Friday, May 30, 2014 Edition

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POLITICS Law & Order
VOL 8 NO.605
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014
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CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
TUESDAY, MAY20, 2014 L$84.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$84.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1 L$84.00/US$1
MONDAY, MAY26, 2014
TUESDAY, MAY27, 2014
News Extra pg. 5
AB KROMAH DEBUNKS SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS
OF WAR CRIMES, IMMIGRATION ARREST

I WAS NOT ARRESTED
AT US AIRPORT
Deputy Police Chief Says Report is Totally untrue, a fabrication
EMPTY RHETORICAL
STATEMENTS
VOICES
Politics
Defense Rests Evidence
in Mercenary Case
ENDED
ELLEN MUST
BE SERIOUS
LIBERIANS REACT TO SIRLEAFS MESSAGE
CDC GRAY DISSECTS PRESIDENT
SIRLEAFs ADDRESS
C D C
GEARS UP
HEADS FOR PRIMARYAHEAD OF 2014
SENATORIAL ELECTION
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Friday, May 30, 2014
Monrovia -
T
hree years after resuming its fights to Liberia,
the French carrier, Air France is reportedly
shutting down its Liberia operations,
FrontPageAfrica has learned.
The airline has reportedly informed aviation authorities
that its cut-off date will be June 16, 2014.
Maxwell Williams, the Airlines Liberia Operations
Manager did not fulfll a pledge on three occasions to
explain why the airline was ending its fights to Liberia.
FrontPageAfrica has however learned that competition
from regional carriers Kenya Airways and British
Airways couple with the carriers poor marketing
strategy and small proft margin may be factors.
I dont think they had their marketing acts in order.
You cannot have a 250-seater plane on a route like
Liberia. Other airlines like Kenya have smaller planes
which enables them to break even, said a source
familiar with the situation.
At the time, Air France cited the post-war stability,
business environment and excellent and
friendly aviation industry as a key reason for kicking
off the Liberia fights. We are very pleased to start our
operations once again in Liberia. We are now coming
with a brand new aircraft for Air France-320 which
will offer 208 seats in the Liberian market, he told
journalists at the time.
Air France, which started operations in 1937 and few
its frst fight in 1947 is the second international airline
that begun direct fights to Liberia. The U.S based Delta
Airline was the frst to begin direct fights from America
and Europe to Liberia in 2010. More recently, British
Airways commenced fights out of Liberia.
In September 2010, Delta Air Lines Inc. launched
fights from the U.S. to Liberia, becoming the frst
American carrier to serve the West African nation that
is recovering from more than a decade of civil war.
Delta currently fy thrice weekly between Monrovia
and Delta's hub in Atlanta with a stop in Accra, Ghana.
Before the outbreak of the confict, major airlines like
Pan American World Airways, Air France and even the
Concorde few directly to Liberia. The country was
shattered during 11 years of on-and-off fghting starting
with a 1989 civil war led by Charles Taylor.
Air France, a French fag carrier is one of the largest
airlines in the world and is a subsidiary of the Air
France-KLM Group and a founding member of the
SkyTeam global airline alliance. As of 2010, the airline
operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo
services to 151 destinations in 91 countries including
Liberia.
Air France has endured a turbulent run in Liberia. IN
2012, poor and dilapidated runaway at the Roberts
International Airport inficted damage on an AF752
which caused a rugged landing with damage set at
almost a half a million dollars.
The forced landing Planes bottom right, main landing
gear, hydraulic holes, brakes, and right main landing
gear axle assembly ruined during landing mishap.
Perhaps the incident sparked the writing on the wall for
the airline amid reports that Air France Airlines was
contemplating ending its route to Liberia.
Frontpage
Friday, May 30, 2014 Page 3
Seltue Karweaye, karweayee@gmail.com, Contributing Writer
LIBERIAS OUTRAGEOUS RECURRENT EXPENDITURE
FrontPage
v
Commentary
EDITORIAL
ON WEDNESDAY WHILE preparing to depart for the United
States of America accordingly for a private visit with some higher-
ups hinting that the trip is intended to meet US President Barrack
Obama, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf once dubbed the Iron Lady
of Liberian politics delivered a nationwide address in which she
admitted the near economic collapse and appalling living conditions
of Liberians.
IN WHAT SEEMS a bold admittance, President Sirleaf said she does
not have all the answers to the plethora of problems confronting the
country as she conceded that she inherited generational old poverty
recycled to her regime.
SAID SIRLEAF I do not have all of the answers and I came to this
High Offce fully aware that for many families, the harsh pains of
poverty have been recycled over several generations.
IN 2006 SIRLEAF did not acknowledge that poverty is generational
as she promised to change things for the better for the ordinary
Liberian family.
TIMES WERE HARD before. Times are even harder today. But I
make this pledge to you: Under my Administration, we will work to
change that situation. We will work to ensure that when our children
say papa na come, papa will come home joyfully with something,
no matter how meager, to sustain his family. In other words, we will
create the jobs for our mothers and fathers to be gainfully employed.
We will create the social and economic opportunities that will
restore our peoples dignity and self-worth.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF WORDS sounded like that of the messiah
in the ears of Liberians who voted her on four occasions, two
successive elections that were decided on runoff votes but after eight
years, the promise to change things for the better has now shifted
to explaining to the Liberian people that poverty is generational and
she does not have all the answers, contrary to the defnite promise in
2005 when she emphatically stated We will create the jobs for our
mothers and fathers to be gainfully employed.
MADAM PRESIDENT, the iron just got bent on this one, an iron
is a hard metal that does not easily bend unless excessive force is
exerted on it, therefore Iron Lady, you got this iron bending on
your promise of creating jobs and reducing poverty for Liberians.
AGAIN MADAM PRESIDENT on Wednesday announced that
the new vigor to restore the troubling economy to normality will
require changes of offcials and prosecution of offenders. This is
just another clich on the effort to change things for the better in
Liberia.
PROSECUTION, DISMISSAL ARE all songs sang upon
inauguration but in the end, junior level offcials are the one who
get dismissed or prosecuted for committing offenses which overall
lost incurred by the state is not signifcant.
MADAM PRESIDENT IN 2006 promised Throughout the
campaign, I assured our people that, if elected, we would wage
war against corruption regardless of where it exists, or by whom
it is practiced. Today, I renew this pledge. Corruption, under my
Administration, will be the major public enemy.
YEARS ON THERE has been no concrete step shown in the fght
against corruption as senior offcials of government who were
either implicated in audit report or reports of special presidential
committees all did not face prosecution.
THIERRY GENESIS A junior Minister at the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications was prosecuted to allegedly selling power
supply to private individuals and was later set free by the court after
long period of legal proceedings.
AUDIT OF THE National Social Security and Welfare Corporation
of Liberia (NASSCORP) the Ministry of Public Works all
recommend that millions of dollars were lost by the Government
but Francis Carbah, Luseni Donzo all walked free.
EIGHT YEARS DOWN the line, Madam President has once
again renewed her promise Today, my fellow Liberians, I renew
to you this solemn pledge: Our economy will be restored to its
full potentials. This effort is already underway with my direct
leadership. This effort will require changes in offcials, prosecutions
of offenders, challenges to partners, as well as reforms in policies
and actions.
MADAM PRESIDENT THERE is nothing new in announcing
prosecution of offcials when same promise was made years ago but
today there are no court record showing the number of prosecuted
individuals.
THERE IS NOTHING new, Madam President the one time solid
iron bent six years ago and has now melted, we hope a good
blacksmith can reassemble the iron.
COMMENTARY
NOTHING
NEW MADAM
PRESIDENT
T
he 2nd quarter of the fscal year has practically ended, the beginning
of quarter 3rd had started, yet Liberia and Liberians are yet to know
how a portion of the projected US$582 Million budget are being
spent and how much more is going to be borrowed in our name to
provide for services that we can neither see, nor feel. Appearing before the
National Legislature, the Minister of Finance predicted a budgetary shortfall
of around US$74. 5 million at the beginning of quarter three of the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2013/2014. With series of budget shortfalls, the United States of America
(USA), through its Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Debora Malac,
urging the Government of Liberia to discontinue the spending of money it
does not have.
Ambassador Malac said the Liberian Government is facing a serious budget
shortfall, which has impacted its ability to execute ambitious activities it has
planned to beneft the country and its people. The US Ambassador noted that
It is hard, when you are impatient to make things happen when the money
is not there. Sometime it is good to take a step back to fgure out what is
possible with the funding that is available, and then look and hope for other
ways to look for funding. International Monetary Fund (IMF) asserted that
Addressing signifcant shortcomings that have emerged in the budget process
and expenditure controls will be critical in the coming months.
Liberians, no doubts, are no longer strangers to the news of poor budget
implementation, though it still remains a thorn in the fesh. The citizens are
also no longer surprised that there are duplications and assessed fctitious items
that facilitate easy access to public funds. Even the issue of late submission
of the budget proposal, possible wrangling, claims and counter claims over
votes for various sectors, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are
the business as usual.
Minister Amara Konneh and his team raised the hope of the Liberian people
by adopting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) after MTEF
the legislative approval as required by the Public Finance Management Act of
2009. The reasons most African countries are participating in the MTEF, it
provides the basis for annual budget planning and consist of a macroeconomic
framework that indicates fscal targets, estimates, revenues and expenditure,
including government fnancial obligations in the medium term. The
documents also set out the underlying assumptions for these projections,
provide an evaluation and analysis of the previous budget and present an
overview of consolidated debt and potential fscal risks. MTEF also produce a
number of important outcomes, including the macroeconomic outlook; fscal
balance; and other key indicators.
The importance of sensible and prudent budgetary allocations cannot be
overemphasized because the budget itself is an expression of public policy. It is
the vehicle through which the various programs and agendas of a government
come to life. It is the major economic policy instrument which indicates a
governments priority, and is also a tool to correct anomalies and inequities
within the society. An effcient budgetary system is critical to economic growth
and developing sustainable fscal policies. On the fip side, a poorly designed
budget where attention to details are neglected and fgures just altered from
existing templates can only exacerbate social and economic problems within
the country. The effect of faulty budget choices will inevitably be felt mostly
by the ordinary citizens who are at the mercy of dysfunctional government
policies and facilities. Sadly, in the Liberia context, budgeting is still based on
guess work as evidenced in series of budgetary shortfalls.
In a nutshell, Minister Konneh explanation to the National Legislature for the
numerous budget shortfalls were poor revenue collections. I tend to partially
agree with Minister Konneh, Revenue generation is the nucleus and the path
of modern development, but what Minister Amara failed to educate or inform
the legislature and the Liberian people is the countrys outrageous spending
spree in running the government and the urgency needed in curtailing such
wasteful spending.
The volume of public expenditure has been on arising in Liberia if not almost
all countries of the world, because of the continuous expansion in the activities
of the state and other public bodies on several fronts. Public expenditures are
the expenses which government incurs for the maintenance of the government
and the society in general. Generally, public expenditure in Liberia can be
categorized into two component parts, namely Capital expenditure and
Recurrent expenditure. Recurrent Expenditure is the Spending by the
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of Government on Salaries,
Pensions & Overheads Salaries Capital Expenditure is used to provide
infrastructure such as roads, water and power; fund educational services such
as schools, colleges and universities; and provide healthcare facilities and
services among others.
During FY2005/06 FY2012/13, public spending increased by nearly three
times supported by a steady increase in revenue. Spending rose from 9 percent
of GDP in FY2005/06 to 33 percent of GDP in 2012/13. This was driven by
rising personnel costs, goods and services, and transfers. Capital expenditure
has risen from a very low level of 0.5 percent to reach 7.8 percent of GDP
in FY2012/13. In the 2013/14 budget, 83.2% of the nation's budget was
allocated for recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure stands at meager
16.7%. We are very worried that over 83.2% of the budget is actually going for
recurrent expenditure and less than 16.7% on capital expenditure. No country
develops under such provisions because what grows a country or builds the
economy is the amount of investments you are making on infrastructure and
other structural issues that you required to strengthen your economy. It is a
shame within the 8 years since Madam Sirleaf came to the presidency and
with over $2.716 billion collected in total revenue collected in revenue, the
ordinary people havent felt the impact economically.
So how did we get to such a high cost of running the government? It was the
two sets of increases that were done on the public sector salaries that actually
catapulted recurrent expenditure to where it is today. It is not sustainable! You
cannot give what you do not have as Ambassador Malac had said. We must re-
examine public sector salaries, including that of political offce holders across
all levels of government. We must stop the stealing going on in government,
plug the leakages and hold our so called civil servants accountable. There are
people who say civil servants are underpaid but if you look at it, it is in terms
of giving what you really do not have. At the onset of the global recession,
there were countries that actually reduced wages of their civil servants because
they could see that their revenue profle could no longer support the continued
payment of these wages. But what did Liberia do? Not only did we literally
double the minimum wage, we actually established all sorts of new institutions
and escalated our expenditures through the roof. There is nothing that the
Minister of Finance or the government can do to reduce recurrent expenditure
and avoid shortfalls without really facing the real issues, without engaging the
