Friday, August 07, 2015 Edition
Friday, August 07, 2015 Edition
Friday, August 07, 2015 Edition
STORIES
POLITICS
pg 7
BEN UREYS
FIRST STEP
pg 6
END OF
THE ROAD
SPORTS
pg 11
FIFA GLITCH
FOR BILITY
Confederation of African
Football(CAF) Hears Appeal from
Liberia Football Chief Looking to
Succeed Sepp Blatter but Decides
Against giving its support
FrontPage
Court Holds Final Argument In
Parkers Embattled Bond
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 9 NO.117
PRICE L$40
NTA SADDENED BY
HIGHWAY CRASH
We like to inform you that it is been confirmed that six of our fellow Liberian commuters died during the accident
and 55 commuters sustained injuries (major & minor) and were taken to Phebe Hospital. On the same day, Phebe
Hospital treated and discharged 30 commuters who experienced minor injuries. Currently, twenty-five (25)
commuters are being treated at Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County. Information on these commuters will be
released to the press and public as they unfold. - The Management, National Transit Authority
BUYING
SELLING
L$86.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
L$88.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
L$88.00/US$1
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
Page 2 | Frontpage
FROM PAGE 1
W
Monrovia -
The Liberia stop is one of three for Wang who is also visiting
three of the African nations hardest hit by an outbreak of the
Ebola virus Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Wang arrives in Monrovia Saturday from Freetown on his
three-day visit to the three countries. Wang is winding down
his Southeast Asia trip where he attended a regional security
summit.
The deadly Ebola virus has killed more than 11,200 people
in West Africa since it broke out in December 2013. China,
Africa's biggest trading partner, has sent hundreds of medical
workers to Africa and contributed aid of more than $120
million to the anti-Ebola effort, after initially facing criticism
for not doing enough.
Wang, addressing a high-level meeting on response to
the outbreak of Ebola virus disease on the sidelines of the
annual UN General Debate, last September, declared that the
people of China will always stand beside the African people
in the fight against Ebola. "The epidemic may be merciless,
but people with love help each other," said Wang. "The
Chinese government has provided instantly drugs, medical
equipment and other disease prevention and relief materials
to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau."
China has sent in succession more than 170 medical workers
to the affected areas to fight on the front line against
the epidemic with local people since the outbreak of the
epidemic. "They work round the clock to help people from
the affected areas," Wang said.
Last August, China offered once again 30 million yuan (or
about 4. 86 million U.S. dollars) worth of humanitarian
assistance to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, which were
delivered to them by air, according to Wang.
Beijing also sent additional packages of assistance totaling
200 million yuan to relevant African countries, which
includes food, materials and equipment, and cash, while offer
cash assistance to the World Health Organization and the
African Union each worth two million US dollars. Relevant
decisions are being implemented.
Frontpage
Page 3
PROFILE
WHO IS WANG YI
MONROVIA resident
Ellen
Johnson
Sirleaf
says the visit of the
16-member business
delegation from the Peoples
Republic of China (PRC)
provides Liberia with a new
and broader opportunity
to go beyond what the two
countries have done on the
bilateral level.
We are glad that its private
sector focus because this
sector will provide the real
springboard for Liberias
development. We will never
have enough resources of our
own; but the private sector
joined by the support of
government through financing
facilities can enable us to open
many doors, she stressed,
indicating that their visit is
seen as the key to open those
doors.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the assertion
when she received in audience
a Chinese business delegation,
dubbed, 2015 Sino-Liberia
Win-Win Visit Delegation at
her temporary office at the
Foreign Ministry on Thursday,
August 6, 2015. They are in the
country to explore business
and investment opportunities.
President Sirleaf indicated
that the Chinese business
delegation have identified
several sectors of interest
which are important; not only
consistent with governments
Agenda for Transformation
and the National Vision 2030
but also the countrys PostEbola Economic Stabilization
Plan.
The delegations major areas
of focus included mining,
infrastructural development,
telecommunication
sector,
electricity,
fruit
juice
production, among others.
Time is of the essence.
Whatever you do; whatever
we agree to cooperate and to
partner in, we want it done
fast, President Sirleaf urged,
reminding them of quality and
international standards.
The
Liberian
President
stressed that Liberia and
China have collaborated over
many years; but have not
maximized the cooperation as
compared to the cooperation
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage COMMENTARY
ANOTHER OUTBREAK IMPOSES SERIOUS
EDITORIAL
v
FATHER TIKPOR
T
DESERVES BETTER
someone sends you $50 USD you have to keep it so that it will
fill the gap. And I have paid the money for the clearing but I cant
have it. So I am thinking about this countrywhat is about it that
cannot be managed?
