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www.liberianobserver.comINSIDE THIS

EDITION

EDITORIALIn Loving Memory of

Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela

LOCAL NEWSCSO Launches

Prison Program

BUSINESS LBDI Mortgage

Scheme on Course

FARMERPeri-urban

Farmers Face Land Crisis

COMMENTARYWhen the Boughs

Break: Liberia’s Educational Crisis

SPORTSSebwe: “Mandela

Inspired Us Through Hand Shakes”

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300 Homes to Get Electricity Before Christmas

LEC in the process of connecting homes in Ganta

By Ishmael F. Menkor

Over 300 homes are expected to get electric-ity from the West Af-

rican Power Pool before this Christmas the Liberia Elec-tricity Corporation (LEC) has said.

LEC’s Ganta office on Tues-day, December 10, began pole to house connections six

months after the electricity was tested upon crossing over to Liberia from neighboring La Côte d’Ivoire.

According to the LEC Chief Engineer in Nimba, Mr. Jo-seph Leay, before the seasons, including Christmas and New Year’s Day, more than 300 houses in Ganta and its envi-rons will be connected to elec-tricity.

This past July, electricity

Cont’d on pg. 10

-UL President, Dr. Emmet E. Dennis

UL Clears 1,316 for Graduation,

985 Dropped

Dr. Emmet E. Dennis

See story on Pg.10

‘Test Gray First’-Public Challenges CDC Lawmaker on the

Drug Test He’s Proposing

District #8 Representative Acarous Moses Gray

By J. Burgess Carter

In the wake of Represen-tative Acarous Moses Gray’s recent call for pub-

lic officials--- especially those within the security sector---to take drug tests as a demon-

Cont’d on pg. 10

----Foreign Minister Ngafuan Urges Graduates‘Be Vigorous As Diplomats’

By David A. Yates

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Au-gustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has urged gradu-

ates of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to be energetic in their operations as Liberian diplomats in foreign countries.

Speaking Wednesday, De-cember 11, at the graduation ceremony of 38 persons from the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, Minister

Ngafuan told graduates that the Foreign Service is a place Cont’d on pg. 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, VOL, No.36.indd 2 12/12/13 12:21 AM

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 12, 2013Foreign Briefs

Page 2World News Huge Crowds File Past Nelson

Mandela’s Body in Pretoria

(BBC) - Thousands of South Africans have queued to view the body of former President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria.

Mr Mandela’s body was lying in state at the government buildings where he was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

Among those paying their respects were his widow Graca Machel, President Jacob Zuma, celebrities including Bono and other relatives and officials.

Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday.

They came in wheelchairs and pushchairs - black, white and everything in between. Some broke down in tears and needed to be supported; others were just subdued. There was certainly no singing.

I met an Asian and a black family who had made friends while waiting for hours in the queue for the buses coming to the Union Buildings.

Some said that seeing the body meant they could accept their tata, or father, had really

gone. Thobeka Mohlahlo came with her two young children and so did not actually see the body, but “just being here helped”. A white soldier was helping her by carrying one of the children towards the bus. Nelson Mandela would be proud how far his rainbow nation has come.

His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province.

Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday, as part of a series of commemorations.

The former president’s grandson, Ndaba Mandela, said his grandfather would have been touched by the way

his death had united people all over the world.

“I think he would have been completely humbled by it, to see so many people just share their love, their appreciation, just the sense of appreciation that he has given them,” he said.

Patience of the crowds People queued in various

parts of the city for the chance to see Mr Mandela’s body.

Thousands managed to gain entry, but the BBC’s Peter Biles in Pretoria says hundreds more were turned away before public viewing ended at 17:30 (15:30 GMT).

Mr Mandela’s coffin will be lying in state for two more days, so the disappointed can try again on Thursday or Friday.

Our correspondent says those queuing have shown enormous patience with the lengthy process of gaining admission, which involves stringent security checks.

Earlier, crowds watched as the coffin was taken in procession

from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings.

The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances.

Andrew Harding: “It’s a

shock to see that instantly recognisable face lying very peacefully”

Mr Mandela’s remains

will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced.

“The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets,” it said.

Crowds cheered and sang as the convoy sped past.

“Seeing him passing by was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just wanted to see him passing for the last time,” said one mourner, Grace.

Meanwhile the government has been criticised over several mistakes in its handling of Mr Mandela’s memorial service on Tuesday.

• Deaf viewers claim that the official sign language interpreter was inept, with signs that were “arbitrary” and “did not make sense”.

• There were also difficulties with transport: dozens of trains that had been reserved to take people to the stadium were delayed due to power failures.

• The South African newspaper City Press alleged that the state broadcaster SABC

instructed its production staff to cut away from live footage of President Jacob Zuma, because he was being booed by sections of the crowd. SABC has denied the allegation.

• Nelson Mandela’s body lies in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria 11-13 December

• Coffin taken every morning from the mortuary to the Union Buildings

• Public encouraged to line the route

• Mandela family and selected visitors viewed the body from 10:00 on Wednesday; open to public from midday

• The public will then be able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday

Ndaba Mandela told the BBC that his grandfather would not have been bothered by the

booing.“He is a man of the people

and one who respects and understands that the people must express their opinions no matter whether they are with you or against you,” he said.

But presidential spokesman Lindiwe Zulu said the booing was “humiliating” and those responsible would be “dealt with”.

One of the dignitaries at the memorial event, former Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, had his home broken into while he was away, an aide has told reporters.

After Mr Mandela’s body has lain in state for three days, the military will fly him to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria.

A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.

The BBC’s Clive Myrie spoke to a group of mourners who said they wanted to see the late president “for the last time”

Mr Mandela’s body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.

A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.

Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events.

 

Mr Mandela’s widow Graca Machel was among those who filed past his coffin on Wednesday

 

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

 Small crowds had already gathered as the coffin was driven through Pretoria on the way to the Union

buildings

 

The mood was celebratory rather than sombre in most places

Pope Francis Named Time Magazine’s

Person of the Year

(BBC) - Pope Francis has been named Person of the Year by Time magazine.

During his nine months in office, the Pope had pulled “the papacy out of the palace and into the streets”, managing editor Nancy Gibbs said.

“Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly - young and old, faithful and cynical,” she added.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was runner-up.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the then cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires, was made Pope last March. He named himself Francis after a 12th Century Italian saint who turned his back on an aristocratic lifestyle to work with the poor.

Ever since Pope Francis made his first appearance on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on the evening of 13 March, the Vatican has basked in the glow of positive media as he touched hearts across the globe by embracing people with deformities, reaching out to the mentally and physically disabled, kissing the feet of young prisoners, including a Muslim woman, and launching a global consultation on the family.

Since then, he has eschewed some of the more regal trappings of high office, made headlines by washing the feet of prisoners, and is planning some major reforms to the Church.

“In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very centre of the central conversations of our time: about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalisation, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power,” Ms Gibbs wrote.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said it was “a positive sign” that one of the international media’s most prestigious recognitions had been given to “a person who proclaims.. spiritual, religious and moral values and speaks out forcefully in favour of peace and greater justice”.

“The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honours,’’ said Mr Lombardi. “But if the choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the Gospel - a message of God’s love for everyone - he will certainly be happy about that.”

This is the third time a Pope has received the recognition from Time magazine.

 

Pope Francis has struck a markedly different tone

to his predecessors on several issues since his

election in March

(BBC) - India’s top court has upheld a law which criminalises gay sex, in a ruling seen as a major blow to gay rights.

The Supreme Court ruling reverses a landmark 2009 Delhi High Court order which had decriminalised homosexual acts. The court said it was up to parliament to legislate on the issue.

According to Section 377, a 153-year-old colonial-era law, a same-sex relationship is an “unnatural offence” and punishable by a 10-year jail term.

India

(BBC) - UN forces have launched an offensive against a Rwandan rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a new move to end regional instability.

The FDLR was the next target following the defeat of M23 rebels and a key road had already been recaptured, the UN’s force commander Gen Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz told the BBC.

Neighbouring Rwanda views the FDLR as major threat to its stability.The group is accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Some 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were killed in the conflict.

DR Congo

(BBC) - The French army has confirmed that it killed 19 people in a clash with suspected Islamists in Mali.

A spokesman for the operation said the dead men had been buried in the desert after a gun battle north of Timbuktu. He added that there had been no French casualties.

France still has up to 3,000 soldiers in Mali, after intervening in January to oust Islamist and secessionist rebels who had occupied the north of the country.

Mali

(BBC) - Police have abandoned an attempt to dislodge anti-government protesters from their strongholds in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.

Clashes erupted at the occupied city hall hours after riot police tried to clear nearby Independence Square - prompting the US to express “disgust”. The president said force would not be used against peaceful protesters.

The demonstrations were sparked by the government’s refusal to sign a deal on closer ties with the European Union.

Ukraine

(BBC) - Nineteen fighters from Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have surrendered following an offensive against the rebel group in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Ugandan army says.

Six children were among those who gave themselves up, the army said. The LRA was forced out of Uganda in 2005 and since then has wreaked havoc in CAR and other neighbouring states.

Uganda

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 3

CSO Launches Prison Programby alvin Worzi

A new civil society o r g a n i z a t i o n , Network of Prison and Judicial

Monitors, Tuesday, December 10, launched a program that is aimed at ensuring higher standards in Liberia’s prisons as well as more humane treatment of convicts.

The new organization will monitor prisons across the 15 sub-political divisions of Liberia and play an advocacy role on unsanitary and overcrowded conditions of various facilities. The Network also plans to look at cases that have seen the trials of inmates delayed.

The head of the Network Mr. N. Russell Allen said, “The organization is joining the United Nations Mission in

Liberia (UNMIL) and others civil society organizations (CSOs) for the improvement of prison facilities in the country.”

He said the organization has identified twelve independent civil society organizations

as partners for the efficient operation of the network in Liberia.

Mr. Allen disclosed that the Catholic Justice and Peace (JPC) Commission (JPC), Community Aid for Sustainable Empowerment (CASE), and the Liberian Association of Psychosocial Services (LAPS) were signatories in support of the network.

According to him, the network was being funded by member organizations as an initial way to begin operations across the country.

Mr. Allen has described the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP), on Center Street, as one of their prime areas of concentration due to its over-crowdedness and other vices.

He said MCP compound has outlived its usefulness and needs

to be relocated, stating the need to promote and protect human rights at prisons in the country cannot be understated.

Mr. Allen added that the organization will engage stakeholders through the rule of law to achieving the network’s goals.

He used the occasion to urge the Judicial Branch to maintain its independence, “because human rights are foreign to no culture,” he furthered that, “the government needs to create the environment for ensuring human rights are maintained in the country.”

According to Mr. Allen, the network would ensure prisons are monitored in collaboration with law enforcement and the justice sector as part of its initiative as a civil society organization.

Head of network of prison and judicial monitors

5-Yr Human Rights Action Plan Launched

by David a. yates

A five-year action plan that would explain g o v e r n m e n t ’ s position on human

rights policies, while detailing its intention toward promoting, expanding, and protecting the rights of all citizens and residents has been launched.

Under the banner of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP), those involved seek to address civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights, with a specific focus on the issues of women, children, and persons with disabilities.

The campaign launched on Tuesday, December 11, under the theme: “Working for Your

Rights,” and was held at the Multi Purpose building in New Kru Town.

It was jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR).

In her launching remarks, Cllr. Wheatonia Y. Dixon-Barnes, Deputy Minister for Administration and Public Safety at MOJ, added that the plan outlines specific points of action that would be taken to improve the protection of individual rights, especially the rights of vulnerable or marginalized groups.

She disclosed that civil society organizations from the private sector were all involved in

the process of developing the NHRAP.

According to her, not a single institution that can deals with human rights issue by itself, instead it will need to ensure the participation and cooperation of multiple actors.

