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-Ellen Tells Women at Women in Parliaments Global Forum, Calls for More Empowerment

‘No Turning Back’

President Sirleaf delivers a special message to delegates at the Women in Parliament Annual Summit, Wednes-

day November 27 at the EU Hqs

By William Q. Harmon

“The struggle which started many decades ago on several continents for women’s suf-frage and empowerment is far from fulfilling its promise. Though great strides have been made, there is no turning back until we get to where we are striving to get,” President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said.

The Liberian leader said that women have been subjugated and subjected to servitude and other forms of discrimination for too long in the hands of their male counterparts, many of whom are husbands, fathers, and brothers, noting that this is now the right time for women to stand up and take their des-tiny in their own hands.

The Liberian leader made the statement when she served as a special guest speaker at the Annual Summit of the Women in Parliaments Global Forum, held at the European Parlia-ment on Wednesday, November 27. The summit was held from November 27-29,

Speaking on the topic “Re-shaping Society through Fe-

VP Boakai Urges Liberians to Respect Leaders

-Visits President Tubman’s GraveBy Alaskai Moore Johnson

The Vice Presi-dent of Libe-ria, Ambas-sador Joseph N. Boakai, has urged Liberians

to respect their leaders, wheth-er past or present.

He made the call Friday, No-vember 29, at his residence when he spoke with journalists, following his visit to President

Cont’d on pg. 14

Finland Names New Honorary Consul-As Aaron Milton Retires Following 29 Yrs of Service

First from left: New Honorary Con-

sul Vesikko, Mrs. Milton third from left, retired Consul Milton seated, and

Ambassador Korpiv-aara standing right

over Mr. Milton.

By Joaquin Sendolo, Observer Diplomatic

Correspondent

Finland has named a new Honorary Consul, who

will represent the interest of Cont’d on pg. 14

US$2bn Needed, Management EstimatesBy George D. Kennedy

The National Port Au-thority (NPA) has unveiled a draft 25-

year master plan to guide the development of existing seaports in Liberia and the

NPA Unveils Port’s Master Plan

Cont’d on pg. 14 Matilda W. Parker

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, VOL, No.28.indd 2 12/2/13 12:15 AM

Daily Observer sunday, December 01, 2013 Monday, December 2, 2013Foreign Briefs

Page 2World News Fast & Furious Actor Paul Walker Mourned

(BBC) - Fans, friends and fellow stars have been paying tribute to US actor Paul Walker, who has died in a car crash.

Walker was best-known for playing Brian O’Conner in the Fast & Furious films.

The 40-year-old died on Saturday when a Porsche being driven by a friend, who also died, crashed near Los Angeles.

Walker’s co-star Jordana Brewster said: “Paul was pure light. I cannot believe he is gone.” Fellow Fast & Furious actor Vin Diesel wrote that “heaven has gained a new angel”.

“Brother, I will miss you very much,” Diesel said on Twitter.

In a second message, he said: “My heart is hurting so sad. Paul Walker was a good man. RIP my friend... Sorry to the Walker family.”

Walker starred in five of the six movies in the popular Fast & Furious franchise and had started filming the seventh.

The accident happened while Walker was attending an event for his charity Reach Out Worldwide.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said deputies found a car engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision. Two people found in the car were

pronounced dead at the scene.Images showed the burned-out

wreckage of a red Porsche by the side of the road.

“It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide,” a statement on the actor’s Facebook page said.

“He was a passenger in a friend’s car, in which both lost their lives. We... are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news.’’

Other tributes came from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who has appeared in two Fast & Furious films. “All my strength, love & faith to the Walker family during this heartbreaking time,” he wrote.

“We find our strength in his light. Love you brother.”

Actress Jessica Alba, who appeared alongside Walker in the 2005 diving drama Into the Blue, described him as “a lovely person - so sweet and grounded”.

‘American beauty’ Director Rob Cohen, who

cast Walker in the first Fast & Furious picture as well as the 2000 drama Skulls, told Variety magazine that Walker and Vin Diesel were “the perfect duo for

me”.Speaking about Walker, the

director said: “His American beauty, his athleticism, the directness of his approach to the character, his effusive, down-to-earth personality brought joy to me and everyone around him.

“I will miss him all the rest of my days.”

Ludacris, another co-star, recalled : “Your humble spirit was felt from the start, wherever you blessed your presence you always left a mark.”

In the Fast & Furious films, Walker made his name playing undercover officer Brian O’Conner, who infiltrated a gang of illegal Californian street racers before switching allegiances to join them.

As well as those five movies, Walker’s other credits included Flags of Our Fathers, Eight Below, Noel and the forthcoming Hurricane Katrina drama Hours.

Universal Pictures issued a statement saying Walker was “truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years”.

“This loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast & Furious films, and to countless fans,” it said. “We send our deepest and most sincere condolences to Paul’s

family.”Walker began acting as a

young boy when his mother, a model, took him to auditions for commercials.

He won roles in the TV series Touched by an Angel and The Young and the Restless before moving on to supporting roles in late 1990s films like with Varsity Blues and She’s All That.

After the success of the first Fast & Furious film, Walker became the leading man for the second instalment when Vin Diesel dropped out.

Diesel later returned, however, and the six-film franchise has now earned an estimated $2.4bn (£1.5bn) at global box offices. The latest instalment, the sixth, was the most lucrative so far.

The seventh instalment began filming in September but has not been completed. It had been scheduled for release in July.

Another forthcoming film is Brick Mansions, a remake of the French action film District B13, for film studio Relativity.

Relativity President Tucker Tooley said in a statement: “Paul was an incredibly talent artist, devoted philanthropist and friend.”

 Walker’s co-star vin Diesel (left) said the actor’s death had left him ‘speechless’

 The red Porsche crashed into a lamp post in valencia, north of los angeles

DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Eyes End to War(BBC) - Democratic Republic

of Congo President Joseph Kabila has told residents of a town held by rebels for more than a year that he wants an end to 20 years of conflict in the region.

He has spent the past week driving from Kisangani in a 70-car convoy, which got bogged down in the region’s bad roads.

He has ended his 930km- (575 mile) journey in Rutshuru, which was held by the M23 rebels for more than a year.

During his trip, he warned the region’s other militias to disarm.

He told a crowd of thousands of people that he wanted an end to conflict in the area, reports the AFP news agency.

“The war which has just finished, should be the last war,” he said.

This is Mr Kabila’s first visit to the troubled North Kivu province since the 2011 election campaign.

President Kabila could have flown to the east, but he had a statement to make. Despite the terrible roads and the dangerous militias active in the area, he wanted to show that no part of the Congolese territory is inaccessible to him.

However, his car got stuck in the mud several times and the presidential guards had to get out and push.

On the way to Rutshuru, he insisted the government is determined to go after all the

other armed groups in eastern DR Congo.

The international community wants DR Congo and its neighbours to come up with a lasting solution to the crisis in the Great Lakes.

The government also has crucial issues to deal with before the M23 can really be consigned to the past. The Ugandan government says there are still more than 1,000 ex-rebels in Uganda. Their future is unclear. Uganda has said it will not hand them over to DR Congo unless an agreement is signed.

Military experts say some other rebel groups will not be easy to defeat. They operate very differently from the M23. They are spread out across the region, often hidden among the local population, making it difficult to clearly target them.

The mineral-rich area has been wracked by conflict for the past two decades but the defeat of the

M23 has raised some hopes of a more stable future.

‘Dry our tears’ “I wish you a long-lasting

peace,” the president said, warning against revenge attacks and tribalism.

The BBC’s Maud Jullien in Rutshuru says the day was declared a public holiday in the town and some people were prevented from farming their fields and encouraged to go to see the president.

“We are very happy, because we have suffered here under the M23 administration for over a year, and now the president has come to dry our tears,” said a young man in the stadium as he waited for the president to arrive.

But many local residents are afraid that the peace will not last, our correspondent says.

“The root causes of the problem are regional, and they haven’t been resolved. There needs to be

a regional agreement,” said one man, Bienfait.

“The M23 is gone now but there is nothing to indicate that there won’t be an M24 tomorrow or an M25 after that.”

Both Rwanda and Uganda have denied repeated accusations that they supported the M23.

The international community has been calling on regional leaders to come up with a lasting solution to the crisis in the Great Lakes, as well as urging the M23 and the Congolese government to return to peace talks in Uganda and sign a deal.

“We know very well that a military victory alone is not good enough, there must be a political concept behind it,” said the head of UN mission in Congo, Martin Kobler.

According to the authorities in Kampala, there are still more than 1,000 ex-rebels in Uganda, including its leaders.

Uganda has said it will not hand them over to DR Congo unless an agreement is signed.

Many other armed groups remain active in eastern DR Congo.

The country is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but after decades of conflict and mismanagement, has hardly any tarred roads outside the capital, Kinshasa.

The president flew the 1,200km to Kisangani before carrying on by road.

 President Kabila received a warm welcome in rutshuru

New York Train Crash: Metro-North Derailment

in Bronx

(BBC) - Four people have been killed and 63 injured in a passenger train crash in the Bronx area of New York City.

Eleven of the injured are believed to be in a critical condition in hospital.

The Metro-North train’s locomotive and carriages derailed as the train went into a bend in the railway line near Spuyten Duyvil station.

At least one eyewitness said the train - the 05:54 from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station - was travelling much faster than normal at the time.

At the site of the crash, the massive commuter carriages are tossed on their sides like children’s toys.

Faced by the wreck, it is not hard to imagine the horror passengers must have experienced: one second sitting peacefully in their seats with the rails humming beneath them, the next slammed violently about, dirt, glass and debris flying all around.

The emergency services have removed the injured victims from the train wagons. Now the long, painstaking work of learning what caused this terrible disaster begins in earnest.

None of the carriages went into the adjacent Hudson or Harlem rivers - although pictures from the scene suggest this nearly happened.

The train appeared to be going “a lot faster’’ than normal as it approached the curve coming into the station, passenger Frank Tatulli told WABC-TV.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said the curve where the derailment occurred was in a slow speed area, and that the train’s black box recorder should be able to tell how fast the train was travelling.

Joel Zaritsky was travelling on the train to attend a dental convention in New York City.

“I was asleep and I woke up when the car started rolling several times,” he told the Associated Press news agency.

 aerial footage shows the derailed train and

emergency crews at the scene

(BBC) - The US has volunteered a specially-modified naval vessel to help with the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons

The body charged with overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons has confirmed some will be “neutralised” aboard a US Navy ship.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said the US was contributing technology and financing.

Syria

(BBC) - Thai protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says he has met PM Yingluck Shinawatra and given her two days to “return power to the people”.

Mr Suthep said the meeting had been held under the auspices of the military and there was no compromise. He did not say what action would follow if the ultimatum were not heeded.

On the eighth day of action to unseat the PM, police fended off protesters who descended on key sites in Bangkok. Four people have died in the unrest.

Thailand

(BBC) - An ethnic Tuareg separatist group in Mali has said it is ending a ceasefire agreed with the government in June.

It comes a day after clashes between Malian troops and Tuareg protesters who prevented a visit by Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly to the town of Kidal.

A National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) leader said: “What happened is a declaration of war.”

Mali

(BBC) - Three men suspected of being members of Hezbollah have been cleared of terrorism charges by a Nigerian court.

The men, all Lebanese nationals, were arrested in May after the discovery of weapons in the northern city of Kano. They denied accusations of plotting attacks on Western and Israeli targets in Nigeria.

One of the men was convicted on a weapons charge and jailed for life. Nigerian officials had described the weapons cache as a “cell of Hezbollah”.

Nigeria

(BBC) - The wreckage of a Mozambique Airlines plane that disappeared over Namibia has been found, but none of the 34 people aboard survived the crash, police say.

The burned-out aircraft was found in the Bwabwata National Park, near the borders with Angola and Botswana.

“The plane has been completely burnt to ashes and there are no survivors,” Namibia Police Force deputy commissioner Willy Bampton was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Namibia

(BBC) - Heavy rain has been battering Cuba since Friday, flooding streets and leaving at least two people dead.

A number of buildings have collapsed in the capital, Havana, authorities say.

Cuba

Daily Observer sunday, December 01, 2013 Monday, December 2, 2013 Page 3

V.P. Boakai Dedicates US$600K Church Edificeby C.y. Kwanue

On Saturday, November 30, Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai,

Sr. dedicated a modern church edifice at a ribbon cutting ceremony in Paynesville community. The ceremony was held under the theme “To God Be the Glory,” amid the singing of Kissi gospel songs and praise to God.

The modern structure is a three-story building with pastoral offices and a spacious conference room for holding seminars and workshops. It was constructed with US$600,000, raised solely by the members of the Gissi-dominated Glory Be to God Free Pentecostal Church, Inc. (GGFPC).

