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VOL. 16. NO. 55

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

PRICE: LD 40

INSIDE THIS EDITION

The Urgent Need for Vets in Liberia

See Pg. 4

EDITORIAL

2014: Senates Most Challenging Year

Police Prevent UL Students Demo
L-R: Speaker Tyler, VP Boakai and Pro Temp Findley leading the march into the Capitol Building Rotunda at the opening of the 3rd Session of the 53rd Legislature

-VP Boakai Predicts Upper Houses 3rd Session

www.liberianobserver.com

Education is a Security Issue

See Pg. 4

COMMENTARY

Think Out of the Box

See Pg. 3

LOCAL NEWS

By J. Burgess Carter

Motorcycles Dealer Wants Ban Lifted

See Pg. 16

BUSINESS

he President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President Joseph Boakai, has predicted that the 3rd Session of the 53rd Senate

will be the most challenging in the history of the countrys young democracy. He informed his colleagues in the Senate that the faith of

Flashback: Scene of a recent UL students demonstration on the Monrovia campus of the University of Liberia

See story on Pg.17

US$73M for Rural Liberia Proposed

See story on Pg.17

By C.Y. Kwanue

wo colons of antiriot police prevented what would have developed into a full-grown demonstration initiated by a group of students from the University of Liberia (UL) in Monrovia early Mon-

day, January 13. The students were reportedly acting under the guise of student militants. Some of them who became disgruntled had gathered as early as 7 a.m. on the Capitol Hill campus of the UL; barricading the entire road. This later escalated to burning tires and other com-

bustible materials. Their actions, were an attempt to disrupt normal activities at the National Legislature, which were set to have its resuming program Monday. They had also intended to use their tactic to draw the atten-

See story on Pg.17

BYC Buys Nimba Countys Two Strikers

See Pg. 19

SPORTS

LBDI Sound, Vibrant - Management Denies

Bankruptcy Claims
See story on Pg.16

See story on Pg. 14

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TUESDAY, JAN. 14, 2014, vol. 16, No.indd 2

1/14/14 2:44 AM

Tuesday, November 5,14, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 2014 Tuesday, January 14, 2013

World News

South Sudan Talks Resume in Addis Ababa Nightclub Gaslight

A shift in the venue for talks aimed at brokering a ceasefire in South Sudan has left some delegates bemused. The government and rebel teams have moved to the dance floor of a top nightclub in an Addis Ababa hotel. The Gaslight club was selected after the room in the Sheraton hotel the teams had been using was booked by a Japanese delegation. Sources close to the talks said some delegates were unhappy with the poor lighting and excess noise. Behind the scenes The Gaslight club, in the grounds of the five-star Sheraton hotel, is arguably the most opulent in Addis Ababas thriving nightclub scene. You enter it via a glass-floor bridge hovering over a minimoat. There, three bars (one is a VIP members only club) are arranged over three floors, with plush velvet soft seating and opulent art deco interiors in addition to padded leather bar stools. Gaslight is where the rich and beautiful go to party. It enforces a strict no-photo policy. On a typical weekend night, the local elite are to be seen mixing with foreign NGO workers and diplomats with a few graduating university students or newlyweds depending on the time of year. And should your dancing feet become weary, you can head upstairs for complementary al-fresco coffee, popcorn and small portions of diced beef and the local flatbread (enjera). Talks aimed at securing the ceasefire in the month-long conflict in South Sudan have now resumed in the Ethiopian capital. But the delegates are now in the basement of the luxury hotel, amid faux gold columns. Their previous room has been taken over by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is currently visiting Addis Ababa at the end of his first tour of Africa. The talks in the nightclub are at least taking place during the day - when the dance floor is not normally in use. BBC Focus on Africas Hewete Haileselassie says the Gaslight is arguably the most opulent in Addis Ababas thriving nightclub scene and is where the rich and beautiful people go to party. The negotiations are being overseen by the East African regional bloc, Igad. The delegates hope to secure a ceasefire after a month of fighting that has left substantially more than 1,000 dead, according to the UN. The conflict began on 15 December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers backing Riek Machar, his former vice-president.

Central African Republic Leader Says Chaos Is Over

Page 2 4 Page

Foreign Briefs

Residents cheered the speech of interim leader Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet

(BBC) - Relative calm has returned to the streets of the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui after weeks of sectarian clashes, with banks, offices and markets re-opening. The countrys interim leader said the days of looting and revenge attacks were over. The city has been riven by sectarian clashes in recent months. About 20% of the 4.6 million population are said to have fled their homes, amid warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. The BBCs Piers Schofield in Bangui says people now feel safe enough to leave their homes across the city. In recent weeks, there has always been at least one district - whether Muslim or Christian - where violence has meant people stayed at home, he says. The police have also returned to the streets, while some local residents have said the city is the busiest it has been for a year. Our correspondent says it feels like a turning point, following the rebel leaders resignation last Friday. Interim leader and speaker speaker of the provisional parliament Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet said: The chaos is over, the pillaging is over, the revenge attacks are over. The citys residents say Bangui hasnt been this busy since early December. Having been here then, the difference is striking. The streets are bustling, taxis running, banks are open and lots of people are simply walking around. But life isnt back to normal: French and African peacekeepers are manning checkpoints all over the city, searching vehicles. Bangui is full of weapons and that remains a major issue. The political vacuum has given an apparent break to the civilians here, but the anxiety is palpable. The Red Cross has recovered more bodies while the wounded are still arriving in hospitals for treatment.

Vigilante groups have been targeting Muslims in Christian-majority Bangui

More African foreign nationals want to leave for their home countries. Hundreds of thousands displaced find it too early to come back to their neighbourhoods. The CAR seems to be in limbo - so far peaceful - but everyone knows that it wouldnt take much for serious violence to erupt again. Following months of fighting, Michel Djotodia seized power in March 2013 to become the countrys first Muslim leader. He disbanded his Seleka rebels but they continued to attack Christian civilians around the country, prompting the formation of vigilante groups, which targeted Muslims. Mr Djotodia stepped down under intense pressure from CARs neighbours. The transitional national council now has two weeks to choose a new president. In another sign of a return to business as usual, hundreds of people lined up to re-enlist in the army, following an appeal from the chief of staff. Many of them had either deserted after the rebel takeover or left to to join the vigilante groups. Fighting first eased on Sunday after rival militiamen laid down their arms in a truce brokered by the French military. However, our correspondent warns that tension remains and the mood could quickly turn. The Red Cross say about 15 people were killed over the weekend and at least 60 seriously wounded. Ouandja Mad Dog Magloire said he was acting out of revenge after his pregnant wife, sister-in-law and her baby had been killed by Muslims. However, this incident happened last week, before Mr Djotodia stood down and seems to be an isolated case. CAR has huge deposits of gold, diamonds and other minerals but has seen a succession of coups and rebellions since independence from France in 1960, leaving most of its people living in poverty.

Kenyan authorities have launched an investigation into how a man declared dead in a hospital woke up alive in its mortuary the next day. Shocked mortuary workers at Naivasha hospital ran away when the body stirred and was seen to be breathing. Paul Mutora, who had tried to kill himself by swallowing insecti cide, was pronounced dead on Wednesday night. The chief medic said the drug used to treat him slowed the heartbeat, which may have led to the mistake.

KENYA

India is marking three years since its last reported polio case, a landmark in the global battle against the disease. It is seen as confirmation of one of Indias biggest public health successes, achieved through a massive and sustained immunisation program. Indias health minister hailed it as a monumental milestone. In 2012 the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed India from the list of polio-endemic countries. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria remain on it. The list refers to countries in which the virus is circulating freely and the transmission of the infectious disease has not been stopped.

INDIA

A young girl was detained at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan wearing what officials said was a suicide vest. Spozhmai, who says she is nine years old, is now in the protective custody of the provincial government. This is her story in her own words. It was late evening, the mullah was calling for prayers and my brother took me outside and told me to put on this vest. He showed me how to operate it, and I said: I cant - what if it doesnt work? And he said: It will, dont worry. I was scared and he took the vest back from me and he hit me hard, and I felt scared. Then [he gave me back the vest and] left me near the checkpoint where he said I had to operate it. I realised it was a suicide vest because it was heavier than a normal one. He said: If you operate this on the people at the checkpoint, they will die - you will not die. But I knew it was a suicide vest and I would die too. Then he went back home - the checkpoint is just near our house. After my brother left me I slept in the desert and didnt see anyone that night. In the morning, a guy from the checkpoint came and took me to the checkpoint and said: You need to tell your story to our commander. They found me, I didnt find them. When I told the commander my story he told me to go back home and I said: No, they beat me there and I am not treated

Suicide Vest 9-year-old Tells Her Story

Spozhmais father visited her to try to persuade her to come home

well. He said: OK, well if youre not going home then we have to take you to the provincial capital. Thats when they brought me [to Lashkar Gah and] I spoke to another commander, the senior commander, and thats how I come to be here. Even if the government says it will guarantee my safety I am not going back - the same thing will happen again. They told me: If you dont do it this time, we will make you do it again. My father came here and told me to go back and I said: No, I will kill myself rather than go with you. I dont have a mother, I have a stepmother and she was not very nice to me. I did everything at home. I cooked, I made bread, I washed clothes, I cleaned the whole house and they still werent happy - they would treat me badly, as if I was a slave. I didnt go to school because they didnt let me. I cant read

a word, I cant pronounce anything. Its because I wasnt taught - nobody taught me how of course I want to go to school. My brother told me: Youre here in this world and you will die. You are not here to learn or to do other things or to expect that your word will carry any weight. You are here just to die and do your duty. Of course my Dad knew - they were all in it together. [This started with] my Dad first, and then my brothers were included. They were all in it together. I havent spoken to [my brother] since the incident - I havent seen him since. I want the government to let me stay here and not make me go back, otherwise the same thing will happen to me again. What can I say to [my family]? Even if I saw them again I would tell them: I am not coming home. I am not coming with you. I have seven sisters and five

brothers - three of my sisters are married and the others are little. One of my brothers is in the Taliban so I have never seen him, one of my brothers is married, and another one - a younger one, is the one who told me to do this. I cant tell his age but hes a big boy and has a beard. Dozens of teenage boys who wanted to carry out suicide attacks have been arrested over the past few years, but Spozhmai is the first would-be female child suicide bomber in the country held in protective custody, says Dawood Azami of the BBC World Service. Initially, it emerged she was arrested at night when the police heard her crying on the other side of the river where she says she was forced to wear the vest. Then it was said she was arrested at home. But now, she says she spent the night outside on her own and was found by the police in the morning. It was first reported that she was wearing a suicide vest at the time of her arrest. But later it emerged that she was not wearing it and her handlers fled with the vest. Her age is also a question of debate. The first official version said she was eight. Other officials later said she was 10. But now she says she is nine. The Taliban have rejected all the allegations, calling them part of the usual propaganda campaign to defame them. And they regard the appointment of children, especially girls, in their ranks as wrong.

French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler is to remain in hospital, where she has been since a magazine accused President Francois Hollande of having an affair. She had been expected to leave hospital on Monday, but her aides said doctors had told her she needed more rest. She went to hospital on Friday shortly after Closer magazine alleged Mr Hollande was having an affair with film actress Julie Gayet. Mr Hollande did not deny the report but protested at invasion of his privacy. The president and Ms Trierweiler have been together since 2007.

FRANCE

An investigation is under way in Brazil to find out whether a group of policemen went on a three-hour killing spree in an alleged revenge attack. Twelve people were killed overnight by gunmen in vehicles in a district of Campinas, a city north of Sao Paulo. The attacks began hours an off-duty policeman died in a robbery. Investigators told the BBC that a revenge attack by fellow military policemen is regarded as the strongest theory. In one incident, the attackers stopped their car next to a group of people, asked children to be taken away and fired on the others, killing several people.

BRAZIL

Tuesday, January November 5,14, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 2014 Tuesday, 14, 2013

-President Sirleaf Urges Female Lawyers, Others -Stakeholders to Sign Final

Think Out of the Box

US$29M Water Project Makes Progress

MOU in Robertsport

Page34 Page

By William Q. Harmon

resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called upon Liberias female lawyers, gender advocates and civil society to think out of the box and come up with suggestions on how to address the increasing incidences of rape against young girls in the country. At a roundtable meeting convened by the Liberian leader on Thursday, January 9, 2014, to purposely discuss with womens representatives the alarming trend of rape of under-age girls, she challenged them to come up with ideas on how to address this social menace. Present at the meeting were 14 women representatives of the Ministry of Gender and Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), and civil society represented by the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL). President Sirleaf told the gathering that the statistics on rape cases in the country were alarming. She said measures against the crime included the Rape Law; which categorizes rape as an unbailable crime, and the just completed Code of Conduct for teachers regarding the crime of rape in the schools, are in existence. She applauded the Ministry of Gender and Development for all of its efforts, but added: Weve got to think out of the box, and thats why we called you here, to ask for some of your ideas. We have to find a way to deal with this problem. The Liberian leader herself, who is a longstanding womens rights advocate, indicated that the breakdown of the family unit and the fact that heads of households today are practically children themselves makes the problem even more difficult to solve. But we have to find a way.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

So many kids lives and future have been taken from them because of this crime. We want AFELL to be more active in this, the President said, indicating that the rate is ever increasing. President Sirleaf drew her audiences attention to the regular Security Report she receives from the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, a segment of which deals with rape. According to the report, during the period from November 12, 2013, to January 7, 2014, there were 119 cases of rape reported, compared to 83 in the previously report. Of the total 119, 53 rape cases occurred in Monrovia and its environs, while 66 cases were outside Monrovia. The victims included girls as young as four years old. There were a total of 61 arrests of the 119 or more perpetrators. The Liberian President lauded women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) for going to court religiously every time theres a rape case, noting that their presence always shows strong concern and support to the victims and their families. Meanwhile, during the hourlong discussion, many concrete suggestions proposals were put forth by members of the participants some of which working more with their male counterpart, including those already behind bars, to change their mental attitude, their behavior and their thinking about who women are; research, in the various communities, into why men rape; and naming and shaming rapists by putting them in prison garb and making them clean the streets. The group also proposed a critical look to be taken at the Rape Law in order to make revisions to close loopholes, such as provisions pertaining to the age of the perpetrator, and those who would compromise a case; training more lawyers in prosecuting sexual violence; advocacy and training for judges and the police; engaging police commanders to understand their critical role in protecting children who are molested. They also proposed for provisions to be made in the rape law that would include measures against police officers who are involved in tampering with rape cases, especially the evidence; preventive measures, such as sensitization competitions, and encouraging religious institutions to set aside a particular day to speak on the topic of rape; and the need to look at the jury system for prosecution, of where jurors stay, how they interact with the public, and that there should be non-jury trials in cases of the rape of children. Other ideas proposed were:

Several Escape Death

that the women of Liberia should speak with one voice on the urgent need to stop the crime of rape; advocacy on a daily basis, with the Gender Ministry having its own radio station where, throughout the day, people would address the issue of rape; greater awareness, through regular appearances on radio talk shows, telling the people about rape and not to compromise such cases; in addition to radio, to be more interpersonal by reaching out to the various communities, through the churches/mosques and other religious institutions; working with the Education Ministry to make its curriculum sex education friendly; and ensuring that the Censor Board, supervised by the Information Ministry, carries out its responsibility regarding the movies being shown on television and in video clubs. She said the Inter-Faith Council would be contacted to present the proposal that one Sunday be set aside when all churches would focus on rape and preach about it; the Gender Ministry should buy time on Women Democracy Radio, and focus, one or two days a week, on the topic of rape, with the programs being reproduced for distribution to Community Radio Stations throughout the country; (4) a sensitization program, with the Gender Ministry working with those represented at the meeting to come up with proposals to enhance the whole process; (5) the President would convene a meeting of the Censor Board on the content of shows being aired on television and in video clubs; (6) she would ask the Ministry of Education to make the Code of Conduct for Teachers available so that it can be publicized; and (7) the Ministry of Justice would be requested to ensure that for every court term, there is a rape case on the docket of every county. cal problems. Much to their surprise, it suddenly crashed into the fence surrounding the old Ministry of Labor building undergoing renovation. The slum community of Buzzy Quarter is home to hundreds of residents, many of which sell along the roadside while others have their provision centers near the very area where the truck crashed. The level of damage caused by the truck has not been made clear. However, when the Daily Observer reached the scene of the accident, the broken window glasses were shattered on the side where the wreckage of the truck is still parking. When the police were contacted on January 13, 2014, spokesperson Sam Collins said the Accident Division was still compiling its report to order the driver and company that owns the truck to court.