The Deputy Justice Minister explained that NHRAP is a policy document created to help realize the advancement of human rights in Liberia.

Tamrat Samuel, the UNMIL Deputy Special Representative and Secretary-General for Rule of Law, admitted that government was making tremendous efforts to support human rights in the country.

“The promotion and protection of human rights has been a major

Children Urged to Report Rape

as HOPe, Others, Host National Child rape Conference

alvin Worzi & Gloria T. Tamba

Helping Our People Excel, Inc. (HOPE) in partnership with anti-child

rape campaigners Monday, December 9, hosted a National Children’s Rape Conference. In that conference, children were told what to do when anyone attempts to or rapes them. The kids were also told how to report it.

Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh from the Ministry of Justice, said that children should not be afraid to speak out when they have been victimized. She also urged parents across the country to be vigilant in reporting any rape cases when they are observed.

“From 2009 to 2013, 34 rapists have been convicted and are serving their sentences handed down by the Court,” Mrs. Kerpeh disclosed.

Cllr. Kerpeh is calling on parents to be brave in dealing with rape issue, adding that the justice system was only strong enough to prosecute perpetrators with support from the victims.

A petition statement is in collaboration with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence that was launched on the 25th of November, by HOPE in the YMCA conference room.

Speaking at a national children’s press conference held at the Ministry of Gender and Development, Mrs. Marimu Fofana, Chair Representative for the Committee on Gender at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said it was also highly important for the awareness of teenage pregnancy to be observed among children so they can understand that “their reproductive organs are underdeveloped for child birth.”

She added that “rape should be everyone’s business, because for a society to move forward its children must be protected.”

Mrs. Deddeh Kwekwe of the Ministry of Gender and Development said that the 2014 plan to combat gender based violence would focus on prevention and education of the public, adding that “we must increase the awareness to talk

more about it.”She mentioned Montserrado

and Margibi as the counties with the highest incidence of rape in the country, and maintained that parents should take serious measures to stop violence against their children for the betterment of their homes and the country as a whole.

Mrs. Kwekwe said the ministry was also working with traditional authorities to curb the rate of early marriages in the rural areas. She called on all parents and guardians to stop acting as accomplices to in the early marriages of their children under 18, a practiced she described as the ‘destruction’ of their future.

The executive Director HOPE inc., Doctor Keturah York Cooper, warned rapists in the country to desist from ‘killing’ the future of Liberia.

Mrs. Cooper said the future of the nation’s children is uncertain due to the high level of rape in the country, saying “that the war is not over for our children, we must fight for their future against rapists.”

She said it was time that Liberians stand up against rape and build the minds of the children for the betterment of future generations as well as the country’s image.

During the conference a petition statement was read by Abraham Keita, the spokesperson of the child anti-rape campaigners, to the stakeholders present. Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh from the Ministry of Justice received the petition statement and promised to work with the children of this country to put an end to rape.

focus of the United Nations since its establishment in 1945,” Mr. Samuel disclosed.

He however called on every Liberian to respect the new (NHRAP) campaign, which, he said is intended to strengthen the human right case in the country.

In her statement, Justice Gladys Johnson, the INCHR acting chair called on government, civil society stakeholders, and the international community, to monitor and assess the respect of human rights in Liberia.

She said the plan is Liberia’s first-ever national Human Rights Action Plan.

“Therefore both public and private institutions, NGOs, and civil society shall have maximum publicity in the implementation of the action plan NHRAP.”

NHRAP is a government-owned initiative with support from the European commission, and is developed in response to the 1993 Vienna Declaration and program of action.

Cllr. Joyce Kerpeh

Going Beyond the Call of Duty to Assist the Poorest of the Poor

FFWl employs a Unique Mixture of innovation and Passion to eradicate Poverty in liberia

by Moco McCaulay

When a group of women arrived u n a n n o u n c e d at the head

office of the Foundation for Women Liberia (FFWL) in Monrovia one sunny afternoon in March 2013, they had heard about FFWL’s loan program to help women grow their small businesses and they had come to beseech FFWL to extend the program to their town.

The staff of FFWL could have told the women that they needed to first set up an appointment or that they should present their request in writing and or even dismissed them saying that FFWL only made such decisions based on fiscal and operational considerations. And they would have been right.

However, they did none of that. The staff of FFWL, led by its CEO, Emily Peal, sat down with the women and listened to their requests. The women had come all the way from Modowhea, a town located 200 miles from Monrovia in the boondocks of

Rivercess County. But, even by Liberian standards, a country only beginning to find its footing after decades of a devastating civil war where basic amenities such as electricity and running water are a luxury even in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital city, Modowhea was a town caught in a time warp of an olden period.

With no communications network readily accessible in the town, residents have to scale a 12-foot tree in the middle of the town or walk two hours through the forest to reach a high peak before they can get a signal to use their cell phones to reach the outside world.

But the FFWL staff decided nonetheless to make a trip to Modowhea to independently review the situation in the town to see if they could find a means to extend their loan program to help those poor rural women claw their way out of poverty. The 200-mile trip from Monrovia to Modowhea over unpaved pothole-riddled roads is grueling even during the dry season, but it is even more treacherous during the rainy season when the roads are

transformed into a quagmire of thick soggy mud that literally swallows up vehicles up to the tip of the tires.

In Modowhea, FFWL found that there was not even a banking institution in the whole county of Rivercess, and only one money transfer agent in Cestos City, the county’s main city. That notwithstanding, and even when the sole money transfer agent demanded to be put on FFWL’s payroll to wire the women’s monthly loan payments to FFWL account in Monrovia, FFWL still found a means to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea. After considering other options including monthly commercial travel to Monrovia which was not cost effective, FFWL entered into an agreement with the only nurse in the town who made monthly trips to Monrovia to act as a courier to deliver the women’s monthly loan payment to FFWL.

Why did FFWL literally find a way out of no way to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea to help pull them out of poverty?

“The operational and logistical costs to extend our loan programs in Rivercess as well as other leeward counties are enormous and no amount of interest on those loans can defray the costs of managing. But when we decided to open up shop in Liberia in 2006, we were driven by one motivation: to uplift the women and people of Liberia from the destitution they were experiencing after decades of civil war. It is a mission we have remain committed to and this is more than just a job for us. It is something that we are passionate about and fully committed to achieving,” said Mrs. Peal, who was a speaker at the 2012 TEDWomen Conference, where she used the opportunity to share FFWL’s poverty alleviation success story with the world.

The story of FFWL’s tenacious resolve to extend their loan program to the women of Modowhea to uplift them from poverty despite the challenges is one that is being replicated in many manifolds all over Liberia. In only seven years of operation in Liberia, FFWL has already extended its microcredit program to 14 of Liberia’s 15 provincial counties. And this against the backdrop of daunting infrastructural, logistical and operational challenges that in some instances make the complications FFWL experienced in Modowhea seem rather moderate.

And, despite the tremendous success of FFWL’s microcredit program which has so far disbursed over 7000 loans to impoverished women in urban and rural communities across Liberia, helping to raise recipients’ incomes by 50%, FFWL is engaged in a holistic approach to poverty alleviation in Liberia.

Not only does FFWL also offer loans to disabled individuals, but believing that education is a critical facet in its efforts to eradicate poverty in Liberia, FFWL also provides adult literacy classes for its members and offers education scholarships for their children. FFWL also recently launched a new loan program called The School Loan Program to support Liberian schools. Working in partnership with Edify, a Christian non-profit organization in San Diego, California, FFWL

has started disbursing loans to Liberian schools to help them improve existing infrastructures, construct additional classrooms, setup computer labs and other educational technology, acquire school buses and school equipment.

With 80% of Liberians living below the poverty line, and despite the efforts of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Havard-trained economist and Africa’s first woman head of state, to attract investors into the country, it is certainly not a stretch to conclude that it is only through the complementary commitment of an organization like FFWL that a greater number of Liberians will finally be lifted from poverty. And, it is a task the staff of FFWL has set their hands on the plow to achieve through innovation and compassion.

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 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

Thursday, December 12, 2013

If and only if African leaders would follow the examples of the

Father of the Nation, [Nelson Mandela]African countries and the world at

large will be a better place... Sons and

daughters of Africa would not have to travel to faraway

places and prefer to die there.

In Loving Memory of Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba

MandelaGuest editorial by varney arthur yengbeh, Jr.Once upon a time, a man lived and walked on

the earth. He grew up from humble beginnings in a village and reached a million points of light on earth and the highest stars in the heaven above. After 27 unbroken years in prison, he walked outside without bitterness and vengeance on February 11, 1990. He worked to either live or die for a free and democratic South Africa where blacks and whites are equal. With a strong spirit of true peace and reconciliation, he liberated both the oppressed and oppressors in his native South Africa and the World.During his lifetime, Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba

Mandela embodied a character of a good human being who sacrificed self and family for liberty, justice and forgiveness of others. He showed genuine love to all without fear and favor. He wanted nothing in return while giving everything to everyone freely. His unwavering desire was that every man and woman must be treated equally. Never wanting material worth and power, Madiba, as he was affectionately called, changed the lives of millions of people around the globe. No creed, race and religion could even stop his unflinching love for humanity and courage.Mandela performed his duty on earth selflessly

and faithfully. Everyone knew that the end was near, although nobody knew the precise hour when death would take him home to God. On December 5, 2013, at the age of 95, a great man has flown away to be with the great and faithful saints. Millions of people are praying, dancing and celebrating his good life, while more would pray and rejoice for the demise of tyrants in Africa. Even false rumors of death bring great joy on the faces of their citizens. A heart seems to stop just thinking about this. There must be no mistake, however! The moral dimension of each reaction in these cases is different. This is totally justifiable. If and only if African leaders would follow the examples of the Father of the Nation, African countries and World at large will be a better place. There would be no more wars and rumors of wars. Poverty and disease would be things of the past. Sons and daughters of Africa would not have to travel to faraway places and prefer to die there. Most Africans in the Diaspora would return home. Africa would be able to unleash its fullest potential and creativity as well as fully participate in a truly competitive multi-polar world order.A giant is today gone; however, his legacy is

timeless. Mandela lived and still lives on today, tomorrow and forever. The rainbow nation will celebrate and remember his good life. Mandela now rests in perfect peace with God who reigns over His throne of indescribable majesty and splendor. The whole world loves Nelson Mandela, but God loves him even more. Thanks be to God!

When the Boughs Break: Liberia’s Educational Crisis

Jackie N. sayegh (Jsb25@cornell.edu)

That the government of Liberia, and by default the Ministry of Education, has abdi-cated its responsibility to educate our chil-dren is an understatement. Every church, cult, quasi agency and organization now operate a school in the country and subject our children to “learning” a term I use as loosely as possible. There are schools ev-erywhere, but more schools mean nothing on its own. Inexperienced, underpaid, over-worked teachers are forced to tackle over-crowded classrooms (thanks to free primary education) with few resources and even fewer support systems.

The recent travel abroad of 17 educa-tors to study early childhood educational systems is an exercise in futility. No tour, curriculum, or workshop will hide what our children and their parents face on a daily basis in their desire for an education or the education of their children. Given the 2012 report of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) that measures 15-year-old students’ reading, mathematics, cross-curricular competencies and science literacy, it would seem that Liberia would have been better served had the educators visited East Asia instead. Of the students that took the PISA tests, those from China, Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada performed the best. The US ranked 17.

The stark reality is that our education sys-tem is in freefall and we need to examine and address the causes that underlie this crisis. Sen writes that “in a society where so much depends on the written medium, being illiterate is like being imprisoned, and school education opens a door thorough which people can escape incarceration.” We need to demand that the MOE turns the key to open the door.