FATHER TIKPOR is not asking for a Liberian Official Gazette
which he will not be able to read long after he is gone, he is asking
simply that his container of books, all non-commercial items be
cleared from the Port of Monrovia. We do not think this is too
Frontpage
FrontPage
when she is visiting the county. We think there is a need for redress
and a total review of the July 26, 2011 celebration that was held in
the country.
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
Page 5
The EDITOR,
ROAD NETWORK
We ruminate that road network is one of the major disquiets if we
are to execute a major view sampling amongst sons and daughters
of our county. Lofa is among the big and major counties that has not
been touched does far when it comes to road network. The trivial
we think is mentioned on the basis of population. Lofa is the fourth
tenanted county in Liberia and will always be remembered for her
great contributions when it comes to support in the agricultural
sector. The road network that we are concerned about is standard
road (cortile) we think Lofa deserved a very quality road as a means
of having easy access to our county Lofa.
[email protected]
Akoi Dakala
[email protected]>
Lofa County/[email protected]/0886588857\0775013347
DO NOT ENTRUST
THIEVES WITH LIBERIAN
PEOPLES MONEY
The Editor,
EDITORIAL TEAM
Page 6 | Frontpage
he wahala lingering
over the US$1.2m
insurance
bond
filed on behalf of
the indicted National Port
Authority (NPA) Managing
Director Matilda Parker and
Comptroller Christina Kparbar
Paelay will come to the end
today when the Criminal Court
C at the Temple of Justice
entertains final argument to
determine whether to grant or
set aside the bond.
State lawyers, led by Cllr. Daku
Mulbah, have rejected the
US$1.2m Insurance bond on
grounds that the insurance
company does not have the
asset s and called on the
court to set the bond aside
and re-arrest and detain the
defendants until their surety
can remedy the defects in the
bond.
The defense team, also headed
by former River Gee Senator
Frederick Cherue, has put
up a stiff fight against state
prosecutors during the week.
Today they will also tell the
court why the bond is genuine
to guarantee the day to day
appearance of the two NPA
officials during the time of
trial.
However, hearing into the
motion to the exception of the
bond filed by state lawyers
continues with the third cross-
ith
strong
indications
that
Central
Bank Governor,
Dr. J. Mills Jones, remains
unbending on the loan scheme
and might go all out to resist
the amendment to the CBLs act
by the lawmakers through the
Supreme Court on the basis of
violation of his constitutional
rights, the lawmakers have
moved a step further in what
is being seen as an effort to
slow down Jones chariots and
further strangulate his political
quest.
House of Representatives on
May 4, 2015. The lower house
mandated PPCC to conduct
a
comprehensive
audit
(compliance and Performance)
of the CBL covering fiscal years
2010/2011 to 2013/2014.
In a communication to the
Plenary of the House of
Representatives on Tuesday
August 6, 2015, the PPCC said in
pursuant to the mandate from
the House of Representatives,
it wrote the bank on 17 July
2015, requesting an audit
engagement meeting with
senior management team but
in return the CBL wrote the
PPC C that it could not honor
the commission request for an
audit engagement.
PPCC communication said:
The commission however
wishes
to
inform
the
Honorable House that it has
been engaged with the Central
Bank of Liberia since 2010
regarding its non-compliance
with the provision of the Public
procurement and concession
Act of 2010 but the CBL has
persistently failed to subject
itself to the applicability of the
PPCA.
We wish to bring the august
BEN UREYS
FIRST STEP
Frontpage
Page 7
Monrovia he certification of
the All Liberia Party
Friday, appears to
be the beginning of
the presidential ambition of
Liberian businessman and
philanthropist, Mr. Benoni
Urey.
It also signals the
beginning of what could be the
hotly contested battle for the
Liberian presidency in 2017.
The All Liberia Party is said to
be a creation of coalition forces
working to make Urey, former
Commissioner of Maritime
Affairs during the reign of
Charles Taylor, president of
Liberia.
Depending upon whom you
talk to, Urey has begun the
process to shed the ghost of
Charles Taylor and reinvent
himself as a politician
with the common touch,
conversant with national and
regional issues and who is
willing to cooperate with the
international system, while
some skeptics say the man
is a reincarnation of Charles
Taylor. But to be fair, Mr. Urey
appears to be his own man,
running his affairs as a major
shareholder of the Lodestar
Communications
Company,
a farmer, and a socially
conscious citizen who has
spent the last 12 years giving
up himself to every imaginable
worthy cause, ranging from
substantial contributions to
Liberias recent fight against
the deadly Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD) to raising funds for
scholarships.