Cross-section LMWP stakeholders, community leaders and other water players

By Edwin M. Fayia III

ast week stakeholders, support partners and local leaders in the implementation of the Liberia Municipal Water Project (LMWP) for three county capital cities held final discussions on validation instruments for the provision of pipe-borne water at a one-day workshop held in Monrovia. The Chief of Party, Alione Fall, said the cost of the three cities water project is valued at US$29 million. The three cities are: Voinjama, Robertsport and Sanniquellie in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount and Nimba Counties respectively. Mr. Fall stated Robertsport will receive five million, while Voinjama and Sanniquellie will each get US$12 million apiece. He pointed out that the validation water workshop was intended to technically and managerially empower the community leaders on the sustainable management and components of the rural water projects in the country. The funding for the rural water project is being provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the provision of safe drinking water for rural Liberians. The LMWP officials explained that the project would convert four hand pumps into improved water yards fitted with treated water, greater storage capacity and solar power.

They said that the project would also provide capacitybuilding and capability assessment while systems are operational. The water project is intended to ensure sustainability of water supply improvements through cost-recovery and support the Government of Liberias strategic plans as outlined in the Agenda for Transformation and Vision 2030. The signing ceremony for the three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) are all expected to take place this week Thursday at the city of Robertsport in Grand Cape Mount County. Addressing participants at the opening ceremony was Liberia Water and Sewer Corporations (LWSC) Managing Director Charles B. Allen. Mr. Allen urged all stakeholders and community leaders to consider the water project as an essential element to sustainable livelihoods. He stated that the provision of quality pipe-borne water to rural Liberians is one of the primary concerns of the Liberian Government and its supporting development partners. During the interactive discussions, participants underscored the need for enhancement of the water projects in the three county capital cities. Participants also expressed concern over the slow but steady progress that continues to delay the MOUs and procurement processes of the USAID sponsored, LWSC and LMWP water projects. p.m. when traffic has reduced in the streets. He warned all to abide by the restriction to avoid embarrassment with the police. Even though the police spokesman admitted to the rule being in place to restrict containers from plying the streets of Monrovia, it remains quite challenging for this restriction to be maintained. At most times in the day, 20 or 40-foot containers are seen plying streets and delivering goods from the seaport.

Scene of the accident with people rushing to find out about the condition of the driver.

By Joaquin Sendolo
hat would have been a serious disaster missed residents of

Buzzy Quarter on January 11, 2014 when the brakes of a container truck failed and its driver lost control. The truck came from the road crossing Capitol Bypass

stretching down to the former Ministry of Labor. Eye witnesses told the Daily Observer that they saw the truck passing by without knowing that it had mechani-

According to Mr. Collins, container trucks are not allowed to ply the streets of Monrovia until the evening hours when traffic is less busy. The driver refused to abide by this rule and bypassed the main road leading to the central part of the city. Mr. Collins said the driver is in custody awaiting a court date, and they were still assessing the damage done to the building to establish the cost. He stressed that there is a restriction on containers plying the streets in the day until 6

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 4

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

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

Yeeh!? Woh one dis? I look lek animal doctor to yor? Me, I only deal with malaria and typhoid. Not chicken pox or rabies. And we dont do cow midwifery here.

Poor Liberia! Every time we find ourselves writing something serious about agriculture in our country it looks as though we are starting from scratch. Here we go again on the issue of Veterinary Medicine. It was in 1956 that Liberia got her first veterinary doctor, in the person of Dr. Christian E. Baker. After leaving the College of West Africa, he entered Michigan State Univerity, where this first Liberian vet obtained his training. Not long thereafter he returned home and commenced his career at the Government Farm in Suakoko, Liberia, now known as the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI). Appointed the Deputy Director of Research, Dr. Baker ran the Animal Division at the Farm and also commenced teaching Animal and Veterinary Science in the Agriculture Department at Cuttington College and Divinity School (now Cuttington University). In 1960 Dr. Baker changed jobs. He was elected president of Cuttington and he immediately ceased being a fulltime vet. He and his wife, Milly Dunbar Baker, who was a Cornelltrained poultry expert, invested in the production of chickens, eggs and pork. We know of no other Liberian vet except Dr. Leon Ledlum whom Dr. Chris Toe, as Agriculture Minister, brought back to Liberia to work in the Ministry in 2006-2007. Unfortunately, Dr. Ledlum suddenly died. Since then Liberia has had no vet working on the ground at home. There may be Liberian vets practicing abroad but we do not know who they are. This editorial was sparked by a report published in Mondays Daily Observer by our Agriculture Correspondent, Judoemue Kollie, in which he quoted an executive of a veterinary store lamenting that there was a serious absence of animal medicines in the country. Charles Hopkins, chief executive officer of the Price Trading Inc. Veterinary Store, said that due to the scarcity of animal drugs in the country, Liberian animal farmers find it difficult accessing veterinary medicine. Many animal farmers have to travel to other African countries in search of drugs to treat their animals, whether cattle, pigs or poultry. What an admission for Africas oldest independent republic! What have we been doing over all these years? You mean since 1956 we have trained only two veterinary doctors? What has been our problem? How many Agriculture Ministers have we had since 1956? Johnny Cooper was Agriculture Secretary then; in the early 1960s we had Steve Tolbert; then Mr. Cooper returned after President Tubman summarily fired Tolbert on July 7, 1965. In the early 1970s, President Tolbert appointed J.T. Phillips as Agriculture Minister, and later Dr. Cyril Bright. After 1980 and throughout the war years the Ministry remained in a chaotic situation and probably very little sustainable planning and implementation was done. Since the advent of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government we have had two Agriculture Ministers, Dr. J. Chris Toe and Dr. Florence Chenoweth. The Ministry has made some headway in training but so far not in Veterinary Medicine. It takes as much time to train one as it takes to train a medical doctor five to seven years. Sources in the Ministry point to another problem: the serious difficulty in finding well qualified high school and college students to pursue as difficult a field as Veterinary Medicine. With the University of Liberia currently in disarray, stemming from problems both with the faculty and students, the Ministry of Agriculture may not be able to approach the ULs College of Agriculture and Forestry any time soon to recruit scholarship students. Fortunately, Cuttington University, too, has a College of Agriculture from which candidates may be recruited for the difficult agricultural sciences and Veterinary Medicine. It may be useful, too, to recruit from some of the better high schools, such as Roman Catholic Don Bosco, where there seems to be an accent on the sciences. But it is clear that the Ministry of Agriculture is that one institution that should pay particular attention to the training of our agricultural scientists, if ever Liberia is to advance in this most vital field upon which we can rely to feed ourselves and produce the crops that will help our country maintain a positive balance of trade and earn us the foreign exchange we need to advance in other areas of national development.

The Urgent Need for Vets in Liberia

Education is a Security Issue

By Tony Blair (Courtesy of projectsyndicate.org)
In November, I spoke at the United Nations Security Council for the first time in 13 years. It struck me how different the mood is now. In September 2000, the world seemed very different. We were trying to articulate the new security order in the decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Of course there were challenges. But the atmosphere was light, positive even, as we discussed eradicating poverty in the developing world. This time, the mood was dark. And the first days of 2014 have made it darker still. Scroll down any days news summary and you find stories of terrorism and violence perpetrated in the cause of a false view of religion. Some of it is committed by non-state actors, and some of it by state actors; but all of it is committed in the context of division and conflict defined by differences of religious faith. This is the new struggle of the twentyfirst century. We will not win it unless we fight its root causes as well as its ghastly consequences. Today, in an arc that stretches from the Far East through the Middle East to the streets of cities in Europe and the United States, we face a scourge that has taken innocent lives, scarred communities, and destabilized countries. It is a threat that is constantly evolving, growing, and mutating to counter our fight against it. The extremists propagating this violence have networks of outreach to young people and know the power of education, whether formal or informal. Extremists are filling young minds with the belief that anyone who disagrees is an enemy and not just their enemy, but Gods enemy. The security debate has understandably often focused on the consequences. After an attack, states consider immediate security measures. Terrorists are hunted down. Then we get back to our daily lives, until the next time it happens. But lasting change depends on dealing with the root causes of extremism. Of course politics plays its part. And the extremists are good at jumping on the back of political grievances. But the soil in which they plant the seeds of hate is fertilized with ignorance. ingful way to engage with the world. The good news is that we know how to do this. I use my Faith Foundation only as one example. Our schools program promotes cross-cultural dialogue among students aged 12-17 around the world. Reaching students in more than 20 countries, our program connects students via a secure Web site, where they interact from their classrooms under the guidance of trained teachers. Through facilitated videoconferences, students discuss global issues from a variety of faith and belief perspectives. They gain the dialogue skills required to prevent conflict by breaking down religious and cultural stereotypes. For schools in the poorest areas, we use special arrangements, because they cannot access the Internet themselves. To be sure, we are only a drop in the ocean. But we now have experience in more than a thousand schools; over 50,000 students have been taught, and we are working in countries as diverse as Pakistan, India, the US, Jordan, Egypt, Canada, Italy, the Philippines, and Indonesia. I have been privileged to witness these students becoming at ease with the cultures, faiths, and beliefs that inspire so many people around the world. There are many other fantastic examples of this type of work. But they lack the resources, weight, and recognition that they need. We need to mobilize to defeat extremism. And we need to act globally. All governments must take seriously their responsibility to educate young people to accept and respect people of different faiths and cultures. There is no issue that is more pressing. There is a real danger that religious conflict replaces the ideologically based struggles of the last century in an equally devastating form. It is up to all of us to show people that we have a better idea than the extremists have to learn from each other and live with each other. And this needs to be a core part of young peoples education. About the Author Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007, is Special Envoy for the Middle East Quartet. Since leaving office, he has founded the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and the Faith and Globalization Initiative.

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

Former British PM Tony Blair

That is why we need to start thinking of education as a security issue. The extremists justify killing in the name of God. This is an obscene perversion of proper religious faith. And it is a menace, both for the harm that it does directly and for the damaging division and sectarianism that it nurtures indirectly. Every killing is a human tragedy. But it also causes a chain reaction of bitterness and hatred. There is real fear in the communities plagued by such extremism, fear that paralyzes normal life and pushes people away from each other. Globalization is intensifying and multiplying this extremism. Not limited by borders, it can spring up anywhere. We are more connected than at any point in human history, and more and more people come into contact with those who are different from them. So the need to respect a neighbor who is not like you is much greater; but the scope to identify him or her as an enemy is also greater. And this is not only about Islamic extremism. There are extremist acts perpetrated against Muslims because of their religion, and today there are fanatical Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists who disfigure the true nature of their faith. That is why education in the twentyfirst century is a security issue for all of us. The challenge is to show young people who are vulnerable to appeals from terrorists that there is a better path to having their voice heard, a more mean-

Tuesday, 5,14, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 2014 Tuesday,November January 14, 2014

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0886554882/0777544882

he Ministry of Education (MOE) has launched a countrywide sensitization program dubbed; SchoolCommunity Partnership Initiative, to make communities recognize their ownership role and responsibility in the promotion of quality education in the country. The exercise is accordingly part of greater effort to remove barriers to effectively and efficiently implore school governance, maintenance and development processes across the country. The disclosure was made to the Daily Observer recently following the Assistant Minister of Education Minister for Student Personnel Services, T. Wilson Gaye series of encounters with the various education districts in Montserrado County. According to Mr. Gaye, the intent of the outreach program is to sensitize communities about their ownership role and responsibility in the promotion of quality education in the country. As part of the exercise, Mr. Gaye indicated that a team from the Bureau of Student Personnel Services comprising key staff has commenced an interactive dialogue with a cross-section of school administrators, teachers, students, parents, community leaders and district education officers in Montserrado County. According to him, six of the nine school districts within the Montserrado County School

Education Ministry Launches School-Community Partnership

System have so far been covered by the exercise, while the next phase of the dialogue is expected to cover the remaining three educational districts in the county as well as the other school districts across the country. During the interactive dialogues at the respective districts, the team informed the participants that the MOE initiated the nationwide sensitization to make communities recognize their ownership role and responsibility in the promotion of quality education. Mr. Gaye also asserted that the team would engage the MOE authority to recognize the value of working with community members in the effective management of schools, and sharing responsibility for as well as taking full ownership of the education system. As such, the Assistant Minister Gaye underscored the importance of community engagement in education. He added that the process is critical to removing barriers and achieve quality education for all. Successful engagement empowers communities to participate in multi facets of education support in all parts of the country. The team, he noted, when school administrators, teachers and parents mutually support and recognize the role and relevance of one another, opportunities for learning can be maximized. That is to say, teachers need support and recognition from communities to perform effectively, while parents need guidance from teachers and other school personnel to understand how they can support their childrens learning. The team then urged community members to take ownership of the education of their children by not only embracing governments free and compulsory education, but by also protecting and preserving school facilities and preventing school-going children and teachers from getting involved in unwholesome acts. Mr. Gaye identified some of the unwholesome acts as school-based crimes, report of sex for or commercialization of grades, sexual harassment, child labor, etc. The team further maintained that community involvement in school management will help to increase accountability for both learning outcomes and school resources. Towards this end, the team called for a vibrant resuscitation (revival) of the parent teacher-student associations (PTSAs) and the setting up of school management committees (SMCs) in all public schools in the country. The team, however, noted that the effectiveness of the PTSAs and the SMCs will help to put a perpetual end to the alleged rampant encroachment and report of gross mishandling of school facilities across the country. The team reiterated the Ministrys commitment to work-

are seeking for the interven-

-Begs Prez Sirleaf to Help

esidents of Koon Town, Todee District, Upper Montserrado County

Todee District Yearns for Improved School, Other Facilities

tion of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to compel relevant government agencies and the authorities of the Ministry of Education (MOE) to provide their children improved educational facilities and also empower them economically. In line with the residents request, the district commissioner, Sam K. Morris explained to the Daily Observer recently in the district that the

ing with the PTSAs and other community-based organizations to develop operational guidelines and key skills in decision making and resource management to enable the PTSAs and community organizations work in partnership with school administrators to enhance transparency and accountability. A representative of the participants expressed appreciation to the MOE for the innovative undertaking which, they believe, would help to improve cooperation and collaboration between the schools and communities. The participants, however, expressed disappointment with the manner in which school facilities are sometimes being abused by students and some unscrupulous community members. Also, on behalf of the parents and school administrators, Mr. Gaye said, they reaffirmed their preparedness to collaborate with the Ministry in establishing vibrant PTSAs in schools in which there are none. They welcomed endeavors by the Ministry to strengthen school-community collaboration and called for the extension of such ventures to the rest of the counties to solidify the operations of the PTSA framework, which could in turn complement the work of the Ministry. The participants, however, frowned on governments scanty support to schools, a situation that has often re-

sulted to the inadequate sitting capacity in schools. The various interactive dialogues concluded with both representatives of the Ministry and the participants resolving to closely work together in strengthening and giving a new outlook and direction to the PTSAs in an attempt to improving school governance and maintenance processes. The over 200 participants further assured the Ministry of the prompt operation from their respective school PTSAs. MOE 80% Payroll Clean-up Meanwhile the MOE says it has achieved 80 percent of its payroll clean-up process in 2013. According to a dispatch,

over-padding the Ministrys payroll with names of individuals or relatives, who had no defined job descriptions. She explained that those persons who were not on payroll but were only receiving stipends have been paid off by the ministry. Deputy Minister Kochi disclosed that the current education administration inherited huge payroll complications (problems) starting from the 14-long years of civil crisis, during which time some untrained persons were recruited into the teaching profession. Deputy Minister Goll-Kotchi also said during the year under review, the Ministry established the early childhood division and the department of

Flashback: Deputy Minister Goll-Kochi (R) with NOCAL official, Pete Norman at a recent lab dedicatory ceremony
deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Hawa Goll- Kochi said the Ministry is on the verge of completing the payroll clean-up exercise. According to her, the Ministrys international partners are assisting in fast tracking the process in Montserrado and Margibi counties. She then blamed previous governments, especially those of the civil conflict years, for students personnel servicesnow headed by the Assistant Minister, T. Wilson Gaye, among others. At the same time also, Minister Goll-Kochi has disclosed that about 90 percent of teachers currently in the classrooms are not graduates of teachers training colleges, but were merely using the teaching profession as a first stage of survival.