Let us start with some basics: Nimba County has the highest amount of registered primary school (grades 1-6) students in the nation - 55,605, Lofa has 31,082. It would seem the student to teacher ratio is more than adequate- Nimba has 2,309 teachers (21.8 student- to -teacher ratio) and Lofa has 1,446 teachers (23.3 student-to-teacher ratio). All things being equal, this would seem an ideal environment for the educa-tion of our kids. (Liberia Education Statis-tics)

But to hope is to expect and all things are never equal. In Nimba, the percentage of primary schools without access to water is 49%, without toilet facilities - 34%, and without electricity - 97%. In Lofa, the per-centage of primary schools with no access to water is 60%, no access to toilet facilities -25% and no electricity, 97%. The percent-age of primary schools without a library in

Nimba is 92.6% and in Lofa 90.5%. (Libe-ria Education Statistics).

Now, is it possible for our children, or anyone, to learn in this environment, an environment where there exists easy access to mobile phones but not to clean and func-tional toilets? The MOE site touts that that “- This Ministry is the first government en-tity to have a multi-language website (Eng-lish, French and Spanish).” Well, that is great, but could we start with toilet facilities first? Are there standard hours for a school day? How does one go about operating a school? What kinds of structures qualify for the designation of a school? Is just hav-ing a roof and walls to shield our children from the torrential rains and the scorching sun adequate enough to be called a school? Who teaches our children and what are they teaching them?

The inadequacies are not present at all schools. There are some schools (mostly in Montserrado county) that possess all the necessary bells and whistles to be fully functional and to turn out stellar students. But these schools do not make up a large percentage of all schools and we need to have our children (of all income levels) ed-ucated to be able to take on the challenges of development and nation building. Educa-tion is not the cause of war but it does have the possibility either to intensify or to alle-viate the conditions that contribute to war.

Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair in Education at the University of Ulster Northern Ireland explains that we “need to focus on educa-tion because unequal access to education is often one of the most powerful ways in which dominant groups maintain unequal access to power and wealth between groups within conflict-affected societies – often re-produced from one generation to the next”

The old system of teaching in many Af-rican countries, introduced by colonists, was to learn by rote, memorization to be-come proper civil servants, not to question orders but to get the job done the way one was taught. The PISA report states that in the countries that led the ranking, students reproduced what they had learned in vari-ous situations. “ The world economy will pay an ever-rising premium on excellence, and that today’s economy no longer re-wards people simply for what they know -- Google already knows everything-- but for what they can do with what they know.” We need transformative learning where our children can ask questions, delve into the answers, and create sustainable paths to sustained peace, so we need our students to be able to READ!

“The problem with Liberia is not that it is poor, but that it is poorly managed” writes Robtel Pailey and that is true. Priority ar-eas are not given priority. One only has to look at the nation’s budget to get a partial

glimpse of the problem. The National Leg-islature budget of 2013/2014 touts trans-portation reimbursement as $1,104,900 and then “other specialized materials and services” which accounts for $ 1,366,113. The “special allowance” for the National Legislature is a pork filled barrel of un-specified goodies. Under the term “special allowance” we have $3,204,000 allotted and let us not forget their foreign travel which has as its budget $308,758 along with the foreign travel incidental allowance of $372,679 which should not be mistaken with foreign travel daily subsistence allow-ance of $595,164. That amount is more than the allotment for the basic salaries of edu-cators at the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute -$200,000 or the allotment to Bong Community College - $219, 767. It is more than the MCSS gets “to renovate all MCSS Schools and computer systems from 2012-2015 ($250,000) (Liberia National Budget 2013/2014).

Of course arguably more funding on edu-cation would not automatically translate into better performance, but it is worth a try. Education must be at a premium in Liberia. If we want a transformed country, one that values law and order, one that is civil in its dissent and courageous enough to take a stand, our kids must become edu-cated. Increase the salaries of teachers, train the teachers, build facilities for our children, enable them to learn in a nurturing environment and then see what happens. “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another” writes Chesterton and we need to give the children a healthy soul to inhabit. Let there be a concerted effort from the relevant min-istries and other agencies of government to educate and empower teachers, to make learning an experience that can happen within and outside the classroom and to let the class room be a place without fear and intimidation for our children. The govern-ment must direct resources for safe, sanitary and sustainable environment where all our kids can learn and feel that they are valued. Either that or sit back and reap the conse-quences of our inaction.

references:CNN Opinion “What asian students

can teach the rest of the World” andreas schleicher, Dec. 3, 2013

liberian educational statisticsbudget, republic of liberia 2013/2014Drèze, Jean, and amartya sen. 2013. an

uncertain glory: india and its contradic-tions.

alan smith, UNesCO Chair, University of Ulster. Education and Conflict.

Pailey, robtel Neajai. liberia’s educa-tion system should take its cue from robin Hood. The Guardian

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Page 5Thursday, December 12, 2013

Lights outby Marcus abayomi Flemister

Energy can’t be destroyedIt can only be contained

Madiba has cast off his earthly remains,His vision calmed his people’s sorrow He fought the past to save tomorrow

We cry not for him but what we’ve lostFor others hate he paid the cost

The world sings for him sweet songs of joyFor his legacy gifts every girl and boy

With a steady hand he wrote on history’s pagesA life we won’t forget throughout the ages

A warm smile and a serene lookHe gave to us more than he took

Beneath the media hyperboleThere was a man of profound soulHe gave it all and now must sleepTo honor him we should not weep

A hero’s spirit has no endLike a phoenix Madiba’s ghost ascends

Energy can’t be destroyed

Nelson Mandela Forever

by Matenneh-rose l. Dunbar

For a first time one is hailed as foreverFree from that strings that binds to moralsFaithfully he molded his path to be bright

Fantastic was the cause for which he foughtFamous the prison term for a freedom fighterFringed near no other giant in living memoryFlight on white wings away near to midnightFlameless now the single bright light of time

Forever … An Icon Created A FrameFriends in struggle torture and statesmanshipFoe once to a system that suppressed humansFastidious that this change had to come for all

Fitness a treat for the soul in his four by four cellFrontline the cause of freedom of blacks

Fear meant triumph plus for courage in the battlesFor to be free is not just so but live respectivelyFrom a black or white or brown hate is barbaric

Forever… A Legend Is Gone Home

Where The Stars Fallby Matenneh-rose l. Dunbar

Reach high into the abstract skiesWith open palms cuddle the cloudsGather them like you fold cotton

Picked white form the willowy shrubSomeplace beneath the dried leaves

Where The Stars FallA shiny twinkle is laid covered in dustSearch calmly the debris will fade offAnd to your amazement some reward

Stand sturdy to withstand the fast dartsCrystal strands flutter like dust particles

Where The Stars FallRight other greats fell in like manner

Wiggling aggressively to bounce backGaining the magnitude once possessed

Priced as a place of up rising to the weanSomber for victory propels to new levels

Where The Stars FallsAttired sharp for lost time robs winners

Silver as the glow in the darkness of nightAlleviate small thoughts which only slowsSubscribe to the ‘Heavenly’ for more goldCandid as the early dew flaunt your styli

Where The Stars Fall

Farewell Madiba (For You Nelson Mandela)

by varney Gean

At the time they laughed he wiped his embattled tears

At the time they smiled he frowned on their

iniquitiesAt the time they taunted he beckoned back with

smilesAt the time they planned he waited with valor and

faithThey in no way knew the hero he would one day

becomeAt the time they struck him his pains made him

strongerThe long time in prison he never let his dream die

in thereOut he came and proves that still his dream would

emulate todayIn his time he made peace when all though he

would fight backIn his time he smiled when all thought he would

have glaredRetribution he refused but rather reconciliation he

embracedHe is gone but his legacy will forever be etched in

millions of hearts

Farewell Madiba as you rest in eternal peace with our dear Lord

DOWNFALLby varney Gean

Down I might be but it is just a chapterFallen it seems but I will mount againDark time befalls me but not eternallyThrough the torment my faith still firmMy melancholic face will beam again

My laughter will once more echo higherThis is simply a passing time I reckon

In all a lesson I learn but you rarely spotIn time I will make heads quiver

My repute they will bellow all dayDown I might be but it is not eternityThe bright sun to glitter my face again

This chapter rewritten with triumphWith honor and gallantry I return

You did it, Madiba!(in honor of Nelson rolihlahla Mandela)

by: lekpele Nyamalon

When you stood up with hands in the skies, wanting to touch the face of the sky

Vowing to invoke freedom to a land, struck by violence against your race- the black man

You stood tall, taller than Kilimanjaro, your fist, mightier than steel’s back

You did it son! You did it Madiba!From the gates of Robben Island, you were

locked, chained like a cattleNailed to the wall, stuck with yourself, filled with

grief for a nation that lived in your heartIn your dream, you could see horrors and

nightmares, questions looming in your minds“What am I doing? Can I fight the devil of

apartheid? Can I nail his fist? Can I take him to the ocean and leave him there to drown? One day you will, echoed by the breeze and yea you did!

You did it father! You did it Madiba!On the floor of Pollsmoor prison, you were

thrown, bare, left to rot, forgotten from the minds of people

Maybe someday you’d freeze or fret, or get blown away with a storm that blows like a hurricaneOr you’d die, fighting for a cause, bigger than your heart, or you’d bargain for your release,

bargain for a house, or car or a place at the table. But you didn’t, you kept doing your thing!

You did it comrade! You did it Madiba!At victor vester prison, you’d lie on your back,

weary of the future, What a land did you dream of? A nation with arms wide as an octopus that can hold all of its

citizensA land for the white, the black, the Indian, the

Africans, the blue the purple- the rainbow nation!Today, you’ve made it! You’ve written your

name, solid in the caves of history, your country is a rainbow nation.

You did it Nelson! You did it Madiba!

UNICEF Boss Highlights Importance of Birth Registration

as UNiCeF Celebrates 67th anniversaryby Gloria T.Tamba

The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Mr.

Sheldon Yett, has highlighted the importance of birth registra-tion as society’s recognition and acknowledgement of a child’s identity and existence.

The UNICEF Boss made the statement yesterday in Monro-via while observing its 67th an-niversary, which is celebrated worldwide every year on De-cember 11.

According to him birth regis-tration guarantees the child is counted so that they have access to education, health aid, and oth-er important benefits that come from being counted in society.

He disclosed that Liberia was in the bottom four percentile among the 10 countries with the lowest birth registration in world, with Liberia being ranked second overall.

“Liberia is the second lowest in the world for children regis-tration. There is still more work that needs to be done to increase

the awareness on birth registra-tion,” he stressed.

He called on the media and citizens to work tirelessly by educating new mothers on the importance of birth registration.

“Birth registration and certifi-cation are recognized as a right of the child in Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” The Coordinator of Uni-versal Birth Registration, Mrs. Esther G. Thomas stated.

She said Article 7, of the Libe-rian constitution states that “The child shall be registered imme-diately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.”

Mrs. Thomas disclosed that in the absence of birth registration, verification of age of any person is impossible, which has seri-ous implications for young of-fenders, children working in the commercial sex trade, and child laborers who are being denied access to special protection or treatment provided by the law.

“This also makes the reduction of the early marriage of girls

more difficult. Educational and health planning is also hampered by the absence of demographic data provided by birth registra-tion,” she stressed.

Discussing the importance of a birth certificate, Mrs. Thomas said they serve as achild’s ticket to citizenship, which gives the child an identity, proof of exis-tence, and the ability to exercise all other rights including civil and political rights.

“Birth registration at the MOHSW for children under 13 years is free of charge, while children above 13 pay five hun-dred Liberian Dollars ($500.00 LD) to get a birth certificate.”

She also told journalists that the implementation capacity has been strengthened in all the 15 counties to effectively manage, coordinate, and maintain a birth registration and certification system at the county level.

“The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through its Bu-reau of Vital statistics will en-sure that the births of 90 percent of all children less than 13 years are retroactively registered and birth certificates issued.”