people. We must face the issues! Liberia must face the issues! We cannot run
away from it forever.
Our recurrent expenditure is outrageous! It might seem convenient now
because the government doesn't want to incur the wrath of the civil service
but in the long run, this country will suffer for it. A budget document that
provides only 16.7% for capital expenditure is a trip in self delusional and
the propagation of falsehood. The weight of recurrent expenditure cannot
be supported by the capital budget. This is symptomatic of a rent economy
whose long term growth is not sustainable. The ratio of recurrent to capital
expenditure does not present our present leadership has willing to change
the status quo. There must be the political will to restructure this equation
if, as a nation, we are mindful of the need to ensure a bright and prosperous
future for our citizens, particularly our teeming youths, the majority of whom
are presently in the labor market. Although the Minister of Finance stated
that the budget is for job creation, the amount available to pursue such an
objective seems rather lean and laughable, that is why I am not surprised of
the numerous shortfalls.
The major trouble with the Liberian budget is the overbearing interest of those
charged with the responsibility of preparing the document and appropriating
its contents for the beneft of the Liberian people. Rather than see themselves
as stewards, they now believe they are the primary and ultimate benefciaries
of the budgeting process. Thus, the fght between the Executive and the
Legislature has been at the expense of the common man whose interest the
budget has failed to truly cater for, as it should. At the presentation of the
appropriation bill, Minister Konneh and his team said that it was scripted to
create employment and development oriented, however, the discordant tones
trial policy documents, pointed to the lack of synchronization of recurrent and
capital expenditures in fscal plans to tackle development. Still, there have
been rising concerns over what makes up the nations recurrent expenditure,
how real and necessary, they are in the economic management of the country.
For instance, the rationale for the yearly budget of the National Assembly,
which had been pegged at US$189 Million over the years, with no upward
nor downward, but yet requesting US$73 million for so called direct district
development. Corruption is also a factor in this equation. The fgures in the
recent years have become mind-boggling, leading to serious distortions in our
national priorities. In a country where there is a huge infrastructure defcit,
spending huge sums on recurrent items is detrimental to economic progress.
The biggest constraint to productivity in the economy today is the quality
of infrastructure. Improvements in this area can only be achieved if there is
a signifcant investment. The situation is even greater concern because the
full implementation of even the meager allocation is often not guaranteed
(Shortfalls).
For the ordinary Liberia, the budget is gradually losing its relevance. Most
of the time, there has been a great variance between what is budgeted and
what is actually implemented or spent, thus rendering the entire process a
mere formality designed to just make the people feel good that something is
being done about their affairs. In the 2012/13 budget, for instance, the level of
implementation was less than projected. Granted, Liberias economy has been
growing, but there is a greater argument that it is in fgures. That is typical
of the government spending. The real effect of such a growth in government
spending has not been proportionately felt by the populace, resulting to
the paradox of growth without development. So, despite the burgeoning
increase in expenditure, unemployment has remained high as the development
indices have remained poor.
But is capital expenditure really implemented?. Obviously, much of the
spending through the countrys budgets go to service the establishment
MDAs, and at the end, very little is actually spent in a way that benefts the
ordinary man. An assessment of the performance of the 2013/24 budget so far
showed various reasons for the failure of the budget implementation, while
its impact has remained unimpressive. The MTEF projections and policy
objectives over the years, had shown the nation has not moved from the old
practice of heavy recurrent and light capital projection and subsequent poor
implementation of the budget in the years past. The pattern is that recurrent
expenditure is fully drawn down, while the capital expenditure bears the
brunt of all kinds of delays, bottlenecks, ineffciencies and outright economic
sabotage. The fgures speak for themselves. US $4854. 7 Million was released
for capital expenditure in the 2012/2013 while only US$68 Million for capital
expenditure. The implication from the trend in 2012/2013 is that capital
budget implementation continues to be relegated as in previous years. The
2013/14 implementations may end up being as usual.
Assessing MTEF, on which the 2012/2013 and 2013/14 budget bill were based,
listed fundamental gaps in the document, which could raise excuse for failure
in the future. They further queried the absence of indicators of the growth
drivers in the document. To them, it was not all about recurrent expenditure,
but the entire system on which those assumptions were made and possibility
of getting positive results from faulty background. The framework fell short
of the requirements expected of it on the projections and forecasts of economic
growth, infation rate, interest rate and credit policy, which should galvanize
the private sector to create wealth and jobs to improve the economy. The
monetary component wasnt considered in the MTEF and must be considered
to support growth and employment generation. Where is the projected sectoral
contribution to the Liberia, economic growth in 2013/14? Does it mean we
have no sectoral targets? This current MTEF has no foundation per se and
is therefore inclined to serve the interest of some few, the creditors and the
business as usual community and not the social welfare of a wider society.
There have been various fgures bandied around on the GOL budget
implementation performance. The fgures from the MDAs are at variance with
what is coming from the Finance Ministry. But what is clear in all of these is
that capital budget implementation has not been satisfactory. This has been
a recurring trend in budget performance over the years. Whereas recurrent
spending often achieve close to 100 per cent, the story for capital expenditure
is quite different. Yet the critical problem of infrastructure defcit can only
be addressed by scaling up capital budget performance. Recurrent spending
is estimated at 83 percent. By the time allowance is made for debt servicing,
total recurrent spending will be getting close to 90 per cent. However,
bureaucratic bottlenecks; capacity issues in the MDAs; weak institutional
capacity to capture all revenue due to the GOL Account; corruption and
wrong expenditure priorities, as factors aiding poor budget performance in
the country.
Economic growth and development is mainly enhanced by the expansion of
infrastructural facilities, the improvement of education and health service, the
encouragement of foreign local investments, low cost housing, environmental
restoration, and the strengthening of the agricultural sector. The approach
consists of stimulating the economy by addressing the nations forecast needs.
Dealing with these issues will result in a great amount of money spent by
the government and certainly lead to increased public expenditure. The size
and structure of public expenditure will determine the pattern and form. If
government spending is used to fnance investment in roads, education, health,
agriculture and other areas (Capital Expenditure), these investments will have
direct social and benefcial economic effects on the country. Furthermore, by
providing new opportunities and expanding the capabilities of the masses,
government capital spending plays an important role in ensuring sustainable
economic growth.
The writer holds an MS in Development Studies & MS in Politics and
International studies with specialization in Peace and Confict Studies
from Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden and can be reached at Seltue.
Karweaye.4687@student.uu.se or karweayee@gmail.com
IRON HAS ALREADY MELTED
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
A BIRD EYE
PERCEPTION OF
THE IMMORAL
ACTION OF AFL
WIDOWS: WHERE
ARE THE GENDER
ADVOCATES?
LIBERIANS,
YOU ARE YOUR
GOVERNMENT!
ONLY YOU, NO
ONE ELSE!
The Reader's Page
CHRIS JOHNSON WORKS AT HUMANITARIAN
I hope you've saved enough money cause you are also on your way
out of the Senate when your current expires!
SYLVESTER MOSES
Regardless of any spirited attempt to save face the resignation of
Hon. Geraldine Doe Sheriff, a sitting senator from the capital, and
a former chairperson, would undoubtedly hurt the main opposition,
CDC. And using derogatory remarks to dismiss the signifcance of
her departure would only accentuate the immaturity of her detractors
at the helm of the party.
Every political organization has its own problems: rifts and rivalries.
But they should be fxed to not fester, and lead to defections of core
members together with their followers. Such internal hemorrhage
occurred during the last presidential elections. Geraldines election
to the senate was a great moment for the CDC brand; lets hope her
exit isnt momentous to the fortunes of the party.
Pluralistic democracy affrms regular transfers of power from one
party to another; thats why Liberia isnt a one - party state. And the
necessity for stability dictates that another party other than UP wins
in 2017. Is CDC ready? It is sad that a once alert party which gave
hope to our young and restless population is sleep - walking: they
ought to wake up or lose again.
JOSEPH MULBAH CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY
This has been said again and again that CDC is a party of number
not ideas, people come there to get the numbers and work their way
out on the political steeps . Many are call but few chosen , there are
so many leaders in the CCD ,the mighty party in line for one of the
world loved people(GEORGE WEAH) ,who just want to win their
seat or post of which they are wishing for. when will the MIGHTY
CDC learn. 2017 is here again what are we doing, what is the game
plan ? There seen to be more problem come 2017 power take over .
will CDC stand the heat from the Liberian people ? now that every
Liberian are politicians .Let wait and ccccc
VICTOR FAYIA SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO MD AT TOTAL
LIBERIA INC.
this too is Liberia many fools and less educated people outcome of
less education and know how in the society will Liberia continues
like this after 155 or 56 yrs of independence? sorry CDC for when
u were fghting to put her into position with pride and honor we all
fght to put the old mother into position and now we all seen what is
happening in our land and the same goes to the cdcians on a woman
leadership and leaders many will pass through CDC for their ways
out and success cause that is the only easy to go through guys we all
coming very soon as time goes on hail CDC hail ALL
BOIMA PASSAWE WORKS AT MITSUBISHI
CATERPILLAR FORKLIFT AMERICA
I don't see CDC to do anything better comes 2017. Another party
will show strength in 2017, but not CDC.
Let think about different party.
The Editor,
There is something that has kept me wondering since
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 of this week. It was reported
on Tuesday, that several women believed to be widows
of former AFL soldiers stormed the grounds of the
Capitol building in demand of benefts owed them by the
government of Liberia. According to the spokesperson of
the group, their demands total an amount of $5,000USD
each.
What beats my imagination, is why did these women
result to naked themselves on the grounds of the Capitol
building in demand of what they referred to as their
just benefts? Honestly speaking, and with a heavy
heart, I believe that these women, brought total disdain,
disgrace, and disrepute to womanhood. There are several
questions I have thought to ask myself and also place for
interventions.
1. Was that the best remedy by the widows?
2. By stripping naked, did it bring the situation to an
immediate close (meaning, did they receive what they
demanded)? 3. Where are the women groups, gender
based advocates? Is this not worth commenting on,
advocates and women groups leaders, as disgraceful,
immoral and shameful this act is? Wasn't this action a
total disgrace to womanhood? Didn't this have a negative
implication on our country? I am very dispirited by this
shameful and disgraceful altitude exhibited by the AFL
widows by stripping naked in the name of protesting
for benefts. There is a better, moral and civil way to go
about fronting for their demands.
Arthur R.M. Becker, Sr.
armbecker@gmail.com
The Editor,
Do something about the horrors of Your country's brutal civil war in
which so many innocent people were killed by a select few!
I know you are able to do something about this because the power is
in your reach to change your country in a positive way.
Isnt your government for the people, by the people, and of the people?
And if you are the people, arent you the government?
Arent you aware that without you there can be no government?
And because you are the government, arent you also aware that
without you, there can be no President, Senators, or Representatives?
You are the public and they are your offcials.
Arent you aware that if there is no Public support, there will be no
Public offcials?
Arent you aware that they need YOUR SUPPORT" in order to
make them powerful?
I want you to know that your decisions are very important in bringing
justice to Liberias war victims!
All you have to say is WE WANT JUSTICE FOR WAR VICTIMS
and do something about it.
Call your senator, your representative, and even your President, and
say "regardless of the ruckus that may come with it, we want justice
for war victims in Liberia!"
Tell them that a peaceful Liberia demands accountability, justice, and
reconciliation.
Those bearing the greatest responsibility for atrocities in Liberia must
be held accountable. They must not be allowed to walk freely! This is
necessary in order to begin genuine reconciliation.
Streamline yourselves into a single entity as soon as possible and write
the United Nations Security Council demanding for the establishment
of a Liberians War Crimes Court. That is all that is required for
Liberia to have a war crimes court that will bring those who allegedly
committed atrocities in Liberia to justice.
Again, remember you are your government, and only you can help
yourselves make this happen.
Bernard Gbayee Goah
bgoah76@yahoo.com
GERALDINE DOE SHERIFF
QUITS CDC, SAYS PARTY
CANNOT ACHIEVE
JUST ANOTHER LIE: ROB
SIRLEAF DEBUNKS RAID OF
US HOME BY FBI
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER
Robert Sirleaf was a Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank in
Charlotte, NC; a city which is evolving into the banking Mecca of
the US. So we agree that if there was an FBI raid at his residence, it
would make not only the Charlotte Observer newspaper, but the
rumor mill of a bustling Liberian community which makes Peytons
Place seems like a convent.
And if the truth shall come out, let us wait rather than attempting
at preempting it through a pinch of peppered prevarications. Should
politics be the motive for this new smear campaign, Weah, Robert
and Neyor would each make a great senator.They are professionals,
patriots, compassionate, and business - minded; criteria necessary
for an effective senator in Liberia.
Instead of discouraging some of the brightest and best, we should
be welcoming them to take on the diffcult task of running one of
the poorest and most backward real estates in the world. Avoiding
political instability in the next fve years would need skills, courage,
and charisma; therefore, we protect Liberia by giving a chance to
those who can bring these attributes along.
Frontpage

