my expectations even more. It was like normal, and I had conversations with them and took pictures,” Kermah said. “The experience was overwhelming. I never thought that this would happen to me. It was a big deal.”

Howland will not know how much money the NJTL of Trenton will receive until he

is notified by the organization, but the proceeds will be split among the four recipients, he said.

Kermah, who is being recruited by 30 colleges and universities nationwide, is in the NJTL of Trenton’s ASHE program designed for those who exhibit the four values of the NJTL of Trenton: acceptance of others, responsible behavior, healthy lifestyle and academic performance, and who express a strong interest in becoming an advanced tennis player, according to the organization’s website.

She said all of the players in the program maintain As and Bs in school, including herself. Kermah hopes to attend High Point University in North Carolina, study broadcast journalism and play tennis, she said.

From left to right: Dave Haggerty- UsTa CeO, President and Chairman, Trenton Central High school’s Nu-Kermeni “Q” Kermah, andy Murray- 2013 Men’s

Wimbledon Champion, Norwalk Grassroots Tennis Participant, bob & Mike bryan -No.1 Doubles team, Jean laurent bonnafe- CeO of bNP Paribas, Jerry solomon-

CeO of star Games, Novak Djokovic- second ranked men’s player, NyNJTl participant, Harlem Junior Tennis participant, Gordon smith- UsTa executive

Director. (Courtesy of rob Howland)

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‘US Ready to Fight Any Pandemic in Liberia’ Ambassador Malac Assures

By C.Y. Kwanue

In an attempt to fight the deadly Ebola dis-ease that would threat-en post-war Liberia, the Government of the United States of Amer-

ica through its Embassy in Monrovia, has pledged its con-tinued support to the country.

In her opening remarks, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Debo-rah Malac, gave the assurance to delegates at the opening of the High-Level Preparedness Disaster and Response meeting hosted Tuesday, April 8, at a re-sort in Monrovia.

Tuesday’s meeting was host-ed by the Government of Libe-

rian (GOL), and organized by the United States Africa Com-mand (USAFRICOM) with support from the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian As-sistance Medicine (CDHAM).

USAFRICOM and its imple-menting partner---such as the CDHAM, the Ambassador said---are sponsoring the event to enable all of the participants to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that are likely to arise during a disaster. It should serve as well as to iden-tify gaps and assess the need for modifying Liberia’s disas-ter management plans, policies, and procedures.

She disclosed among other things that an innovative col-

laboration between the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) and AFRICOM helped lay the foundation for Tuesday’s event.

“As you have seen over the past weeks, the United States and other donors and interna-tional organizations are coming

to the aid of Liberia and other West African countries to man-age the Ebola outbreak.”

According to the U.S. En-voy, the United States and Liberia’s other partners are ready and willing to ensure the country is prepared to meet any natural disaster or pandemic.

In that connection, the U.S. Diplomat encouraged all stake-holders at the meeting to take advantage of Tuesday’s gath-ering to build on the progress already made, further provide guidance to the future orga-nizations, and structure of the National Disaster Relief Com-

mission and future Disaster Management Agency (NDRC-MA).

She urged consideration of how government ministries, agencies, and other stakehold-ers can work together to co-ordinate the government’s re-sponse to a major disaster, and then identify what further ac-tion or steps could be taken to improve the ability of the GOL to effectively manage disasters.

Ambassador Malac then urged stakeholders in atten-dance to continue using such a meeting agenda to build closer regional ties within the Eco-nomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), especially with their colleagues from Ghana and Nigeria.

Tuesday’s disaster response meeting examined the issues associated with governance, organizational structures, and capacities of disaster manage-ment in Liberia.

It also reviewed the GOL national disaster capacities and authority to respond to a major national, regional or global di-saster event, etc.

Participants included an ar-ray of senior Liberian officials, among them, Vice President Jo-seph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) headed by Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai, Jr.

At the end of the meeting, a close-door review and discus-sion session was conducted to summarize the recommenda-tions and suggested improve-ments to enhance the disaster management capacities of Li-beria.

Top table participants at Tuesday’s High-Level Disaster Response meeting pose for photo shot

By Abednego Davis

A request by state lawyers to re-arrest and ignore a US$1.5 mil-lion bail bond

secured on behalf of several former managers of the For-estry Development Authority (FDA), on Tuesday, April 8, was denied by Criminal Court ‘C.’ That action by the Court allowed the accused to walk free pending final determina-tion of the trial.

Prosecution asked the court to set aside the US$1.5 million bail bond tendered by Medicare Insurance Company and the In-surance Company of Africa.

They argued that the bond was insufficient considering the over US$13 million alleg-edly stolen by the defendants from government, requesting them to double the amount they have sued at the Court.

However, defense lawyers for

Court Rejects Accused FDA Manager’s Re-arrest Ordertheir part, argued that the pros-ecution team’s request should be denied and the insurance company only be compelled to justify their criminal appear-ance bond that was tendered to release the men from detention at the Monrovia Central Prison.

But, in the court ruling, Judge Blamo Dixon declared, “The defendants bonds are hereby allowed and permitted, since their sureties had justified said bail bond. The bonds of the defendants shall stand or same shall be retained pending no-tice from the Court. It is hereby ordered.”

Judge Dixon further declared,

“the two companies— Insur-ance Company of Africa and Medicare Insurance Compa-ny— serving as sureties for the defendants promised that they will guarantee their day-to-day appearance in court pending fi-nal determination of the case.”

Quoting Article 21, Section (8), sub-sections one and two of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, the Criminal Court Judge said it provides that “All persons shall be bailable upon their personal recognizance or by sufficient sureties, depend-ing upon the gravity of the charge.”

“Interestingly” Judge Dixon

said, “Prosecution also states excessive shall not be re-quired.”

He further ruled, “In view of the law controlling as found in Section 53.6 of the Civil Proce-dure Law and Section 13.4 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the court is constrained to al-low the bail bond of the defen-dants.”

Surprisingly, none of the government lawyers were vis-ibly seen in Court on Tuesday, when the Court’s ruled against their request.

The former managers of the Forestry Development Author-ity (FDA), including its main

former managing director, Moses Wogbeh, were jointly indicted with multiple crimes, including economy sabotage, criminal conspiracy, forgery or counterfeiting obtaining and deceptive writings obstruc-tion of government by public servant in connection with the much publicized Private Use Permits (PUPs) saga.

Following that, the indict-ment was served on them (defendants) and they were brought under the jurisdiction of the court, and subsequently detained at the Monrovia Cen-tral Prison pending the filing of the bail bond.

April 9, 2014-edition.indd 2 4/10/14 12:30 AM