MOE Dedicates Science Labsby C.y. Kwanue

The Ministry of Educa-tion (MOE) in partner-ship with the National Oil Company of Libe-

ria (NOCAL) on Tuesday, De-cember 10, dedicated the newly constructed science laboratories at the Harbel Multilateral High School (HMHS) in Lower Margibi County.

The exercise, according to the consultant to the Minister of Ed-ucation, Victoria Kahn Kenne-dy, is part of MOE’s partnership with NOCAL aims at enhancing and or improving science educa-tion across the country.

The exercise, she said, will cover the entire country, but in strategic locations of other high schools to benefit students in nearby communities or schools.

The laboratories contain

chemistry, physics and biology safety materials including gog-gles, gloves, coats, etc.

Earlier in a special statement at the dedicatory ceremony, dep-uty Education Minister, Hawa Goll-Kotchi, informed the audi-ence that the construction of the laboratories will enable them (students) perform better in the science subjects during the an-nual nationwide test administer by the West African Examina-tion Council (WAEC).

“We are trying to establish laboratories in all our public schools because we’re moving toward the writing of West Af-

rican Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSC), and it is based on this that we are collab-orating with NOCAL to encour-age our students to turn out for that academic challenge.”

WASSCE is a type of stan-dardized test in West Africa.

It is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WACE). It is only offered to candidates residing in Anglo-phone West African countries including Liberia. The WAS-SCE, also known as the General Certificate Examinations (GCE) allow all students both private and public schools to take this examination.

According to the Deputy Min-ister, at a recent meeting with WAEC officials in Monrovia, her office was informed that stu-dents across the country have al-ways failed the science courses due primarily to the lacked of basic science teaching materials

and or better equipped labora-tories.

This, she said, was not healthy for the education sector of the country.

Also, during another round of meeting with WAEC regarding the poor performance by the students, Mrs. Kotchi assured members of WAEC from other West African countries that Li-beria students would do better in the exams in the coming years. WAEC is being controlled by the Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia.

The Deputy Minister’s as-sumption is due primarily to the construction and dedication of several other “well-equipped laboratories” across the country for high school students.

“With our ongoing exercise to recruit “trained science teach-ers,” coupled with the arrival of the Peace Corps and other vol-unteered teachers from the Eco-nomic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS), who are focused in the sciences, we can rest assure that our students will come out with flying colors in the coming years.”

Deputy Minister Kotchi then expressed the MOE’s gratitude to NOCAL for the partnership, which she believes would en-sure that Liberia students have hand-on knowledge in the sci-ence subjects and to also get at-

 

Mr. Norman (c) cut the ribbon to the labs as MOe officials and students look on with excitements

tracted to the courses. She then stressed the need

for more corporate government partnerships particularly in the area of education.

“MOE’s intention is to ensure that public schools are well-equipped and considered places for education to draw the atten-tion of students.”

Before cutting the ribbon to

the labs, NOCAL vice president for Corporate Social Affairs, Pete Norman said, the dedica-tion of the laboratories is to but-tress government’s effort aimed at enhancing education in the country.

The laboratories construction is a three-year project, which NOCAL in partnership with the MOE is undertaking across the

country.In two separate remarks,

HMHS Principal Bee Myers Mortee, and president of the student government, John K. Taylor, expressed gratitude for the ceremony. They promised to maintain them at all times, and also use them for the intended purpose.

 

students view some of the items in the chemistry lab

Daily Observer Page 6 Thursday December 12, 2013

ecobank.com

Ecobank expresses deepest condolences to South Africa on the great loss of their beloved former President Nelson Mandela. Ecobank celebrates Mr Mandela’s great contributions to the

African continent – and the world – and recognises him as one of Africa’s greatest leaders of all time. May his spirit of love, peace and unity continue to lead and guide Africa.

© Peter Engels – www.peterengels.eu

In remembrance of one man’s tremendous wisdom, heroism and forgiveness.

“ As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Nelson Mandela

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

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 6a

Four Classmates of Destiny

The Daily Observer today presents our third History and Us column

using a photograph we recently discovered of four outstanding Liberians, who were members of the Class of 1927 of the College of West Africa (CWA). They were all old Monrovia boys.

The first in the photograph, far left, was James B. Dennis, most probably the tallest in the class, who rose to become Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Tubman administration. He was later appointed by President Tubman as Liberian Ambassador to the United Arab Republic (Egypt) and to Syria; and later as Ambassador to Spain. We know of two sons of James B. Dennis—Max Beverly Dennis, Consultant to the Minister of Justice, R.L. and former Minister of Youth and Sports under the administrations of Presidents Charles Taylor and Moses Blah. Max later became Ambassador-at-Large during the Taylor administration.

Max’s younger brother, James B. Dennis, Jr., also entered the financial sector. He became the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia.

Max and JB’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Samuel Dennis, Secretary of War (now Defense), whose father was James Benjamin Dennis. He was the son of the Dennis patriarch of the Dennis family in Liberia, Henry Wesley Dennis.

Joseph Samuel Dennis, the Secretary of War, was also grandmaster of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, but died in the grandmaster’s chair in the Masonic Temple, then located at the corner of Broad and Lynch Streets, just next to the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation.

According to Max Dennis, his paternal grandmother was Ma Williette Jesina Payne, granddaughter of President James Spriggs Payne. Ma Williette Payne’s father was Beverly Yates Payne, one of three sons of President James Spriggs Payne. One was Samuel Payne, father of Mrs. Georgia Payne Cooper, who served for many years as Secretary of the Liberian Senate.

She was first married to Jesse Reed Cooper, son

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

Tubman administration; and Bismark Cooper, who became a geologist.

Another son of Georgia Payne Cooper was Baccus Matthew, Sr., father of the revolutionary Liberian politician, G. Baccus Matthews, who became Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately following the 1980 coup d’état. Baccus’ mother was Rebecca Green of Sinoe County.

Max Dennis’ mother was Angeline Watta Allison, who hailed from the Kissi ethnic group of Foya, Lofa County.

J.B. Dennis’ mother, Sarah Hanky, was a Kru and German extraction. Her mother was Kru and her father German.

John Louis Cooper, second on the photograph, was one of Liberia’s first telecommunication engineers. He was a pioneer of the Liberian Telecommunication system, headquartered at Lynch and Broad Streets.

Mr. Cooper was married to Eugenia Simpson Cooper of Clay Ashland. They were blessed with two sons, John Louis, Jr., who became an

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

Butler.John Louis Cooper was the

eldest of several outstanding brothers, General Emmet Cooper and Ambassador Roland Cooper. They had a sister, Katherine (Kate) Roberts, who married Dr. Nehemia Cooper, founder of the Cooper S.D.A. Clinic. All of the Cooper brothers became rubber planters and made money.

Roland Cooper’s children were Majorie Cooper Greaves, Eve Cooper and Roland Cooper, Jr.

John Louis Cooper was twice married, first to Toulia Dennis of Careysburg, which union was blessed with Dr. Janice Cooper now County Representative for Health of the Carter Center; John III, regional manager for Darden Foods, a restaurant chain in the USA, Ora Eugenia and Helene Cooper, author of the bestselling The House at Sugar Beach and White House correspondent of the New York Times, and Marlene Cooper Vascilic of the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

Julius’ children include

Jeanine Cooper of Brussels, with the United Nations, and Verica Cooper Hill

Emmet married Nancy Richards Cooper, daughter of the famous Matilda (Tilly) Richards, grandmother of former Foreign Minister Olubanke Akerele and C.T.O. King III. Emmett and Nancy’s three daughters are Yvonne, who married a member of the Ferrari family of Italy, Geraldine and Precious Matilda Cooper.

The third person on the photograph is Richard Abrom Henries, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. Henries came from a poor family and started his career as a school teacher. He was good in Math and immediately started teaching the subject at Liberia College. While in

college he got a job cleaning the General market, at the foot Gurley Street, just below Coleman Hill.

His father was George E. Henries and mother, Eliza Robinson. The grandmother was Rosina Robertson. Speaker Henries was named Abrom after his grandfather, Abrom Robinson.

Richard A. Henries started legal work as Clerk of the Magisterial Court of Monrovia. He was also clerk in the office of the Monrovia City Mayor, James Minor, who lived on the block between McDonald and Carey Streets. He also traveled the country teaching and inspecting schools. That is now following his divorce from Angie Brooks, he befriended and later married Dr. A. Doris Banks Henries, an African American Methodist missionary, who later became a Liberian citizen and Deputy Minister of Education. Doris Banks Henries and her husband wrote many Liberian history books, although he wrote some on her own.

Mr. Henries became Chief Clerk of the Treasury Department. He told his

eldest son George E. Henries, named after his grandfather, that he, Speaker Henries had not thought of going into politics. But some members of the True Whig Party came and told him they wanted him to run for a seat in the House of Representatives for Monrovia. “That’s where it started, and I got elected,” he told his son George.

In 1951, when Speaker Benjamin Greene Freeman was nominated as running mate to President Tubman at the TWP convention in Monrovia, the House chose R.A. Henries as their Speaker. He held that position until the April 12, 1980 coup d’état.

Mr. Henries was on the Liberian delegation to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, and

therefore became one of the signatories to the UN Charter in San Francisco, California, USA.

While in San Francisco, he was appointed a member of the Reorganizing Committee of the International Court of Justice.

Mr. Henries was twice married, first to Angie Brooks of Virginia. By that time, Mr. Henries’ first son was three years old. In later years Angie Brooks made a name for herself and her country by being elected, on September 16, 1969, President of the United Nations General Assembly, the second woman and the third African to hold that position.

The union of Mr. Henries and Angie Brooks was blessed with three sons, Richard Abrom, Jr., Wynston J. and Richelieu Henries.

He once served for five years as grand master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the nation’s highest fraternal order.

His beloved son George, a true and devoted follower of his father, also became and remains one of Liberia’s outstanding lawyers and

former Associate Justice. And, like his father, George also served for many years and grand master of Masons. That was 50 years after his father was made grand master.

The last person on the photo was Richard S.S, Bright, who became a wealthy rubber planter and real estate entrepreneur.

Mr. Bright hailed from the famous Bright family that migrated to Liberia from Sierra Leone in 1898. He and his brothers and sisters were born in Liberia. His brothers were W. Oliver Davies Bright, who ran unsuccessfully against President Tubman for president; and Robert Bright, who became a wealthy poultry producer. Their sisters were Williette Bright Campbell; Mai Bright Robinson, mother of Rosina and Arnold Robinson, Mrs. Marie Davies-Johnson, mother of Mrs. Williette Johnson Jupiter, wife of Dr. Charles Jupiter, a dentist, Dr. Marie Brown, a dentist, married to George Brown of Switzerland; Nancy Knight, wife of Liberian Ambassador to Paris, J. Emery Knight; and Dr. Archie Johnson, the eminent Liberian gynecologist.

Mr. R.S.S. Bright once served as Secretary to President Edwin Barclay up to his retirement from the presidency. Mr. Bright later joined the Liberian diplomatic service, and helped former President C.D.B. King open the Liberian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Mr. Bright also served at the Liberian Mission to the United Nations.

He was married to Clavenda Sherman Bright daughter of the eminent Liberia politician and statesman of Grand Cape Mount County, Reginald Sherman. This union was blessed with three children, Clavenda who became Mrs. P. Clarence Parker. Clave, as she affectionately called, is Liberia’s first female pharmacist, a product of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Bright is Onike Bright-Togba, wife Liberia’s first plastic surgeon, Dr. Joseph N. Togba, son of the first Director General of the National Public Health Service of Liberia. The third child is Richard S.S. Bright, Jr., a Certified Public Accountant.

Clave chairs the Board of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA). She is also chair of the board of Ecobank, Liberia’s largest commercial bank.

Mr. R.S.S. Bright, Sr.’s first offspring was the late Dr. Cyril Bright, former Liberian Minister of Planning and Economic. Affairs and former Minister of Agriculture.