Monrovia-
I
n the wake of controversy,
claims and counter claims
made by some party
offcials and members of
the opposition Congress for
Democratic Change (CDC), that
people in the Partys hierarchy
are looking to take elected
position in the senate during the
pending election, the Party has
announced its primary set for
June of this year.
Since news emerged that the
political leader of the CDC soccer
legend Ambassador George M.
Weah would contest in the 2014
senatorial election for senator of
Montserrado County and with
incumbent senator Joyce M.
Sumo who is also from the CDC
not backing down, eyebrows are
continuing to be raised about the
democratic tenets of the party.
Weah has for the past months
been accused by Senator Sumo
of wanting her job by his
announcement of wanting to
contest in Montserrado County
as a senatorial candidate.
At a Press Conference Thursday
Mr. Mulbah Morlu Vice
Chairman for Operations of the
CDC said the Partys Primary
would be simultaneously held
in Buchanan, Grand Bassa,
Gbarnga, Bong and Harper,
Maryland Counties from the 6th
to the 8th of June 2014.
Morlu said: This primary is
designed and intended to produce
the strongest, the most robust
and loyal candidates on the Party
ticket across the political-sub
division as we go to election in
2014 in which we are dedicated
to produce 8 winners in the worst
case scenario.
Contrary to comments made by
F
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POLITICS
HEADS FOR PRIMARY AHEAD OF 2014 SENATORIAL ELECTION
CDC GEARS UP
I WAS NOT
ARRESTED
AT US AIRPORT
This primary is designed and intended to produce the strongest, the most robust
and loyal candidates on the Party ticket across the political-sub division as we go to
election in 2014 in which we are dedicated to produce 8 winners in the worst case
scenario, Mulbah Morlu, Vice Chairman for Operations, CDC
the CDC chairman Mr. George
Solo that Ambassador Weah
will win the Primary to contest
as the partys candidate in
Montserrado County, Morlu in
a more diplomatic posture said,
survey conducted on the feld
has proven that Weah is set and
posed to emerge victorious in the
Primary as the Party candidate in
Montserrado County.
Responding to question about
the controversy surrounding the
pending primary he dismissed
such claims noting that the partys
primary has never been marred
by controversy and claims by
Senator Sumo and others are
intended to play to what he called
oligarchy.
Political gangster
Morlu described as political
gangsterism people making
suggestions that Mr. Robert
Sirleaf son of President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf could emerge in
the CDC to achieve his political
quest.
We think it is comical to even
give credence to the Robert
Sirleaf discussion about our body
politic because we dont think
he can even obtain 5% of all the
votes in Montserrado County,
said Morlu.
He said the CDC is going into the
2014 race with all of its strength
and might and will continue to
declare Montserrado County and
other counties a no fy zone for
other political parties because the
CDC is coming as a hurricane
against those he described as
weaklings.
He assured party members
that the partys primary will be
transparent and democratic and
announced that the party will on
Saturday hold a mass meeting
with all the counties structures
of the Party to receive direction
and instructions about the serious
nature of the election.
Commany Wesseh a political
non-entity
Even though we are not from
the peace offce we want to call
on staffs of the peace offce
not to dignify comments from
Commany Wesseh. He is a
political non-entity who has no
political stronghold, Morlu said.
Morlu comments was in response
to Mr. Wesseh statement against
Ambassador Weah that the recent
peace meeting held between
the people of Nimba and Grand
Gedeh Counties was unnecessary
and called on Weah to fnd
something meaningful to do if he
has nothing to do.
F
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GOVERNMENT NEWS
Monrovia-
T
he Environmental
Protection Agency
(EPA) has denied
rumors and media
reports suggesting that it had
a hand in the fre incident that
occurred recently resulting in
the burning of several sensitive
documents in the Finance offce
of the Agency.
There were speculations and
rumors suggesting foul play in the
May 22nd fre incident days after
a communication was sent to the
Agency from the Internal Audit
Agency informing them about a
possible deployment of one of its
auditors.
We want to clarify in this public
manner that we do not have any
idea as to what led to the outbreak
of the fre that gutted our building
on May 22, 2014 at about 12am,
said Mr. Stephen Neufville acting
executive director of the EPA.
At a news conference Wednesday,
Mr. Neufville said, though some
sensitive documents including
two laptops were burned by the
fre, the agency still has a backups
to documents that were burned.
He also told journalists at the
EPA DENIES FOUL PLAY IN FIRE INCIDENT
SAYS IT WAS A CIRCUMSTANCE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE AGENCY
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
news conference that the news
about the deployment of an
internal auditor reached him the
morning the incident took place,
claiming that it had nothing to
do with the deployment of an
internal auditor.
Neufville said: The widely
talked about coincidental internal
Risk Assessment Team has since
commenced its work. In fact the
communication from the Internal
Audit Agency was lately delivered
21st may at about the close of
business day and on the morning
of 22nd May it circulated and the
team is proceeding with its Job.
The team is to conduct risk
assessment of EPAs Internal
control system and not fnancial as
is being perceived. It is our hope
that this clarifcation will give the
public a better understanding of
what transpired at the EPA with
respect to the fre Incident.
He said on the morning of the fre
incident, offcers of the Liberia
National Police and the National
Fire Service were invited to
investigate the circumstances that
led to the outbreak of the fre and
disclosed that investigation is still
ongoing.
Asked if there was a chance in
getting back fnancial documents
that were destroyed by the fre
he said: There are redundancies
in every system; the fact that
fnancial documents got burned
does not mean that fnancial
monuments are deleted from the
surface of the earth.
There is an independent Audit
session here once documents are
stored in fnance they are also
stored in audit; so if the fnance
session gets burned, I believe
fnancial documents are in Audit
department.
He also said staffs in the fnance
session are currently undergoing
investigation as it relates to the
incident and fndings from the
investigation will be immediately
released to the public.