In his dedication remarks, VP Boakai thanked God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon the members of the

GGFPC to muster the courage and commitment they needed to complete the construction of the facility with such “minimal

resources.”Exalting the members and

officials of the GGFC, VP Boakai said, “We want to thank

God for this occasion, because it was through the Almighty’s kindness that each one of you (members of the church) was

VP Boakai- “We cut this ribbon and dedicate this edifice to the Glory of God, the Creator”

‘We Owe Liberia a Lot’-Bishop Innis Tells S. Trowen Nagbe Congregants

By William Q. Harmon

Rev. Dr. John G. Innis has told privileged and well educated Liberians

that they are indebted to their country. Rev. Innis stated to these groups of Liberians that this nation in one way or the other contributed to what they have become and as such it is incumbent upon them to contribute to its reconstruction effort.

Dr. Innis is the bishop of the United Methodist Church in Liberia. He said that Liberians should be proud of their country and do whatever they can to give their country “a facelift’ after a 14-year civil conflict.

The Methodist bishop made the comments on Sunday

December 1, 2013, at the S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church, where he had gone to break ground for a multi-purpose building

project undertaken by the church. A fund drive was also held to buttress the church’s administration’s effort.

Dr. Innis intimated, “Whatever we have become in life, whether you are a doctor, a professor, engineer, senator, president or whatsoever, this society [which is Liberia] contributed immensely to that so it is now our duty to give back to society. Liberia as a nation and our unfortunate brothers and sisters are in need of our assistance.”

He furthered said: “We owe our country, Liberia, a lot because our country has made us who we are. Until we can take the initiative to make Liberia what we want it to be no one can do it for us, only ourselves. And as a Christians it is your duty to always do well as Christ has taught us.

We need to be the light in our society.”

He hoped the multi-purpose building will help to meaningfully transform the lives of the congregants, especially the youths and young adults.

The chairperson of the building committee, N. Oswald Tweh, noted that the building will be of great help to the young people of S.T. Nagbe Church as well as others who will be in need of services or programs that may be offered there.

Meanwhile, Mr. Benoni Urey, who served as the chief-launcher of the fund-drive admonished Liberians that it is always good to give, especially to the work of God which will in many ways impact the lives of many others.

Mr. Urey pledged US$15,000 as well as the services of his construction company, which he said will be forever willing to do whatsoever that the church may deem necessary.

Resident Bishop of the Liberia Area of the United Methodist Church John

G. Innis

BIN Deploys Troops on Liberian’s Western Borders

by abednego Davis

The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) has begun deploying

officers around Liberia’s porous borders.

The first batch of 28 officers was on Thursday, November 28, positioned about the western counties of Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount.

In an interview with the Daily Observer---prior to the troops’ departure---the BIN spokesman, Abraham Dorley, disclosed that those officers were drawn from a recent batch of 234, who last November, graduated from the Liberia National Police

Training Academy.According to Mr. Dorley,

plans are underway to deploy another group of officers in other counties; he named Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa,

Sinoe and Lofa, assuring that a lack of logistics will not deter the exercise.

He gave no official date or number of officers to be deployed when the next

Street-Selling Kids Want Government’s

Assistance---Call for Community Support…

By Alvin Worzi

A group of street-selling kids in Monrovia are calling on the

government to take notice of a range of difficulties pervading some communities in the country.

Speaking to our reporter at Broad and Randall Streets intersection, David Peters (name changed), a nine-year-old street-seller said many children in the country face lots of problems.

According to little Peters, not too many people seem to be paying attention to “what’s up” with this generation of children.

Peters said that government must begin the rebuilding process at the community level, where they as under-privileged children come from.

Little Peters is a student of the Slipway Community School and sells at the Sports Commission on Broad Street, where he earns little money to help his mother support the home.

David Peters said, “I am in the first grade; I sell before we are able cook. My father is not

working now.”According to the nine-year-

old child, they usually leave from selling at midnight to go home. When they get home, he is beaten up and is not able again to study his notes. As a result of this, his progress in school is very poor.

Another teenager, 14-year-old Samuel Johnson (name changed) shared nearly the similar story.

“We can suffer for money and have to get out and sell before my mom can cook at home,” he stated sadly.

Little Johnson is a student of the Monrovia Demonstration School on Clay Street, opposite the Monrovia College School System. He sells “cold” water on Broad Street and lives in the Jallah Town community, too.

According to him, his mother is struggling to up keep their home. “The government should come and help my parents with money to start business than I will stop selling and go to school.”

He said, it was important for the government to prepare the children as a part of the rebuilding process---and education was pivotal.

exercise gets underway.Critics hint that the troops

‘have their work cut out for them,” given the increase in drug- smuggling around the country’s borders and the challenge it poses to a sector whose resources are already strained.

Notwithstanding, the government has made available motorbikes that will enable the troops patrol some of the areas that are inaccessible by car.

It may be recalled that at recent graduation, BIN’s Acting Commissioner Cllr. Lemuel E. A. Reeves stressed the lack of logistical support, promising, “Despite the challenges we face, our officers are ready to patrol our borders.”

“You are aware that the terrains in which most of our borders are situated are difficult to patrol, and therefore require more logistical support to enhance the mobility of those officers already assigned,” he admitted.

“You will soon be deployed to start mending the holes in Liberia’s 176 ports of entries that will be created as a result of the gradual withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

“You will be assigned with the responsibility to protect our borders against illegal

entry, human trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.”

“As you go forth in your assignments take them very seriously, and follow your operational procedures by upholding the ethics we taught you as your guide,” the BIN boss advised the graduates.

led by the Holy Spirit to help complete this church edifice.”

He assured the congregation of the government’s commitment and support towards the upkeep of the modern structure.

The ceremony brought together a cross-section of officials, most notably the Vice President and his entourage along with members of the Lofa County Legislative Caucus, which included Lofa County Senator, George Tengbeh, and Representative Eugene Fallah Kpakar among others.

The occasion marked the formal relocation of members of the GGFPC from their original Perry Street Church, in Central Monrovia to their new location in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

In his historical highlighting of the GGFPC, the Senior Pastor and National Chair of the Free Pentecostal Mission of Liberia (FPML), Rev. Joseph N.D. Bannah, told the congregation and their guests that Saturday’s dedicatory event was significant because, “It was reflective of the long

journey to the new edifice. He said that it would also give them (members) cause to appreciate the goodness of the Lord.”

The GGFPC is one of several independent churches within the FPML. From 1980 to 2000, the church was located on Perry Street under the name of, “the Swedish Free Pentecostal Church,” because Swedish Missionaries originally founded it in the 1940s.

In his official dedicatory sermon, a guest preacher, Rev. Werner De Jong, urged members of the GGFC to maintain the edifice upon Jesus Christ’s spirit, rather than the spirit of man.

His sermon was based on Joshua, Chapter one, with the theme: “God Has Blessed You for the Sake of Others.”

The Canadian Clergyman admonished the congregation to be courageous and seek greater membership for the church rather than looking out for themselves.

Daily Observer sunday, December 01, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013

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

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

Liberia’s First Independent Daily

0886812888, 0886472772www.liberianobserver.com

Monday, December 2, 2013

Breaking news:Our president is back home,

“Resurrected”, safe and sound! ... Ohh, dey say current (electricity)

Coming to go, so we have to Take a break. Yor sorry oh!

Meeting My First Liberian by Clayton louis Ferrara

For the last four months I have been living

with a Liberian on a mission. Here in the beautiful town of Winter Park, Florida, among the cobble stone streets, branching oak trees hung with Spanish Moss, and beautiful architecture of a city now 125 years old, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the only Liberian I have ever met. Stephen B. Lavalah may have arrived as a distinguished United States Department of State IREX intern, but he is leaving the United States a wiser man and a beloved friend by all who have had the pleasure of meeting him.

My name is Clayton Louis Ferrara and I would like to tell you a story about one of the greatest gifts my organization has ever received. I am biologist, poet, organizer and the first American to be awarded the Darwin Scholarship by the U.K. based Field Studies Council. I have the pleasure of serving as National Science Director for a United Nations accredited, environmental non-profit organization advancing sustainability at K-12 schools, colleges, and communities around the world, called IDEAS For Us. We received Mr. Lavalah as our intern and IREX fellow for the purpose of sharing with him what our organization does, and how we are able to make the kind of change we do with little or no funding. Mr. Lavalah is the Founder of Liberia’s Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), and the educational, environmental, and humanitarian work he does is very similar to how we find solutions to the problems here in America.

Since 2008, IDEAS For Us has been staffed by volunteers who are motivated by the passion for change to make the World a better place. With little more than determination and partnerships we have spread to over 15 countries around the world, and dozens of chapters in the United States. In 2011 we were named a Champion of Change by President Barak Obama, and the Best Environmental Organization of 2011 by the Florida Wildlife Federation. As a 27-year-old American, I am the oldest staff member, and the second oldest leader in our organization. I mention this because wherever we go, we want to inspire young people to join the youth-led movement towards making the World a better place. Our history has shown through our American Revolution, our bloody Civil War, and our arrival as a super power after World War II, that the future depends on young people who believe that they can change the World.

The 21st Century is full of dangers. Energy, water, food, waste, and ecology issues threaten all nations and all people regardless of money, religion, or the education they may or may not have. As a new generation of young Americans, we firmly believe in the brotherhood of all people coming together to create the solutions we need to

build a sustainable future. I am happy to say that in 2013, the bond between Liberia and the United States became even stronger because of Stephen B. Lavalah.

Since August, he has served as an ambassador of his country, a spokesperson of her culture, a lecturer, teacher, volunteer, and friend. He has worked alongside students, professionals, members of city government, and fellow scientists to learn as much as he can about how we as Americans organize and make meaningful change. However, I am most happy to say that Mr. Lavalah has taught us far more than we ever expected. His curiosity, brilliance, and motivation have helped inspire everyone who met him, and worked along side our efforts. Mr. Lavalah took part in our many action projects and activities including aquatic plantings, an eco-car show, trash clean ups, and canoeing adventures. He spoke at town hall meetings, took part in environmental rallies, authored blog articles, and lectured to students from college age, to as young as five. Mr. Lavalah feasted at an American Thanksgiving, took part in his 1st Halloween, held the flipper of a mother sea turtle as she laid her eggs on the beaches of South Florida, and even took a road trip in a bus full of American students to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to take part in a protest march. He traveled with me from the sandy beaches of South Beach Miami, to the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee, and up to the historic city of Savannah Georgia. We did our best to share with him the best America has to offer, and to honestly show him the many problems with our society we are still working to solve.

When we, as Americans, think of Africa many things come to mind. We think of your diversity, your cultures, the destruction caused by the transatlantic slave trade, wars, corruption, and poverty. But because of Mr. Lavalah and the wonderful opportunity we were given by the United States Department of State to work along side him these four months, the young Americans in my organization now think of a brighter and better Africa full of people like Mr. Lavalah. Because of him, we deeply care for Liberia and we want to see the county thrive in this 21st Century. We are confident that the efforts of Youth Exploring Solutions will

contribute to make Liberia unlike what she is today. We see her as a country of hope, of peace, and of prosperity where education, electrification, and environmental protection all form the backbone of her society.

I do not know what the future will hold for the seven billion people of this beautiful World we call home. But I do know that the World is a better place because of people like Mr. Lavalah. Brotherhood, peace, cooperation, and the sharing of ideas, and wisdom have and will always be the only things that erase the evils from this world. In the last four months of living with Mr. Lavalah here in the United States has taught me that all things are possible if we look to the things that unite us, as opposed to the things that tear us apart. Know in your hearts that there are many Americans here that he leaves behind who believe in him, and his quest to build a sustainable Liberia.

about the authorClayton louis Ferrara is a Chilean-

born american naturalist, poet, educator, and popular writer. He is a founding board member of the United Nations accredited environmental action, and advocacy NGO, iDeas For Us. He has served as National science Director and south eastern regional Director of the Usa since stepping off the board in 2012. His professional career started in south Florida at the age of 12 when he began teaching ecology, conservation, and youth empowerment to the general public as a docent to numerous museums, aquariums, and interpretative nature centers in the area. He received a b.a. in both biology and environmental studies from the prestigious, liberal arts and science college, rollins. in 2011, he received the honor of being called a young alumnus of Significant Distinction for his work to advance sustainability and environmental education in Central Florida. in 2013, he was named a Darwin scholar by the U.K. based Field studies Council (FsC) for his accomplishments as a young naturalist on the global stage.

 

Stephen B. Lavalah and Clayton Ferrara at Wekiva Island

Needed: A Presidential Physician

Some senior officials in the Health sector have for sometime been concerned about the absence of a personal physician to the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

This is the first time in recent memory that a Liberian Head of State has been without a personal physician, and many believe this is dangerous.

This concern has been heightened in recent days and weeks as wild rumors about the President’s health circulated, especially since she began her recent Middle Eastern tour. Indeed she has herself not been unaware of the rumors. When asked about them on her return last weekend, she said she had been “resurrected.”