(From left) James b. Dennis, John louis Cooper, richard abrom Henries and r.s.s. bright

Daily Observer Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Page 6bThursday, December 12, 2013

Peri-urban Farmers Face Land CrisisCall for Government’s Intervention to Resolve Conflict

by Judoemue Mohmoh Kollie

Over 100 farmers engaged in ag-riculture activi-ties on a 75-acre

swamp land in Zubah Town, Duport Road, Paynesville, are likely to cease from growing crops this farming season if the Liberian government does not intervene in the land crisis, the farmers are currently going through.

The farmers have accused one Madam Oretha Logan, who allegedly took them to the Civil Law Court in Monrovia for using the land she alleged as her personal property.

They disclosed that on many occasions, they have been ha-rassed by this lady who, ac-cording to them, insists that farming activities must stop

until the matter is resolved through the laws.

The farmers are members of the Community of Hope Agri-culture Project (CHAP).

The CHAP farming program was introduced in 2010 with support from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the United States Agencies for In-ternational Development (US-AID).

It was meant to demonstrate agriculture production in ur-ban settlements for food secu-rity enhancement.

This project was highlighted in President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s 2010 Annual Mes-sage to the nation as one of her government’s achievements in the fight against hunger.

However, it is reported that the MoA has since ceased its support toward the program.

The Board Chairman of CHAP, Mr. James Bimba, in an

exclusive interview on Tues-day told the Daily Observer that the situation concerning the farmers was taken to court since 2008 but not much effort has been applied by govern-ment to address the situation.

“Since five years ago, we were taken to court by Madam Logan for occupying the land she says is her property but government has done noth-

ing to put the matter to rest. Madam Logan usually visits the farm to intimidate us from growing our crops, saying that no farming activities should be carried out until otherwise or-der,” he sadly disclosed.

According to Mr. Bimba the vast swampland was given them to cultivate through per-mission from the management of the Paynesville City Corpo-

ration (PCC).He stated that matter has

since reached the attention of the PCC but yet to get a favor-able response.

“We want PCC to step in quickly to put this long matter to rest because they give us the permission to use the land,” he said.

Mr. Bimba strongly argued that swampland is public land and as such it surprises him that someone could be claim-ing ownership.

“There is a document in our possession from PCC that gave us the right to use the land for agriculture purposes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bimba has disclosed that the CHAP proj-ect is faced with several con-straints such as the lack of fi-nancial aid and basic farming implements.

“We want the Government of Liberia, through the MoA to provide support toward the project,” he stressed.

He also disclosed that seed rice harvested at last farm-ing season has not being pur-

chased as there is no buyer.“We are indeed discouraged

about agriculture activities in this country because there is no market to sell our produce,” he lamented.

When contacted, the Public Relation Officer of the PCC, Jani K. Jallah, disclosed that the concern of the farmers has reached the office of the May-or of Paynesville.

She said investigation into the matter will shortly be launched.

At the same time, Madam Logan, who is claiming the land, told our Agriculture Re-porter that the land belongs to her grandparents.

“The land is 75 acres bought by my grandparents with a document that I have present-ed before the court,” she said.

She confirmed that the mat-ter is at the Civil Law Court pending speedy investigation.

“I have stopped the farmers from trespassing on my land until the court can established the issue,” she said on the phone.

 Farmers commenced the brushing of the CHaP farmland in Paynesville

Vast Land, But Immense Hungera Critical look: The Case of agri. in bong County

by Marcus Malayea in Gbarnga, bong County

Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties were once considered the “bread baskets” of

Liberia prior to the outburst of the civil crises that lasted for 14-long years.

But, since the cessation (end) of hostilities more than 10 years now, that description of “bread baskets” has turned, and as the result, there are re-ports of hunger everywhere, thus causing production of food to overwhelm (over pow-er) the few farmers in those counties.

In 2008, the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Infor-mation Services (LISGIS) conducted the population and housing census and it was re-ported that the country has the inhabitants of 3.5 million per-sons.

Information gathered by our Bong County Correspondent suggests that 89 percent of this population heavily relies

on subsistence farming for survival, 3 percent on rubber farm, 2 percent survives on life skills and 6 percent de-pends on white-collar jobs for livelihood.

With this small population and huge natural resources, vast majority of the people are finding it extremely difficult to put foods on their tables or pay their children school fees.

For many years, Liberia, with all the vast a ‘wasted land’, has had an entrenched culture of importing rice, its staple food, for its citizens.

The Daily Observer sampled the views of the ordinary citi-zens including local farmers, students and stakeholders on the rapid decline of food pro-duction in Bong County.

Mr. Stephen Matthews: The Agriculture Commissioner on Communal Farming for Bong County lamented the huge migration of people from the rural communities to the urban areas saying that it is another contributing factor to the in-crease of hunger in the county.

“You see most of our people leave the villages to come in the city in search for oppor-tunity such as market or job and as such they are no longer involved with farming activi-ties” Mr. Matthews empha-sized.

“This migration from the vil-lages to the main towns and cities is affecting the agricul-ture sector in the county,” he added.

Another citizen, Mr. Joseph M. Urey, Administrative As-sistant to the Superintendent of Bong County, Madam Sele-na Polson Mappy, said food production has considerably declined in the county due to the artisanal mining com-panies’ operations the in the county.

“If you go in these small, small mining areas, you will notice that the locals, who should be on their farms and farming, are deeply involved in the mining activities than farming,” Mr. Urey stressed.

The Bong county official indicated with the prolifera-tion of mining activities in the county, many of the farmers are intensely involved with mining as compared to farm-ing as the result the county is not producing the needed food as compared to the past years.

Mr. Urey furthered that as the result of more people being involved with the gold mining, it is adversely affecting the agriculture sector, adding that the evidence is the acute dis-appearance of typical Liberian rice on the local market in the county and yea the country at large.

The County Agriculture Co-ordinator for Bong (CAC), Mrs. Monica Honoree, said an-other thing which has dropped food production is that another group of the rural populations

 

Mr. stephen Matthews, Coordinator for

communal farming  

Mr. Joseph Urey, administrative assistant to

bong County supt.

Local Farmers Organization Makes SOS Call

by Judoemue Mohmoh Kollie

A local farmers’ orga-nization in Weala, Margibi County has launched an

SOS call to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and non-governmental organizations working in the agriculture sec-tor to render them support to-ward the improvement of their agriculture project.

The farmers have cultivated 45 acres of land with rice on a farmland that is a 5-min-ute walk away from the main town.

Mr. Henry Bedell, 47, is the

head of Grow What You Eat farming group in Weala.

Bedell told the Daily Ob-server’s farmer desk that the initiative is meant to increase the production of food in Margibi County.

“We are determined to en-sure that our county becomes self-sufficient in the produc-tion of food. But this effort of ours can become more viable if we are supported,” he stated.

He said that the project was a new one and they were en-couraging residents of the community to join them to stage the project.

“We are working harder to graduate from subsistence

farming to commercializa-tion,” he added.

Bedell stated that they are lacking of basic farming im-plements such as fertilizer, tools and others.

“We also want government to assist us with loan to enable us extend our farm,” he added

He, however, expressed his disappointment that many community members found it difficult to join the organiza-tion due to lack of funding to improve the farm.

“If we get more supports from government we will mo-bilize the citizens so that we can produce more food for the county,” he reiterated.

has turned their attention to rubber planting, rather than growing food crops.

“If people were involved with the cultivation of rice as they are engaged with the growing of rubber, no one would complain of decline in food production” Mrs. Hon-oree emphasized.

Also speaking to this paper, the Regional Coordinator of the Civil Society Organiza-tions (CSOs), Mr. George Johnson, lamented that people are hungry in the county due to government’s failure to pro-vide loan to potential farmers

to maintain their farms.Mr. Johnson said past gov-

ernments had given farmers loans from the Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank (ACDB) as a means of sustaining their farms and to buy themselves farming im-plements.

The Agricultural Coopera-tive and Development Bank was closed down as the result of the Liberian civil war and it is yet to reopen to the public.

Commenting also old man Flomo Tehtor of Kpelekpala blamed the decline in food production in the county due

to government inability to revitalize the Liberia Pro-duce Marketing Corporation (LPMC), an agency of gov-ernment that used to buy pro-duce from the farmers such as coffee and cocoa.

“The production of cocoa and coffee has dropped be-cause there is no where we can sell our produce. If you dry your coffee or cocoa, you either take it to neighboring countries to sell or leave to the mercy of bugs or insects to feed on it,” Old man Tehtor said.

   

Mr. Henry bedell, Head of the Grow What you eat farmer organization in Mar-gibi County

Daily Observer Page 7 Thursday December 12, 2013

The Maryland Oil Plantation (MOPP), involved in the production of Oil palm, operating in Maryland and County, Liberia, West Africa requires the professional services of the following:

Position: HR Assistant (Ref #: HRA-001-MOPP/HRM)Duty Station: MOPP Plantation, Gbolobo, Maryland CountyReports To: HR Manager CRC/MOPPDuration: Indefinite

Duties and responsibilities:• Explaincompanypersonnelpolicies,benefits,andprocedurestoemployeesorjobapplicants• Process,verify,andmaintaindocumentationrelatingtopersonnelactivitiessuchasstaffing,recruitment,train-

ing,grievances,andclassifications• Record data for each employee, including such information as addresses, earnings, absences, and dates of and

reasons for termination• Processandreviewemploymentapplicationsinordertoevaluatequalificationsoreligibilityofapplicants.• Examineemployeefilestoanswerinquiresandprovideinformationforpersonnelstoredinaccordancewith

the established procedures• Gather personnel records from other departments and/or employees• Compileandprepareonaregularbasisreportsanddocumentspertainingtopersonnelactivities.• Arrangeforadvertisingorpostingofjobvacancies• Provideassistanceinadministeringemployeebenefitprogramsandworker’scompensationplans.• Introducerequestsfornewly-hiredidentificationcards• Assistingwiththeday-to-dayefficientoperationoftheHRoffice• Complete monthly and year-end reports regarding terminations, transfer, and new hires

Qualification:Internal:Education:BachelorDegreeinHumanResources,BusinessAdministrationorrelatedfieldExperience: At least 2 years of related experience

Eternal:Education:ResumeDgreesinHumanResources,BusinessAdministrationonrelatedfieldExperience At least 3 years of related experience

Technical Competencies • Basic understanding of human resources functions• Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training compensation and ben-

efits,laborrelationsandnegotiation• Knowledgeofadministrativeandclericalproceduresandsystemssuchaswordprocessing,managingfiles

and records• Understandingofhumanresourcesreportingandrecordkeepingrequirements• StrongTypingandcomputerapplicationskills

Behavioral competenciesWell organized Accurate and attention to detail Excellent communication and public relations abilities

Address a cover letter of applicationwith attachedupdateCVand2 passport-sized photos to theHumanResourcesManager,MarylandOilPalmPlantation(MOPP),Gbolobo,PleeboSodokenDistrict,MarylandCounty.PleaseclearlyincludethepositionandReferencenumberatthebackoftheenvelopeandhanddeliversametothesecurityguardondutyatthecentralofficecompoundonthehallorCavallaRubberCorporation(CRC)corporateofficesonColemanAvenue,Sinkor,Monrovia,LiberiaonorbeforeTuesdayDecember17,2013at4:30pmwdanny966@gmail.com

MARYLAND OIL PALM PLANTATION (MOPP)GBOLOBO, FLEEBO SODOKEN DISTRI CT MARYLAND COUNTY

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Request for Expressions of InterestCDMInternationalareimplementersoftheUSAIDfunded‘EngineeringServicesforRuralRoadsRehabilitation’(ES3R)projectandrequestsubmittalofexpressionsofinteresttobeconsideredforpre-qualificationinaseriesofruralroadsproj-ectstoprovidedesign,procurementsupportandconstructionsupervisionservicestotheroadrehabilitationprogram.Theselectedfirmswillenterintoatwo-yearprogramforA&Ecapacitybuildingunderthesupport,guidance,mentorshipandsupervisionoftheES3Rproject.TheprojectwillsupportdevelopmentoffarmtomarketroadsinruralareasinBong,Lofa,andNimbaCounties.TheprojectrequestsexpressionsofinterestfromcurrentlyincorporatedlocalArchitectandEngineer-ingfirmsandgraduatecivilengineerprofessionalsinterestedinformingA&Efirms.