A line up of students from the district with pieces of placards calling for the Presidents intervention

entire Todee District, which contains the Koon Town and its environs, lacked improved educational and other important facilities. According to him, 60 percent of the 12 schools in the district are damaged to the extent that some of the students sit on the bare floor and or benches made from bamboo chairs to learn, while few of the government assigned teachers in the area have since November last year, reportedly abandoned classes to run after their salaries in Monrovia. Commissioner Morris made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with this paper shortly after the residents met with President Sirleaf during ceremony marking the dedication of the refurbished military facilities at the Todee

Prez Sirleaf being received and presented with kola nuts by leaders of Koon Town
Academy on Friday, December 27, 2013. According to him, apart from the deplorable state of schools and road network in the area, the women need economic empowerment through a loan scheme to do business. He explained among other things that the district lacks market hall and a commissioner office to conduct official businesses. We dont have market hall, commissioner office space, proper latrines, etc. please help us by directing relevant government agencies responsible to construct some the basic needs of the district, Commissioner Morris yearned on behalf of the residents.

DAILY OBSERVER

n his recent exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Wang Yi set forth a four-point proposition about resolving the South Sudan issue, stressing that stability and development are in the fundamental interests of all ethnicities in South Sudan. Wang Yi said that China indeed has been following very closely the developments in South Sudan. What is most important for South Sudan, a new-born nation with a lot to be reconstructed, is stability and development, without which the fundamental interests of all ethnicities in the country would be impaired. Conflicts will bring sufferings to all the people in South Sudan in the end, which is not in the interests of South Sudan at all. Since the outbreak of the conflict,

Wang Yi: Stability and Development Are in the Fundamental Interests of all Ethnicities in South Sudan

CHINA & AFRICA

Sponsored by the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 6

EIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday outlined Chinas diplomatic priorities for 2014, including enhanced ties with major powers and closer relations with neighbors. New-type relationship with big powers

Chinese FM Outlines Diplomatic Priorities for 2014

ing powers and the existing ones, said Ruan Zongze, vice chairman of China Foundation for International Studies. The vision of such a newtype relationship is not utopian, said Ye Zhicheng, a professor of international relations at the Beijing University. The current ChinaRussia ties has been a successful pilot model. Neighboring situation most complicated On Chinas relationship with its neighbors, Wang said China will consolidate friendship with those countries and establish a fate community. Wang said China will insist on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and strive for the resumption of the six-party talks on the peninsulas nuclear issue. China will safeguard its national sovereignty and dignity while striving to settle territorial and maritime disputes with neighboring countries via dialogue, he said. China will also promote Afghanistans political reconciliation and economic reconstruction, Wang noted. Chinas surrounding situation is at its most complicated period, Ruan said, labelling such complexity as Chinas growing pains. Singular policy will no longer work for all issues as Chinas connection with the outside world has been

China has kept calling for international attention, sent its envoys for mediation efforts, and actively supported the mediation efforts of the IGAD countries. Wang Yi stressed that China has a four-point position on this issue. First, a ceasefire should take effect and violence should be stopped immediately, so as to make way for peace talks and to maintain law and order in the

country. Second, it is imperative to launch an inclusive political dialogue process as soon as possible and find a solution acceptable to both sides. Third, the international community should intensify efforts for peace talks, urging both sides to engage in serious peace talks. Fourth, it is important to improve the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. As large numbers of civilians have been caught in the crossfire and their life, property and personal safety have been threatened, the international community should support and help them as much as possible. At the same time, we hope and believe that the Government of South Sudan will take concrete and effective measures to protect the lives and properties of the Chinese nationals in the country.

Wang Yi: The Japanese Leaders Should Respect The Red Line of Human Conscience and International Justice

China will further build a framework for its relationships with big powers, which should feature positive interactions and healthy development, Wang said at a forum on Chinas diplomacy in 2013. He hailed Chinas diplomatic ties with the other major powers this year, including the upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and the under-construction new-type relationship with the United States. China will build a new type of relationship with the United States with increased results of cooperation, and expand cooperation with Russia in various fields, Wang said. China will also coordinate development strategies with the European Union and enhance cooperation with other developing powers, Wang noted. China has determined to build a new-type relationship with the other major powers to twist the so-called fate of conflict between emerg-

so complicated and various interests overlapped so profoundly, Ruan said. Japans proactive policies, especially its activities on the Diaoyu Island in the East China Sea, are regarded by some as one of the reasons behind the complicated situation. Japan has kept blaming China for changing the socalled status quo over the Diaoyu Islands. However, whats the actual status quo? The status quo is that Japan does not own the sovereignty of those Islands and did not even when the United States handed over their administration to Japan in 1972 without Chinas consent, said Yang Xiyu, a researcher with the China Institute of International Studies. The actual status quo is that former leaders of China and Japan agreed to shelve this dispute when they agreed to normalize bilateral relations in 1972, Yang said, blaming Japan for its decision to nationalize the islands in 2012 changing the status quo. China hopes for dialogue and communication with Japan to settle disputes, said Gao Hong, deputy director of the Institute of Japanese Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. However, the Japanese side should show some sincerity. New Silk Road to boost trade Wang stressed the countrys traditional friendship

alking about Japanese Prime Minister Abes visit to the Yasukuni Shrine during his recent exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed the hope that the Japanese leaders will respect the red line of human conscience and international justice. Wang Yi pointed out that recently, Japanese Prime Minister Abe paid homage to the Yasukuni Shrine in total disregard of opposition of people of various countries. The Shrine is a symbol of the militaristic aggression. Until this day, all the exhibits in the Shrine are designed to justify Japans decision to launch that war of aggression at the time, and the 14 Class-A war criminals tried at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are still honored in the Shrine. This is the place that Prime Minister Abe bent on visiting. Worse even, he regarded the war criminals as the souls of the war dead. He has crossed the bottom line of human conscience and what he has done is way beyond Japans domestic affairs. In essence, it is an attempt to whitewash Japans war of aggression, challenge the just trial of the International Military Tribunal for

the Far East, and challenge the resultant post-war order. China is concerned that this will lead Japan to danger. Lessons of the history have to be learned. This is an issue to which the whole international community should pay much attention. Nobody should be allowed to turn back the wheels of the history or backtrack. Back then, Japanese militarists committed atrocities in Asia, just as German fascists did in Europe. In China alone, the Japanese war of aggression inflicted casualties of as many as 35 million, not to mention countless property losses. But the Chinese nation is tolerant and generous. They have given up war reparations, and furthermore they have come to recognize that the Japanese people are also victims of militarism and that only the militarists

should be held responsible for the war. In other words, Class-A war criminals honored at the Yasukuni Shrine should take the responsibility for the war of aggression. Now, the Japanese leaders went so far as to pay homage to these Class-A war criminals. This is unacceptable, not only to the Chinese people, but to the whole international community. It would be unimaginable if this took place in Europe. The only way to open up the future is to expose and condemn the past; and the only way for Japan to win back the trust of its neighbors is to commit itself to peace. China hopes that the Japanese leaders should understand this most basic principle and respect the red line of human conscience and international justice.

Wang Yi: We Hope that Egypt will Regain Its Role As a Major Country in the Region
recent years, turbulence erupted inside Egypt, which is detrimental not only to the countrys own stability and development but also to the role it is expected to play in the region. Egypt, in Chinas view, is in the middle of political and social transition, and it is in search of a development path suited to its national conditions. In so doing, Egypt has Chinas understanding and support. The Egyptians are a great people. They have the wisdom and ability to find a development path that is conducive to the country,
countries. He highlighted Chinas strategy for a Silk Road economic zone and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, noting China will strive for an early harvest in those efforts. Wang also pledged to promote multilateral and bilateral free trade talks, including finishing talks with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and

alking about Chinas view on the future of Egypt in his recent exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his hope that Egypt will regain its role as a major country in the region. Wang Yi said that Egypt is an ancient civilization and a major Arab and African country. China and Egypt have a long history of friendly exchanges. Egypt has played a very important role in maintaining regional peace and stability. In more

acceptable to its people and suited to Egypts realities. The recent situation in Egypt is moving in a positive direction and China just hosted a visit by the Egyptian foreign minister. Wang mentioned his impression that Egypt is regaining its confidence and more willing to get engaged with the rest of the world, including the major countries, which is a highly positive development. We hope that Egypt will restore stability, achieve development and regain its role as a major country in the region.
Australia at an early date, upgrading its FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and pushing forward the China-ROK-Japan FTA talks. China will face the member states of the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks with an open attitude, as well as other regional or cross-region FTA initiatives, Wang said.

with other developing countries, noting that China will expand cooperation with Africa, implement its aid commitments and push for new breakthroughs in trade and economic ties with Africa. China will also enhance cooperation with Arab countries and Latin America, Wang said, vowing to struggle for justice and preserve the interests of developing

DAILY OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 7

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Invitation for Bids (IFB) For the Procurement of Works (Construction of Water Supply IFB NO. NHA/NCB/004/2013/14
1. The National Housing Authority has received funding from the National Social Security & Welfare Cooperation intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to payments under the Contract for the Construction of Water Supply System for its Brewerville Housing Project. 2. The National Housing Authority now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the Construction of a water Supply System for its Brewerville Housing Project. The delivery/construction period is thirty (30) working days. 3. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures pursuant to the Public Procurement & Concessions Commission Act and the accompanying Regulations and is open to all qualified, competent and eligible bidders operating under the laws of Liberia as defined in the Bidding Documents. 4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Unit National Housing Authority Water Street, UN Drive P. O. Box 3012 Monrovia, Liberia 5. Qualified requirements include: Articles of Incorporation Valid Tax Clearance Valid Business Registration Company Profile Past performance records including the names and contact numbers of at least two clients MPW / ALCC Certificate required

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE- IMPROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY Grant No: TF011340 NATIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICES: ACCESS TO JUSTICE (ADR) ADVISOR Request for Expressions of Interest
1. Introduction
The Government of Liberia has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of strengthening Governance Improving Access to Justice and Accountability and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to payments under the contract for the recruitment of a National Consultant.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including various forms of mediation, arbitration and other justice services, is regularly referenced as a solution to challenges faced by the Liberian justice system, including: increasing congestion of court dockets; high numbers of land disputes; significant costs of litigation; procedural delay; and the adversarial nature of proceedings. The Ministry of Justices three-year ADR project will explore ways by which the justice system can be more responsive to the needs of Liberians and examine means of resolving disputes outside of the formal legal process. The overall objective of the ADR project is to determine how ADR is being used in the Liberian context and pilot models that increase the effectiveness, accountability and sustainability of local ADR initiatives through some form of institutionalization or support by the MOJ.

2. Background

The objective of the assignment is to provide management, administrative and technical advice and support to the Ministry of Justice on the establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Liberia through the piloting of ADR system in four counties. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the National Consultant in collaboration with the International Consultant will be responsible for helping to facilitate, consensus building and design of the pilot ADR activities; and establishment of pilots in four counties. The consultant will work in close collaboration with officials in the MOJ, in partnership with key strategic partners including the Judiciary, the Law Reform Commission, the Land Commission, the Liberia National Bar Association, Tribal Governors Association, representatives of civil society groups, community leaders / elders and chiefs and justice actors. The Ministry of Justice now invites eligible individual Liberian nationals to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (CVs, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions).

3.