Urey and his wife are farmers,
who own Wulki farms, one
of Liberias major producers
of poultry, pig and other
animal products, in addition
to running a classy restaurant
and amusement center in
Careysburg.
In delisting Mr. Urey from
sanctions, the UN Security
Council made a point to
include that Mr. Urey has too
much to lose by fomenting
insurrection in Liberia, and
in fact he has contributed to
peace with his relationship to
ex-combatants.
The ALP is said to be a party
that will be watched by
many political observers to
determine its composition.
NO MONEY
Page 8 | Frontpage
he shipper of the
container to Fr. Robert
Tikpor has told FPA
that the overstayed of
the container at the Freeport of
Monrovia is due to money.
Varney Johnson is the recipient
of the container containing Fr.
Tikpors library materials.
According to him, he said the
catholic prelate continue to
pressure him for the clearing
of the container but clarified
he is not the delay but money
is lacking as the container
continuously
accumulate
storage fee.
Monrovia
day after a National Transit Authority bus was involved
in a tragic accident killing scores of passengers off the
Monrovia Ganta Highway, the management of the says it
is deeply hurt and saddened by the accident.
Explaining the route of the bus prior to the crash, the NTA in a
statement Thursday said Bus No. 5138 left Monrovia on Tuesday
at 8:00am and headed for Ganta, Nimba County. The bus crew
consisted of Mr. Robert F. Lamie (driver) and Saymon Jarwleah
(conductor). Bus No. 5138 departed Red Light with 68 passengers,
including women and children.
The NTA management explained that at 12:00 noon around
Zeanzue in Bong County, the bus operated by Robert F. Lamie
experienced a tragic accident but the cause of this accident is
still unknown. Officers of the Liberia National Police and our
accident investigation team are investigating the cause of this
tragic accident.
As a result of the sad event, the NTA reported Thursday that at
least six commuters lost their lives while several others sustained
major and minor injuries. Immediately upon hearing the
disturbing news, we dispatched an advanced team to Zeanzue.
The locals of Zeanzue, LNP officers, other commuters and our
advanced team worked frantically to remove our fellow Liberians
from the wreckage.
We like to inform you that it is been confirmed that six of our
fellow Liberian commuters died during the accident and 55
commuters sustained injuries (major & minor) and were taken
to Phebe Hospital. On the same day, Phebe Hospital treated and
discharged 30 commuters who experienced minor injuries.
Currently, twenty-five (25) commuters are being treated at
Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County. Information on these
commuters will be released to the press and public as they unfold.
The NTA says it is doing everything possible to address concerns
and comfort the families of those who lost their lives. As we face
this national catastrophe, we are in prayer and remain empathetic
with those Liberians who are victims of this tragedy. Along with
our insurance partners and the Liberia National Police, we will do
everything in our grasp to bring the situation under control and
to work with the medical team at Phebe Hospital. May their souls
and the souls of all faithful departed rest in perfect and perpetual
peace.
NTA SADDENED BY
HIGHWAY CRASH
We like to inform you that it is been confirmed that six of our fellow Liberian commuters died during the
accident and 55 commuters sustained injuries (major & minor) and were taken to Phebe Hospital. On the same
day, Phebe Hospital treated and discharged 30 commuters who experienced minor injuries. Currently, twenty-five
(25) commuters are being treated at Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County. Information on these commuters
will be released to the press and public as they unfold. - The Management, National Transit Authority
Frontpage
Page 9
2. The LRA now invites sealed bids in the form of proposals from eligible, qualified and
reputable Liberian Janitorial companies to provide non-consulting janitorial services for its
ELWA Headquarters, RIA and Freeport offices as indicated in the table below. These nonconsulting services shall cover only the LRA premises and buildings. Bids shall be based on
providing non-consulting services only with the LRA reserving the option to conduct a needs
assessment on other LRA offices not mention below.
Item
Description
1.
LRA Headquarters, ELWA Junction
2.
LRA Office located at RIA
3.
LRA Office located at Freeport
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures as
specified in the PPCA and approved by the PPCC, and is open to all eligible Liberian bidders as
enshrine in the PPCA and SBA.
4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the below address within
the hours of 9:30 am to 3:00 p.m. as follows:
Walter J. Dean,
Liberia Revenue Authority
LRA Headquarters
ELWA Junction-Paynesville, Liberia
Tel: 231-(0886) -517-891 Email: [email protected]
6. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before September 3, 2015 at 12:00 pm.
Bids shall be valid for a period of Ninety (90) days after the deadline of bid submission.