A&Efirmstosubmitaonepagesummaryofexperience,qualificationsandinterestwithcontactnumbersandemailad-dresses.IndividualsmustpossessaLiberianbusinessregistrationcertificateandCertificateofIncorporationandsubmitadraftbusinessplannotexceeding5pagesforfutureengineeringsectorparticipation.ExpressionsofinterestdonotreflectacommitmentonthepartofES3R.ExtendedinterviewswilltakeplaceinJanuaryforfirmsand/orcandidatespriortofinalselection.

ThisprocurementislimitedtolocalLiberianentities.LocalLiberianentitymeansanindividual,acorporation,anonprofitorganization,oranotherbodyofpersons that:

1. Is legally organized under the laws of Liberia;2. HasasitsprincipalplaceofbusinessoroperationsinLiberia;and3. Either is –

a)majorityownedbyindividualswhoarecitizensorlawfulpermanentresidentsofLiberia;orb)managedbyagoverningbodythemajorityofwhomarecitizensorlawfulpermanentresidentsofLiberia.

Send expressions of interest to the following: Mr Bruce Purdy by e-mail at basbjp@aol.comnolaterthanDecember20,2013.

APM Terminals Liberia Limited is a part of theAP Moller Maersk Group which isan international container terminal operating company headquarters in The Hague,Netherlands.

APM Terminals Liberia operates the Freeport of Monrovia, which constitutes the gateway toLiberia. Inaddition tohandlingcontainerizedshipments, APMTerminalsLiberia isalso a multipurpose facility composed of equipment and specialized personnel that handle allkindofcargosuchasrice,cement,latex,unitizedorpalletizedcargo,vehicles,frozenproductsandtimber.Toprovidetheseserviceseffectively,APMTerminalsLiberiausesvarious heavy equipment like Tractors and Trailers, other heavy container handlingcranesandequipmentinitsPremises.OtherthirdpartyheavyequipmentandregisteredvehiclesalsooperatewithinthePortPremisesforitsoperationalandbusinessneeds.APMTerminalsLiberiafacilitiesworksona24/7basis,365daysoftheyear.

APMTerminalsLiberiaLimitedthereforeinvitesqualifiedcompaniestoexpressinterestintheProvisionofFourteen(14)FactoryNewVehicles(SaloonCars,4WDPickups&SUVs)onaThree(3)yearoperationallease(LEASEDVEHICLES).Interestedcompanies/firmsmustprovidethefollowing:

• Business Registration• Tax Clearance• Evidence of similar business over the last 3 years

EOImustbedeliveredtotheaddressbelownotlaterthan2:00PMonorbeforeDecember20,2013.EOImaybesubmittedbyregularmailoremailto: Procurement Office APM Terminals Liberia Ltd. Freeport of Monrovia Bushrod Island Monrovia, Liberia Email: procurement.liberia@apmterminals.com

AnyEOIcomingafterthedeadlineof2:30PMonDecember20,2013willnotbeaccepted.

APMTerminalsLiberiaLtd.Reservestherighttorejectanycallorallbidsanddeclareafailureofqualification/eligibilityatanytime,priortoshortlistingandawardingofcontract.

NOTE:APMTerminalsLiberiaLtd.maywaiveanyminordefectandaccepttheoffermostadvantageoustothecompany.Furthermore,APMTerminalsLiberiaLtd.assumesno responsibility, whatsoever to compensate/indemnify would-be contractor(s) for any expenseincurredinpreparationoftheirExpressionofInterestand/orBid.Biddocumentswillbemadeavailableafter a sitevisitof short listedcompanies/firms.For further information, contact cell No. 0886340066 & 0888341594 or email us atprocurement.liberia@apmterminals.com.

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

This is where business meets customer.

Daily Observer Page 8 Thursday December 12, 2013

Title of the Action: “Using evidence based dialogue to increase community engagement in Health service delivery” funded by DFID in Liberia Save the Children Liberia, Country Program

Commitment to Child Protection:Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates applying for these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures and checks.

Accountability Commitment: Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their carers and communities with whom it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system which includes - sharing relevant information on its work with children, their carers and communities with whom Save the Chil-dren works; reporting concerns raised by children, their carers and communities about the intervention and involving children at all stages of the intervention.

1) IntroductionSave the Children saves children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfill their potentials. Save the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the immediate needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in eight counties (Margibi, Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, GrandGedeh, Bomi, Gbarpolu and River Gee across Liberia and implement projects focused on: Newborn and Child Survival, Education, child protection, child rights governance and response to humanitarian emergencies.Save the Children implement health programs which focus on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Margibi, Montserrado and Bong Counties. Our interventions in health are in-line with the 10 year National Health Policy and Plan and are guided by the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). We support 6 clinics in Bong, 7 clinics and 1 hospital in Margibi and work closely with 9 MOHSW supported health clinics in Montserrado County. The 7 clinics and the hospital in Margibi are supported by the EDF project.

Over the years, our support for the implementation of the national health policy and plan have focused heavily on; i) provision of essential health services, ii) improvement of health infrastructure through minor and major renovation of clinics, iii) capacity development of human resources for health, systems sup-port such as procurement and supply of essential drugs, iv) joint health services supervision with County Health and Social Welfare Teams and coordination meetings for health stakeholders at County level.

Project details:Impact: To contribute to the achievement of MDGs 4 and 5.

Outcome: Improved community engagement in the provision of quality health services to children under five and women of reproductive age in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia;

Output 1: Improved community engagement in the management and governance of health services in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia;

Output 2: Improved access to and demand for high impact maternal, newborn and child health interven-tions in Bong, Margibi and Montserrado in Liberia;

Purpose and Specific Objectives of the evaluation study

Purpose of the Evaluation: The end of project evaluation will assess the extent of the results achieved through the outcome and outputs of the project and identify key underlying factors. Additionally, the end of project evaluation will review all programmatic aspects of the project focusing on status of the implementation, the target groups and beneficiaries, outcomes, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt.To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of project interventions to achieve improvement in Maternal, Newborn and Child health status;

Timeline:• The evaluation will be fully led by the external consultant. Save the Children staff will partici-

pate in the evaluations, but will not actively guide the process. The evaluation period will be conducted during January 13th –February 15th 2014.

• The evaluation will be for a period of 30 working days, including debrief, feedback on draft report and submission of a final report. Sundays will not be included and will not be compen-sated for.

• The evaluator will be allowed two travel days if they are traveling from outside of Liberia. These days will not be included in the Contract period.

The evaluation period may be structured as follows;• Inception report (document review and briefings): 5 days• Field phase (data collection and analysis): 10 - 15 days• Drafting of provisional final report, comments and observations: 10 days• Presentation, completion and validation of final report.• The evaluator will have to apportion time, as appropriate, to ensure adequate time is allocated

for both field work according to sampling methodology and report writing. • The evaluation period will be considered as January 13th- February 15th 2014. • The field itinerary will be developed with the field team upon signing of the Contract and arrival

in-country.• These schedules may be adjusted however, depending on several factors. Any adjustments will

be discussed with Save the Children main office in Monrovia.

Qualifications• Health professional with advanced degree. Advanced degree in Social Sciences may also be

considered. • Experience of conducting such work with Save the Children a plus • Proven experience implementing project evaluations• Experience with participatory evaluation methodologies (at least 2 evaluations or a KAP study)• Strong communication skills• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) in English are essential

How to Apply:Proposal along with a contact telephone number and the names of any organization you have done con-sultancy for, quoting their email addresses properly and send to this email address liberia.vacancy@sa-vethechildren.org or to the HR/Support Services Department. Clearly label/quote the consultancy title on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard at Save the Children’s nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Gbarnga, Zwedru & Nimba). Deadline for the submission of application is December 22, 2013, at 4:00 PM. If you fail to indicate the consultancy title on the envelope, your proposal will not be accepted. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Note: you could also download full terms of reference (TOR) on the Executive Mansion’s Website: emansion@gov.lr

Request for ConsultancyTerms of Reference for End of Project Evaluation

Title of the Action: Accelerating the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality through improved prevention and manage-ment of postpartum hemorrhage including the use of low cost innovative technology.

Commitment to Child Protection:Save the Children is committed to keeping children safe from abuse and harm. Candidates applying for these positions will be subject to the Child Safeguarding recruitment procedures and checks.

Accountability Commitment: Save the Children is committed to be transparent to children, their carers and communities with whom it works by promoting and abiding by existing organizational accountability system which includes - sharing relevant information on its work with children, their carers and communities with whom Save the Children works; reporting concerns raised by children, their carers and communities about the intervention and involving children at all stages of the intervention.

I. IntroductionSave the Children saves children’s lives, fight for their rights and help them fulfill their potentials. Save the Children started work in Liberia in 1991 with an emergency program focusing on the immediate needs of children affected by the conflict. Save the Children currently operates in eight counties across Liberia and works in: education, health and child protection, child rights governance and response to humanitarian emergencies

B: Background Context:In the last 12 months, Save the Children has been implementing a project that aims to support the government road map on the acceleration of the reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality by addressing the issue of obstetric hemorrhage.The project is being implemented in support of and working closely with the Bong and Margibi’ County Health and Social Welfare Teams and MOHSW with focus on four hospitals (CH Rennie, Bong Mines, Phebe and CB Dunbar) and six health clinics ( Worhn, Yeamain, Totota, Sanoyea, Palala, Belefanai)

The end of project evaluation will seek to inform Save the Children, project the health facilities and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, of the key outcomes of the project based on evidence, successes, challenges and lessons learnt. The evaluation will further seek to establish proof of the success of the low cost technology and present a viable public health need for its expansion/scale up or otherwise.

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED REVIEWOverall Objective:The end of project review will assess the extent of the results achieved through specific objectives and expected outcomes of the project. Additionally, the review will assess the actual implementation on the use NASG in the management of obstetric hemorrhage and all other programmatic aspects of the project.

III. METHODOLOGYFinally recruited Consultant will be supposed to develop the methodology for data collection after reviewing the existing and key reference.

How to Apply:Proposal along with a contact telephone number and the names of any organization you have done consultancy for, quoting their email addresses properly and send to this email address liberia.vacancy@savethechildren.org or to the HR/Support Services Department. Clearly label/quote the consultancy title on your envelope and hand deliver to the Security Guard at Save the Children’s nearest offices in (Monrovia, Margibi, Gbarnga, Zwedru & Nimba). Deadline for the submission of application is December 19, 2013, at 4:00 PM. If you fail to indicate the consultancy title on the envelope, your proposal will not be ac-cepted. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Note: you could also download full terms of reference (TOR) on the Executive Mansion’s Website: emansion@gov.lr

Request for ConsultancyTerms of Reference for End of Project Review:

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

REQUIRED COMPETENCE:1. Must be a High School graduate (Submission of High School Diploma

and WAEC Certificate). Basic knowledge in administration and or ex-perience in working in the Construction environment will be an added advantage,

2. Must have the ability to efficiently enter and maintain electronic docu-mentation

3. Must be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Word and Micro-soft Excel

4. Must have good organizational skills and the ability to work indepen-dently.

5. Must have excellent interpersonal and verbal or written communications skills

6. Must be able to keep confidential information7. Must be able to work within a small team but with frequent interactions

with other departments8. Ability to work under pressure and be willing to work long hours on the

job.