AB KROMAH DEBUNKS SOCIAL
MEDIA REPORTS OF WAR CRIMES,
IMMIGRATION ARREST
Monrovia-
T
he aftermath of the arrest and indictment in the U.S.
of Mr. Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu, a former prominent
fgure in Charles Taylors National Patriotic Front
appears to have triggered a wave of uncertainty for
former players of the Liberian civil war harboring plans of
traveling to the United States of America.
On Thursday, an online news outlet and social media were mired
in speculations that Mr. A.B. Kromah, Deputy Police Director for
Operations in the Liberia National Police Force had been arrested
and detained by U.S. Law Enforcement Authorities on Thursday.
Some reports suggested that Kromah, a former Chief of Staff
of the Liberian army under the Dr. Amos Sawyer-led Interim
Government of National Unity who was later, reportedly an ally
to ULIMO-K, a rebel faction in the civil war, was being held on
immigration violations.
The online TMZ Liberia Magazine reported an unconfrmed report
stating that Kromah was questioned shortly after disembarking
from DL fight #479 from Liberia. Kromah, who played an
active role in the civil war as a member of the ULIMO warring
faction, is allegedly being held on immigration violation, the
report noted.
But Kromah, speaking to FrontPageAfrica via phone from the
U.S. State of New Jersey described the reports as baseless. There
is no iota of truth to those reports. In fact, I am just heading to a
basketball court to play hoops with my son. The report is false.
Kromah denied being questioned or taken off the Delta fight.
The report of Kromahs arrest immediately drew comparison to
the recent arrest of Woewiyu, a former defense minister who was
denied bail by a U.S. judge; after it was determined that he was
a fight risk.
Woewiyu served under Taylor in the 1990s, and earlier helped
start the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, which mounted a
violent campaign to depose Taylor's predecessor, Samuel Doe,
the indictment said. He served as the party's defense minister, and
later as Taylor's labor minister and as president pro tempore of
the senate.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Federal Bureau
of Investigation agents recently picked up Woewiyu at Newark
Airport on his return from Liberia and charged him with lying
on his citizenship application by failing to disclose his alleged
affliation with a violent political group in Liberia.
Woewiyu served as defense minister in Charles Taylors former
rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), during that
countrys civil war. His immigration lawyer, Raymond Basso,
said his client amended his citizenship application to include his
participation in the Taylor regime.
Woewiyu pleaded not guilty at his detention hearing to all counts
against him, including perjury and four counts of fraudulent
misrepresentation in immigration applications.
U.S. authorities in Philadelphia have charged him with lying
on citizenship papers about his political ties to former Liberian
President Taylor. Woewiyu allegedly checked "no" when asked if
he had any political affliations or had ever joined in an attempted
coup.
Prosecutors said he had fown to and from Liberia 38 times since
2002, sometimes staying for several months.
Woewiyu and his wife are legal permanent residents. They live
in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, where Woewiyu,
also known as Thomas Smith, works in property investment.