However much a pun was intended, it was to many, to say the least, worrisome. It suggests that there could have been some truth to the speculation that at some point during the visit she was not well. The “resurrection” was, of course, farfetched, since though Jesus definitely promised that to all of his faithful followers, the time is not yet-–not before His second coming, a theme touched upon in many pulpits around the world on yesterday, the first Sunday in Advent.

As far as most people can remember, all recent Liberian Presidents have had attending personal physicians. We don’t know about President Edwin Barclay, but we most certainly remember that President Tubman at one point frequently consulted the renowned Hatian-Liberian physician, Dr. John B. Titus, as well as Dr. Joseph N. Togba, Tubman’s first National Public Health Service Director General. When the new True Whig Party vice presidential nominee took suddenly ill immediately following his nomination, President Tubman sent Dr. Togba and others to Counselor Freeman’s home on Benson Street, which later became the Department (later Ministry) of Defense. Most unfortunately, Ben Freeman did not last the evening. By nightfall he was gone and the TWP, still in convention, elected William R. Tolbert, Jr. as Tubman’s running mate.

In his later years, President Tubman’s personal physician became Dr. Henrique Benson, who served in that capacity from the early to mid-1960s until Tubman’s death in the London Clinic in July 1971.

President Tolbert, who succeeded Tubman on that same day, was for a long while treated by Dr. Alphonso Nyema. President Tolbert also used Dr. Nemeyer Cooper as a personal physician.

Head of State Samuel K. Doe, who overthrew Tolbert in 1980, had as his own personal physician, Dr. Wongeh, who now lives in Italy.

President Charles Taylor’s personal physician was for a long while Dr. Samuel Brisbane, currently Chief of Internal Medicine at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.

Dr. Brisbane, like all other presidential physicians, saw President Taylor every morning before he started his work in the Executive Mansion, or wherever. Whenever Taylor traveled for more than two to three days, Dr. Brisbane was there with him. Even when Taylor went into exile, Dr. Brisbane visited him in Calabar, Nigeria.

Our contention, shared by many, especially in the medical community, is that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf needs a personal physician on the ground, and one who travels with her whenever she travels abroad. We understand she has a foreign-based medical consultant who comes here occasionally. But we contend that is not enough. The President of Liberia needs to be seen regularly—like Tubman, Tolbert, Doe and Taylor, every morning before she starts her work. Tubman was a much younger man when the other doctors, including Dr. Benson, started seeing him regularly. He was over 75, Ellen’s current age, when Dr. Benson accompanied him to London in July 1971. Most unfortunately, the presidential physician returned without is illustrious patient, whose remains were flown back to Liberia by a Royal Air Force jet arranged through the generosity of Queen Elizabeth and her government.

We pray that President Sirleaf will see reason to follow this friendly but candid advice and hire a personal physician ASAP. This will assure the Liberian people that their leader is being well taken care of by someone who knows Medicine and can keep their President healthy as long as she remains in office—and beyond.

Daily Observer Monday, December 02, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Page 5Monday, December 2, 2013

The Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) located in District # 3, Grand Bassa County has vacan-cies in its Workshop Department for the following positions:

A. Heavy Duty Mechanic (2)B. Light Duty Mechanic (1)C. Auto-Electrician Helper (1)

REQUIRED COMPETENCE:A. POSITION: HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC (2)

1. Must have Diploma/Certificate or relevant documents to prove training in the career.2. Practical knowledge of vehicle and heavy equipment.3. Ability to work independently on vehicle and heavy equipment.4. Technical Knowledge of safety equipment and rules.5. Good organizational skills6. Ability to lead and motivate subordinates.7. Read and speak English fluently.

B. LIGHT DUTY MECHANIC (1)1. Must have Diploma/Certificate or relevant documents to prove training in the career.2. Practical knowledge of vehicle and light equipment.3. Ability to work independently on vehicle and equipment.4. Technical Knowledge of safety equipment and rules.5. Good organizational skills6. Ability to lead and motivate subordinates.7. Read and speak English fluently.

D. AUTO-ELECTRICIAN HELPER (1)1. Must have Diploma/Certificate or relevant or relevant documents to prove training in the

career.2. Technical knowledge of the job.3. Must have good organization skills.4. Ability to work independently5. Ability to lead and motivate subordinates6. Read and speak English fluently.

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 RESOURCES 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 14, 2013.

Job Vacancy

FARMERS PARDISE SATURDAY KIDS CAMPS starts December 7 (9 am to 5 pm)

Wulki Farms Careysburg. Kids ages 5-13 enjoy horseback riding, golf, tennis, karate, swimming, complimentary meal and snacks.

Monthly and daily rates, 1st 50 Dec passes are $20 off. Bus pick up/drop off available (add’l

fee). Private golf and horse back riding lessons avail.

Call 077-016-9670 or 0886-512-222

‘We Will Miss You’-say Mourners of Deaconess bailey

by David a. yates

Mourners on S a t u r d a y , N o v e m b e r 30, described

the death of Deaconess Edna V. Tolbert Bailey as a great loss to her family and friends. While stating that they were left hopeless, most stated that Mother

Bailey would be missed by everyone she had interacted with in her earthly sojourn.

According to them, the deceased was a loving and caring mother who cared for everyone, no matter their status.

The late Deaconess Bailey died on Wednesday, No-vember 13, in Monrovia.

 

Deaconess edna v. Tolbert bailey would be missed by many

She was born on October 13th, 1919; she was 94.

Her remains were laid to rest behind the Zion Praise Baptist Church in Bentol City, Montserrado County.

Rev. A. Momolue Diggs, who preached the funeral discourse over the remains of Deaconess Bailey, told the family to take courage in the Lord during their time of bereavement.

Rev. Diggs assured the family that God would comfort and sustain them in their time of difficulty.

Preaching on the theme: “My God and I” from the Bible passage of Psalms 23, Rev Diggs proclaimed the late Deaconess Bailey “Walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” but she was never alone.

Not only did she have her family, she had the Holy Spirit of God at her side, like a shepherd who kept close watch over her.

“Go home and rest in the bosom of our creator, for He is waiting on you,” Rev. Diggs intoned.

“Your mother is leaving you in the goodness and mercy of God,” said Rev Diggs to Deaconess Bai-ley’s children.

CSI, Firestone Liberia Bring Smiles to Children in NeedChildren’s Sur-

gery Interna-tional (CSI), in partnership

with Firestone Liberia, has brought smiles to the faces of many Liberian children suffering from abnormal facial and pediatric condi-tions, through its fifth mis-sion to the Firestone Medi-cal Center in Duside. The 25-member medical team met with children and par-ents from across Liberia and the neighboring coun-try of Sierra Leone to offer free medical attention to those in need, performing 98 surgical operations dur-ing its week-long visit.

During a farewell program held in honor of the visiting medical team, which in-cluded doctors, nurses and social workers, Edmundo L. Garcia, President and Managing Director of Fire-stone Liberia, expressed his profound gratitude to the CSI team for their “incred-ible gift” to the children of Liberia.

“We at Firestone Libe-ria are proud to be a part of CSI’s mission and con-tinued efforts to better the lives of so many people in Liberia,” said Garcia. “We

also would like to thank the medical and support staff at the Firestone Medical Center who helped to make CSI’s fifth mission here a resounding success.”

Since 2010, the CSI team has performed nearly 700 surgical operations on Li-berian children with various medical conditions, in addi-tion to providing significant training for doctors, nurses and other personnel at the Firestone Medical Center. Dr. Dave Vandersteen, who spoke on behalf of the CSI medical team at the farewell event, thanked Firestone for its continued support and assured event attendees that CSI will be coming back to Firestone Liberia next year.

The occasion also was attended by Dr. Bernice Dahn, Chief Medical Of-ficer of Liberia and Deputy Minister, who expressed the government’s deep ap-preciation for this partner-ship and its efforts toward restoring the hope of hun-dreds of Liberian children and their parents. In addi-tion, the Chairman of the Margibi County Legislative Caucus, Senator Oscar Coo-per, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Fires-

tone Liberia for the medical and educational services it continues to provide for the people of Liberia and the citizens of Margibi County.

“Thanks to the Firestone Family for doing this for five years and for making Margibi County proud,” said Senator Cooper.

The Firestone Hospital, which also brings mobile clinics to various commu-nities, currently treats more than 9,000 patients each month with quality health care, including free medical care for Firestone employ-ees and their dependents. Firestone Liberia also part-ners with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to store and administer vac-cines against a range of diseases. Additionally, the Firestone Medical Center works with the Ministry of Health for the control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Firestone Hospital is one of the best referral hospitals in Margibi County and the Republic of Liberia, and people in need of medical treatment from around the country come to Firestone Liberia when they cannot find the treatment they need elsewhere.

This is where business meets customer.

CALL NoW: 0777472772

To ADVERTISE

Daily Observer Page 13 Monday December 2, 2013 6

S. Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church Breaks Ground for a Multi-purpose Building at the Church’s compound on 13th Street,

Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard on Sunday December 1, 2013

(Far left)Chairperson of the building committe, N. Oswald Tweh with some members of s.T. Nagbe at the ceremony bishop innis, Chief launcher benoni Urey and others gearing-up for the

groundbreaking

s.T. Nagbe Choir spicing up the ceremony

an architect’s 3-D elevation drawing of the proposed multi-purpose building

rev. Dr. John G. innis breaking ground for s. Trowen Nagbe UMC multi-purpose bulding, as other clerics look on

Members of the congregation some members of s.T. Nagbe viewing the groundbreaking ceremony

bishop innis comfortably seated at the occasion

s.T. Nagbe UMC Council Chairperson, John N. randall

Chief launcher, benoni Urey, making a special statement at the ceremony

building committee chairperson, N. Oswald Tweh giving some background

and purposes of the project

Daily Observer Page 7 Monday December 2, 2013

Ingterested candidagtes may send the above said details to afconsyekepa@gmail.,com Or may depsit th said details to our Box at Labour Ministry-Monrovia

Afcons Infrastructure Ltd –Liberia the largest construction group available in Nimba County-Liberia is having the following vacancy for Liberian Citizens on Contract basis for our job at Tokadeh Mines, Yekepa-Nimba County.

Sr. No. Position Vacancy

Nos. Sr. No. Position Vacancy

Nos. 1 Bus Driver 10 12 Head-Mechanic 1

2 40' Trailor Driver 3 13 Tyreman 6

3 25' Dump Truck Driver 20 14 Forklift Operator 1

4 40' Volvo Truck Driver 20 15 Manlift Operator 7

5 JCB Bachkho Operator 2 16 Soil Investigation Lab Specialist 4

6 Grader Operator 2 17 QC Inspector (Soil Investigation)

8

7 Volvo Mechanic 2 18 Piling Rig Operator 2

8 CAT Specialist 2 19 Safety Supervisors 5

9 Auto Electrician 2 20 Formwork fixing Specialist 10

10 Dozer Operator 2 21 Formwork DOKA/RMDK Specialist

20

11 Batching plant/Scrapper Operator

2 22 Structural Erection Riggers 20

 

AFCONS INFRASTRUCTURE LTD - LIBERIA

vaCaNCy aNNOUNCeMeNT

Minimum Experience – 5 to 10 Years.

All the above vacancies are available for relevant experienced personnel only.

Interview date will be announced shortly and will be conducted at Monrovia, Zolowee, Sekempa and Gbapa Recruitment centers.

Candidates are requested to send their CVs with valid documents, photo copy of driving license, photos and also proof of Liberian Citizenship.

Selected candidates should produce Police clearance and Immigration clearance.

Procedures:1. Application forms are free and available at LBDI Branches on 9th Street Sinkor and Randall & Ashmun Streets2. Payment can be made by Cash, Managers’ Check or Debit Authorization

This offer document is simply an Information Memorandum and does not in any respect represent a prospectus. The offer document and the securities that it bears are directed at selected investors as well as the members of the general public. Every prospective investor to whom this document has been addressed is expected to conduct i n d e p e n d e n t evaluation of the Financial Position and operating results of the Liberia Cement Company.

Private Placement of

206,572Common Stocks of the Liberia Cement Corporation at US$12 per Stock Payable in Full On Application

OFFER CONDITIONS:Individual: Minimum of 5 stocks at US$12 eachInstitutions: Minimum of 1,000 Common stocks and additional common stock in multiple of 100.

NOV. 18, 2013: Close of Offer: Dec. 20,

2013

LBDI Central Monrovia Branch

Ashmun & Randall Streets

Monrovia, Liberia.

LBDI Sinkor Branch9th Street, Sinkor,

TubmanBoulevard,

Monrovia, Liberia

Liberian Bank for Development and Investment

Information Memorandum

INVEST

TODAY!Visit our branches

and be a proud owner of CEMENCO

The City Government of Monrovia calls on all residents in the City of Monrovia to paint the exterior houses and businesses in accordance with City Ordinance #1 section

6.