WORKING EXPERIENCE:He/she must have worked in similar capacity for a minimum of two (2) years.

Application, Resume and Supporting Documents including contact cell phone numbers should be submitted to the: HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANT MANAGER LIBERIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY (LAC) 20TH STREET, SINKOR TUBMAN BOULEVARD MONROVIA, LIBERIA.

ONLY SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR AN IN-TERVIEW OR OTHERWISE.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION IS December 16, 2013.

JOB VACANCY

Daily Observer Thursday, December 12, 2013 Thursday, December 12, 2013 Page 9

LBDI Mortgage Scheme on Course-CBL Says; As 89 Households Benefit

by George D. Kennedy

Central Bank of Liberia’s (CBL) E x e c u t i v e Governor Dr. J.

Mills Jones has disclosed that the CBL’s US$10 million mortgage scheme placement with the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) is generating good results. According to Dr. Jones, 89 households have already benefitted from the mortgage program with LBDI. In his keynote address at the Liberia Bankers’ Association (LBA) Dinner in commemoration of this year’s Bankers’ Week held over the weekend, Dr. Jones observed that most of the beneficiaries of the scheme are those targeted under the program.

“This scheme,” he said “targets low income earners so that they (low income

earners) can become homeowners.”

In order to qualify for the LBDI mortgage loan, one’s monthly income must be no less than US$200.00.

The person must also be in the position to make available not less than 30% of the total cost of the house he/she wants to build, that includes the cost of the land and whatever materials that person would want to use to build the house, amongst others, the mortgage team at LBDI have said.

According to LBDI authorities, the scheme is a long term program that has a repayment period ranging from five to 10 years.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, Liberia needs about US$100 million to revamp its housing sector.

Many Liberians have welcomed the CBL’s decision to take the bold

step to invest US$10 million in the sector particularly at a time when global economic outlook continues to highlight grim prospects.

The CBL boss reminded the gathering that Liberians must lead the development process of their country.

Meanwhile, Governor Jones has announced that the CBL’s agriculture financing initiative is on course.

According to Dr. Jones, 60 farms from 11 counties have benefitted, with about 2,000 workers. The CBL, it may be recalled made available over US$7.5 million to the agriculture.

The CBL agriculture support scheme is being implemented by Afriland Bank. Earlier 2013, the CBL made available US$5 million placement with three banks to enhance medium-term credit to members of the Liberia

Business Association (LIBA), headed Mr. Dee-Maxwell Kemayah.

According to the CBL Executive Governor, 65 businesses have benefitted in eight counties. Dr. Jones, however, noted that the CBL is not satisfied with the pace at which this placement is going.

“We are not satisfied

with the pace at which the program is going. But we want to let the county coordinators of LIBA know that we have received assurances from the commercial banks involved that, in particular, the major one involved in the program, that the outstanding issues will be resolved within 60 days,”

he said. Jones announced that

the banks will meet with LIBA’s executives over the next few days to agree on a timetable for visiting the counties together to fast track the process that would lead to disbursement. “They know that we expect results,” he stated amid applause from the audience.

(L-r) Flashback: LBDI CEO John B. S. Davies, III at LBDI 48th Anniversary

Dr. Jones Rescues Liberian Businesses---LIBA President Discloses

By David A. Yates

Mr. Dee-M a x w e l l K e m a y a h , the President

of the Liberian Business Association (LIBA), says Dr. Mills Jones has bridged the relationship gap that existed between banking institutions and Liberian owned businesses.

Mr. Kemayah explained, “Liberian owned businesses felt marginalized by banking institutions when it came to lending.”

“They found it difficult to cope with the requirements and stringent procedures instituted by banks before they could qualify for debt financing,” he continued, “Since Dr. Jones took over as Executive Governor of CBL, there have been remarkable achievements made in narrowing the relationship gap between banking institutions and Liberian owned businesses,” said Mr. Kemayah.

The LIBA president made the assertion on December

5, while delivering a concept paper during a one-day symposium in observance of the Liberia Bankers Week, in Monrovia.

The paper focused on the suggestions and contributions of Liberia Bankers Association (LBA), addressing the challenges faced and opportunities to be had by the financial sector through the enhancement of the Credit Union in Liberia.

The symposium was under the theme: “Ensuing Stability of Liberia’s Financial Sector through Credit Culture Enhancement.”

According to him, the Liberian owned businesses were finding it unattractive doing business with banking institutions in the county.

“Liberian businesses found it more convenient to patronize susus, clubs, and other informal savings and loans schemes. They felt these were guaranteed sources of savings and secured ways of meeting

their emergency financial needs without stress,” the LIBA executive disclosed.

Explaining about LIBA’s strategic plan, Mr. Kemayah said, “Under our leadership LIBA has formulated a strategic plan for making the association more relevant in the country, and taking its rightful place in the rebuilding of our domestic economy. That is why we have agreed to desist from patronizing informal savings and loan bodies”

“Conscious efforts continue to be made by the association to change the

status quo,” he explained.He continued, “Now our

members have developed a positive culture of savings and credit that is centered on the need to develop active business relationships with banking institutions.”

He continues, “While initiatives were being undertaken to achieve this objective, we were engaged with the Central Bank of Liberia to consider the plight of Liberian owned businesses and reduce the restricted access to credit.”

“In recognizing LIBA’s efforts and the enormous

challenges facing Liberian owned businesses,” Kemayah disclosed “CBL took the bold step, in keeping with its mandate and policies, of making a placement of five million US Dollars at three commercial banks; Ecobank, International Bank, and First International Bank, for credit to our association members.”

“All of which was geared towards stimulating growth and the expansion of Liberian businesses in the economy.”

“LIBA continues to build

the capacity of its members through business incubation services and other forms of short term training at a national and international level, conducting pre-screening of initial candidates, due diligence, and recommending them to the banks for credit/loan.”

He was quick to point out that the banks then employ their normal procedures to determine who qualifies for the loan or credit.

“We are quite aware of the challenges facing the enhancement of credit culture in Liberia,” Mr. Kemayah admitted.

Cbl Governor Dr. J. Mills JonesLIBA president Mr. Dee-Maxwell Kemayah

Daily Observer Page 10Thursday, December 12, 2013

from the West African Power Pool was finally tested in Libe-ria, a year after the poles were planted and wires ran.

The delay to connecting houses was one of the pri-mary issues citizens had been complaining about, a situation Chief Engineer Joseph Leay

acreddited to the setting of standards so they could avoid electrical shock in homes.

Some of the standards were telling the customers to wire their homes with LEC pre-scribed wire that could with-stand the high voltage instead of the Chinese twin wire that

300 Homes is commonly used by builders.“Before we connect any

home, we will send a team of LEC qualified men for inspec-tion to know the type of wire you intend to use and how it has been run before connect-ing your house,” said Mr. Leay.

Prior to the connection of homes and business places in Ganta, the LEC carried on an

awareness campaign inform-ing the public about the pro-cess before being connected.

Bessy Gegbe, the proprietor of Planet 44 Night Club in Ganta said, “I am very happy with the connection of elec-tricity because it will cut down cost for running my genera-tor.”

“Every day I use over six gal-lons of fuel to run my genera-

tor, If there are no customers for the night, we are at loss,” she explained.

According to the LEC, cus-tomers will be paying US$ 0.25 per kilowatt hours for electricity, a price some con-sider to be cheaper than what is paid in Monrovia.

The West African Power Pool is running wires into three counties in Liberia;

Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland. The wiring has now crossed major towns and cities of Nimba, including Karnplay, Sanniquellie, Ganta and Sacla-pea and it is expected to con-nect Tappita very soon.

The project is being imple-mented by “Energy Venture” a Ghanaian firm.

by C.y. Kwanue

Of the 2,301 candidates that applied for gradu-ation at the University

of Liberia’s (UL) 95th Com-mencement Convocation, only

1,316 were qualified, while 985 applicants were disquali-fied.

According to statistics ob-tained by the Daily Observer from the office of UL Enroll-ment Management Wednes-day, December 11, 553 can-didates applied for graduation from the Accounting Depart-

UL Clears ment. Of that number, 312 were cleared for graduation.

In the case of majors in So-ciology, and Biology, 385, and 202 applied respectively, but only 292 and 74 were declared competent to graduate, while the rest were dropped due pri-marily to academic deficits.

In the Agronomy area, of the 23 candidates who applied, only two persons, following meticulous scrutiny of each of

the candidates’ grade points. “Those disqualified can-

didates reportedly failed to meet up with the required grade points, and so they were dropped from being part of the pending December 18 con-vocation,” a source told this paper.

According to our source, most of the students, who ini-tially applied for graduation, had wanted to ‘cheat’ the aca-

demic system, but they were denied in the process.

Meanwhile, the UL in its calendar of events for the 95th Convocation has scheduled, Thursday, December 12th, as Alumni Home Coming Day, while the 2013 Class Day/Night Program is also sched-uled for Friday.

Other events include: the UL Faculty Association Day on the 14th; the Baccalaureate

on the 15th; Oath and Honors Day at the A.M. Dogliotti Col-lege of Medicine on the 16th; and the Commencement Con-vocation itself will take place on December 18th, 2013.

Protocols for the Com-mencement Convocation be-gin at about 8:30 a.m. at the S.K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville with the arrival of the UL faculty and staff, the chorus, and the Graduates.

stration of their willingness to fight the nation’s worsening drug trade, some Liberians are challenging him to show his resolve by being the first to go for the test.

On a radio talk show in Mon-rovia Wednesday, December 11, several callers welcomed the idea proposed by the Con-gress for Democratic Change (CDC) District #8 lawmaker, but threw the ball back in his court by challenging him, in

reference to the Bible, to “cast the first stone,” meaning he should be the first to take the very test he had proposed.

Rep. Gray’s contention is that the Government’s inter-national pledge not to allow Liberia to be used as a fron-tier for the smuggling of drugs must be demonstrated by set-ting an example; one that demonstrates those who will be fighting the battle against drug traffickers are themselves

clean from usage of those sub-stances.

Gray said he observed dur-ing his recent visit to the United States that the issue of drug traffickers using West Africa--- and Liberia in par-ticular--- as gateway for the smuggling of narcotic drugs to the rest of the world was still a serious issue of concern. He explained that the high num-ber of drug seizures that take place coming into the country should serve as warnings that galvanize those who are fight-ing this menace. He said it was

not unreasonable to check that those making the arrests and seizures are sober enough to do their work efficiently.

However, a government of-ficial who participated in the program, Ministry of Informa-tion Deputy Minister, Isaac Jackson, suggested to law-maker Gray that he proffers a Bill in the Legislature that would make it mandatory for those who desire to hold pub-lic office to sit a drug test as one of the major criteria.

If such legislation is passed, the Deputy Minister asserted,

nominees appearing before the Senate for confirmation hear-ings would be mandated to include a drug free clearance among its requirements.

Rep. Gray remained ada-mant during the discussion on the seriousness of his call and allayed any notion that he was targeting specific persons. He maintained his willing-ness to go with any group of top officials, who want to ac-cept his challenge and said he would go through the test with them. “I would be the first,” he added.

Gray is one of the few op-position lawmakers, who are forceful in discussing issues at the Plenary of the House of Representatives Sessions. Though it has not been openly challenged, political pundits believe the lawmaker’s stance is another clever move by him to change the public percep-tion that he may be a drug user himself and wants to clear the air once and for all.

Test Gray

of competition, and as such they should get ready for the struggle.

He also challenged them to be diplomats every where there go to represent Liberia.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also suggested to the gradu-ates to keep holding onto their dream as Liberia’s diplomats.

He said that protocol can sound both stuffy and mysteri-ous at the same time, and that most of them have had little experience in their non-gov-ernment lives to prepare for what comes ahead.