7. Bids will be opened on September 3, 2015 at 12:00pm, in the presence of bidders
representatives who choose to attend, at the address below.
Liberia Revenue Authority
LRA Conference Room
LRA Headquarters
ELWA Junction-Paynesville, Liberia
8. All bids must be clearly marked with the address indicated below.
9. Electronic bids will not be accepted. Late bids will be rejected and returned unopened.
10. The address is:
Note: This IFB and other LRA related information are also available at www.lra.gov.lr and
Liberia Revenue Authority Facebook page.
Oliver N. Rogers, II
Deputy Commissioner General Administrative Affairs
Walter J. Dean
Procurement Manager
Page 10 | Frontpage
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
SAFE HAVEN
RONT
it conducted overflights in
the area in May, according to
CNN, which was aboard the
U.S. aircraft.
China claims most of the
South China Sea, through
which $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year.
The Philippines, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei
also have overlapping claims.
There was no immediate
reaction
from
Chinese
officials to Kerry's criticism,
some of his strongest yet
over the issue.
Ruan Zongze, a former
Chinese
diplomat
with
the China Institute of
International
Studies,
a
think-tank affiliated with the
Foreign Ministry, said China
and the United States would
not allow the South China Sea
spat to overshadow Xi's trip.
"There's so much else to
discuss. It's in neither
country's interests to allow
this to affect the broader
picture," Ruan said.
COMMITMENT
NOT
"FULSOME"
China says the outposts in the
Spratlys will have undefined
military purposes, as well as
help with maritime search
and rescue, disaster relief
and navigation.
Wang said on Wednesday
that Beijing had halted land
reclamation and that the
Association of Southeast
desperately
clinging
to
lifebelts, boats and anything
they could, fighting for their
lives, amidst people drowning,
and those who had already
died," he said.
The MSF boat Dignity One was
the second vessel on the scene
and helped rescue panicking
children and adults from the
water. It was delayed, however,
by being diverted en route to
help another boat in trouble
with 94 people aboard.
- 'Disappeared underwater' An Italian navy helicopter
flies over the site where a
boat carrying more than 600
migrants capsized
"The fact that we were first
called to assist this boat and
then shortly afterwards sent
to another one highlights
the severe lack of resources
available
for
rescue
operations," Matias said.
More than 2,000 people have
already died trying to cross the
Mediterranean to Europe this
year, according to IOM.
The government in Italy, one
of the countries bearing the
brunt of the crisis, has pleaded
repeatedly for more resources
to deal with the unremitting
wave of boats from the coast of
North Africa.
Italy's coast guard on Thursday
said it had saved 381 migrants
on another boat, which then
sank 30 nautical miles off the
Libyan coast.
The MSF comments were
echoed by the deputy director
of the European Borders
Agency Frontex, Gil AriasFernandez, who told El
Mundo daily that there was
a shortage of resources to
prevent disasters, because
countries were reluctant to
lend equipment.
Asian
Nations
(ASEAN)
and China shared a desire
to resolve the thorny issue
through dialogue.
In June, China said it would
soon complete some of its
reclamation, while adding
it would continue to build
facilities on the man-made
islands.
Kerry said he hoped China
had stopped island building,
but that what was needed was
an end to "militarization".
He added that Wang's
commitment to resolving
the South China Sea issue
had not been as "fulsome" as
some had hoped.
"In my meeting with ... Wang
Yi, he indicated I think a
different readiness of China
to try to resolve some of this,
though I think it was still not
as fulsome as many of us
would like to see," Kerry later
told reporters.
"But it's a beginning, and
it may open up some
opportunity for conversation
on this in months ahead.
Well have to wait and see."
Kerry said he had urged
all claimants to make a
joint commitment to halt
further land reclamation and
construction of new facilities
or militarization on disputed
features.
Carl Thayer, a South China
Sea expert at Canberra's
Australian Defence Force
Academy,
said
while
Washington was "upping the
ante", Kerry's words had to
be followed through with
actions.
Frontpage
Sports
M
CAIRO
Rep.
Snowe
told
FrontPageAfrica
Thursday
that
the
vote
against
Bility was expected while
acknowledging the Bilitys
bid could be difficult without
CAFs backing. We did
not get CAF endorsement.
Balancing competing interest
and the belief that Hayatou
is exploring the possibility of
running and speculations that
a businessman from South
Africa is also seeking CAF
endorsement. As of now, no
change of mind but Hayatou
is proposing a meeting first
week of September.
Some observers say CAFs
rejection of the Liberian
candidate may have been
Page 11
SPORTS
arcelona president
Josep
Maria
Bartomeu believes
forwards Lionel
Messi, Luis Suarez and
Neymar should be 2015's
Ballon d'Or top three.