City Ordinance #1 Section 6 sates: Owners or lessees of resi-dences, businesses, schools, churches, government agencies and mosque within the city limits of Monrovia are required to the paint exterior of their properties by December 15, and every 12 months thereafter.

The City Government of Monrovia expects strict compliance to the City Ordinance as a Municipal fine not less than $100.00 and not more than $250.00 will be levied on would be violator(s).

Let it be made emphatically cleared that the December 15 painting regulation has nothing to do with the observance of any religious holiday.

City Hall, Tubman BoulevardP.O. Box 9029

Sinkor, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia

Municipal Bulletin 0127-11-19-2013

Daily Observer Page 8 Monday December 2, 2013 8

BANLAW AFRICA LIBERIA LIMITED

CAREER OPPORTUNITIESBanlaw Africa Liberia Limited (BAL) a company registered under the laws of Liberia, has been awarded a contract for the construction of Tailings Management Facility, Stormwater Management Dams and Roads on the ArcelorMittal Liberia Concession at Tokadeh Mine, Tokadeh/Yekepa County of Nimba in the North Central region of Liberia.

BAL seeks to employ highly skilled and suitably qualified professionals for the follow-ing positions. All the positions are based at the Tokadeh Mine site.

1. PROJECT MANAGER (Job Ref: WRIOP 001)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Ensure that budgeted percentage return on costs is achieved through effective

management of resources• Assesses and reviews project Key Performance Indicators to determine project

status• Manage site operations safely by providing appropriate direction in aspects of

Safety, Health and Environment, Training, Production, Engineering, Adminis-tration, Human Resources and Labour Relations

CRITERIA• Tertiary qualification in Mining, Civil, Mechanical Engineering or Geology or

related discipline• Minimum Twelve (12) years’ experience in the mining industry. At least

five (5) years ofwhich shouldhavebeenat the operationsmanagementlevel (Superintendent or above).

• Experience in managing a multi-million dollar projectOR

• Polytechnic Diploma/Certificate or its equivalent in the mining or related industry

• MinimumFifteen(15)years’experienceintheminingorrelatedindustry• Experience in managing a multi-million dollar project• In-depth knowledge of the mining industry

2. SENIOR SITE ENGINEER (Job Ref: WRIOP 002)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Coordination of project activities• Maintenance of project database• Control project plan by reviewing design, specifications, and schedule changes

CRITERIA• Tertiary qualification in mining & Civil or related discipline• Minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant experience • Knowledge of construction Methods and Procedures, Process Improvement

and Documentation Skills• Experience in managing a multi-million dollar project

OR• Polytechnic Diploma/Certificate or its equivalent in the mining or related in-

dustry• Minimum twelve (12) years’ relevant experience in continuous employment• In-depth knowledge of the mining or related industry• Experience in managing a multi-million dollar project

3. SURVEYORS (2 POSITIONS) (Job ref: WRIOP 003-4)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Responsible for mine surveying and associated calculations, maps and plans

generated by those activities. • Sets out drill & blast, pre-split and exploration drill holes and pick-ups and sets

out grade control drilling positions • Supervises the training of Assistant Surveyor in proper survey procedures,

delegates work as appropriate and provides suitable quality control checks for errors

CRITERIA• Must have a formal tertiary qualification in Surveying or a related discipline.• A minimum of 10 years’ experience • Experience in working on a multi-million dollar project • Computer literacy (Word Processing, Spreadsheet and Database programs).• Good understanding of modern survey equipment and associated software

4. CIVILWORKSSUPERINTENDENT(JobRef:WRIOP005)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for Civil Crew Management and man hours reporting• Provide technical and practical input on planning works• Report on equipment hours for costing purposes

CRITERIA• Minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant working experience• Knowledge of Environmental Management System relevant to Company

operations• Experience in working on a multi-million dollar project

5. CIVILWORKSSUPERVISORS(2POSITIONS)(JobRef:WRIOP006-7)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Supervision of all Civil Works• Preparation of daily diaries and weekly civil production reports• Report on all equipment hours and other time sheets

CRITERIA• Atleastfive(5)yearsrelevantworkexperience• Knowledge of Environmental Management System relevant to Company

operations• Experience in working on a multi-million dollar project

6. QUANTITYSURVEYORS(2POSITIONS)(JobRef:WRIOP008-9)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Participate in Tender, Pre-Construction and Post Construction phases of project• Responsibility for the financial and contractual control of the project• Liaises with the Consultants / Client, prepares and agrees valuations, value

variations and prepares the final account • Establishes cost control methods with the Project Manager, monitors project

costs and maximises its profitability.

CRITERIA• A degree in Quantity Surveying or Building Technology or equivalent trade/

technical professional qualification.• At least ten (10) years relevant experience in quantity surveying and con-

struction• Experience in working on a multi-million dollar project• Experience in measurement of building works, estimating and analysis of prices• Advanced skills with MS office modules (Word Processing, Spreadsheet and

Database programs)

7. HEALTH, SAFETY, SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL (HSSE) MANAGER (Job Ref: WRIOP 010)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Effective coordination of health, safety and environment systems and standards • Identification of hazard and effective implementation of controls to support a

safe working environment• Support and develop the HSE Program• Maintain safety statistics register; timely submission of all HSE reports; liaise

with client regarding HSE matters

CRITERIA• Tertiary qualification in Mining, Engineering or Health, Safety and Environ-

ment• Minimum(ten)10years’experienceinrelevantfield• Experience in managing a multi-million dollar project

8. ENVIRONMENTALSUPERINTENDANT(JobRef:WRIOP011)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Environmental compliance• Work towards a goal of zero accidents and injuries in the promotion of a healthy

and safe working environment• Familiarity with Client’s Environmental Policy• Ensures full compliance of the Client Environmental Management Plan

CRITERIA• A degree in Environmental Science or equivalent• Training qualifications• Membership of Professional Body- IEMA or equivalent• Minimumseven(7)yearsworkrelatedexperience

(Continued on page 9

Daily Observer Page 9 Monday December 2, 2013 • Experienceinmanagingamulti-milliondollarproject

9. PLANT SUPERINTENDENT (Job Ref: WRIOP 012)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Directs,manages and ensures that plant and equipment repair is carried out

inasafe,productiveandcosteffectivemanner tooptimizemechanicalplantavailabilityandfacilitatethedeliveryofMiningServicestotheClient.

• Ensurethatallequipmentaremaintainedtohighsafetystandards• Ensuresthatallrelevantsafetyhealthandenvironmentalstandards,legislation

andclientrequirementsaremet.• SupervisionandSafetyofmaintenancepersonnelintheworkshop.• Initiatescostsavingpracticesandproductivityimprovements

CRITERIA• At least ten (10) years working experience on Heavy earthmoving equip-

ment and parts• TradecertificateinHeavyVehicleMaintenance• Knowledge of Environmental Management System relevant to Company

operations• Experienceinmanagingamulti-milliondollarproject

10. PLANT MECHANICAL SUPERVISORS (2 POSITIONS) (Job Ref: WRIOP 013-14)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• EnsuresquickresponsetocomplaintsonLightVehiclestominimizedowntime.• Monitorsperformanceinaccordancewithlaiddownprocedures• Reportsandhelpstoinvestigateallaccidents/incidentsthatoccurinhisareaof

responsibility• PreparesrostersforshiftwithassistancefromWorkshopSuperintendent.

CRITERIA• At least10yearsworkingexperienceonHeavyearthmovingequipmentand

parts• Atleasttwo(2)yearsexperiencewithmachineryinaminingenvironment• TradeCertificateinHeavyVehicleMaintenance• Experienceinworkingonamulti-milliondollarproject

11. EARTHWORKS SUPERVISORS (3 POSITIONS) (Job Ref: WRIOP 015 - 17)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• SupervisionofallEarthworks• Managementofequipment• ReportingonEquipmenthourstotheProjectManagerforcostingpurposes• Responsibleforthemanagementoftheoperationscrewandmanhourreports

CRITERIA• Atleast10yearsrelevantworkingexperience• Experienceinworkingonamulti-milliondollarproject• Knowledgeofvariousheavyearthmovingmachinesandequipment

12. OPERATOR TRAINER SUPERVISOR (Job ref: WRIOP 018)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Teachemployeeshowtooperatemobileequipmentusedintheworkshop,open

road,miningandtailingsoperations• Managetrainingschedules• Provideclassroom,fieldandmobileequipmentinstruction

CRITERIA• Minimumof10yearsrelevantexperience• EffectivecomputerskillsincludingMicrosoftOfficeandPowerpoint• Experienceinmanaging/workingonamulti-milliondollarproject

13. HEALTH & SAFETY OFFICER (Job Ref: WRIOP 019)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Monitors,audits,andevaluateseffectivenessofHSEProgramimplementation

andadministration.• Makessurethatcorrectiveactionisundertakentocloseoutunsafeconditions.

CRITERIA• Minimumoften(10)years’relevantworkingexperience• Knowledge of Environmental Management System relevant to Company

operations• Experienceinworkingonamulti-milliondollarproject

14. QA/QC MANAGER ( Job Ref. WRIOP 021)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• ToEstablishandImplementQualityAssuranceandQualityManagementSys-

temstofullycomplywithClientsQAQCproceduresandrecordkeeping.

CRITERIA• Minimumof10years,experienceinQualityAssuranceManagementatCorpo-

rateorProjectadministrationlevel.• Minimumof5years,experienceintheConstructionorminingindustry.• Tertiary qualification, probably in Civil, Mechanical Engineering, General

Management,Administration,Financeorrelateddiscipline

• Experienceinworkingonamulti-milliondollarproject15. PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS OFFICER (Job Ref. WRIOP 023)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Responsibleforthefullwarehouseprocessofreceiving,binning,issuingand

cyclecounting.• ResponsiblefortheTotalInventoryManagementandre-orderingatsiteapply-

ingtechniqueslikeStatisticalRe-ordering,MRPandDemandPlanning• Responsible for the expediting and tracking of all orders and advising the

HOD’sonETA’s• Ensuringallinvoicesandpapersaresenttostorespriortoarrivalofmaterials/

parts.

CRITERIA• HolderofatertiaryeducationinCommercefromanacceptableinstitution• Atleast10years’experienceatalargeCivilConstructioncompany• Experienceinmanagingamulti-milliondollarproject• MusthaveexcellentknowledgeofMicrosoftWordandExcell

16. OPERATOR TRAINER (Job Ref. WRIOP 024- 031)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Providealeadingandsafetybased,equipmenttrainingandassociatedactivities

toequipmentoperatingstafftooptimizeoperatorproductivitiesandminimizeequipmentdamage

• Ensurethateachoperatorisroutinelyassessedforcompetence.• Ensurethatahighstandardofequipmentoperationismaintained.

17. AUTO ELECTRICIAN (Job Ref. WRIOP 036)

• Prioritizeelectricalrepairworks• Monitormin/maxlevelsofsparesandre-orderasrequired• Ensure allwelding parts for light and heavy duty equipment are on site for

shutdownand/orservicemaintenance• Ensure implementationof all corrective actions fromSafety,Health&Envi-

ronmentalaudits

CRITERIA (OPERATOR TRAINER & AUTO ELECTRICIAN)• TradeCertificate• Minimum10years’experienceintheminingorrelatedindustry• SupervisorySkills• Experienceinworkingonamulti-milliondollarproject

18. OPERATIONS SUPPORT MANAGER (Job Ref: WRIOP 022)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• Contractadministration.• Identifycostcontainmentandcostreductionopportunities.• GuidesandAssistsProjectManagerwithpreparationofbudgetsatprojectlevel.• AssiststheProjectManagerwiththeimplementationofrecommendedaction

pointsacceptedbymanagementasaresultofBusinessAudits.

CRITERIA• ArelevantUniversityDegreeorTwelve(12)yearsrelevantexperienceinthe

miningindustryorrelatedfield• General background in Finance, Administration, Procurement, Commercial,

Operation• Ten(10)yearsrelevantexperienceintheaboveareas• Experienceinmanagingamulti-milliondollarproject

19. FINANCE REPRESENTATIVE (Job Ref: WRIOP 023)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES• BuildanddevelopthecountryFinancedepartment• Overallcontrolofallfinanceandaccountingtransactionsincludingaudit,ac-

countingsystems,andtaxationBALL(the‘company’).• VAT returns and fulfills all local tax requirementswith regard to regulatory

compliance• MonthlyFinancialandManagementaccountswithvarianceanalysisandcom-

mentary

CRITERIA• Undergraduatedegree–BusinessorAccounting• MemberofaprofessionalAccountantsAssociation• Twenty(20)yearspostgraduateexperience,tenofwhichatSeniorAccountant

levelintheminingsector• Experienceinthecontractingbusiness

All applications with attached CVs should be addressed to THE COUNTRY MANAGER,andsenttothefollowingaddress: BanlawAfricaLiberiaLtd. P.O.Box145 Monrovia

OrbyEmailto: rsherman@banlaw-africa.com; Phone:0776610033

Allapplicationsshouldquotethepositionandjobreferencenumber.