Objective of the Assignment

6. A complete set of Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders from the Procurement Unit of the National Housing Authority on Water Street, UN Drive upon payment of a non-refundable fee of One Hundred United States Dollars (&US100.00) beginning Tuesday 14th January 2014 from 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday daily. 7. Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before 11:30am, Tuesday 11th February 2014. Electronic bidding shall not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened physically in the presence of the bidders representatives who choose to attend in the Conference Room of the National Housing Authority. 8. All bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Security as stated in the BDS of the Bidding Document Procurement Unit National Housing Authority water Street, UN Drive P.O. Box 3012 Monrovia, Liberia

The Access to Justice (ADR) National Consultant shall have the following educational and professional qualifications: a. Graduate degree in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, or related areas; b. A minimum of five years of relevant working experience; c. Experience working on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and working with traditional communities in Liberia strongly preferred; d. Excellent writing and communication skills; e. Demonstrated experience in conducting research on issues related to Dispute Resolution in similar contexts; f. Familiarity with Liberias social and legal systems An Individual consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Banks Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011. Interested individual consultants may obtain further information at the address below from Monday to Friday between 0830 hrs and 1630 hrs during working days. Expressions of Interest, clearly marked Access to Justice (ADR) Advisor National , must be delivered to the address below by hand, mail or email, by 1400 Hrs no later than January 14, 2014. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. The ADR Program Ministry of Justice, Third Floor Ashmun Street, Monrovia, Liberia Or By e-mail: adr.liberia@gmail.com

Qualifications

DAILY OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 10 8

USAID Food & Enterprise Development Program (FED)

JOB VACANCY
The Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) located in District #3, Grand Bassa County has vacancies in its ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT for the following positions. POWER PLANT ATTENDANTS(2) A. REQUIRED COMPETENCE: 1. Must be at least a High School Graduate and capable of reading and following instructions. 2. Age Requirement 20 to 30 years. 3. Practical mechanical knowledge that is, ability to check oil level, water level. belt tension, etc.) 4. Ability to carry out vision inspection, etc. B. FACTORY ELECTRICIAN(1)

Request for Proposals (RFP-MDF-0020) Reconstruction of Fabrar Inc. warehouse

RFP-MDF-0020 January 7, 2014

RFP No. Issue Date Title Objective Issuing Office & Email/Physical Address for Submission of Proposals Date for bidders to submit contact information of individuals to travel with FED to Kakata for site visit on Monday January 13, 2014. Date for mandatory site visit to Kakataand bidders conference (FED vehicle will take bidders to project site) Day Trip Deadline for submission of questions, in writing Deadline for the submission of proposal Contact Person

Reconstruction of Fabrar Inc. warehouse Please see body of this RFP FED office, 6th St. Sinkor, Monrovia (Opposite Greenland Supermarket) FEDMDF@dai.com January 13, 2014 (please email FEDMDF@dai.com which the names and contact details of individuals for site visit)

January 15, 2013 (Itinerary: 9:00am leave FED Monrovia Office 10:15 arrive Kakata 11:00 to 12:30pm site visit and bidder conference 1:30pm return to FED Monrovia Office January 14, 2014 at 5:00 PM (Submit to FEDMDF@dai.com)

REQUIRED COMPETENCE: 1. Must have Diploma/Certificate or relevant documents to prove training in the career from a recognized Vocational Training Institution. 2. Ability to work independently with minimum supervision. 3. Technical knowledge of safety equipment and regulation. 4. Good organizational skills 5. Ability to lead and motivate subordinates 6. Read and speak English fluently WORKING EXPERIENCE: He/she must have worked in similar capacity for a minimum of five (5) years. Application, Resume and Supporting Documents including contact cell phone numbers should be submitted to the: HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANT MANAGER LIBERIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY (LAC) 20TH STREET, SINKOR TUBMAN BOULEVARD MONROVIA, LIBERIA ONLY SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR AN INTERVIEW OR OTHERWISE. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION IS JANUARY 25, 2014.

January 22, 2014, at 5:00 PM

MDF Department Mobile: 0888-9072-88 FEDMDF@dai.com Fixed Price Subcontract DAI/FED intends to award a subcontract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible company (ies) whose proposal(s) represents the best value after evaluation in accordance with the factors in this solicitation. Trade Off Kakata, Margibi County January 25, 2014 to February28, 2014

Anticipated Award Type Basis for Award

Solicitation Type Location of Activity Proposed Period of Performance

Interested Offerors may obtain a full copy of the RFP which contains detailed instructions for preparation of the proposal. The RFP may be collected from the address and/or contact person above.

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Tuesday, November 5,14, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 2014 Tuesday, January 14, 2013

Page94 Page

Japan Pledges US$83.4 Million to ECOWAS

By William Q. Harmon

he government of Japan through its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged its support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with a preparation of a US$83.4 million humanitarian assistance package which will go to the stabilization West Africas Sahel region. The Japanese Prime Minister also indicated that the package is intended to spur economic growth in the region and as well promote more Japanese investment. According to a dispatch from Abidjan, where a mini ECOWAS Summit was convened over the weekend, Prime Minister Abe made the commitment at a State Dinner hosted by President Alassane Ouattara of Cte dIvoire following a meeting with Heads of State of the regional organization in the Ivoirian capital on Friday, January 10. President Ouattara is the current Chairman of (ECOWAS). Countries in the Sahel region have been plagued with natural disasters such as drought and famine along with the man-made burden civil conflict. In recent times the civil conflict in Mali has put the regions fragility in the spotlight and garnered international attention. The Japanese Prime Minister is on a week-long first visit to Africa, which includes stops in Mozambique and Ethiopia. His visit is expected to further enhance Japans economic ties with Africa, including business relations, while also highlighting Japans efforts toward international peace. Solidarity gives strength. Its a simple but a strong message which ECOWAS is con-

veying to the world. The efforts that you have expended to stabilize the Sahel region lead to respect, Prime Minister Abe told the ECOWAS leaders at the State Dinner, adding, Japan wants to support you. That is why we are preparing $83.4 million worth of assistance in favor of the Sahel region. Prime Minister Abes visit to Africa follows the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), held in Yokohama, Japan, back in June 2013, which was attended by nearly 40 African Heads of State and Government. At that meeting, Japan discussed, among other issues, trade and investment, as well as peace and stability in Africa. Japan also pledged a US$14.4 billion aid package over the next five years as part of a broader envelope of US$32.8 billion in private sector investment. Mr. Abes visit was the first by a Japanese Head of Government to Africa in the past eight years. In 2006, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Ethiopia and Ghana. Making remarks earlier during the opening meeting with ECOWAS leaders, Prime Minister Abe said his country would partner with them to promote peace and security

in the region, which he said would in return help spur economic activities and boost development in the region. The Japanese leader said the need to promote peace and security in West Africa had become crucial due to the regions strategic place in the global economy. Mr. Abe indicated that Japan, as a long-standing friend to many countries in the region, would continue to engage in issues to promote economic development. Welcoming his guest, the ECOWAS Chairman, President Ouattaera, observed that West Africa is blessed with investment opportunities capable of triggering sustainable economic development. He noted that ECOWAS Member States are ready to work with Japan toward deepening economic integration and cooperation that would be mutually beneficial. ECOWAS Member States see Japans interest in the region as a welcome development. It is our hope that we will enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship, he said. Welcoming Prime Minister Abe to Cte dIvoire and the region the first such visit by a Japanese Head of Government to his country Ivorian President Ouattara termed the visit

a milestone in the relations between the two countries and the region. Your presence is a testimony to our common desire to continue the development of our states and collectively ensure the well-being of our people, President Ouattara said, adding that beyond la Cte dIvoire, ECOWAS and its people welcomed him in a context of deepening economic integration. President Ouattara indicated that the dynamism of the region calls for the strengthening of its strategic partnership with Japan in various spheres, including infrastructure, safety, new technologies and the involvement of the Japanese private sector. In a world where regional groupings reassure the people and strengthen the bonds of solidarity between nations, Japan and the ECOWAS countries have in common the goal of building a peaceful world, based on a representative global governance of our time, the ECOWAS Chairman told the visiting Japanese Premier. He reiterated the call of ECOWAS Member States to reform and expand the United Nations Security Council and to ensure that Africa is represented among the permanent members. Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on Friday January 10, 2014 joined 12 of her West African colleagues for a two-day mini-Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government with Japanese Prime Minister Abe. During President Sirleafs stay in Abidjan, she held discussions with the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, as well as closed-door discussions with President Ouattara. She also met with the leadership of the Liberian community in Cte dIvoire.

Alumni Association Calls for Immediate Investigation in UL Saga

midst indefinite suspension of classes and breeding tension at the University of Liberia (UL), the Alumni Association is calling on the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders to quickly conduct an investigation into the unfolding event that has stalled the reopening of the institutions. The association, in a release noted, The persistent tension has generated and for which has now been heightened by students protests that sometimes become violent, does not augur well for the atmosphere of academic freedom, peace and security that Liberia needs in order to successfully pursue her agenda for transformation. The UL Alumni Association is of the view that if nothing is done to speedily resolve the ongoing crisis, the situation will further exacerbate and degenerate into a major crisis, thereby creating a serious threat to the peace Liberians enjoy now. At the same time, the Alumni Association has strongly condemned all acts of violence carried out at the university and perpetrated against Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost, Dr. Wede Elliot-Brownell. It can be recalled that on November 22 last year, a group of students allegedly ransacked Dr. Brownells home and took away some valuables. The student association in a strongest term described the act as Barbaric. It also distanced itself from a strong statement made by Dr. Brownell on December 12 of last year that the University of Liberia is a den of Academic Criminals. According to the Alumni Association, it sees this statement made by the Provost as unfortunate, disappointing, and totally regrettable and a hasty generalization only intended to bring the high-earned reputation of the University to public disrepute, calling on the public not to give it (statement) credence. Classes at the University of Liberia were suspended late last year when the faculty union led by Clifford Young took the decision to disengage for several reasons and con-

By Joaquin Sendolo

Ellen Consults Legal Professionals on Justice Ministers Suspension

resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has taken note of last weeks decision of the Supreme Court of Liberia, placing a six-month suspension on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. Christiana P. Tah. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader is holding consultations with eminent lawyers and legal professionals, including former Chief Justices and former Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, to fully comprehend the implications of the Courts decision, especially as

BellehYallah Road Project on Track, Contractor Reassures

Unfinished, But...

P
Prez. Ellen JohnsonSirleaf
it relates to the executive powers of the President.

By Keith Morris

ealat Construction Company has announced that the Belleh Yallah road project might not be quite finished at this point, but it is on track. The road project links Bopolu and throughout the entire country; specifically Belleh Yallah. Belleh Yallah is a town in Gbarpolu County. It used to be the home of a notorious prison used by rogue regimes to rid themselves of political rivals by banishing (exiling, sending away) them for being trouble-makers. The chief executive officer (CEO) of Pealat, Mr. Praise O. T. Lawal, explained that minor construction work on the project involving culverts and a few bad spots are ongoing in order to fully complete the road and then turn it over

to national government. Mr. Lawal maintained that as Bellah Yallah has been inaccessible since the founding of Liberia, maximum human capacity is needed in an effort to adequately prepare the road for motorists. He noted that most of the work ongoing are part of the contract that was not included in previous arrangements with the Ministry of Public Works and his entity initially. However, he said, the project will be fully completed in time. Pealat boss Lawal made the disclosure recently when three civil society organizations honoured him and the company for their many positive contributions to national growth. The Progressive Alliance Movement of Liberia, Liberian Youth Initiative, Free Conscious Independent and Objective Thinkers of Li-

cerns it wants the university administration to address. Key among the reasons is the immediate resignation of the Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost, Dr. Wede Elliot-Brownell, whom the faculty members see as impediment to their progress and progress of the university. Following the disengagement of faculty members, some disgruntle students also joined the fray, roaming the UL Capitol Hill campus with a symbolic casket made of paper indicating that it is where the Provost will take her final rest in the unfolding crisis. This was subsequently followed on November 22 by violent action characterized by stone throw which allegedly wounded one of ULs Police, and the Universitys President and the Provost were aided by the Liberian National Police to escape the campus after being confined in the office building for hours. With the hope that classes would resume on January 7, 2014, the UL Administration announced again that classes are indefinitely suspended as investigation is still ongoing in the saga surrounding the Provost and the faculty union as the union also remains disengaged. Since the announcement, there have been emerging speculations and pronouncements in some local dailies by some student group leaders that they will shortly be staging series of violent protest which may result into huge casualties. Some publications of last week quoted the Student Unification Party (SUP) and University of Liberia Students Union (ULSU) Acting President Anthony Williams as saying that they were calling on each of the fifteen counties to make 100 students available to join forces to surround the Capitol where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be delivering her annual address to the Legislature. In the wake of these pronouncements and speculations, the Alumni Association also called on all sides of the crisis to remain calm and cooperate with the investigation team to come out with its findings and ruling instead of staging violence that will escalate the problem.

beria, flowered the Liberian company for engaging in several technical road projects involving Johnsonville Dry Rice Market, St. Michael, Tusa Field and Soul Clinic roads respectively. Making remarks, Chairman of Progressive Alliance Movement of Liberia, K. Mamadee Keita, called on the national government to settle its financial obligations to all Liberian-owned companies, including the Pealat Construc-

tion Company. Keita added that in the absence of said settlement, most of the affected companies may not be efficient in their operations, particularly when Pealat has to finalize the Bopolu Highway. Accepting the honour, Mr. Lawal praised the groups for the recognition, stressing that it was important for young people to always think positively about their nation and people.

DAILY OBSERVER
Peace Corps/Liberia Education Programming and Training Specialist (ED PTS)
REPORTS TO: Programming and Training Manager (PTM) POSITION BRIEF: The ED PTS serves as a member of the Programming and Training (P&T) team and supports 80-100 Volunteers in training, program, administration, and other Volunteer support issues. The ED PTS has responsibility for supporting the planning, development, implementation and administration of Peace Corps Liberias programming and training activities. The ED PTS will support all P&T related activities for the Education Project with support and direction from the Education Program Manager (ED PM) and PTM. During the Pre-Service Training (PST) and In-Service Training (IST) cycles, the PTS will be the full-time technical trainer for the Education Project and will receive support and direction from the TM and ED PM. The ED PTS also represents Peace Corps Liberia with governmental officials and representatives of non-governmental and host country organizations. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES A. Project and Program Support Site Development Site Visits Administrative Program Support Volunteer Program Support B. Development and Implementation Of Training Activities C. Administrative and other Volunteer Support D. Grants Coordination and Management E. Information Resource Center Management F. Safety and Security QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE Education: Bachelors degree in education, project management, community development or relevant field. Experience: Three years progressively responsible experience in Education field and/or community development. Trainer of trainers and adult training experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes: Knowledge of and experience with adult education, education in Liberia, and participatory community analysis for development. Strong experience with group facilitation, session plan design, and cultural adaptation & sensitivity training. Computer skills with Microsoft Office required. Ability to work with minimal supervision Ability to manage and administer small grant programs. Position requires a valid Liberia drivers license and ability to drive a manual vehicle (stick shift). ED PTS must be available and willing to travel throughout Liberia approximately 50-60% of time either accompanied by PM or alone. For a complete Statement of Work please send a request to pcjobs@lr.@peacecorps.gov. Submit a letter of interest, resume and three reference contacts as attachments via email to: pcjobs@lr.peacecorps.gov. No phone calls please. The deadline for applications is January 13, 2014. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the Contracting Officer. A detailed Statement of Work can be obtained at the guard stations of the Peace Corps Office in Congo Town. 1 December 2013

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Page 8 10

LAND COMMISSION
JOB VACANCY
Opening Date: January 13th 2014 Closing Date: January 22nd 2014 Position: Program Officer for Community Land Rights Salary: Attractive Remuneration BACKGROUND In May, 2013, the Land Rights Policy developed by the Commission was validated and approved by the Government and People of Liberia. The Policy creates the new tenure rights category of Community Land. The Policy commits the Government of Liberia to provide the necessary resources to ensure communities self-define, determine their boundaries, are issued deeds as equal to private land ownership, establish legal entities, and most importantly, create strong community governance institutions. Different tenure rights including tribal certificates, deeds, concessions, and permits have been issued to individuals, private companies and organizations granting them the rights to community land and resources on the land. This has resulted to overlapping land claims and disputes particularly under concessions which is of concern to the Commission. Because these disputes threaten the peace of the country and pose high risks to investment, the Land Commission in collaboration with relevant agencies of government is working with communities and concessionaires to ensure that grievances are addressed and consequent disputes settled peacefully to the benefit of both concessionaires and communities. Resolving these multiple overlapping tenure claims, identifying the nature and root causes of disputes relative to these claims, and developing an implementation plan for community land recognition based on the Land Rights Policy are key objectives the Commission seeks to realize through the creation of a staff position dedicated for this purpose. The Land Commission now invites applications from suitably qualified Liberians to occupy the position of Program Officer for Community Land Rights within the Technical Secretariat of the Commission. POSITION SUMMARY The Program Officer for Community Land Rights (POCLR) is a core technical officer who shall be directly supervised by the Senior Program Officer, under the direction of the Director. Oversight supervisory responsibility shall be provided by the Chairman of the Commission. The POCLR shall work with the Community Land Rights Recognition Implementation Team (CLRIT) in addressing issues concerning the implementation of community land recognition under the Land Rights Policy including all forms of existing tenure systems referred to in the background; land rights to be transferred to concessionaires, the nature and source of disputes/conflicts arising during and after the process of transfer and means of addressing them. S/He shall provide timely and relevant information through established channel of reporting to the Commissioners; Director; the Senior Program Officer; and international partners. KEY RESPONSIBLITIES Work with the Community Land Rights Recognition Implementation Team (CLRIT) to conduct analysis of existing customary land tenure systems ; Work with the CLRIT to implement activities for Customary Land Recognition; Liaise and collaborate with other stakeholders involved in community land recognition and titling; Assist to undertake an inventory of concessions in the natural resources sector with focus on their policy, legal and institutional aspects; Work in close collaboration with the Program Officers for Land Dispute Resolution; Land Use Management, and Land Administration; Formulate arrangements for conflict mediation and resolution over overlapping land claims and related disputes; Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordination Officer to identify options for sustained monitoring and evaluation of the activities of concessions on customary land; Develop a work plan and a budget to fund activities; and Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned through the appropriate authorities. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent experience), preferably in a social science discipline. Training and experience in field research and community development. Experience living and working in rural Liberia an asset. Capacity to produce high-quality briefs and reports. Skills Must have knowledge of contemporary Liberia land rights issues as they relate to emerging land policies and legislations; Must have the ability to negotiate and promote an enabling condition for dialogue between concessionaire and members of concerned customary community; Must have excellent report writing skills and able to analytically articulate issues; Must have ability to organize and conduct meetings as well as gather and report feedback from the meetings; Must have good team working skills and experience in analyzing field reports; and Must have computer knowledge skills.