The attacking trio played an
integral role in the Catalans'
treble triumph last season,
scoring a record-breaking 122
goals between them.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won
the last two Ballon d'Or
awards but Bartomeu does
not think the Real Madrid
ace should even make the
shortlist for 2015.
DE BRUYNE: THERE IS
NO MAN CITY OFFER
evin De Bruyne
has
rejected
rumours
that
Manchester City
have lodged a 48 million bid
with Wolfsburg.
The Belgium international
was named Bundesliga Player
of the Year for his attacking
exploits as the Volkswagen
Arena side finished second
behind Bayern Munich and
won the DFB-Pokal.
Since joining Wolfsburg 18
months ago, De Bruyne's
reputation has rocketed and
the 24-year-old has attracted
reported interest from the
likes of Paris Saint-Germain
and Man City.
The Premier League side are
now believed to be pursuing
the former Chelsea winger as
their final summer signing,
but De Bruyne has insisted
that he is in the dark about
where he will call home at the
end of the transfer window.
6a | Frontpage
Page 12
Monrovia
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf received in
audience Dr. Paul
Farmer and Dr. Gary
Gottlieb of an international
social justice and health
organization,
Partners
in
Health.
Dr. Farmer, an American
anthropologist and physician
who is best known for
his humanitarian work, is
Monrovia -resident
Ellen
Johnson
Sirleaf
says
community
ownership
and
effective mobilization emerged
as the
fulcrum of Liberias unique
experience in dealing squarely
with an unknown enemy.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the remarks
yesterday in the cabinet room
at her temporary office at the
Foreign Ministry when she
hosted the United Nations High
Level Panel (HLP) on the Global
Response to Health Crises
established by UN Secretary
General in April 2015.
The HLP visiting delegation
led by the former President of
Switzerland, H.E. Ms. Micheline
Calmy-Rey; former Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Indonesia,
H.E. Ms. Marty Natalegawa;
Executive Secretary of the
African
Leaders
Malaria
Alliance, H.E. Joy Phumaphi;
former Administrator of the
LAWMAKER WANTS
UNMIL HANG ON
Henry Karmo (0886522495) - FPA Staff Writer
Nations
Charter
Chapter
VII, the Council endorsed
the Secretary-Generals 15
March 2015 recommendation
on the drawdown of UNMIL
uniformed
personnel,
authorizing him to carry
out the drawdowns third
phase to arrive at a military
ceiling of 3,590 personnel,
and reduce the police ceiling
to 1,515 personnel both
by September 2015.
The
Missions mandate would no
longer include support for
senatorial elections, outlined
in resolution 2190 (2014).
By other terms, the Council
reaffirmed its expectation that
the Government would fully
assume its complete security
responsibilities
no
later
than 30 June 2016, as well
as its intention to consider
the
Missions
continued
reconfiguration. It requested
the
Secretary-General
to
Frontpage
Page 6b
13
NO LEGITIMACY
Receive a quality
education
Develop your football
skills
Gain access to new
opportunities
Receive a quality
education
Develop your football
skills
Gain access to new
opportunities
A UGUST 10 T H 2015
Muslim Congress High School
8:30am
n
3pm
in a c c e s s to
ew
Ga
M O N R O V I A
F O OT B A L L
A C A D E M Y
ENTRY
EXAMINATION
If
your
child
(boy
or
girl)
is
a
talented
footballer
between
ages
9-10
and
wants
to
apply
to
MFA,
please
bring
him/her
to
Muslim
Congress
High
School
on
Monday,
August
10
between
8:30am
and
3pm
Applicants
will
complete
a
90-minute
examination
on
Math,
Science,
and
o p p o r tu n itie s
English
Please
send
an
email
to
[email protected]
with
any
inquiries
We
hope
to
see
you
there!
A UGUST 10 T H 2015
Muslim Congress High School
8:30am
new
3pm
Gain
access to
M O N ROV I A F O OT BA L L A C A D E M Y
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.monroviafa.com
ENTRY
EXAMINATION
If
your
child
(boy
or
girl)
is
a
talented
footballer
between
ages
9-10
and
wants
to
apply
to
MFA,
please
bring
him/her
to
Muslim
Congress
High
School
on
Monday,
August
10
between
8:30am
and
3pm
Applicants
will
complete
a
90-minute
examination
on
Math,
Science,
and
opportunities
English
Please
send
an
email
to
[email protected]
with
any
inquiries
We
hope
to
see
you
there!
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.monroviafa.com