Closingdateforthesubmissionofapplicationsis20thDecember2013.

9

Daily Observer Page 10 Monday December 2, 2013 10

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)REPUBLIC OF LIBERIAINTEGRATED PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REFORM PROJECTCredit No.: IDA 50260

Assignment Title: LEGAL AND BOARD AFFAIRS CONSULTANT

The Republic of Liberia has received a Financing from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development(USAID), the International Development Association (IDA) and the African

Development Bank (AfDB) toward the cost of an Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the following:• Develop detailed organogram for the LRA Legal and Board Affairs

Department• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures for the Legal & Board Affairs

Department• Develop Administrative Enforcement procedures and update existing

enforcement manualfor various levels of enforcements including the various outstation collectorates. This should also include all related forms for both Tax and Customs in collaboration with MoJ.

• Prepare draft Bylaws for the proposed Board.• Prepare Code of Conduct and Ethics for proposed Board.• Assist in staff recruitment for Legal & Board Affairs Department.• Develop ToRs for all positions within the Legal and Board Affairs

Department.• Draft MoU and Administrative Regulation covering procedures to ef-

fectuate the provision of the LRA Act pertaining to assisting the MoJ in legal enforcement.

• Prepare brochures and information fact sheets on legal and board affairs.• Identify and prepare documents for the legal and board affairs section of

the LRA web site for uploading by the Website developer• Develop reporting types and formats for the enforcement function(s)• Hold minimum of four(4) workshops with internal and external stake-

holders on the role of the department• Provide advice as necessary during the duration of the contract.

The assignment is to be completed within four (4) months of contract award.

The Ministry of Financenow invites eligible consulting firms(“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.The shortlisting criteria are:

• Extensive and relevant experience in legal enforcement and Board Affairs.

• At least four practicing lawyers with at least one counselor-at-law. • Experience in tax matters.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a subconsultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the ‘Selection based on Con-sultants’ Qualification (CQS)’ methodset out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1600 hours GMT.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 17thDecember, 2013.

Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP)Attn: Mr. Bernard Jappah, PFM Reforms CoordinatorMinistry of Finance, 4th FloorBroad and Mechlin StreetsMonrovia, LiberiaTel: +231-886512462E-mail: bjappah@liftliberia.gov.lr

Cc: ivanofei@hotmail.com

Vacancy AnnouncementUnited States Peace Corps in Liberia

Position Title: General Services - Properties Salary Grade is based on U. S. Mission Local Compensation Plan

Position Summary:Incumbent assists in providing administrative support to all Peace Corps Volunteers/ Trainees and all staff. S/He provides logistical, maintenance, vendor and management support to post relating to properties and Peace Corps assets, working with the Director of Management & Operations.

Applications are invited from qualified persons to fill a position with the

U.S. Peace Corps in Liberia.

For a complete Statement of Work please send a request to pcjobs@lr.@peacecorps.gov.

Application ProcessSubmit a letter of interest, resume and three reference contacts as attachments via email to: pcjobs@lr.peacecorps.gov.

No phone calls please.

The deadline for applications is December 6th, 2013. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the Contracting Officer. A detailed Statement of Work can be obtained at the guard stations of the Peace Corps Office in Congo Town.

For additional information regarding Peace Corps, please visit our website at www.peacecorps.gov.

EXPERIENCE: • Has a historical background in property maintenance

and related experience such as construction, electric, plumbing and other.

• Excellent customer service, communication and inter-personal skills.

• Background in asset control and procurement processes. • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (ability to create and

maintain a spreadsheet) and Word (ability to create and maintain documents).

• Experience in Microsoft Outlook and computer basics. • Ability to follow oral and written instructions. • Ability to prioritize multiple tasks. • Ability to perform as a team leader and work effectively

as a team. • Ability to work independently as needed to support

the group effort. • Must be very organized, efficient and resourceful in

problem solving. • Maintains a valid driver’s license for operations of ve-

hicles in Liberia. • POSITION WILL BE SUBJECT TO A BACK-

GROUND CHECK CLEARANCE

Daily Observer Page 6 Monday December 2, 2013 11

Monitor and guide policy development process from the Pillar level to ensure that MACs activities fit into a broader strategic context.

Support the development of appropriate legislation working together with relevant MACs following Cabinet endorsement of policies.

Ensure that AfT indicators are duly transmitted to all stakeholders and assist each Pillar MAC in drafting their respective results matrix from AfT goals and objectives.

Support the role of the Pillar Chair in reporting on monitoring the implementation process (in line with the M & E Framework) to the LDA Steering Committee;

Ensure that Sector Working Group give proper attention to all cross-cutting issues in the implementation of interventions;

Ensure that the Pillars are functional and holding regular meetings and maintain full records of the proceedings of the Sector Working Group Meetings, issue citations, serve as a clearing house on LDA Pillar information and inform all stakeholders on a regular basis;

Serve as Pillar Focal Point in providing aid information as it relates to the development agenda to the Pillar and to LDA when requested.

Liaise with the County Development Steering Committee through the Program Specialist to ensure the collection of information/data from implementing agencies, to ensure the timely preparation of relevant reports for the LDA;

Consolidate and distribute monthly and quarterly reports from the counties to the Pillar to ensure timely response and corrective action to project and program implementation at county level. Prepare a Pillar Feedback matrix detailing status of implementation challenges indicated at county level to be communicated to counties through LDA as required and quarterly.

Participate in the design and development of medium & long-term GOL strategic planning in close collaboration with the LDA Secretariat.

Qualifications Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) preferably in Industrial or Business

Management, Project Management, Public Policy, Public Administration, or other relevant field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area;

At least 5 years of work experience with capabilities in policy or strategy development, public sector reform, legal reform, conflict management, peace building, and monitoring and evaluation;

Understanding of the challenges in Liberia relating to respective pillar, the synergies that exist between the sectors which make up the assigned pillar, some of the various actors in the pillar and their respective roles and mandates;

Knowledge of the PRS/CDA and the AfT processes and the expected goals as they relate to the assigned pillar.

Full working knowledge of English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills; Excellent computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use information

technology as a tool and resource. Operational Skills

Capacity to perform effectively under pressure and hardship conditions. Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in a multicultural

environment. Excellent writing skills to draft reports for submission to the LDA Secretariat.

Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural and political sensitivity to effectively interact with a cross section of government officials, members of donor organizations, international and national NGOs, civil society representatives, etc.

Excellent organizational and presentation skills. Strong inter-personal skills with ability to promote participation and teamwork. Ability to undertake field travel and local travel in order to achieve objectives. Active commitment to promoting the interest of marginalized people.

To Apply Please send CV and cover letter to Mr. Joseph Zangar Bright, Jr. National Program Specialist, Liberia Development Alliance, Ministry of Finance (jbright@mof.gov.lr) by Friday, December 6, 2013.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar II: Economic Transformation Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar II the Economic Transformation Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar II: Economic Transformation Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar II the Economic Transformation Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar II: Economic Transformation Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar II the Economic Transformation Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

Provide objective evaluation of polices proposed by line Ministries and agencies. Analyze policy proposals by Ministries and Agencies to assess their consistency with government policy. Provide analytical support to the government’s strategic planning and approval process.

Monitor and guide policy development process from the Pillar level to ensure that MACs activities fit into a broader strategic context.

Support the development of appropriate legislation working together with relevant MACs following Cabinet endorsement of policies.

Ensure that AfT indicators are duly transmitted to all stakeholders and assist each Pillar MAC in drafting their respective results matrix from AfT goals and objectives.

Support the role of the Pillar Chair in reporting on monitoring the implementation process (in line with the M & E Framework) to the LDA Steering Committee;

Ensure that Sector Working Group give proper attention to all cross-cutting issues in the implementation of interventions;

Ensure that the Pillars are functional and holding regular meetings and maintain full records of the proceedings of the Sector Working Group Meetings, issue citations, serve as a clearing house on LDA Pillar information and inform all stakeholders on a regular basis;

Serve as Pillar Focal Point in providing aid information as it relates to the development agenda to the Pillar and to LDA when requested.

Liaise with the County Development Steering Committee through the Program Specialist to ensure the collection of information/data from implementing agencies, to ensure the timely preparation of relevant reports for the LDA;

Consolidate and distribute monthly and quarterly reports from the counties to the Pillar to ensure timely response and corrective action to project and program implementation at county level. Prepare a Pillar Feedback matrix detailing status of implementation challenges indicated at county level to be communicated to counties through LDA as required and quarterly.

Participate in the design and development of medium & long-term GOL strategic planning in close collaboration with the LDA Secretariat.

Qualifications Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) preferably in Industrial or Business

Management, Project Management, Public Policy, Public Administration, or other relevant field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area;

At least 5 years of work experience with capabilities in policy or strategy development, public sector reform, legal reform, conflict management, peace building, and monitoring and evaluation;

Understanding of the challenges in Liberia relating to respective pillar, the synergies that exist between the sectors which make up the assigned pillar, some of the various actors in the pillar and their respective roles and mandates;

Knowledge of the PRS/CDA and the AfT processes and the expected goals as they relate to the assigned pillar.

Full working knowledge of English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills; Excellent computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use

information technology as a tool and resource.

Operational Skills Capacity to perform effectively under pressure and hardship conditions. Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in a

multicultural environment. Excellent writing skills to draft reports for submission to the LDA Secretariat. Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural and political sensitivity to effectively interact

with a cross section of government officials, members of donor organizations, international and national NGOs, civil society representatives, etc.

Excellent organizational and presentation skills. Strong inter-personal skills with ability to promote participation and teamwork. Ability to undertake field travel and local travel in order to achieve objectives. Active commitment to promoting the interest of marginalized people.

To Apply Please send CV and cover letter to Mr. Joseph Zangar Bright, Jr. National Program Specialist, Liberia Development Alliance, Ministry of Finance (jbright@mof.gov.lr) by Friday, December 6, 2013.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar II: Economic Transformation Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar II the Economic Transformation Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar II: Economic Transformation Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar II the Economic Transformation Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

Pillar Technical Advisor Pillar IV: Governance and Public Institutions Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to successfully coordinate and monitor the implementation of current development agenda, Agenda for Transformation, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Pillar Technical Advisor for Pillar IV the Governance and Public Institutions Pillar. The Technical Advisor will work closely with the Pillar Chair, members of the Pillar, the County Development Planning Officers, and the LDA National Program Specialist to ensure implementation of policy decisions agreed at LDA. The Technical Advisors will report directly to the Pillar Chair weekly and will be subject to quarterly and final evaluations by the LDA with input from the Pillar Chairs. Key duties________________________________________________________________________ Working closely with the Pillar Chair, and the LDA National Program Specialist, Pillar Technical Advisor will be responsible for the following within their Pillar:

Provide advice to ensure that Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) are in fact working together and coordinating relevant policy projects. Work to improve collaboration on projects in which Ministries are not working together effectively. Identify areas where line Ministries and Agencies may need particular additional assistance and expertise.

Provide objective evaluation of polices proposed by line Ministries and agencies. Analyze policy proposals by Ministries and Agencies to assess their consistency with government policy. Provide analytical support to the government’s strategic planning and approval process.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

FINANCE OFFICER Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to enhance its operations, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Finance Officer. The finance officer will be responsible for all financial operations and recording keeping and will be expected to perform the following key duties: Key duties

Responsible for the analysis of all accounting transactions Prepare monthly/quarterly allotment request for the fiscal year in conformity with the approved

sources of cash flow Calculate foreign and domestic travel cost in accordance with GOL travel ordinances Supervise record keeping of all accounting transactions Prepare information requested by auditors Contribute to the annual operating budgeting process Prepare internal payment report depicting receipts and payment per month Reconcile cash accounts; conduct petty cash count Prepare and maintain accurate financial reports and accounting files for budgeting and

accounting purposes Prepare and maintain a monthly payroll of all employees/contractors Report, analyze and ensure integrity of all financial information

Report to the National Program Specialist Perform related and other duties/responsibilities as may be required

Qualifications Minimum of Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting. Minimum 3 years experience in related works (Experience with Government of Liberia will be an

asset).

Operational Skills

Strong competence in Ms Office Suite (Excel) Excellent bookkeeping knowledge and skills and software (QuickBooks) Have good interpersonal skills and analytical skills Excellent written and oral communication skills Multi-tasking skills and ability to work under pressure

To Apply Please send CV and cover letter to Mr. Joseph Zangar Bright, Jr. National Program Specialist, Liberia Development Alliance, Ministry of Finance (jbright@mof.gov.lr) by Friday, December 6, 2013.