He stated that the rules and processes of diplomatic pro-tocol are based in pragmatic thinking, common sense, and good manners—areas where

we all have had some experi-ence.

Giving an overview of the in-stitution, Dr. Augustine Kon-neh, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute at the MFA, said that the institution was established to train young men and women who are inter-ested in the field of diplomacy.

Dr. Konneh explained that the diplomatic training lasts for nine months and at the end they award post-graduate diplomas (PGD), which quali-fies them to enter the Foreign Service of the Republic of Li-beria.

As the result of this, we now send young men and women who have gone through the institute’s training to do a

practicum in “Development Diplomacy.”

He said that many of the trainees have been posted to

relevant positions in there var-ious missions.

The Foreign Service Insti-tute director reiterated that the (training) has the mandate to create a program conducive for the exchange of ideas on the political understandings of global economic relations, culture diversities, integration, and the issues of conflict.

The valedictorian of the class, Sondah Geepea-Wilson, lauded the Ministry for the level of cooperation given to the graduates over the past nine months.

She promised that they would use the knowledge wisely in performing their du-ties as diplomats.

Be Vigorous

Cross section of graduates of the Foreign service institute of MFa

-rep. Chambers admits‘I Never Owned a House’Ma r y l a n d

C o u n t y District # 2 Represen -tative, Dr.

Bhofal Chambers, has admit-ted that he has never owned a single house in the country.

Dr. Chambers’ confession comes in the midst of specu-lation over his living arrange-ments.

Appearing on a talk show this Wednesday December 11, airing on Love FM, the law-maker said his major priority is to see how he can improve the lives of those he represents in the House of Representa-tives, not to build a house.

“Look my brother, I have

never owned a house in Libe-ria, and that is nothing to me. My only worry is to seek the welfare of my people,” Dr. Chambers insisted.

“That should not be the con-cern of people,” the Maryland County Rep. stressed.

Comparing his situation to that of the 42nd, Presi-dent of the United States of America (USA), Bill Clinton, Dr. Chambers explained that, “President Bill Clinton of the United States of America (USA) lived all of his days in his parent’s house, even before becoming president.”

“He even lives there when he served as governor of Arkan-sas,” Rep. Chambers noted.

Dr. Chambers continued, “He was not living in his own house; instead he was there and worked effectively to im-prove the livelihood of people living in that state.”

“What is that matter with be-ing a leader without building

a house?” the Maryland law-maker wondered.

“The only thing I have to do is be concerned about the welfare of my people, build-ing houses is a non-issue,” Dr Chambers noted.

rep. bohfal Chambers of Maryland County

Daily Observer Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Page 4Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Page 11For

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

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

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Sebwe: “Mandela Inspired Us Through Hand Shakes”

by leroy M. sonpon, iii

Former Lone Star mid-field maestro, Kelvin Sebwe, said the hand-shakes with Mandela’

in January 1996, might have inspired them to win a game in South Africa.

On the 16th of January 1996, Liberia defeated Gabon, 2-1 at the Kings Park Stadium in Durban. The retired penalty shooter and ball-distributor, converted the first goal in the 5th minute through a lottery shot and another player who also shook hands with Man-dela, Mark Sarr, Jr., netted the winning goal, in the 54th minute.

Sebwe, 41, told our reporter yesterday in an exclusive in-terview, that seeing Mandela on the afternoon was a “privi-lege, honor and fated.”

He said, the pleasure to meet the former First Black South Africa’s President and anti-apartheid freedom fighter, was owing to his demand to see yet African ‘FIFA World Best Footballer.’

“We woke up one day while thinking of warm-up, we were greeted by some security offi-

cers from Mandela requesting the presence of George Weah – it was a humble event, but scary,” Sebwe said.

He added: “Only four of the players accompanied George Weah, maybe because of fear (he laughs) --- it was me, George Weah, Mark Sarr, Jr., and Joe Nagbe. Willie Russell and our supporters, our friends also went. Interestingly, the President of CAF, Issa Haya-tou was there, too.”

Kelvin, dressed in a khaki suit, said they were humbled to be in the presence of the late Nelson Mandela, the formi-dable and tireless champion of human rights, who struggled to address inequality and in-dignity wherever he found them. Be it in his own country or beyond South Africa’s bor-ders.

“He warmly welcomed us and shook everybody’s hands. The roughness in his palm,

would tell us of the 27 years of hard labor in prison.”

He added: “His granddaugh-ter was there to project our voices to him, so that he will hear and understand us. We enjoyed his hospitality.

Prior to their departure, Kel-vin said, Weah affixed his au-tograph on one of AC Milan’s number-14 jerseys, the Italian team he (Weah) was playing for when he won the FIFA World Player of the Year, and

when they got to Mr. Mande-la’s place, he (Weah) handed it to him.

“He received it with a hum-ble spirit; prior to that, he had given Weah many pieces of advice and it was great seen

both of them together,” Kelvin said.

He added: “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of former South Afri-can President and an inspira-tion. The world has lost a true statesman, a leader and a prag-matic visionary.”

Meanwhile, Africa’s football legend George M. Weah de-scribed Mr. Nelson Rolihlahla Madiba Mandela, as a fallen

tower that Africa and the world cannot easily rebuild, given his unrelenting fight for social justice.

The 1995 FIFA Best Player and former skipper of the Lone Star of Liberia said he was humbled to meet the for-mer South Africa President in 1996, two years after his elec-tion as South Africa’s Presi-dent.

“He welcomed me warmly and jokingly cautioned me not to be intimidated by his pres-ence. That’s the kind of person he was…he was a soft, gentle, loving, caring and a kind, fa-therly figure,” Amb. Weah in-toned.

He also revealed that when he was appointed as Peace Ambassador, the late Nelson Mandela’s advice contributed to his acceptance of the chal-lenge.

“Mr. Mandela encouraged me to see the appointment as both an opportunity and a public service to my country and its people,” Amb. Weah explained.

“I will always cherish his memories and friendship…farewell Baba, Madiba, Tata, Nelson Rolihlahla. May our ancestors accompany you through you journey home…may the angels open wide the gates of Heaven for you and the Good Lord, God the Most High, receive you with glad-ness,” he petitioned.

US$150,000 Budgeted for Monsterrado County

The Chairman of the Montserrado County Legislative Caucus, Representative Ed-

ward Ford, has announced that the county’s Caucus, through the Edwin M. Snowe’s Mobili-zation Committee has project-ed a US$150,000 budget as an initial support, to Montserrado County in the National County Meet.

The Montserrado lawmaker said, the funds is aimed to support the five disciplines, namely, football, basketball, kickball, athletics and volley-ball, in the County Meet.

Ford, who is Montserrado County’s District #16 Rep-resentative indicated that the money will be given to the teams ‘per stages,’ and hope that the early financial assur-ance coupled with their moral support would serve as moti-vation for the trophies.

“We are putting to your dis-posal US$150,000….I repeat, I am not saying we are giv-

ing you, I said we are putting to your disposal a total of US$150,000,” Rep. Forh said.

He added: “This is a chal-lenge to the team --- if you advance to the group stage, you have a part of that money, you go beyond the quarter finals, you also will get an-other portion ---and if you advance beyond each round, you have some of that money to support---so the usage of the money depends on how far

you guys will go.”Earlier, the Chairman of the

Montserrado County’s Mo-bilization Committee, Rep-resentative Edwin Snowe, announced that it is “Montser-rado County’s Time,” arguing that it has been too long that they have failed to capture the trophies.

“For too long Montserrado has been a good host and when everyone meets in Montser-rado to fight for the trophies,

they (trophies) are always taken away from Montserrado and nothing is left with us. But the trophies have informed us that they are tired going in the dust and want to remain in the city. We want to say Mont-serrado County is ready to take all the silver wares,” the Montserrado District # 6 Rep-resentative boasted.

Montserrado County Super-intendent Florence Brandy, hailed her County’s Legisla-tive Caucus, and urged the players to ‘play to win.’

Meanwhile, the county’s Steering Committee chairman, Mr. Alieu Bah, told reporters that he has confidence in all the county’s teams; adding: “This is Montserrado Coun-ty’s time.”

Montserrado County, inargu-ably the most populated coun-ty, has been ‘very unlucky’ in the County Meet.

Last year, incredibly, Mont-serrado County’s splendid per-formance led them to emerge as the runner-up, in the narrow 1-1 pulsating draw that ended in a lottery shot.

Meanwhile, Bong County, one of the hosts of the County Meet, is in full confidence for the Games.

 rep. edward Forh makes remarks

 rep. snowe: “This is Montserrado County Time.”

 

Montserrado County superintendent brandy makes remarks

back: Joe Nagbe, George Weah, the late Nelson Mandela and his granddaughter and issa Hayatou; Mass sarr, Jr., stands in front George Weah; front row: Willie russell with camera and glasses hang-on and 3rd from russell,

is Kelvin sebwe

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--Nelson Mandela, Dr. Owl’s South African Guest

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Says Governor Jones; As Nimba Lawmakers Fuss over Who Took the CBL Governor to Nimba‘Fight Poverty by Dividing Wealth’By Ishmael F. Menkor

Central Bank G o v e r n o r Mills Jones has told citizens of Nimba that

poverty can only be fought by extending wealth.

Speaking at a program marking his welcome held at the Federation of Road Trans-port Union of Liberia Nimba Branch in Ganta on Tuesday, December 10th, Dr. Jones said one of the initiatives of the Central Bank of Liberia is to help the people so they can help themselves.

He added that CBL is re-committed to continuing its micro – finance program, as well as its policy of finan-cial inclusion. The Governor said CBL intends to continue reaching out to the public in order to give them the op-portunity to be able to get credit as a means of fighting poverty.

Dr. Jones: “We will stay on course, the Board of Gov-ernors are committed, and we are receiving the govern-ment’s full support. You can count on that going forward as we continue the program and see how we can further strengthen it so all of us can benefit.”

The CBL Governor and entourage were warmly re-ceived in Ganta by a group of business people, members

of the FRTUL, the motorcy-clists, and other well wishers while on his way to Karnplay; where he is expected to break ground for the construction of a Central Bank branch.

The welcoming ceremony had residents of Ganta carry-ing banners, palm branches and some on motorbikes singing: “Governor Jones, we want you.”

“Our hope for Liberia is that there be empowerment in its private sectors , that is the only way we are going to build a middle class, and that is the only way we are going to fight poverty,” the CBL head explained.

“We are going to fight pov-erty by dividing wealth,” he

stressed.Detailing his statement, Dr.

Jones said those who have the opportunity to work hard should be given that chance so they can improve their liv-ing condition.

The coming of Dr. Mills Jones to Nimba has been greatly politicized by divided lawmakers from Nimba.

Some of the residents be-lieve that Dr. Jones’ com-ing was under the influence of Sen. Prince Y. Johnson. But Members of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus have had to go out to arguing that the initiative to bring the Bank Governor to Nimba was the work of the Caucus and not Sen. Johnson, “as he and

his supporters are claiming.”It was widely expected that

Sen. Johnson and Dr. Jones were supposed to have ar-rived in Nimba together, but Dr. Jones arrived with Sen. Thomas Grupee instead; something that caused some resentment in the minds of Senator Johnson’s support-ers.

“Sen. Grupee has derailed the plan and brought Gov-ernor Jones ahead, leaving PYJ behind to make him look small. But, we will show him that we still love PYJ,” said one Cooper Teahdeh, a fan of Senator Johnson.

The Ganta City Mayor, Dorr Cooper, criticized those politicizing the issue of open-

ing /establishing banks in Nimba. Mayor Cooper said every focus should be on the eradication of poverty.

“We want the opening of the bank to be free of politics,” said Mayor Cooper.

CBL Governor Speaking in Ganta, Nimba; Dr, Jones welcomed by an elderly lady upon his arrival

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, VOL, No.36.indd 1 12/12/13 12:21 AM