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

LAND COMMISSION
JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Opening Date: Closing Date: Position: Salary: January 13th 2014 January 22nd 2014 Monitoring and Evaluation Coordination Officer Attractive Remuneration

BACKGROUND The Land Commission is an autonomous agency of the Government of Liberia with a mandate to propose, advocate and coordinate reforms of land policy, laws and programs in Liberia. It pursues reforms that are embedded in a raft of principles that envisage equitable access to public and private land, security of tenure and rule of law, effective land administration and management, and the promotion of sustainable development of the nations land resources base. As an integral part of rigorously monitoring of the the land sector in Liberia, the Commission is to shortly introduce as part of its operations, a number of tools including the tracking system of the African Union (AU) Framework and Guidelines for Land Policy in Africa, and the World Bank Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF) to monitor rule based indicators for policy and legal reform and quantitative indicators related to the core areas of land administration: land use planning, management, registration, taxation, provision of land information, and dispute resolution and conflict management, etc. To fill this critical capacity gap and address the above mentioned challenges, the Land Commission is seeking applications from suitably qualified Liberians to occupy the position of Monitoring & Evaluation/Coordination Officer within the Technical Secretariat of the Commission. POSITION SUMMARY The M&E/Coordination Officer is a core technical officer who shall work under the direct supervision of the Senior Program Officer, under the direction of the Director. Oversight supervision shall be provided by the Commissioner for Policy and Program, under the overall direction of the Chair of the Commission. The M & E Coordination Officer shall be charged with the responsibility for developing in collaboration with implementing partners, the M&E strategy of the Commission including implementation of related activities with timely and relevant information provided the Chairman; the Commissioner for Policy and Programs; Director; the Senior Program Officer, primary land sector ministries and agencies; international partners; and external consultants and field staff when appropriate. Critical tasks for the M&E/Coordination Officer are first, setting up the M&E system for the Land Commission and ensuring it functions effectively. This will include utilizing existing mechanism and systems among relevant stakeholders. Secondly, the M & E Officer will work with key stakeholders, namely the primary land sector stakeholders and implementing partners to progressively develop a joint M & E system for the land sector in general. KEY RESPONSIBLITIES Develop in collaboration with implementing partners, a monitoring and evaluation system for each of the program area, as well as for the institutional capacity of the Commission; With stakeholders, set out the framework and procedures for the evaluation of both the Government of Liberia and donor funded project activities; Guide the process for identifying and designing the key indicators to capture the impact of the work of the Commission, including resulting behavior change with particular attention to gender differences; Establish baselines and targets for each year and review annually with the findings published in the annual report; Organize and undertake training with stakeholders, including primary stakeholders in M&E skills; In collaboration with program staff and implementing partners, ensure implementation of M & E strategies and frameworks; In collaboration with program officers and staff of the financial division, track M & E activity and project budgets; In collaboration with program staff, identify the successes, challenges and lessons learned of program activities, and ensure appropriate flow of information to the Commission and implementing partners, and donors; In collaboration with program staff, ensure that necessary M & E planning, budgeting and management activities occur to facilitate smooth and efficient program functioning; Prepare reports on M&E findings, as required, working closely with financial controller, technical staff and implementing partners, and make regular reports to the Senior Program Officer, Director and the Board of Commissioners highlighting areas of concern (s) and preparing documents for review at meetings; Undertake regular visits to the field to support implementation of M&E and to identify where adaptations might be needed; Serve as secretary during all land sector coordination and tripartite review meetings among the LC, sector ministries, and donors. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPEREINCE REQUIRED Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent experience), preferably in statistics or a related social science discipline with experience in field research; At least five years of Monitoring and Evaluation experience (essential); and Capacity to produce high-quality briefs and reports. Skills Good level of proficiency in Windows Excel and quantitative analysis; Ability to design M&E tools, surveys, surveillance systems, and evaluations; Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others; Strong interpersonal skills; Experience in a non-governmental organization or in the United Nations (desirable); Planning and implementation of M&E systems; Facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data with multiple stakeholders; and Information analysis and report writing.

Other Conditions: Willing to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders; Selection process After initial screening of applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Only shorted listed applicants will be contacted. How to apply Interested candidates for this position should submit the following: A clearly typed application letter which briefly summarizes why you believe you are qualified for this position; Current Resume; and The names and contact details of three references that can attest to your professional qualifications and or work experience. Submit application to: The Director Land Commission Between 8th& 9th Streets Jallah Town Road/Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia The Land Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and welcomes applications from all segments of the Liberian society including women and the physically challenged.

Selection process After initial screening of applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Only shorted listed applicants will be contacted. How to apply Interested candidates for this position should submit the following: A clearly typed application letter which briefly summarizes why you believe you are qualified for this position and your relevant experience; Current Resume; and The names and contact details of three references that can attest to your professional qualifications and or work experience. Submit application to no later than January 22, 2014 to: The Director Land Commission Between 8th& 9th Streets Jallah Town Road/Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia The Land Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and welcomes applications from all segments of the Liberian society including women and the physically challenged.

Continued on pg 11

DAILY OBSERVER REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Tuesday, January 14, 2014 REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Page 11 9

LAND COMMISSION
JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Opening Date: Closing Date-: Positions: Salary: BACKGROUND In furtherance of its mandate, the Land Commission is seeking applications from suitably qualified Liberians to occupy the following positions within the Technical Secretariat of the Commission. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Program Assistant for Land Policy and Program Program Assistant for Land Law Reform Program Assistant for Land Administration Program Assistant for Land Use Management Program Assistant for Land Dispute Resolution; and Information and Communication Assistant January 13th 2014 January 22nd 2014 Program Assistants Attractive Remuneration

LAND COMMISSION
Opening Date-: Closing Date: Position: Salary: January 13th 2014 January 22nd 2014 Program Officer for Land Policy and Program Attractive Remuneration

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

BACKGROUND The Land Commission is an autonomous agency of the Government of Liberia with a mandate to propose, advocate and coordinate reforms of land policy, laws and programs in Liberia. It pursues reforms that are embedded in a raft of principles that envisage equitable access to public and private land, security of tenure and rule of law, effective land administration and management, and the promotion of sustainable development of the nations land resources base. In furtherance of its mandate, the Land Commission is seeking applications from suitably qualified Liberians to occupy the position of Program Officer for Land Policy and Program within the Technical Secretariat of the Commission. POSITION SUMMARY The Land Policy Program Area of the Commission is responsible to develop land policies in coordination with other program areas through a process of fact-finding, research, and participatory and inclusive public consultations. The Program Officer for Land Policy is a core technical officer of the Technical Secretariat of the Land Commission, who shall be supervised by the Senior Program Officer, under the direction of the Director. Oversight supervision shall be provided by the Commissioner for Policy and Programs, under the overall direction of the Chair of the Commission. The Program Officer shall provide program management and development support to the policy and law reform agenda of the Commission and ensure proper work planning, organization, and implementation of activities to meet deliverables. The Program Officer shall supervise the activities of the Program Assistant and provide the necessary technical inputs to plan and implement land policy programs and projects of the Land Commission. S)/He will assist in the exploration and identification of new directions for land policy including the critical review of the guidelines/policies of land sector institutions and work with the other program officers, the senior program officer on issues and projects of diverse natures. KEY RESPONSIBLITIES Carry out research and identify key issues that are critical to the land policy and legal reform process; Collaborate with other program officers to identify and address issues across programs and projects with policy components; Review and assist in the preparation of reports, studies, background papers, guidelines/statements, correspondences, and presentations related to land policy reform; Collaborate with relevant program areas for the convening of public consultations and workshops on land policy related issues and matters; Network with donors, government agencies, and research institutions with interest in land policy and related reforms; Assist in preparing draft land policies by, among other things, working with and providing technical support to the policy development process; Review land policy and related studies conducted for the Commission. Ensure that findings and recommendations are provided to the Director, the Senior Program Officer ,the overseeing Commissioner and the Chairman for further review and appropriate action(s); Act as a focal point for the compilation of all information regarding land policy reform; Supervise the activities of the Program Assistant for Land Policy; Monitor the activities of the Program Assistant and Administrative Assistant (assigned to the office of the Commissioner) to ensure that there is constant flow of information between the two offices; Represent the Technical Secretariat of the Land Commission in meetings, events, workshops on relevant themes that fall within the programmatic area of land policy reform when so designated; and Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by the Board of Commissioners through the appropriate authorities. QUALIFICATIONS Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent experience), preferably in land or natural resources, business administration, public administration, economics, or a discipline relevant to the position ; Minimum 3-5 years experience working in a similar or associated role; Good knowledge regarding a range of land and natural resources issues; and Strong research and writing skills Language Fluency in oral and written English. Other skills Proficiency in computer use, including internet, databases, email, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other electronic media applications; Demonstrated experience in performing research using a variety of electronic and traditional sources; Excellent interpersonal, analytical and problem solving skills; and Ability to read, write and otherwise correspond effectively in the English language. Selection Process After initial screening of applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Only shorted listed applicants will be contacted. How to apply Interested candidates for this position should submit the following: A clearly typed application letter which briefly summarizes why you believe you are qualified for this position; Current Resume; and The names and contact details of three references that can attest to your professional qualifications and or work experience. Submit application to: The Director Land Commission 8th& 9th Streets Jallah Town Road/Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia The Land Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and welcomes applications from all segments of the Liberian society including women and the physically challenged.

POSITION SUMMARY The main objective for creating the position of Program Assistant is to provide program management, operational and administrative support and assistance to the Program Officer. The Program Assistant will conduct research on land and related matters, provide written, oral reports and technical inputs about all assigned tasks, coordinate with staffs of other program areas and undertake assigned tasks of the program area to ensure proper work plan development and implementation to achieve established deliverables. The Program Assistant will provide support and assist the Program Officer in the management of the Commissions program activities consistent with the Liberia Land program including with collaborating with other program areas in preparing draft documents, as well as other tasks as may be assigned to the Program Area from time to time. (S)/He will assist in the exploration and identification of new directions on specific land issues through the design and development of strategies and programs to ensure that the issues are adequately addressed, and work with the other program assistants, officers, and the senior program officer on issues and projects of diverse natures. KEY RESPONSIBLITIES Program Development and Management Assist the Program Officer to develop draft documents consistent with the Liberia Land Program; Assist the Program Officer to prepare reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines/statements, correspondences, and presentations; Conduct follow-up with relevant sector institutions on matters related to program area; Assist with the review of program specific and related studies conducted for the Commission. Ensure that findings and recommendations are provided to the Program officer for his review with copies to the Director, the Senior Program Officer, the overseeing Commissioner and the Chairman for further review and appropriate action(s); Work with other program assistants to coordinate work activities, meet deadlines, and provide support where needed; and Perform other duties and responsibilities assigned by the Program Officer, Senior Program Officer, Director and other appropriate authorities of the Commission. Operational and Administrative Support Maintain confidential job-related records for the Program Officer; Act as the main contact person during the absence of the Program Officer, following up on actions with appropriate in-house staff; Acknowledge receipt of correspondence and documentation in the absence of the Program Officer, and draft preliminary versions of correspondence to be signed by the Program Officer or relevant staff; Collaborate with relevant program areas for convening of public consultations and workshops under the direct supervision of the Program Officer; Assist in disseminating all internal and external program related materials to staff and stakeholders under the supervision of the Program Officer; Assist in organizing meetings of the program area and take minutes; Follow up on actions taken and recommendations made at meetings under the direction of the Program Officer; Develop and maintain an efficient filing system and index for program and project documents under the guidance of the Program Assistant; Ensure the availability of an updated list of addresses of different partners involved in program implementation of the area; Ensure that logistical issues are sorted out for the workshops (booking the venue, budget preparation, equipment and stationery to be used); and Follow up with the Program Officer to ensure that implementing Partners (IP) requests are responded to. Essential Qualifications Minimum of Bachelors degree in discipline relevant to the position; Experience working in a similar or associated role ; Good knowledge regarding a range of land and natural resources issues; and Good research and writing skills Required Skills and Abilities Respectable organizational skills and track record in planning and coordination, self-driven with the ability to develop clear objectives that are consistent with established strategies and coping mechanisms; Team work: ability to develop, establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder environment; Demonstrated ability to plan and think strategically, set realistic goals and objectives, and balance multiple priorities; Excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent judgment in communicating within a variety of settings; Creative, enthusiastic and independent; demonstrates a high degree of initiative; results-oriented; and Proficiency in computer use, including internet, databases, email, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other electronic media applications; Selection Process After initial screening of applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. Only shorted listed applicants will be contacted. How to apply Interested candidates for the position should submit the following: A clearly typed application letter which briefly summarizes why you believe you are qualified for this position; Current Resume; and The names and contact details of three references that can attest for your professional qualifications and or work experience. Submit application to: The Director Land Commission Between 8th & 9th Streets Jallah Town Road/Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia The Land Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and welcomes applications from all segments of the Liberian society including women and the physically challenged.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 4 12 Page