LIBERIA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (LDA) TERMS OF REFERENCE

FINANCE OFFICER Background: The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was launched in January 2013, as the successor to the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Committee (LRDC). The LDA is the Government of Liberia’s most strategic forum for engaging the private sector, civil society, and development partners to address key issues affecting overall development in Liberia. The Liberia Development Alliance (LDA) was organized primarily for: 1) Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the national development plan, the Agenda for

Transformation (AFT) 2) Enhancing coordination with Government of Liberia, private sector, Civil Society and development

partners. The LDA Steering Committee is chaired by the President of Liberia and consists of cabinet ministers and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners at the highest level. The LDA is structured along five Pillars of the Agenda for Transformation in order to ensure that implementation is coordinated to achieve the national goals. The LDA Steering Committee is supported by the LDA Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day affairs of the LDA. The Minister of Finance serves as the National Coordinator of the LDA Secretariat. In order to enhance its operations, the LDA Secretariat is looking to recruit a qualified Liberian professional to serve as Finance Officer. The finance officer will be responsible for all financial operations and recording keeping and will be expected to perform the following key duties: Key duties

Responsible for the analysis of all accounting transactions Prepare monthly/quarterly allotment request for the fiscal year in conformity with the approved

sources of cash flow Calculate foreign and domestic travel cost in accordance with GOL travel ordinances Supervise record keeping of all accounting transactions Prepare information requested by auditors Contribute to the annual operating budgeting process Prepare internal payment report depicting receipts and payment per month Reconcile cash accounts; conduct petty cash count Prepare and maintain accurate financial reports and accounting files for budgeting and

accounting purposes Prepare and maintain a monthly payroll of all employees/contractors Report, analyze and ensure integrity of all financial information

Daily Observer Page 14 Monday December 2, 2013 12

1. INTRODUCTION AND INVITATIONWith consent of Central Government, on 22 July 2013, Nimba County, by and through the County Administration, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), by which all old unused structures and scrap presently located in AML’s Concession area have been turned over to Nimba County. The County has decided to sell this scrap at fair market value and to use the proceeds for the benefit of the entire County.

The County therefore invites prospective bidders with requisite technical & financial qualifications and capabilities, to bid for the Purchase, Removal and Disposal of the said unused structures and scrap metals currently located within the Concession area of AML and within Nimba County.

Bidding will be conducted through the International Competitive Bidding (ICB) method of procurement specified in the Public Procurement & Concession Acts (PPCA) and ap-proved by the Public Procurement & Concession Commission (PPCC) and is open to all eligible bidders.

2. THE STOCKThe Stock of Scrap includes all old unused structures and abandoned equipment, parts and metals, situated within the Concession Area of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML); and is to be disposed of as is where is. Provisional/Tentative inventory shall be provided in the Tender Documents; however, bidders are required to conduct their own assessment to determine the exact locations, categories, quantities and qualities of the stock.

3. DIRECT FISCAL BENEFITS TO CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM THE SALEProceeds from the sale shall be applied to and used for the benefit of the entire County of Nimba. Appropriate taxes shall be paid to Central Government. And the buyer shall be expected to assist the County through sustainable added value creation, job creation, project linkage opportunities, social projects etc.

4. BUYER’S QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTSThe successful bidder must (a) be a recognized local and/or regional and/or international entity with requisite experience in the steel industry to include the purchase, removal and disposal of scrap (b) have verifiable technical and managerial competence to undertake the above activities (c) have previous successful investment and management of similar operations for at least five years, (d) have proof of requisite financial resources to under-take the above described operations, (e) have a good record of corporate social respon-sibility and must be willing to adhere to and support Liberia’s Local Content Policies and regulations, and (f) if foreign, have a locally registered and licensed scrap broker and dealer company as its subsidiary, associate or affiliate.

5. TENDER DOCUMENTSTender Documents for the purchase, removal and disposal of the said unused structures and scrap metals currently located within the Concession area of AML and may be obtained from the Procurement Officer, Office of the Superintendent of Nimba County, Sanniquellie City at the address below, from Wednesday 20th of November 2013, during official working hours, on payment of a non-refundable bid fee of US$5,000.00, payable by Manager’s Check to: “THE NIMBA COUNTY OPERATIONAL ACCOUNT”

6. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF BIDSDeadline for the submission of SEALED BIDS is Tuesday 31st December, 2013 at 1400 hours GMT. All Bids must be delivered and deposited in the Tender Box at the Office of the Procurement Officer, Superintendent’s Office, Sanniquellie City, Nimba County, before the said deadline. All late Bids will be rejected outright. Bids will be opened at 15:00pm on Tuesday 31st December, 2013. All bidders or their representatives are asked to be present.

7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONa. Information contained in this Invitation to Bid is indicative only and will be confirmed and amplified in the Bid Documents.b. Interested firms may obtain further information from the Procurement Office, Administrative Building, Sanniquellie City, Nimba County, Republic of Liberia from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Mondays through Fridays (except public holidays); or call Contact Numbers: +231 886 405120 or +231 886493075 or +231 777 405120

Signed:_______________________________________ Secretary of the Procurement Committee Nimba County

Approved: ____________________________________ Chairperson of the Procurement Committee Nimba County

 Office of the County Superintendent

INVITATION TO BIDFOR THE PURCHASE, REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF OLD UNUSED STRUCTURES AND SCRAP METALS

November 18, 2013

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIAMINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Nimba County

November 26, 2013

REELIN (Liberia) Inc. wishes to inform its many debtors and suppliers of its decision to cease operations in Liberia on November 30, 2013.

As a consequence of the above, all vendors/creditors are required to submit a statement of REELIN’s account with them by or before December 15, 2013, attaching all supporting invoices and other relevant documentations.

All of REELIN’s Debtors are also required to contact our Bushrod Island office on or before December 25, 2013 to make full settlement of their obligations or make full arrangement for the settlement thereof.

All customers/businesses/organizations with vehicle at our premises are requested to proceed to our main offices on Bushrod Island to finalize arrangements in order to take delivery of vehicles on or before De-cember 15, 2013.

Existing and potentials customers desirous of continuing with the services REELIN has been rendering, are hereby informed that a new company, CICA Motors Liberia Inc. will be rendering the same services at the same premises effective December 1, 2013.

Please feel free to transfer your business to this company if you so desire, as the workforce of REELIN (Liberia) will become the employees of CICA Motors Liberia Incorporated effective December 1, 2013.

Please note that a small office space will be made available and remained open at Reelin’s Bushrod Island location for the purpose of handling the outstanding Receivable and Payable Accounts.

Please contact the following telephone numbers should you need further clarification. 0777-887-000 0777-887-444 0777-887-500Thank you very much for your patronage over the years.Regards.

Daily Observer sunday, December 01, 2013 Monday, December 2, 2013 Page 13

World Bank Procurement Reform

Moves AheadThe World Bank is

launching the second stage of the reform of its procurement

policy and guidelines; this is after the Executive Directors’ endorsement of a “proposed new framework on procurement in World Bank investment project finance” on November 15.

The World Bank’s vision for procurement is to “support clients to achieve value for money with integrity in delivering sustainable development,” a statement issued by the Bank said.

“While the current policy and guidelines have served us well over the years, a more modern procurement policy would allow us to preserve our robust standards while better responding to our clients’ needs,” said Kyle Peters, vice president of Operations Policy and Country Services at the World Bank. “The concepts of ‘value for money’ and ‘fit for purpose’ are at the center of the new procurement framework, which is all about ensuring our projects deliver the greatest development impact.”

The goal of the new policy framework, the Bank notes,

is to deliver value for money with integrity in delivering sustainable development for clients.

This includes making procurement decisions that promote competition and quality. The World Bank will reposition procurement to be context specific, while at the same time ensuring the highest fiduciary standards.

“Integrity and fairness are essential to upholding strong procurement principles. As we go forward with the reform of our procurement system, we will protect procurement from fraud and corruption and will provide credible complaint mechanisms for bidders,” says Christopher Browne, the World Bank’s Chief Procurement Officer.

The second stage of the reform will be dedicated to working on a detailed strategy for implementing the changes suggested in the policy framework. A final policy proposal will be presented to the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors for approval in 2015.

During the first stage of the reform (2012 to early 2013), the World Bank introduced the policy framework and

consulted with almost 2,000 stakeholders in about 100 countries to seek their views on how the Bank should do procurement.

In October 2013, the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) highlighted a number of areas for improvement, including a more strategic approach to capacity building and a progressive approach towards the greater use of client institutions and arrangements.

For individual client countries, the nature and extent of the Bank’s work on procurement will vary. In some countries, where the Bank’s direct financial support is not needed, the Bank may play a predominantly advisory role.

The Bank will continue to take an active role in assuring the highest procurement standards in countries with less robust procurement systems. Where needed, the Bank will also work towards strengthening country procurement institutions and systems to enhance capacity beyond World Bank-financed projects.

GOL’s Share of Cement on Sale

by David a. yates

In an effort to create wealth for Liberians, the Government of Liberia through the Liberian

Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), has disclosed that it will be undertaking a series of divestitures (sale of property) of its interest in major income earning companies including selling shares owned by

CEMENCO to ordinary Liberians.

The Government of Liberia has its shares in LBDI as a shareholder of CEMENCO; those shares are equal to 206,572 bags of cement.

“The GOL hired the services of LBDI to undertake the divestiture with the specific mandate to sell its shares to ordinary Liberians’ and local Liberian owned firms.”Mr. Davis discloses.

Mr. John Davies, President, lbDi and liberia bankers association

RMA Taps Into Kenya’s Growing New Car Market

Speaking at MICAT’s press briefing on Thursday, November 28, the president of Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), Mr. John B.S. Davis III, said “No single firm or company is allowed to purchase more than 15% of the total stock.”

According to the LBDI CEO, applications for forms for the private purchase of the GOL’s common stock of the Liberia Cement Corporation are currently available free of charge at LBDI’s branches on 9th Street and Randall Street.

He further said that individual Liberians can purchase a minimum of five common stocks at US$12.00 per share; with the minimum of 1,000 common stocks and additional stock in multiples of 100.

Mr. Davis told a group of journalists at MICAT’s press briefing that the US$12.00 per stock is payable in full on application, which opened on Monday, November 18 and will close on December, 20, at 4:00p.m.

He intoned that this bold step manifests the vision of the president’s determination in ensuring that ordinary Liberians share in the wealth of the country by transferring Government’s share in Liberia to the real owners.

By Dinfin Mulupi (Cour-tesy: www.Howwemadeiti-

nafrica.com)

Vehicle sales in Africa have risen s i g n i f i c a n t l y in the last few

years, following growing demand among the continent’s burgeoning middle class that are trading up public transport and jalopies for new personal cars. Competition is rife in the auto industry as existing global brands and new entrants fight off competition from second-hand cars.

Thai land-headquartered RMA Group expanded to Kenya earlier this year following an opportunity created by the review of the Jaguar Land Rover distributorship contract. Previously, the Jaguar Land Rover franchise deal was held by the CMC Holdings which is set to be acquired by Dubai-based conglomerate Al-Futtaim Group for US$86m.

According to Sanjiv Shah, CEO of RMA Motors Kenya, the group’s expansion in Africa has been driven by “simple mathematics”, adding that South Africa, which “is the biggest market for consumer goods in Africa”, and other countries such as Kenya and Nigeria offer immense opportunity.

RMA Group employs over 7,000 people worldwide and is one of the world’s largest Jaguar Land Rover dealers with businesses in more than 64 countries. In Africa, RMA has a presence in 20 countries with offices in South Africa, Liberia, South Sudan and Kenya.

“Our Kenya position [suits] us well to actually manage and look at other markets” as Kenya is a regional hub, has a port and national carrier Kenya Airways which offers direct links to the rest of the

world.RMA is targeting Kenya’s

rising middle class and “a few established families” that are loyal to RMA’s brands. Shah explains that over 50% of RMA sales have been to private enterprise buyers and the majority of the balance has been to corporates. The Jaguar Land Rover brand competes with other premium products like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

“The rising middle class are very assertive on what they like and what they don’t like,” says Shah. “The middle class in Kenya are particularly choosey. They like quality, they like design and they like exclusivity. All of these are in the heart of our brand values.”

High taxes and dutiesShah notes that while

the rising middle class is a significant market for auto dealers, finding staff who are adequately trained and experienced to serve this market can be challenging.

“We have got customers that are extremely demanding and extremely fussy about what they want. So the biggest challenge we have at the moment is finding the right people that have got some experience – they don’t have to be boffins in our industry – that can join us and hit the deck running.”

Exorbitant taxation, Shah says, is also a major concern.

“Quite frankly, the duties and taxes on new cars are huge and as result of that the ticket price you see is not the manufacturer’s price at point of origin, and our profits are not that huge. A majority of the portion is duties and taxes. From a cumulative point of view… if you took $1, it turns out as a $1.83 plus duties and taxes because it’s compounded.”

Offering buyer financeTo tap into this market,

RMA has introduced purchase options such as lease and finance schemes that enable more people to access vehicles they feel would ordinarily be out of their reach.