Deputy Police Chief Says Report is
Totally untrue, a fabrication
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781
F
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POLITICS
F
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LAW & ORDER
EMPTY RHETORICAL STATEMENTS
Monrovia-
R
epresentative Moses
Acarous Gray
(CDC-District#8
-Montserrado
County) has described as empty
and rhetorical statements from
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
about the Liberian economy
made on Wednesday in a
nationwide address.
Just a day after the Presidents
address, the CDC lawmaker
accused her (Sirleaf) of
numerous contradictions in
her comments. Rep. Gray
asserts that the President
complained of budget shortfall
and at the same time boasts of
Liberia being a nation that is
experiencing economic boost
over the years compared to
other African countries.
If these people have made
our economy to boom why
would you want to replace or
prosecute them? I see that as a
contradiction, said Gray.
If they boast of economic
growth and admit to shortfalls
in the budget that is a
contradiction and the biggest
contradiction of all is when the
President said those in charge
of the economy of the country,
some may be replaced and
prosecuted.
In the Presidents address
she stressed her seriousness
to rescue what is left of an
economy in pieces vowing
changes in policy and offcials.
I renew to you this solemn
pledge: our economy will be
restored to its fullest potential.
This effort is already on its way
with my direct leadership,
President Sirleaf said.
Very unserious
CDC GRAY DISSECTS PRESIDENT SIRLEAFs ADDRESS
The CDC lawmaker also
accused President Sirleaf of
being very unserious about
catering to the welfare of the
Liberian people.
Gray said in the wake of the
continuous budget shortfall
experienced by the government
it spent hundreds of thousands
of United States dollars on
relatives and those close to the
power in the name of foreign
scholarships for credential
that could be attained right in
Liberia from the University of
Liberia at a low cost.
Why will people be abusing
the state resources and boasting
of a growing economy and
trying to lie to the people?
What is her agriculture policy?
Doe had the Green revolution
policy; past leaders had their
policies that impacted the lives
of the ordinary people, said
Gray.
It will take more years to
begin to export oil and iron
ore from Liberia as opposed to
having a massive agriculture
revolution in Liberia that will
provide more employment for
Liberians.
He described the presidents
speech to the nation about
dismissal and prosecution of
offcials of government as
empty talk because according
to him under the Presidents
leadership there has not been
a single offcial dismissed for
corruption.
Representative Gray said the
president comments about
changes was calculated in that
she is aware that by July of this
year there will be no ministry
of Finance but rather the
Ministry of Finance, Planning
and Development and as a
result of that some changes
will be made.
He challenged the president
to dismiss or prosecute any
offcial of government on
corruption and promised to
commend her for such action,
but cautioned the President
against witch-hunting offcials
of government who are at the
bottom of decision making
adding that she should rather
deal with those at the peak of
power.
Grand Daughter graduation
infuence US trip
Gray also claimed that the
Presidents trip to the United
States in the name of a private
visit is to attend her grand
Daughters graduation.
Just as she brought her great
grandson here for NOCAL
consultation, it is the same way
she is going to the US to attend
the graduation ceremony of her
granddaughter and saying she
is going for offcial duties, he
stated.
On Thursday President Sirleaf
wrote the plenary of the
Liberian Senate informing
them about her trip to the US
leaving Defense Minister
Brownie Samukai in charge of
the country.
The President letter read by
the secretary of the senate said:
Mr. Pro-Temp and distinguish
ladies and gentlemen of the
senate I write to inform you
that I will be out of the country
for some days, but while I
am away defense Minister
Brownie Samukai will be in
charged in consultation with
Vice President Joseph Boakai.
I want to inform you that
funds used to fnance my trip
is my personal fnance. The
Presidents letter was read and
sent to the senate record as it is
usually done.