The Impact of Not Having the Right ICT Skills

By: Darren Wilkins | DWilkins@ SaharaTechnology.Com | 0777129092/0886703789

he shortage of quality ICT skills has been a recurrent theme in Liberia. Highly specialized skills required to automate processes are currently lacking and impossible to recruit anywhere in the country. This issue has several dimensions: a nation that is losing the war on illiteracy due to a failed educational system; a totally emasculated national labor market; other bearings of years of a 14-year civil unrest; and our unwillingness to embrace ICT as a significant driver of economic development and growth. And this shortage put to you, is strongly in software design, programming, project management and software business consulting. The following paragraphs is a discussion the lack of ICT skills in Liberia. We have reached a stage when new breeds of ICTs continue to emerge. Advancements in computing paradigms: social computing, big data, business analytics, unified communications, mobile computing, cloud computing, and all other technologies require resetting the design and architecture of applications and user interfaces. The only response to these changes is the strengthening of hu-

he Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources Division, will launch a vaccination campaign called Newcastle disease (ND) known as chicken Sickness. This initiative, according to a MICAT release is intended to promote animal production and food security in the country and is scheduled to take place on February 3. The campaign is a cardinal step towards the progressive control of the Newcastle and other poultry disease in the fifteen (15) counties. As a preventive measure aimed at avoiding spread of the disease, the Government of Liberia, through the Min-

MOA Launches Animal Vaccination

istry of Agriculture is asking all farmers to have their chickens available to be vaccinated. The Newcastle Disease (ND) commonly called Chicken Sickness is observed during the months of February through April. Some chickens that may survive the disease by means of immune built-up may result in reduce in egg production and misshape eggs and less meat production. Severe pandemic of Newcastle Disease can cause 100 percent mortality in unvaccinated chickens in rural communities leaving households without an important source of animal protein and income. The government believes

man capacity across what we now have as an ICT sector, enhancing the skills and competencies of existing and potential members. Such an initiative will foster innovation, growth and enhance the capacity of companies and individuals to compete on a level playing field with the foreign competition. The ICT skills shortage in Liberia, specifically in the area of computer programming concerns me a lot because computer science and software engineering significantly impact business automation. Business automation or automation as a whole is becoming or has already become the paradigm in the global economy. Visit many of our ministries and other entities and you will find out that many of the ICT Staff have never attended any ICT training or human capacity strengthening program since they graduated school. This particularly hurts their ability to innovate and perform because in ICT, things change faster than any other area. Remember Moores Law? The worst part about this is that there are not many ICT institutions in Liberia that provide the types of high quality skills needed for Liberian ICT professionals to work in real datacenters or ICT environments. For example, assemble a group of ICT professionals in Monrovia; then ask them about certain technologies

Darren Wilkins
say, Open Source Software or Cloud Computing. You would be astonished at the responses you would get. While this is not their fault, it presents a serious problem for the advancement of our ICT sector and our economy. Why is this a problem for our economy? Well, the viral or widespread adoption of cloud computing, mobility and other technologies have driven fundamental changes in ICT paradigms. While we continue to struggle embracing ICT integration in Liberia, other countries have leapfrogged unto newer technologies that open possibilities for the development and growth of their economies. For example, the MTN Group, of which Lonestar Cell is a member, has been a driver if not a pioneer, of innovative technologies in Africa. Last year, (April 2013), MTN began the delivery of Cloud Computing Services in Ghana and Nigeria. It launched its bouquet of Cloud services in those countries and subsequently proceeded to the Cote dIvoire in August of 2013; an extension of that bouquet of Cloud services. The company plans to launch Cloud services in other markets including Uganda, Cameroon, and South Africa. These Cloud services being provided enable business automation tools to enterprises across professional services, microfinance, health and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sectors. Anyone with a vision will agree with me that it is just a matter of time for Lonestar to begin delivering Cloud services in Liberia; a service I would have liked to see LIBTELCO provide. Yet, it requires highly skilled ICT professionals to run a Cloud Computing environment and as I said earlier, thats something we are colossally lacking. So, what happens when Lonestar or Cellcom decides to start providing

that by simply participating and making your chickens available for this vaccine will increase income for small farmers and achieve significant improvements for their families and other members of the community. The Ministry is however calling on all counties authorities including clan chiefs, town chiefs, County livestock officers, cattle chairman of various communities and health workers of livestock to form part of the process in their individual counties in order to ensure the successful implementation of the vaccine. The massive campaign is expected to begin on February 3, 2014.

these services? Obviously, those companies will be constrained to seek the needed skills elsewhere, thus hurting our economy. How does it hurt our economy? When foreigners are brought to do jobs that Liberians should be doing, theres capital flight I would assume! Many ICT professionals know that cloud computing is a given. It is now the key enabler for other disruptive technologies like social and mobile computing. Though cloud computing has become mainstream, many countries are still in the early stages of adoption. Liberia is not among those countries yet. And even if we have the infrastructure now to enable adoption, there is a possibility that we will be affected by the mounting skills crisis. The problem is not that ICT professionals do not want to improve themselves. The problem is that the focus of their leaders is someplace else. For instance, in some organizations when the leaders laptop is connected to the Internet where he or she can gain access to email, online news and Facebook, then its all good. Meanwhile, many of the processes in that building remain antiquated, although theres a budget for ICT. Speaking of budget, another thing that hinders ICT infusion in Liberian organization is their willingness to spend their entire budget on Scratch cards and ignore other important aspects of ICT, such as training. How does this help ICT infusion? The point I am trying to make is that it is time we place focus on building human capacity for ICT to enable us enjoy the benefits it provides. And this should not only be about building

large ICT schools, or adding to universities and colleges programs. Its about ministers and directors investing in their ICT staff; high schools introducing ICT programs, businesses providing ICT scholarships, competitions and internship, and ICT professionals taking on the responsibility of educating themselves using the vast resources available on the Internet. Also, universities and colleges need to collaborate with government and businesses to determine their needs and those of the economys. Through surveys, interviews and other research approaches, they will be able to garner the types of information needed to design their course offerings. I see most universities and colleges in Liberia with large business and public administration programs but yet, we dont see a large Liberian business coterie. And how many public administrators do we need for a country that has fewer than four million people? Do we need more public administrators, or do we need technologist, engineers, doctors, et al? Finally, the hardest thing about being an ICT professional is that you dont enjoy the luxury of taking a break from learning. If you decide to take a break from learning or do not follow the trends, you are lost. Changes in technology are faster than any other area. What was a cutting-edge technology yesterday is an antique today. And thats the same with knowledge of ICT. And this is why we must develop an environment that ensures continuous improvement and development of ICT skills.

Know Your Lawmakers

In an effort to adequately cover the National Legislature and inform our audience about individual lawmaker(s), the Daily Observer introduces a new column titled, KNOW YOUR LAWMAKERS. KNOW YOUR LAWMAKERS is published every Monday and Wednesday weekly beginning January 13, 2014. This column intends to profile all 103 legislators from family background to their current professional careers. In every edition, we will feature at least two lawmakers to enable us cover the entire Legislature. Management further encourages members of the First Branch of Government to kindly provide it with the necessary pieces of information in order to achieve this goal.

DAILY OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 11 13

LIBERIA COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS (LCPS) Job Description

JOB TITLE: REPORT TO: JOB PURPOSE: institution. Office/Clerical Assistant Administrator To assist the secretariat in the effective day-to-day operation of a newly established

Call NoW: 0777472772 to Advertise

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Assist with office and clerical support, including back-up services to receptionist. Assist in maintaining all relevant personnel files. Ensure that the secretariat has the supplies and equipment to undertake its work. Ensure that the office premises are maintained and utilities are available. Assist with logistical arrangements for meetings, including refreshments, etc. Deliver necessary materials and supplies to various members and departments. Maintain office space and premises. Assist with filing, data entry, basic typing (circular, memo, etc.), dispatching documents, etc. Keeping simple inventory of storeroom. Perform other duties as may be directed by the secretariat. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Must be a graduate of a recognized high school with prior experience as an office/clerical assistant. One to two years of college experience will be an added advantage. Must be computer literate with a certificate of competence in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. OTHER QUALITIES OR REQUIREMENTS Good interpersonal skills. Must be an effective team player, polite and tactful. Good oral communication skills, as well as relatively good writing skills. Must be an Ability to meet deadlines. COMPENSATION Salary and/or incentives will be attractive. APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, January 17, 2014 REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS Letter of application stating relevant qualifications and/or experience for the position. Curriculum Vitae (CV). Names, addresses, e-mails and/or phone numbers of three references. SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS TO Administrative Assistant/Secretary Liberia College of Physicians & Surgeons (LCPS) Ground Floor, Old Ministry of Health Building Capitol Bye-Pass Monrovia, Liberia Or E-mail relevant documents in word versions to lcpsalphonso@gmail.com with the Job Title as the Subject of the electronic communication.

CAR FOR SALE

TYPE COLOR MODEL A/C & ENGINE CONTACT # : : : : : NISSAN XTERRA SILVER 2002 PERFECT 0886552948 OR 0777474313

Announcement - Change of Name

This is to notify the general public that Josiah Jones name has been changed to Solomon P. Garpue. Additionally, all documents bearing his previous name, Josish Jones should remain valid. This announcement should claim the attention of the general public. Signed: Solomon P. Garpue

LIBERIA COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS (LCPS) Job Description

JOB TITLE: Driver REPORT TO: Administrator JOB PURPOSE: The newly created Liberia College of Physicians & Surgeons (LCPS) wishes to employ the services of a driver on a full time basis to operate vehicle(s) for the institution. ELIGIBILITY The applicant must be in good health. He/she must have not less than a 9th grade education and must be able to read and write in simple English. He/she must be able to follow instructions and directions, log driving records and perform proper documentation, where applicable. The applicant must have a valid drivers license and must be able to operate both a standard shift vehicle and an automatic transmission vehicle. The applicant must have been a licensed driver for at least five (5) ears. Males and females may apply. RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS The selected applicant will work under the supervision of the Council on a full time basis from Mondays to Fridays, and on Saturdays and Sundays when required. He/she may be required to travel across the country, both urban and rural areas, as is scheduled by the Secretary General or other officials of the LCPS. The successful applicant will be expected to monitor scheduled vehicle servicing and ensure that normal servicing and maintenance procedures of vehicles under his/her care are strictly adhered to. COMPENSATION Salary and/or incentives will be attractive. APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, January 17, 2014 REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS Letter of application stating relevant qualifications and/or experience for the position. Curriculum Vitae (CV). Names, addresses, e-mails and/or phone numbers of three references. SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS TO Administrative Assistant/Secretary Liberia College of Physicians & Surgeons (LCPS) Ground Floor, Old Ministry of Health Building Capitol Bye-Pass Monrovia, Liberia Or E-mail relevant documents in word versions to lcpsalphonso@gmail.com with the Job Title as the Subject of the electronic communication.

Announcement - Change of Name

This is to notify the general public that Donald Tony Savage name has been changed to Donald Tony Morris. Additionally, all documents bearing his previous name, Donald Tony Savage should remain valid. This announcement should claim the attention of the general public. Signed: Donald Tony Morris

Found at all major supermarkets in downtown Monrovia

DAILY OBSERVER
MEDICAL EMERGENCY & RELIEF COOPERATIVE INTERNATIONAL (MERCI)
PAYNESVILLE BROAD STREET PAYNESVILLE CITY LIBERIAt Our Ref:

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

MEDICAL EMERGENCY & RELIEF COOPERATIVE INTERNATIONAL (MERCI)
PAYNESVILLE BROAD STREET PAYNESVILLE CITY LIBERIAt Our Ref:

Page 13 14

Tel. 231-0886-511-590 E-mail: mercilib@yahoo.com

Tel. 231-0886-511-590 E-mail: mercilib@yahoo.com

JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

JOB TITLE: MONITORING and EVALUATION COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITY: data collected. Overall responsibility for the systematic and routine collection of data as well as assessing and analyzing

VACANCY ADVERTISEMENT
POSITION: DATA ENTRY CLERK RESPONSIBLE TO: ADMIN/LOG OFFICER Duty STATION: RIVER GEE COUNTY

I. LOCATION: will be based in Monrovia but May be sent to any part of Liberia Summary The Monitoring and Evaluation coordinator is responsible for all MERCIs monitoring and evaluation activities. She/he will report to Medical Coordinator. Duties and Responsibilities Develop database for maintaining data needed for monitoring MERCI activities Develop and implement M&E plan for all projects. Coordinate with MERCI-supported health facilities to ensure accurate and timely data reporting Build capacity of project staff to implement M+E activities. Serve as on site point person for all Monitoring and Evaluation related work Work in collaboration with other MERCIs monitoring and evaluation staff to prepare monthly report to senior management. present timely and accurate reporting to senior management meetings Design and conduct survey as needed in MERCIs operating areas Support routine reporting processes related to data collection. Contribute to the compilation, sharing and presenting of program findings, trends and results with staff. II. III. Qualification Bachelor Degree from recognized institution/university/college with major/option in statistics/Health Information Management/ Public Health or similar field Advanced computer skills especially MS Office. In-depth knowledge of and experience with MS Access is desirable, with statistical software. 3-5 years experience in monitoring/Evaluation; specific experience required in survey design and analysis( Ideally conducting KPC surveys and barrier analysis) Personal qualities Result oriented Willingness to travel extensively throughout Liberia where MERCI works Ability to work in a team setting Good communication skills Good organization and electronic file management skills Able to take initiative and work independently

Medical Emergency & Corporative International [MERCI] is seeking for a qualify Liberian for a position of Data Entry Clerk for immediate employment at its River Gee County Field Office in Liberia. Job Summary/Objective: To maintain a computerized data of Health information such as morbidity, mortality, service provision by type, drug consumption etc. KEY TASKS: 1. Ensure data collection from Health Facilities in River Gee County 2. Ensure verification of data collected from the Health Facilities in River Gee County. 3. Submit monthly analysis report to MERCI Central Office to the M & E Officer. 4. Enter Data along with County Data Manager. 5. Work in close collaboration with the County M & E Officer. 6. Ensure the submission of monthly report on schedule at MERCIs Central QUALIFICATION: 1. A minimum of an AA Degree in any of the Social Sciences with certificate in Secretarial Science from a recognized and accredited institution. A College Degree will be an added advantage. 2. A minimum of two [2] years of experience working with a recognized Institution or Organization. 3. Strong computer knowledge in MS Word, Excel, Power point, DHIS and other statistical soft wares. 4. Ability to handle heavy work load and have experience in Data collection and making analysis for management decision making purposes. QUALIFICATION: 1. Letter of application with Curriculum vitae including education and experience. 2. Telephone number and Email address with two letters of references. 3. Medical certificate from a recognized medical institution. 4. Two letters of references. Deadline: Monday January 20, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Interested candidates must submit their application to: The office of the Administrator, Medical Emergency & Relief Cooperative International (MERCI) Paynesville Broad Street, Paynesville, Liberia

Method of Application: All candidates must include the following: a. A detailed curriculum vitae describing the relevant professional and academic experiences, competencies, and skills: b. A statement of interest and names and contacts of minimum three (3) references Deadline Monday January 20, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Interested candidates must submit their application to: The office of the Administrator, Medical Emergency & Relief Cooperative International (MERCI) Paynesville Broad Street, Paynesville, Liberia

MEDICAL EMERGENCY & RELIEF COOPERATIVE INTERNATIONAL (MERCI)

PAYNESVILLE BROAD STREET PAYNESVILLE CITY LIBERIAt Our Ref: Tel. 231-0886-511-590 E-mail: mercilib@yahoo.com

JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Job Title: Responsible to: Procurement Assistant Administrator RFQ Title: RFQ #:

Request for Quotation (RFQ) Liberia Teacher Training Program

Provision of Internet Service 3180-33LTTP-00433 January 14, 2014 Date of Issue:

Job summary/objective: staff shall be responsible for volume purchasing services and exercises considerable independent judgment in making purchasing decisions in accordance with organizations and/or State(PPCC) policies and procedures. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises and reviews work of any staff involved with purchasing including technical and specialized procurement of supplies, equipment and services. Requires extensive knowledge of policies, procedures and practices. Assumes responsibility and oversight of large and complex purchases involving use of Requests for Proposals. Assists departments with specification development, drafts RFP, obtains State approval, serves on evaluation committee. Provides input on budget. Proposes salary raise within budget. Monitors and obtains best price for office expenditures. Approves payment of invoices and directs purchasing card expenditures for office. Negotiates copier maintenance contracts. Represents department at various meetings with administration, faculty, vendors, external agencies, professional organizations, and other groups. Develops and delivers speeches, presentations, and training as required. Corresponds with same groups. Reviews, analyzes and approves all purchases where award is not made to the low bidder to ensure justification exists and policy is followed. Reviews, analyzes, researches and approves purchases of a non-competitive nature. Resolves problems and protests concerning bid solicitations, contract awards or contract performance as the need arises. Addresses unauthorized purchases. Conveys decisions both verbally and in writing referencing law and policy. Meets with or speaks to interested vendors concerning potential source for supply and service. Develops and maintains an effective working relationship with vendors and fosters relations between suppliers and MERCI EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Completion of a Bachelors degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field and four years experience in governmental or commercial accounting with emphasis on internal auditing or an equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education. Deadline: Monday January 20, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Interested candidates must submit their application to: The office of the Administrator, Medical Emergency & Relief Cooperative International (MERCI) Paynesville Broad Street, Paynesville, Liberia

Questions Due: January 17, 2014 (must be submitted in writing to the address or e-mail stated below) Answers to Questions: January 21, 2014 (responses will be sent in writing to all participating vendors) Response Due Date: January 27, 2014 at 4:00 PM Local Time INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND Liberia Teacher Training Program (LTTP) is five years follow on project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) [herein after referred to as the client] and implemented by Family Health International (FHI 360) as the prime contractor. LTTP is focused on supporting the development of a coordinated system for placing and developing both new and existing teachers in classrooms. In issuing this RFQ, FHI 360 is not acting as agent or on behalf of its client and the client is not a party to any sub-contract resulting from this RFQ. Issuance of this solicitation does not constitute an award commitment on the part of FHI 360 or the client, nor does it commit FHI 360 or the client to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a quotation. FHI 360 also reserves the right to cancel this solicitation at any time during or after the closing date and time. PURPOSE FHI 360/LTTP welcomes the submission of offer from suitable entity for the provision of Internet service for its project office in Monrovia and the Ministry of Education (MOE) Liberia on a 24 hour basis for one (1) year period with possible extension of six (6) months. The detail scope of work is provided in the complete RFQ document which can be provided upon request. We anticipate awarding the contract to the most responsive offeror based on the evaluation criteria stated in the RFQ. All interested vendors must come along with their entitys official stamp at LTTP head office at the address below for the complete RFQ package including detailed specifications or via the e-mail address below: Liberia Teacher Training Program The Wento Suites, Behind Sajj Restaurant 18th Street & Warner Avenue, Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia E-mail: vdonzo@fhi360.org For direction to the office, please call 0886-618558

DAILY OBSERVER

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page 12 15

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 14, 2014 Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Page16 4 Page

-As Management Deniers Bankruptcy Claims

that LBDI has apparently been overwhelmed by borrowing, prompting fears that it might announce insolvency due to what they called the failure of creditors including the government of Liberia, to meet their obligations to the Bank. The two papers named the government of Liberia as one of LBDIs delinquent borrowers whose delinquency in repayment have stuck LBDI in a quagmire to pay millions of United Sates dollars it borrowed from LBDI. Reacting to the allegation of LBDIs insolvency, the CEO Mr. Davies described the publication as a mere tabloid intended to undermine the Banks growth trajectory. He observed the articles with numerous paragraphs of verbatim were planted adverts loaded with a barrage of misinformation intended to cause panic and create a crisis of confidence by causing a run on the Bank. The action by detractors of the Bank also undermines the stability of

LBDI Sound, Vibrant

he Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) has debunked media reports suggesting that it is nearing insolvency. In a statement issued in Monrovia late Monday evening, Jan. 13, the Banks Management said LBDIs financial liquidity position is sound and vibrant. The financial soundness of LBDI is unquestionable, said LBDI president &CEO John B.S. Davies, III. Mr. Davies comments were in reaction to the Monday, January 13, 2014 editions of two local newspapers alleging that LBDI is nearing bankruptcy and that the Banks management has applied to the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) for a bailout. According to the two papers, LBDI customers are frequently concerned about transactions at the Bank and do not bother with the Banks real financial issues. The papers also reported

Motorcycles Dealer Wants Ban Lifted

Mr. Sampson P. Narloh, Sale Manager of Royal Motor Company (RMC) at Vai Town

By David A. Yates

he sales manager of Royal Motor Company (RMC), Sampson P. Narloh, is calling on the Government of Liberia through the Liberian National Police to lift the recent restriction placed on commercial motorcyclists to stop plying the major streets of Monrovia and its environs. Mr. Narloh made the disclosure Monday, January 13, to our Business Desk in an exclusive interview at his Bushrod Island office in

Monrovia. According to him, since the ban on commercial motorcycle plying the major streets of Monrovia, our business has dropped massively in the Liberian economy. Explaining his business ordeal, Mr. Narloh stressed that motorcyclists were registered as taxpayers and should be given the legal rights to operate in the country. While we note that there were daily violations of the law, the government and commercial motorcyclist have to sit and discuss a way out; because this is a major

on shore and offshore cash position as at December 31, 2013 is US$53.5 million, while the Banks balance public at large that LBDI resheet grew by 17% last year. mains strong, viable and solIn the writers flawed unvent and is compliant with derstanding of the relationthe banking sector as well the requisite financial soundship between the LBDI and as the hard-earned progress ness indicators governing the regulator (CBL), they inmade in the sector to date, banking in Liberia. correctly suggested that the The LBDI boss particularly the LBDI CEO stated. US$10 million placement questioned the motives be He assured shareholders, done by the CBL to stimuhind the publication as his customers, investors, and the late the home mortgage sector was meant to rescue the Bank from liquidity problems. But the writers failed to note that LBDIs cash balances were in excess of US$40 million at the time of the initiation of the mortgage stimulus, he explained. He insisted that given the long term nature of the resources required for financing mortgages and fact that LBDI resources (deposits) are short term, the CBL intervention to provide a stimulus for mortgage lending was prudent and necessary. Mr. Davies also insisted that as the lead development finance institution of Liberia, LBDI has the fiduciary role of mobilizing resources for development of strategic sectors to create jobs, Flashback: Mr. Davies makes remarks at LBDI 49th Anniversary in November reduce unemployment and 2013, LBDIs minimum re- to provide bridge financing office was not contacted be- serve holding at the CBL arrangements for the implefore said publication by the was US$23.71 million and mentation of publicly fundtwo papers. L$1.29 billion. ed construction projects, Under the principle of According to him, the amongst others. balanced reporting and prominimum liquidity ratio Davies reassured the public fessional journalism, the set by the CBL is 15%, but including investors, depositwo papers failed to contact LBDIs liquidity ratio as source of funding and liveli- the Management of LBDI to at December 31, 2013 was tors, shareholders, and other ascertain the facts on the instakeholders that the Bank is hood for our youth. 47% and reflects a liquidity sound financially and would He pointed out that every formation published. What is surplus of 32%. continue to be vibrant. four months they used to even more disturbing is the Mr. Davies also clarified LBDI, he said, has been sell about one hundred mo- inability of the papers to take that the CBLs capital adtorbikes, but now business note of the financial sound- equacy ratio (CAR) require- around for 49 years and has come to a standstill were ness indicators returns of the ment is 10%; but the CAR of it was here when literally people dont even want to CBL which are available and speaks to insolvency of any LBDI is 19% and is 9% in every financial institution spend their money on bikes. excess of the minimal capi- turned its back on Liberia The RMC sales manager bank, Davies said in the tal requirement. The LBDI and abandoned depositors in said although there had been statement. boss declared that LBDIs our desperate hours. He clarified that in bank lots of accidents caused by the recklessness of the operators, motorcyclist also helped the growth of the nations economy. We want the government to remove this ban and provide enough educational training for motorcyclists in Narthe country, said Mr. loh. For his part, Mohammed Fahnbulleh, who deals in used clothes, said that commercial motorcycling is a good business and if the government can only lift this ban on motorcyclist I think the government would generate more income from these bikes. This is not only about commercial motorcyclists but this is also about help for Liberians, he said.

ing terms, a bank is insolvent when it can no longer meet its financial obligations with its depositors or lenders as payment become due. But this is not the case with LBDI as the articles tend to suggest, Davies added. Touching specifically on the financial soundness of LBDI, the CEO disclosed that as at December 31,

DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Liberians in them (Senators), as well as the image of its democratic system would be put to the test. Let us all take due note of the seriousness of this challenge and pray for the divine guidance of the Almighty God to enlighten our minds and guide our conscience in discharging faithfully our sacred duty, the Vice President declared. Vice President Boakai was speaking in the Chamber of the Senate during a program marking the official opening of the 53rd Legislature. He warned the Senators that the year 2014 presents itself as a promise that requires them to prepare for highly exciting interactions, along with some ruffling of feathers and greater

2014: Senates

Page 17
He recalled that the 3rd Session of the Senate has before it for concurrence with the House of Representatives, An Act to Establish a National Infrastructural Plan; An Act to Create the Public Service Trust Act of 2013, and An Act Providing for the Participation of Liberian Citizens in Every Concession/Company with the Initial Investment Capital of US$200,000 and above. Further, Vice President Boakai revealed that the Senate still has in committee rooms An Act to Provide 15 percent of a Fiscal National Budgetfor the Development of Counties as well as An Act Ratifying the Finance Agreement (First Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy Financing ) between the Republic of Liberia and the International Development conjecture); and, implementation of each project so identified, be clearly and specifically vetted on a project- by-project development basis and approved by the Legislature before final appropriation and implementation can be made. The Bomi County lawmaker highlighted the usage of US$5 million for direct district impact projects implemented by the Executive Branch as reflected in the 2013/2014 National Budget. He maintained that the imfailed to learn. ULSU, like the faculty association, went further to call on the Board of Trustees of the University of Liberia to convince the student populace of the Provosts credentials. They said she claimed to have earned her doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Accounting, noting that in spite of this terminal degree that she claims to have, she is unable to teach the fundamentals of Accounting (Acct. 003). Following last years disturbances on the UL campuses in the wake of call for Dr. Brownell to resign, classes Association. Earlier at the outdoor program, the Senate and the House of Representatives performed the hoisting of the National Flag and the flags of the political subdivisions, followed by a march into the Rotunda of the Capitol Building, led by Vice President Boakai, Senate Pro Tempore Gbehzohngar Findley and House Speaker Jenekai Alex Tyler. Following separate ceremonies in the two Chambers, a joint formal official program was held in the Rotunda, attended by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, foreign dignitaries, the Legislators and other national dignitaries. Meanwhile, the Senate will hold its first sitting today, with Senate Pro Temp Findley expected to preside.

demand for heavy lifting. On the flip side of that coin, it will hopefully reap a huge tonnage of results between the predictable stints of clamor. By stepping into the year 2014, we enter upon the midterm elections-heralding those foreseeable fiery contests that will involve half of the inventory of this Upper Houses membership, VP Boakai proclaimed. Without fail, Vice President Boakai asserted that the year 2014 might end up with one of three possible outcomes; that the Senate may end up with the same faces, or a possibility of witnessing a mere sprinkle of new faces to join the fold. And yet we must acknowledge the specter of a third scenario in which we end up

with welcoming a dominance of new faces to take up most of the 15-open seats. Notwithstanding the possibility of any of these outcomes, we must remain on task. Amb. Boakai reminded the 21 Senators present that the passage of the historic Code of Conduct during the 2nd Session consummated the fulfillment of a long standing requirement of the Constitution, and I am appreciative that we finally tackled it. Now staring in our faces is the opportunity to put the Code of Conduct to test. Despite the scope of the work before us, I still believe each of you can do more to fulfill your obligations as legislators and succeed in providing a solid foundation for the continued progress of our beloved country. In tackling what he termed see the need to allot such critical resources to the 73 electoral districts. This is separate and distinct from the County Development (CDF) Fund. This is one of the ways we believe that much needed development resources can be decentralized, said Mr. Tyler. According to Speaker Tyler appropriating the necessary funding would tackle several challenges facing the interior parts of the country including, deplorable roads and Dr. Brownell takes her leave, the students threatened. In an effort to bring the situation under control, a call went out from the University of Liberias Faculty Association (ULFA) for the Provost to resign her post or we will not teach. The instructors of the flagship institution decided to lay down their chalk until something concrete was done about their salaries. They also demanded that fulltime employment be extended to a certain category of instructors. The leadership of the University of Liberias Student Union

the peoples work, the Senate President challenged the Senators to embrace the wisdom that more collaboration, cooperation and harmony, rather than rancor and strife, would bring among the three branches of government. VP Boakai cautioned the Senators to be mindful that their plate is full, and that September is only nine months away. He said that a lot depends on what they would be able to achieve if sustaining the peace, expanding their gains and accelerating our progress continue to remain our purpose. With 65 Bills under consideration in various Senate committee rooms, Amb. Boakai urged the Senators to accelerate the pace in dealing with those bills so as to avoid the erection of a bloated backlog. bridges, poor health facilities and schools lacking the most basic facilities, which can be found in most schools around the world. Previous budgets in which appropriations were made for infrastructure including schools, roads, and clinics have not been able to make significant impact on rural dwellers. From this point, appropriation for infrastructural spending shall be approved in ballpark figures ( an estimate arrived at by guesswork or (ULSU) also joined the call for the immediate resignation of Dr. Brownell. ULSUs statement under the signatures of Acting president, Anthony F. Williams, as well as Calvin Raymond Summon, its secretary general, helped confirm that the system the Provost devised has failed to deliver for the students--and for the university. ULSU noted that test schedules, the registration processes, Add and Drop, amongst others activities, were characterized by a cycle of errors, from which, according to the student group, Dr. Brownell

US$73M
By Keith Morris
ouse Speaker J. Alex Tyler has proposed US$73 million to be placed in the 2014/2015 National Budget for direct district impact projects across the country. According to Speaker Tyler, the intent is to fund roads,

schools, clinics and other meaningful projects at local government levels in order to foster developmental activities in rural areas. Addressing the opening session of the 3rd sitting of the 53rd National Legislature, the House Speaker pleaded with his colleagues both in the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate to

portance of said allotment benefits the people; some of whom, I dare say, have never before in their entire lives, felt the influence of their government, going as far back as 1847, and the founding of the Republic. Speaker Tyler acknowledged the weakness of the Legislature in performing their Legislative oversight duties, but added that their 3rd sitting would be as robust as possible.

tion of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the indefinite closure of the institution. The quick intervention of baton-wielding police officers who swung into action, prevented the situation from getting out of hand. The officers started chasing away the students and stopped them from causing more disturbance to normal activities. Mondays attempted demonstration halted traffic as well as stalled the free movement

Police Prevent

of pedestrians for at least half an hour. The students protests started last November when they called for the resignation and removal of the vice president for Academic Affairs/Provost, Dr. Wede Brownell. At that time students marched with a symbolic casket bearing an effigy (a doll) representing ULs Provost and calling on Dr. Brownell to resign with immediate effect. We will stop at nothing until

were suspended, but it was expected that normal academic activities would have resumed by now. The situation continues to deteriorate as the faculty reinforced its stand on the removal of Dr. Brownell. The ongoing saga turned bitter when the embattled vice president branded some of ULs teaching staff as crooks and criminals. Following that attack on some of the staffers, Dr. Brownell has vowed to remain and right the ULs messy situation.