After a successful year of setting up operations, interacting with customers and establishing a showroom, RMA Motors is confident it will make impressive sales next year.

“If we are able to fulfil the 200-plus numbers on the premium products for next year we will have done our job,” says Shah. “Money is the market [and we are introducing] the tools to make purchasing easier. I am always wary of competition so I am not going to sit on my laurels and I am not going to be complacent but I am quietly confident that we have an advantage at the moment and we need to materialise that.”

Shah advises other business leaders to strive to achieve a balance between business needs and their team’s needs.

“People are your biggest assets. If you attract the right calibre of people to join the business, everything becomes interactive; you have customer-to-team relationships becoming easier. Keep an open mind, interact with your team and understand your team’s needs.”

Noting that being a CEO is a “huge responsibility”, Shah says he is “excited and delighted” to be in his position.

“At times it’s very frustrating but it puts a smile on my face… I realise that I am in a very privileged position,” says Shah. ”I have every reason to be thankful and excited to be in this position.”

Daily Observer Page 14Monday, December 2, 2013

male Leadership, President Sirleaf said that for every wom-an president, senator or corpo-rate leader, millions of others are kept in servitude, relegated to a lower echelon of society; and that 70 percent of the 1.3 billion living in extreme pover-ty are women, who perform 66 percent of the world’s work and produce half of its food.

She said that thousands of African women continue to be denied access to power and re-sources, discriminated against, and suffer restricted mobility, by being married off as young brides.

They often lacked access to the most basic services, includ-ing sexual and reproductive healthcare. Advances in these areas require continuing strong,

decisive leadership from both men and women in positions of power.

President Sirleaf spoke of a steadily rising number of women in parliaments, par-ticularly in southern Africa, with Rwanda leading the entire world. In Liberia, she said she had resubmitted to the National Legislature the Gender Equity Bill, which calls for 30 percent of all institutions of governance to be occupied by women.

She noted that today Africa is proud to have a female Prime Minister, one female Vice Head of State, and two female Heads of State – one of whom will face elections in two years, and the other will leave office with-in four years.

“This represents a particular

challenge, as we must make sure that there’s someone that will succeed us when we move on,” she said.

She Added, “Despite the cor-rection of long years of neglect, it is not easy for a woman Presi-dent to convince legislative col-leagues on the need to expand the power of women. However, we will continue to press until this legislation is passed.”

The President spoke of ad-vances in gender equality in other areas across Africa, with many more girls and boys are enjoying gender parity in edu-cation; with legal restrictions limiting women’s economic participation halved since 1960; and with many countries start-ing to pass laws and provisions to improve women’s access to land and inheritance.

“These advances are remark-able and demonstrated great

faith in Africa’s future. With strong leadership on gender equality and equal represen-tation in government, Africa would continue to make steady advances in women’s education and equal access to services, thereby laying the foundations for more stable and peaceful societies,”

President Sirleaf said her gov-ernment is working hard for gender equality on many levels – from personal security to po-litical and economic empower-ment.

“Liberia is still dealing with the sad legacies of the past; still confronting lingering so-cial values which tend to treat women as lesser beings. My election to the presidency eight years ago was a momentous oc-casion, because it signified that the Liberian people were able to rise above ancient beliefs in

women’s inferiority to accept that a professional person with integrity from any gender could lead a nation out of the ashes of destruction,” she said.

She furthered, “Nevertheless, this giant step for one woman does not necessarily mean prog-ress for the great majority; it is a first step in a march that must be sustained. Violence against women is one of the most per-sistent and most neglected in-justices. Around the world 1.5 billion people are currently af-fected by conflict and organized political violence.

She lauded the leadership of the British Foreign Secretary and the UN Special Represen-tative on Sexual Violence in Conflict for pursuing the “Dec-laration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict,” which was signed, in Septem-ber, by 113 countries, including

Liberia. “The Declaration contains

practical and political commit-ments to end the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Also addressing that gather-ing was the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the first female Prime Min-ister of Jamaica, Portia Simp-son-Miller.

The Summit was held under the theme, “The Spirit of Wom-en in Parliaments: Advancing Society.” Several cardinal is-sues were discuss at the sum-mit, among them were: Reshap-ing Society through Female Leadership; Be the Change You Wish to See in the World; the Mother of Female Empower-ment: Peace, Security, amongst others.

No Turning Back

William V. S. Tubman’s grave. November 29 is President

Tubman’s birthday and this gone 29 was his 118th birthday. He is Liberia’s longest serving president — 27 years in power. Tubman was President from 1944 to 1971.

VP Boakai said, Mr. Tubman can best be remembered for his Unification Policy, which argu-ably brought indigenous or hin-terland Liberians on board the governance train of the nation.

The Liberian VP also stated that the late President’s Open Door Policy, which paved the

way for more investors to come in and invest, as another area for which the nation needs to remember him. He also added that Mr. Tubman should be remembered with respect for his long service to Liberia, by succeeding generations of Li-berians.

Dismissing the Tubman re-gime’s fanatics’ assertions that most of today’s developments in Liberia should be attributed to Mr. Tubman, Amb. Boakai intoned that he would not join those attributing the develop-ments to Tubman; adding: “The

visions were limited. We know that it was possible that a lot could have been achieved given the time he led Liberia.”

Comparing the achievements of neighboring La Côte d’Ivoire and other nations during that same era of President Tubman’s rule, he emphasized that a lot could have been achieved.

“Even to the extent when LMC [Liberia Mining Com-pany] was operating in Tub-manburg, Bomi County, a very short distance [from Monrovia] the road could have been paved but most of these things were not done,” he quipped.

It is believe by most of the

younger generations that the Tubman era was marred by pomp and pageantry, especially when hearing their grandpar-ents speak nostalgically about that epoch.

To this the VP stated: “Maybe Mr. Tubman served at the time when pomp and pageantry was a part of the system; when long tailed coats were being worn with top hats.”

However, he clarified that that was one side of history but the other side that he wishes Li-berians could dwell on is the peaceful co-existence of every Liberian during that 27-year administration of Mr. Tubman.

He added that this was probably due to less people in the nation being informed about day-to-day happenings in the country.

Responding to a call from people proposing that all of the “birthdays” be scratched out of Liberia’s holiday calendar and be replaced with “Presidents’ Day”, instead of each individ-ual’s birthdays, Ambassador Boakai stated that in the future if it continues as it is now, there might be many birthdays to be celebrated so in order to short-cut the holiday calendar the idea of just having a single day for everyone “might be a rea-sonable idea.”

As of now, there are only two former President’s birthdays — Presidents Joseph Jenkins Roberts and Tubman — that are being observed nationally as holiday. However, there have been calls for the birthdays of Presidents William R. Tolbert and Samuel K. Doe to also be observed as national holidays, too. It just might be another bone of contention when sup-porters start to advocate that the birthday of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is Liberia and Africa’s first democratical-ly elected female President, be observed as a National Holiday in Liberia.

VP Boakai

that country in Liberia in years to come.

Mr. Markku Vesikko, who presently serves as the Resident Representative and Program Manager of the Finnish Refu-gee Council, replaces Mr. Aar-on Milton, who has served as an honorary consul of Finland since 1984.

At an honoring ceremony in Monrovia on November 27, Riitta Korpivaara, the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, lauded Mr. Milton for his long-term of service as Finland’s Honorary Consul, and said his services over the years have helped to

connect Finland with Liberian authorities, especially in as-sisting to organize their various visits to Liberia.

She noted that Mr. Milton’s role as an Honorary Consul of Finland in Liberia culminates at the highest level, with the President of Finland, Mrs. Tarja Halonen having visited Liberia in 2009.

She recalled that Mr. Milton’s service in seeking the interest of Finland and its people did not only happen during a time of peace, but during the war years, when no one living out-side of Liberia at the time could

easily move within its existing danger zone.

Ambassador Korpivaara used the occasion to decorate Mr. Milton with the Order of the Lion of Finland, saying, “Your tenure as Honorary Consul of Finland for almost thirty years stands as an example to us all, thanks to the unique determina-tion and perseverance that you have shown during the past de-cades. This honor is given to you for all the work you have put into advancing the well-being and interests of the Finn-ish community in Liberia and promoting relations between Liberia and Finland.”

The Order of the Lion of Fin-

land is one of that country’s highest honors. It was estab-lished on September 11, 1942 for individuals distinguishing themselves in civilian life or military service. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of that Order, along with two others, namely, the Cross of Liberty and the White Rose.

Ambassador Korpivaara dis-closed that roughly 400 honor-ary consuls worldwide repre-sent Finland, and the consulate in Liberia has, for a long time, been the only honorary consul-ate of Finland in West Africa, with the second just opened in Lagos, Nigeria a year ago.

Accepting the honor, outgo-

ing Consul Aaron Milton ex-tended appreciation and com-mendation to the President and people of Finland for the coop-eration he received from them during his tenure as an Honor-ary Consul.

He said the high honor be-stowed upon him was evidence of the appreciation the govern-ment and people of Finland showed for his role as an Hon-orary Consul of their country to Liberia, which makes him feel that the services provided by him and his wife, Helga Mil-ton, through rough and smooth times, in Liberia were not in vain.

Milton’s successor, Markku

Vesikko, could not comment, as he is yet to receive his state’s approval from the Government of Liberia.

Finland like Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands is one of Liberia’s partners in its post-war recovery period.

Aside from the Finnish Ref-ugee Council, that provides humanitarian assistance to re-turnee Liberian refugees from other West African Countries, the Finn Church Aid, another organization that provides hu-manitarian assistance to Libe-rians, is in the country meet-ing the needs of the poverty stricken.

Finland Names

construction of new ones. The master plan is endowed with strategies and illustrations that confirm the strategic direction of the country’s port industry.

Management needs about US$2 billion to execute the plan. NPA Managing Direc-tor Matilda Wokie Parker said during a second stake-holders’ presentation confer-ence Thursday, November 28, that Management is seeking public-private partnership to implement the plan.

Unveiling the plan to an audience that included stake-holder neighbors of port activ-ities and journalists, Madam Parker noted that the master plan has forecast gains at an estimated economic return rate of 21% and an equivalent an-nual return of approximately 32% of estimated government revenue.

This means that the NPA will generate 21% of every US$1.00 Management invests in the ports according to the

master plan which particular-ly seeks to develop all of the country’s four seaports.

The objective of the plan, she said, is to identify a com-prehensive strategy that out-lines infrastructure require-ments, an inclusive business plan, and provisions for ad-equate building capacity to actualize the NPA’s vision to become a “premiere port au-thority in West Africa.”

Unveiling the Port Master Plan to journalists, youth and student leaders from across the country as well as port com-munity leaders and stakehold-ers at the Freeport of Monro-via, the NPA MD announced that the apex of the Plan has fi-nally neared “as we are poised to share this vision—NPA master plan with Liberia and the world.”

She declared that the Cabi-net has already approved the plan, but added “we decided to take it to ordinary Liberians who are the real owners.”

Two years ago, the NPA em-barked on an ambitious jour-ney to map a vision of what Liberia’s ports should look like in 25 years. That vision addresses the developmental needs of each of the country’s four ports including human re-source and infrastructure.

The NPA boss explained that Management enlisted the expertise of the NIRAS Group A/S, one of the world’s most accomplished port consultan-cy firms from Scandinavia, to help bring the NPA’s vision of operational excellence to real-ity.

“The NPA and NIRAS Group A/S worked closely over several project phases to determine the best route for short term, medium and long term growth,” she stated.

According to Madam Park-er, diagnostic studies were conducted by the company during the formative stages of the plan to determine the current status of all of NPA’s four ports and subsequently develop a baseline year from

which large scale development projects can commence.

She also explained that the project team was also able to achieve the following: fore-cast future vessel traffic and market developments, create an authority business plan, develop project concepts, con-duct several economic and financial analyses, and finally assess the impact and safety of the eco-environment and so-cio-economy utilizing strate-gic environmental assessment (SEA) scoping.

Freeport of MonroviaThe NPA’s draft 25-year

master plan contains the con-struction of an additional 200-meter marginal wharf at the Freeport of Monrovia, the construction of an oil jetty and the construction of the NPA’s head quarters, amongst others, all at the Freeport. The Free-port of Monrovia currently handles about 63% of vessels coming to Liberia.

BuchananAt the port of Buchanan,

Grand Bassa County, infra-

structural projects earmarked for development are the con-struction of a new commer-cial quay, the construction of a logistical shore base for the purpose of providing service to the emerging oil and gas in-dustry in the country, building of warehouses and creation of a deep water jetty, amongst others. The port of Buchanan is the second largest port in Li-beria. The port handles about 20% of the total vessels.

Greenville PortAs for Greenville Port in

Sinoe County, the master plan seeks to construct five new berths, build a container park and warehouses, and remove the wreckage from the port’s basin.

Harper PortIn Harper, Maryland County,

the NPA Management is seek-ing to dredge the existing port and build a new port.