Monrovia-
T
he mercenary
case involving 13
defendants majority
hailing from Grand
Gedeh County, Wednesday
took another interesting
turn when defense lawyers
announced that they have
rested with the production
of both oral and material
evidences.
The announcement by Cllr.
Tiawan Gongloe follows the
end of testimonies of each
of the 13 defendants and
three special witnesses. They
took the witness stand and
denied any role of mercenary
activities in the Ivory Coast
that left several properties
destroyed and several other
persons killed including seven
United Nations Peace Keepers
from Niger.
At this stage, your honor
defense counsels will like
to inform this court and jury
that we have rested with the
production of both oral and
material evidence, said Cllr.
Tiawan Gongloe lead defense
lawyer.
Following the incident in
2011, 18 of the defendants
were arrested and charged
by the state in 2013 with
DEFENSE RESTS EVIDENCE
IN MERCENARY CASE
mercenarism, but fve others
were released due to lack
of evidence after they were
accused of joining ranks with
forces loyal to former Ivorian
President Laurent Gbagbo to
destabilize the government of
President Alassane Ouattara.
In their testimonies after
the state had rested with the
production of 11 witnesses and
several material evidences,
most of the defendants told the
court that they were involved
in illicit gold mining in Grand
Gedeh County to earn their
living but had nothing to do
with the Ivorian Crisis.
I operate a gold mine and get
people working for me. Why
will I go to fght; I know nothing
At this stage your honor, the defense counsel will like to inform this court and jury that they
have rested with the production of both oral and material evidence. Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe
about war and I was only
arrested by the police because
they wanted to take my money
away, said Prince Youtay one
of the 13 defendants during his
testimony in court.
Defendant Prince Youtay
and others who have been in
detention for close to three
years told the court and jury
that they were innocent and
that state lawyers lied to
implicate them in the Ivorian
crisis something in which they
had no involvement.
The state can lie, they did
not only lie on me but all of
the accused in this trial, said
defendant Nyezee Barway,
believed to be in his late 50s.
The state had accused Barway
of leading the rebel troops to
attack the Ivorian town of Para
in 2012.
Defendant Barway who
claimed to be a former soldier
of the defunct Armed Forces
of Liberia (AFL) in the regime
of slain President Samuel Doe,
stated that he was arrested
by offcers of the Emergency
Response Unit (ERU) in his
hometown at his house in
Ziah, Grand Gedeh County
and not in the Ivory Coast as
is being alleged by the state.
He said he was brought to
Monrovia and later charged
with mercenarism.
With the announcement by
the defense counsels that they
have rested with the production
of evidence, the state will now
have the opportunity to produce
a rebuttal witness to rebut the
testimonies of the defendants
when the case resumes on
Monday.
Frontpage
Stephen D. Kollie, stephenkollie13@gmail.com 0776329124
F
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VOICES
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT
T
his is to announce with deep sorrow the death of Samuel
Benedict Cooper Jr.
This sad event took place in the ambulance en route to St.
Josephs Catholic Hospital,
on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:40 pm.
This is a tremendous loss for the Cooper family and for countless
others that affectionately referred to him as Ben Cooper, Papa Zulu,
Jolly Pappy, or JP.
Funeral arrangements will be as follows:
Removal of Bens body from the Stryker Funeral Home:
Friday, June 6, 2014 at 4 PM
With the wake keeping to follow at Trinity Cathedral, Broad Street.
Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Cathedral, Broad Street:
Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 10:00 AM
This announcement was brought in by the Cooper Family.