Courts Restriction Hangs Over Late Fofanas Million-Dollar Estate

portions of it. A property caveat is a legal restriction upon the use or sale of real estate. It is a written notification or warning that someone has a legal interest in a property that may have priority over the legal rights of anyone seeking to become new owners of a property or establish some other interest in it. They made specific reference to individuals attempting to sell or lease two lots opposite the Victory Chapel in the commercial district of Paynesville, outside Monrovia, which they threatened would result in a bloody battle. The lots have been highly contested in the court by the Fofana family and the fiance of the deceased, Madam As-

The disputed portion of land in Paynesville

By Abednego Davis
n order restricting leasing or selling of the disputed United States mil-

lion-dollar intestate estate of the late Sekou Fofana has been issued by the Probate Court at the Temple of Justice. A property caveat order was requested by sibling of the

late Fofana, alleging that while the intestate estate case is before the Court for determination, some unscrupulous individuals posing as administrators were leasing or selling

satu Turay. Minutes after requesting for the Caveat, Mr. Karifla Donzo told journalists at the Temple of Justice that his family is prepared to use any possible legal means to prevent the property from being sold or leased. Madam Turay was a girl friend of our late brother and she has been denying the family of the property. We will not allow this to continue any longer. We will resist it to the highest, Mr. Donzo promised declared. We are sending out this warning to people not to do any business with Madam Turay regarding the said property. If anyone dare ignores our warning, you would be harming yourself, he further

cautioned. Madam Turay denied the claims when she first appeared before the court protesting that she is the surviving and legally married widow of the deceased. Her status, she claimed, gives her the right to administer any of her late husbands properties. But, in their request for the caveat, which is under the signature of Atty. Arthur T. Johnson, a copy of which is in the Daily Observers possession, reads word-for-word: Counsel for prosecution in the person of Karifla Donzo and relatives hereby request Your Honor and this Court to issue an order on the Intestate Estate of Sekou Fofana, in order to prohibit, and enjoin any sale, lease or commercial transaction of said property may be carried out by anyone, except by this court order. If this court fails to issue the order on said Estate, it will adversely affect the rights and interests of the beneficiaries, it prayed.

DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 14, 2013

The Other Page

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU
Place a number from 1 to 9 in every empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box containing all the numbers from 1 to 9. No number can appear twice in a row, column or 3x3 box. Do not guess you can work it out by process of elimination. GOOD LUCK!

ASSIST BALL CAPTAIN CHEERING CLEATS CLUB COACH COIN TOSS CORNER KICK DEFENSE FANS FIELD FIFA FORMATION FORWARD FOUL GAME GOALIE

Soccer
GOALS GRASS HALVES HAT TRICK HEADING JERSEY JUGGLING KICK-OFF MATCH OFFENSE OFFSIDE PENALTY KICK POSITION PRACTICE RED CARD REFEREE SCORE

SHIN GUARD SHOOT-OUT SHORTS SHOT SLIDE TACKLE SOCKS SPORT STOPPAGE TIME STRIKERS SUBSTITUTE SWEEPER THROW-IN TOUCHLINE WALL WORLD CUP YELLOW CARD

With Fumbah Kromah & BSG

Blessed are those who have license drive, for in spite of their entitlement, they must share their fair share the road. And blessed are those who engage without the road rage!
Last weeks results:

POLITICALLY X-P-DIENT
With A. Leslie Lumeh

Sumo, why is our culture under microscope?

Circle the 10 differences between the two illustrations below:

BRAIN GAME

WITH Fumbah Kromah

Maybe hes testing for some illness or disease, which might explain why our culture has been more or less abandoned. Lets wait for the results. Last weeks results:

Tuesday, November 5,14, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Tuesday, January 2014 Tuesday, 2014

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

In Kickball BYC Buys Nimba Countys 4 Dropped, 4 in Two Strikers

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T
Players Sam Jackson and Sartee Nimely and celebrated player presents Players Award to Sam Jackson
ounty Meets current highest goal scorer, potent striker Sam Jackson and versatile player Sartee Nimely of Nimba County are expected to move to 2nd division champions, FC BYC II. The duo, who are plying their trades with 3rd division Capitol Hill FC have already been signed, according to an official of the Barrack Young Control-

Margibi and Montserrads kickball scene

rounds. In the secong game, the Bentol girls were squarely in a dream-land, as they could not make a home run in the first four rounds, while the Gibi girls led 5 points. In the last three rounds, Montserrado put up a show and ended with five wins, while Margibi, dropped extra four points, and convincingly pinned Montserrado 9-5 points. Yesterday, Grand Cape Mount girls bowed to Bong 5-1, and Nimba narrowly beat Bassa, 4-3. In the second semi-final, Bong County defeated Grand Cape Mount County 3-2. Sinoe County was schelduled to meet Grand Bassa in the second game. England manager Roy Hodgson chose Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic and Robin van Persie as his top three, while captain Steven Gerrard picked Ronaldo, Messi and Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez. Fifa world team of the year Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Dani Alves (Barcelona)

By Leroy M. Sonpon, III

ler (BYC) Incorporated, who begged to be anonymous. The source said BYC Board Chairman Robert A. Sirleaf, owing to a recommendation from President Sekou Konneh and officials of BYC, has already paid US$1,000 as Transfer and Signature Fees and modalities for the tranfer have been concluded. Striker Jackson, 16, scored against Gbarpolu in Greenville, Sinoe County, during the preliminmary stage. Jackson

netted his 3rd goal in their 2-1 win Sunday against Grand Kru County. Prince Chappy increased the tally, while Togar Gayflor got the consolation. Nimbas win qualified them for the semifinals against Grand Gedeh, who pinned 10man Lofa County, 3-1 in a lottery shot. At the end of the NimbaGrand Krus game, the organizing committee awarded a football, with the flags of the 15 Counties to Jackson as the Best Player of the Game, and

it was present by Liberias former celebrated star, James Salinsa Debbah. Player Sartee Nimely, 17, was instrumental for Nimba County to top Group IV, with 9 points, winning all their games. When contacted players Jackson and Nimely, in brief remarks expressed satisfaction in joining the The Blues. We have contacted and signed and we are going to FC BYC, the duo said.

he kickball teams of Gbarpolu and Margibi Counties are expected to meet in the second semifinal game, after both outfits emerged victorious on Sunday, January 13, 2014, at the crowded Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. Nimba and Bong Counties will clash in the first kickballs semifinal battle. On Sunday, Grand Kru girls began the game with an excitement with a win in the first round, while Gbarpolu ended a drought. The second and third rounds saw Bopolu girls runining home with two points each, while the Barclayville girls could not keep up their pace, but won the third and fifth of the year went to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for his 30-yard overhead strike for Sweden, his fourth goal of the game, against England in November 2012. Former president of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge won the Fifa presidential award, while the Afghanistan Football Federation won the fair play accolade for the strides they have made

eal Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Barcelonas Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich to win the 2013 Fifa Ballon dOr. The Portugal captain, 28, was named as the world player of the year for the first time since 2008 by national coaches, captains and journalists. Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer won the womens world player of the year. Former Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes picked up the coach of the year accolade. Fifa awards Ballon dOr: Cristiano Ronaldo Womens world player: Nadine Angerer Male coach: Jupp Heynckes Female coach: Silvia Neid Ballon dOr Prix dHonneur: Pele Puskas goal award: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden v England)

Ballon dOr: Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Lionel Messi and Ribery

Fifa Presidential Award: Jacques Rogge Fair Play Award: Afghanistan Football Federation Ronaldo claimed the award with a total of 1,365 points, ahead of Messi (1,205) and Ribery (1,127), with the votes cast by 184 coaches, 184 national captains and 173 members of the global media. Messi, 26, had won the award for the last four years, however Ronaldo had been viewed as the front-runner this time after scoring 66 goals in 56 games in 2013 for club and country. They included a sensational hat-trick for Portugal against Sweden in their World Cup qualifying play-off second leg, which sealed a place in the finals in Brazil. First of all, I have to say a great thanks to all of my teammates with the club and the national team, Ronaldo said as he cried during his speech. Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level, I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved. Womens player of the year Angerer, 35, saved two penalties in Germanys 1-0 win over Norway in the 2013 European Championship final and was named player of the match. I have to say that Im a little surprised, but very thankful, the Brisbane Roar goalkeeper

said. You never get a success like this on your own. I have to thank my team-mates and my goalkeeping coach who raised me to a level that I never thought Id get to. German national manager Silvia Neid won the womens coach award, while Heynckes, who retired at the end of the last season after guiding Bayern Munich to a historic treble , said: Maybe 10 years ago, I wouldnt even have dreamt of this. I am humbled and happy to be standing here. The Ballon dOr Prix dHonneur was awarded to Brazil legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele . I promised to my family that I would not cry but I am emotional, he said. I got so many trophies and prizes but I was jealous of all of those guys who got the Ballon dOr, which I couldnt get because I didnt play in Europe. Now I thank God that I can complete my trophies at home. The Puskas Award for goal

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

advancing the game in the wartorn country. It emerged afterwards that neither Ronaldo or Messi voted for the other in their top three. The Portuguese selected Radamel Falcao for first place, followed by Gareth Bale and Mesut Ozil, while the the Argentine opted for Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Neymar. Thiago Silva (PSG) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) Xavi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

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VOL. 16. NO. 55 TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

What Did Dr. Owl Say?

The Legislature is at a crossroads in this midterm eletion year. What will its Legacy be? Or will they even care?

6 Ecobank Robbers Get 4Yrs. Each

PRICE: LD 40

By Abednego Davis

Woman, 20, Gang-raped to

Death in Bong
By Marcus N. Malayea, Observer Correspondent, Bong County
Reports filtering in from Gbalatuah, (formerly Tolbert Farm) in the Zota District, Bong County, say that a 20-old woman, identified as Hanna Flomo, was recently gangraped to death by a number of unknown individuals. According to one of the members of the independent coroners jury constituted by the leadership of the town to investigate circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Flomo, established that the deceased suffered from multiple rape. One of the jurors---who begged for anonymity--- explained that three used condoms were inserted in the deceased with each filled with sperm, presumed introduced by the alleged rapists. He told this paper that his committee agreed that the deceaseds breasts were cut, while there were scars under her armpits. The committee found evidence to establish foul-play in connection with what is obviously a homicide. We compiled a comprehensive report, my brother, but that report mysteriously disappeared and has never been found. The committee is accusing the town leadership of being in possession of the document, while on the other hand, the town leadership is pointing fingers at the committee for taking away the report, he declared, shaking his head in disappointment. Explaining further, this committee member intoned that on January 1, 2014, which was New Years Day, the deceased was seen with three unfamiliar young gentlemen drinking mixed liquor ranging from beer, stout, 8 PM, and the local palm wine. When they realized that they had over-dosed her with the liquor, the three said that they were taking the deceased to her house to sleep, the juror member disclosed. This looks like an organized crime because the manner in which things were handled--from the town administration level to the security---is quite unsatisfactory. Moreover, the woman was buried on January 3, at 3 a.m., something very unusual the coroners jurymember revealed. He could not say whether an arrest had been made, but confirmed that the perpetrators were on the run. According to information Hanna Flomo graduated from the St Peters Episcopal High School in Gbarnga during 2012/2013 school year; she had gone to Gbalatuah to spend the holidays with maternal family. Speaking to this paper through an interpreter, the aunt of the deceased, Kebbeh Flomo said that late in the evening, on New Years Day, three gentlemen escorted their victim to the house on their shoulders, explaining that she had been over-come with liquor---and that she needed rest. They took her into her room and we did not check on her until the next day---by which time, the men had left. We thought she was suffering from the dizziness, Ma Kebbeh Flomo explained with tears streaming down her cheeks. Kebbeh Flomo informed this paper that officers, who appeared on the crime scene to conduct a preliminary investigation, requested that she paid L$3,000 to get the investigation underway. Meanwhile, police in Gbarnga say the Liberia National Police, along with the United Nations Police, (UNPOL) have launched a vigorous security search for the alleged rapists. They assured the citizens that the security apparatus would do everything to bring the perpetrators to justice. A senior police officer, who preferred not to be named, confided to this paper that the police was questioning a man identified as Boimah Jah, who is suspected of being an acomplice of the others, who are still on the run. As soon as we conclude the investigation, the press will be duly informed. I think we are heading somewhere positive, the police officer said. At the same time, family members of the late Hanna Flomo are calling on the Liberian Government and the Liberia National Police to send what they termed neutral security to conduct a transparent investigation into the brutal murder of Hanna Flomo. A teacher of the William R. Tolbert High School in Gbalatuah, Jackson Mulbah, said the latest incident might discourage parents who want to send their children to the recently-renovated schools dormitory.

ollowing Criminal Court D jurys unanimous guilty verdict brought down against the six robbers of Ecobanks Zwedru Branch in Grand Gedeh County, the Court on Friday, January 10, sentenced the men to four years imprisonment each at the Monrovia Central Prison. Sentencing the men, Judge Yussif D. Kaba declared that

these six individuals are hereby sentenced to a prison term of four years each. With the period already served in pre-trial detention considered as part and parcel of the time for which they are sentenced, the Criminal Court D Judge stated. The clerk of this court is hereby ordered to issue out the necessary commitments of the convicted men to be committed in a common cell of Montserrado County to serve

their period of the sentence as provided for by law. It is so ordered, Judge Kaba instructed, After that they would be free. Only four of the six convicted men were present in court, when they were sentenced to four years each of prison. It was not entirely clear what was responsible for the other two convicted men not being present in court the day of their ruling. Although judicial sources

hinted to the Daily Observer that the men were absent due to illness. Flanked with their lawyers and their family members who had been with them during the trial, the convicted men were seen in a jubilant mood, following Judge Kabas ruling. They were heard encouraging their families by saying lets accept the Judges ruling. Weve only received a short jail sentence. Dont worry about it.

Two of the six convicted Ecobank robbers on their way back to jail
James Philip Toe, Armah Gbah, IK Ogbe, Washington W. Mulbah, Daniel Kannah, Mark Baforee, and Sampson Toe were indicted in Grand Gedeh County in November 2012. Legally, the location where an alleged crime is committed is where the accused individual has to face justice. But, that did not happen in the case of the robbers; instead their trial was transferred to Monrovia; apparently stemming from insecurity fears on the part of the accusers as well as the Court. They were indicted for allegedly attempting to rob Ecobanks Branch in Grand Gedeh County, where they broke into the banks premises before being arrested by officers of the Emergency Response Unit of the Liberian National Police (LNP).

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

TUESDAY, JAN. 14, 2014, vol. 16, No.indd 1

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