New Seaport in Grand Cape/Inland Port

The NPA Managing Director disclosed that the draft master plan is also seeking to build

a brand new port in Grand Cape Mount County. Accord-ing to Madam Parker, the new port, when constructed, will increase economic activities in western Liberia and create jobs for the people. She also disclosed that the master plan is seeking to build inland sea-ports in navigable rural com-munities. The NPA boss told reporters that the plan is in the best interest of the country.

Following her presentation of the 25-year plan, commu-nity and student leaders at the meeting, in separate remarks asked that authorities at NPA consider highly the involve-ment of young people of these port communities in the imple-mentation of the plan.

The student leaders urged the NPA management to begin the training of young Liberi-ans in aspect of port manage-ment and related areas so that they would be better prepared to manage the NPA instead of foreigners or aliens taking over the ports in the near fu-ture.

NPA Unveils

Daily Observer sunday, December 01, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Page 15For

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

Monday, December 2, 2013

Kaba Urges Stakeholders to be Sincere to Football

LFA Match Com-missioner Idrissa Kaba last Saturday insisted and got the

D. Twe sports pitch remarked before the FA Cup match be-tween Monrovia Breweries and ELWA United got under-way.

Kaba was unhappy when he discovered upon his arrival on the field that the pitch was marked crookedly and below the required meters from the goal area to the penalty box as well as the centerline.

“We must be fair to football,” Kaba told the Daily Observer, “the rules of football must be observed to the letter to ensure that a good game is assured.”

Kaba pointed out that if football will improve in the country, then it goes without saying that all its rules must be observed.

An official of the New Kru Town LFA Sub-Committee, who begged for anonymity because he was asked to speak for the committee, told the

Daily Observer that there has not been such a measurement to complete the job properly and his team has always been measuring the field without proper measuring instrument.

“The first marking was done by ex-Fifa referee Spencer Harris, and we have always been imitating his markings on the ground,” the official said, which Commissioner Kaba in-sisted should not be the case.

The NKT sub-committee of-ficial said, however, that since the D. Twe sports pitch is the home-ground of Monrovia Club Breweries FC, respon-sibility for the maintenance of the pitch should be that of the MCB as well as the Liberia Football Association.

A man identified as MCB’s team manager said it was not his duty to discuss the issue with the Daily Observer.

Kaba got the field to be re-marked with a borrowed tai-lor’s tape measurement before the game got underway, which MCB won 1-0. There are re-

ports that during the raining season, games were held in rain soaked pitches while other centers, referees participate in marking the field.

In a telephone interview late yesterday, LFA Secretary Gen-eral Alphonso Armah said his office will make sure that the situation is corrected immedi-ately.

Meanwhile, ELWA United President Rufus Jackson Looh was unhappy with certain de-cisions rendered by the center referee. There seven yellow cards in the game, four for ELWA United and three for Monrovia Breweries.

In other FA Cup results, Oilers defeated Jubilee FC 3-2, with goals from George Kerkula, Soto Roberts and Joshua Morris, while Zackie Bannee and Bundor Kandakai scored for Jubilee.

BYC managed a 1-0 win over Mamie Kpoto’s Keitrace FC at the Blue Field.

The correct marks he insisted must be done on the field

Ghana Downs Senegal for WAFU Cup

Host Ghana ac-counted for Sen-egal 3-1 on Thurs-day (November

28) in Kumasi to win the 2013 West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone ‘B’ Cup of Na-tions tournament.

A brace from defender Kwa-bena Edusei and the other from Latif Mohamed was enough for Ghana to complete a ‘host and win’ of the zonal tourney, targeted at local foot-ballers from countries within the WAFU Zone ‘B’.

Losing finalists, Senegal fin-ished the game with 10-men after Thioune Ousseynou was given the marching off orders four minutes from time.

Backed by a sparse crowd at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana’s second larg-est city, the hosts went up after 120 seconds after midfielder Sulley Mohamed was fouled in the vital, and Edusei tucked in from the spot for the opener.

Les Lionceaux fought back and drew level through captain

Roger Gomis on 23 minutes, with a shot from close range that beat Ghana goalie Ste-phen Adams and end the first half even.

Mohamed restored Ghana’s lead on 77 minutes before Edusei took the game beyond the Senegalese by converting his second penalty five min-utes from time.

Former winners, Togo hum-bled Benin 2-1 in the battle for bronze. Nouwoklo Kossivi and Saibou Badarou scored for the Togolese whilst Dos-sou Jodel was on target for the

Beninois.Badarou was also adjudged

the tournament’s top scorer after netting four goals whilst Senegal captain, Gomis scooped the Most Valuable Player award.

The eight-nation tournament was also to gauge the prepara-tions of Ghana and Burkina Faso for next year’s Orange African Nations Champion-ship in South Africa.

Liberia accepted a last invi-tation and drew against Niger (1-1), lost to Togo, (4-0) and Senegal (2-0).

The local Black Stars: Wafu Champions

Zaza Re-elected Track President-Promises to restore monthly stipends for Lone Star

By Leroy M. Sonpon, III

The newly elected and installed president of the Liberia Athletics Federation (LAF),

Mulbah Zaza, has disclosed that his second term will tar-get the qualification of local athletes to International com-petitions.

Zaza made the disclosure on Friday, November 28, 2013, when he was overwhelmingly reelected to steer the affairs of the Liberia Athletics Federa-tion for another four years.

He outshined Christopher Sayeh of Fast Track Athlet-

ics Club, 10-5 votes. Madam Gbour Wilson won unop-posed with 11 votes as Vice President for Administration as well as Frederick Krah as Vice President for Technical Affairs. Korkulo E. Roberts was also elected unopposed as Treasurer.

The former chairman of the LAF Ad-hoc Elections Com-mittee, Cllr. Sylvester Rennie inducted the leadership. He is also the chairman of the LAF Arbitration Committee.

The LAF boss also said his administration will also resur-rect the issue of giving quali-fied national team players, monthly stipend.

The monthly stipend for Lone Star athletes was halted because of the 1989’s civil war.

Mr. Zaza said the restoration of the stipend would motivate athletes to focus in their career.

“We want to use this time to appeal for everyone’s support to move athletics forward,” Zaza said.

He stated that his first four-year was successful owing to the set-up of a technical team, which is the core of the federa-tion. Some members include Kesselle Kanneh, Frederick Massaquoi and defeated presi-dential candidate Christopher Sayeh.

For his part, the LAF Vice President for Technical Af-fairs, Mr. Krah said a four-year strategic plan to actualize the President’s goal would begin next year, with the Inter-High-School Athletics Champion-ship.

“We intend to scout for two youth groups, males and fe-males, beginning next year to prepare them for qualification and hope to make this dream come true,” Mr. Krah said.

(L-r) Korkulo Roberts, Frederick B. Krah, Gbour Wil-son and Mulbah Zayzay

Skipper Weah Inspires Senior Pros to VictoryBy Leroy M. Sonpon, lll

A generation of for-mer Lone Star play-ers during the era of George Weah, for-

merly known as George Weah XI, (now Senior Pros), lifted the World AIDS Day Cup on Thursday.

Senior Pros defeated the Asia based players, 4-3 in a lottery shot, after a 1-1 pulsat-ing draw, which many said the win was inspired by the 1995 FIFA Player, George M. Weah.

The game was in commemo-ration of the “World AIDS Day,” globally observed on December 1, to create aware-ness on HIV/AIDS.

The wizard dribbler, George M. Weah created a scene of argument amongst spectators,

with some calling on him to return to the pitch owing to his splendid performance on-and-off the ball.

The 47-year-old FIFA Best Player played the right-wing and forward roles interchange-

ably in the entire 70 minutes which led to a mammoth pres-sure on the Asia based play-ers, led by Francis Grandpa Doe and Patrick ‘Ronaldihno’ Wleh.

Former Liberia’s celebrated

George M. Weah on the ball star, James Salinsa Debbah served as coach.

“We are yet to be replaced and we’re happy to always be the winner,” Debbah said.

Weah was ably assisted by former midfield maestro Kel-vin Sebwe, former sprinter and

forwarder Eugene Nagbe, ex-gangling left-back George Ge-bro, Danesius Sebwe, Prince Toe, Janjay Jacobs amongst others. Former national team goalie Louis Crayton was be-tween the sticks.

In the 46th minute, a ‘solo

move from Weah led to a pen-alty which was converted by midfielder Kelvin Sebwe.

Ten minutes later, Malaysian based player, Francis ‘Grand-pa’ Doe rotated the goal, after several misses.

Commissioner Idrissa Kaba

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Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we

start to deceive.

Dr. Owl’s Guest

By Abednego Davis

After months of wide p u b l i c a -tions on the controver-sial Ellen

Corkrum’s secret recordings of government officials, a Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge has strongly warned media insti-tutions to desist from further reporting or sounding off on the matter.

Madam Corkrum, the former managing director of the Libe-ria Airport Authority (LAA) along with Melvin Johnson, who is reported to be ‘boy-friend’, First International Bank’s (FIB) Jeremi Tegli, former head of operations of FIB, and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, were charged by the govern-ment with economic sabotage and theft of property--- charg-es which some of the defen-dants have denied.

But following the release by one or more of the defendants, of what is being regarded as ‘confessional’ tape-record-ings; Judge Blamo Dixon has prohibited the publication, broadcasting, or dissemination by the print and electronic me-dia, any interview, discussion, or recordings made by Madam Corkrum.

The decision was based on a “Bill of Information” filed to the Court by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the prosecuting

arm of the government. A Bill of Information is a

formal, written accusation made by a prosecuting attor-ney charging a person named, with a specific crime.

In the Court’s order---a copy of which has been secured by the Daily Observer---Judge A. Blamo Dixon, Resident Cir-cuit Judge Presiding, Criminal Assizes ‘C’ First Judicial Cir-cuit, Montserrado County, Re-public of Liberia, sitting in its November Term A. D. 2013,”

decreed the press is “…hereby ordered to refrain and desist from any and all further publi-cation of any matter relating to the activities of co-respondent Ellen Corkrum in Liberia as former Managing Director of the Roberts International Air-port (RIA)”

The order went on to include meetings and discussions of officials of the Government of the Republic of Liberia as it relates directly or indirectly to this case.”

It reiterated: “You are fur-ther prohibited from holding any radio program including talk-shows, publication or disseminating by radio, press and electronic media, any in-terview, discussions or tapes and or any recording, made by Ellen K. Corkrum while serv-ing as Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), which directly or in-directly touches on this case.”

Two Sisters Die 15 Days Apart---A Similar Tragedy Occurred in 2011

By Omari Jackson

Frustrating, dis-appointing, sor-rowful, were the words that tearful family members used

last Saturday to convey the shock that over-swept them after 31-year-old Lilian Monu died suddenly, hours before her sister’s burial.

It was the day after the late President William Tubman’s birthday was celebrated, No-vember 29, and the remains of Lorina Duopo, (Baby Lue), 29, were scheduled to be in-terred on November 30.

Baby Lue had died on No-vember 15, after she returned home sick from Nigeria, where she had spent the past eight years, according to her brother Mark Doe, Jr, of New Kru Town.

The deceased’s sister,

31-year-old Lilian Monu, a member of the In God We Trust Church of Funday, New Kru Town, had planned to sing at the funeral, following the wake-keeping on November 29.

But Lilian would not fulfill her wish, for she died at 3 a.m. on November 29, her brother, Mark Doe Jr., told reporters on Saturday.

He said sometime in 2011,

two of his uncles had died quite unexpectedly as well--- with one-month intervals be-tween their deaths.

“Uncles Zack Williams, then in his 40s, and Eugene Williams, who was in his 50s, died one month apart,” Doe Jr., told reporters.

He said his family is finding it difficult to understand the re-peat of such a tragedy.

He said he would miss his

sisters for the love and concern they had shown the rest of the family.

The late Lorina Duopu, (Baby Lue) was buried last Sunday at the Taylor Major Compound in Caldwell, while the remains of Lilian Monu were deposited at the Roberts Funeral Home in Gardners-ville, pendinga family meeting this week.

“I don’t know what we are

going to do after such unex-pected costs to my family,” Doe Jr., said.

Residents at the family-house in New Kru Town told reporters that strange things they could not explain have been happening in the area.

“Some time in 1986,” a woman who has said she moved to the area a year be-fore, said that “a woman’s 5-year-old daughter, (Trouble Girl) had been burnt to death from a blaze.”

Though she could not ex-plain any connection between

then and now, she was ada-mant (unyielding) that some strange power was at work in the area.

She, however, added that the little girl’s death by burn-ing was because her mother had left a candle burning in the room while the mother was on an errand.

The family of the two dead siblings has been reported to be distraught and financially overwhelmed by the unex-pected deaths.

The late Lorina Duopu and the late Lilian Monu

Media Ordered Silent on Corkrum’s Recordings

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, VOL, No.28.indd 1 12/2/13 12:15 AM