Samuel Benedict Cooper, Jr
June 22, 1944May 15, 2014
REMOVAL: Samuel A. Striker Funeral Home: Friday, May 30, 2014
at 3:00 PM
UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA AUDITORIUM: Friday, May 30, 2014
from 4:00 p.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.
WAKE KEEPING: A service of songs, praise and tributes will be
held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Friday, May 30, 2014 from
6:00 pm ~ 9:00 p.m. All tributes will be made during this period. If
you wish to be listed to make a tribute during the wake, please email
or text Rufus Berry at rufus_berry@yahoo.com or @ 0886-362332.
SERVICE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF FATUS LIFE: The
Service for the Celebration of her Life and Eucharist of the Resurrection
for the peaceful repose of her soul will be said on Saturday, May 31,
2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, Camp Johnson.
As a tradition in the Episcopal Church, tributes during the service are
limited only to Fatus family, the church and government. There are
no exceptions.
INTERMENT: Kaiser Memorial Lawn Cemetery Brewerville
In lieu of fowers, the families ask that anyone who so desires may
contribute to the Fatu G. White Educational Fund (The aim is to
provide full scholarship to bright but fnancially needy students
at the University of Liberia and the J. Dwalu Kimber School in
Brewerville). You may contact Vida Mensah, vmsquare12@aol.com
(+231-770-770760), Yatta Sherif yessherif@aol.com (001-773-577-
9957) or Rufus Berry @ rufus_berry@yahoo.com (+231-886-362332
or +231-555-206065) for more information regarding the fund.

Fatu Gittens-White
July 13, 1954 ~ May 2, 2014
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT
ELLEN MUST BE SERIOUS
A
day after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addressed the
nation on numerous issues facing the country with promises
of revamping the nations economy to its full potential;
Liberians have been candidly analyzing the issues
expressed by the Liberian leader with many describing the president
statement as unserious, calling on her to be serious about governing
the country. In separate interviews with FrontPageAfrica Liberians
described the Presidents message as a joke to the population.
D. Lawrence George: I think the message delivered by the President
was impartial because if you look at the country, majority of the
people are still living in abject poverty. If you talk about improvement
there must be a system that commensurate with the livelihood of the
people. For me, I fell the economy is very, very stagnant. Looking at
this country now infation has skyrocketed. If you went to the market
today, things that used to be bought for thirty United States dollars
have jumped to ffty USD. Things prices are no longer stable. The
Ministry of Commerce came up with a statement that the government
does not have control over prices. I see that as a total disappointment
for a responsible government to not have control over prices. Because
the government should be there to regulate activities in the country to
see how best things can be stabilized. With our government, we noticed
that things are just out of proportion and any investor can do anything
he wants to do. At one point in time, I saw the government saying
the rate should drop to eighty. But what is the essence of introducing
a policy that does not last for a longer period of time. Today you will
say US rate should drop to eighty. After three, four days it climbs up
again. So you see how irresponsible this government is to the plight
of the people.
We have been told from our readings that Madam Sirleaf is a
Harvard-trained economist but she learned in Harvard and looking
at the application in the Liberian society, I think it is ironical and
completely contradictory. Those people who have gone to Harvard
have made suffcient impact in the lives of people but since Madam
Sirleaf took over this country we have not seen the thing that she
learned from Harvard to impact the lives of the Liberian people. We
know very well that no government on planet earth will employ all her
citizenry but government is there to ensure that most of her citizens
get employed, I think if Madam Sirleaf should be remembered by the
Liberian people she needs to be very much serious as it relates to how
she goes about the business of the Liberian people.

Albert S. Doe: When I listened to the President a day ago, what
came to my mind is whether Madam Sirleaf has an offce in the
executive mansion and just stand to the window and look to Buzzy
quarter and see the ordinary people that are living in Buzzy quarter
in poor conditions then Madam Sirleaf could not be saying what she
said.
I also wanted to see madam Sirleaf offce to be where we have the
E.J. Roye Building to see the present condition of the people of West
Point Community then Madam Sirleaf will not be boasting about the
economy of Liberia. As we speak now presently at the University of
Liberia, we have over thirty-fve thousand students, seven thousand of
them have paid their school fees while the remainders are still hustling
for scholarships around here and still claiming a stable economy.
Madam Sirleaf has failed to realize that Liberia is not Montserrado
County. What about the people that live in Grand Gedeh, Sinoe and
other places around the country? Have you realized that these people
do not have trousers to wear and are still wearing bombo? If Liberia
will be better tomorrow, there is a need for us to be nationalist. You
cannot have a Minister parading around here along with his wife
and children in America as soon as he gets money he sends it to
America and boast of a billion dollar investment. You will not get
the trickledown effect of the billions of dollars. So Madam Sirleaf
now will have to be serious by putting her feet in fre, forget about
extended relatives, forget about best friends and see how best they can
improve the nations economy.

Marian T. Kiddy: I felt disappointed in the president speaking of an
economy that does not really exist in her country. You cant build an
economy where only your children and friends are benefting from and
then you go out there to boast as if all is well in your country. Almost
everything is not well in Liberia. One of my recent disappointments
in this government is the consistent fuctuation of the exchange rate.
Yesterday we heard madam Sirleaf and her Central Bank governor
speaking of US rate dropping to eighty. In less than three hours, the
rate went back to eighty-six, that is a complete disappointment for me.
Madam Sirleaf used the people of Liberia when she needed power.
Today, madam Sirleaf offce is at Foreign Affairs and she cannot go
to the slum communities she once visited. People are giving Madam
Sirleaf briefngs about the state of the country but is like she continues
to play mockery out of us. So I think Madam Sirleaf is a complete
disappointment to the Liberian people. Madam Sirleaf cannot employ
everybody in the country but what is she doing to enlarge or empower
the private sector to employ people in her country? Every time I speak
of Madam Sirleaf, I become very irritated.

Musa M. Kamara: For me I feel Madam Sirleaf is joking with our
future. After spending nine years in power providing nothing for the
Liberian people but to come with paired speeches. We tired listening
to those songs that she always sings. The money Madam Sirleaf has
spent on her traveling since she became President in 2005 is more
than the money she has spent on the education system in this country.
Look at the economy system she is speaking of where you have a
somebody who want be President everyday hes putting out more
Liberty leaving out the commercial banks he say he giving loan. The
commercial banks should be the ones to give loan than you protect
them. And look at Amara Konneh and Mills Jones, they are not
working together and those people are to be working together. Look at
some of the Ministers she has like the one called Information Minster
who has placed his political belly because he was low at the time
he spoke against her but today hes singing gospel song for Madam
Sirleaf. Madam Sirleaf became President to enrich her children and
her unborn grand children. What we want is Madam Sirleaf to step
aside because nine years you did nothing, three years you cant do
anything for us.

Eric Blamo: I listen to the message from the President and I just feel
that madam Sirleaf is one of the jokers that Liberia ever produced.
While its true that no government can employ her entire citizens,
yet still there should be an avenue for ordinary Liberians to live a
beftting life. All of the resources that we have in this country we
are not benefting anything. So Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has
failed the Liberian people most especially some of us that were in the
vanguard of her during the elections because we felt she was a mother
and she could be the person who understands our plight, could be the
person who could redeem the Liberian people but Madam Sirleaf has
become one of the worst ever presidents Liberia have had.
LIBERIANS REACT TO SIRLEAFS MESSAGE

Page 8 |
Frontpage
My Simple Ques-on and Answer
Book on Liberian Oil

Public Aairs Division, NOCAL
1

Is Liberia producing oil?

No, Liberia is not producing oil yet, but we are
s-ll looking for oil. African Petroleum (one of
the Interna-onal oil companies opera-ng in
Liberia) found small oil in February 2012, but
the company is s-ll checking to see if the oil is
enough (commercial) to sell and make prot.
If the oil African Petroleum (AP) nds is
enough, the company will have to develop
the oil eld before it can begin the produc-on
of the oil. This will take between 5-7 years.

1 2

How is explora5on done?

For oshore (in the sea) oil, NOCAL is working with a company called
TGS-NOPEC. This company uses special equipment to get
informa-on from pictures of the ground and the earth to help them
know where to look for oil. This company hires a special ship that
moves across the sea and collects small, small, picture samples of
certain areas of the sea. These small, small picture samples taken by
TGS- NOPEC are sold for the government, to oil companies around
the world who want to use it to help them decide whether to do oil
business in Liberia. The money that they make from selling the
pictures is divided between the government of Liberia and the
company (TGS NOPEC).

Oil companies that buy these sample pictures will study them in a
special place in their oces to nd a sign of oil. If their studies show
a sign of oil, and they are interested, they will come to Liberia to pay
some money to sign a contract with the government. The contract is
called (Produc-on Sharing Contract- PSC) and it allows the
companies to check for oil, pull it out of the sea and, if they nd that
there is enough for them to make prot, the companies will share
with government the amount of the oil that they pulled out.

According to the contract, the -me the companies can
take to check for oil should last no more than for 5yrs: 3
years to study and understand the sample picture in the
lab, and 2 years to check in the sea for the oil.

During the two years checking for the oil in the sea, oil
companies can hire a special ship called a drill-ship. The
drill-ship is dierent from the ship that is used to collect
the sample pictures in the sea. When they use a drill ship
to drill for oil, it costs plenty money - about 1 million US
dollars a day and not all the oil can be drilled in one day -
some-mes, it will take plenty days.
4 3

How is produc5on done?

If the company nds oil and it is enough to sell and
make prot, (commercial quan--es) the company
will write the government and ask for a permit to
start pulling the oil from the sea. The government
will look at the way the company wants to pull out
the oil, and if the government is happy that
everything is okay, the government will tell the
company to start pulling the oil from the sea. The
company then will build dierent machines around
area (s) that the oil has been found before it starts
pulling it out. Some-mes, it will take 5 years or
more to build all the machines that the company
would need to start pulling out the oil. Yes, it can
be a long process oh, this oil thing. Tha not small
thing.
6 5

Why are companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil or
African Petroleum doing the work and not
NOCAL?

NOCAL or Liberia does not have the equipment, the money,
and the trained people needed to look for and pull oil from
the sea. To check for oil alone (explora-on) will cost over US
$100 Million. Look at our countrys budget - it is below US
$500 million. Our whole countrys budget for one year is
almost half of the money to look for the oil. That is why
Liberia is not ready to spend that amount of money to check
for oil that it may or may not nd. So the best thing to do for
now, is to leave the hard work with the oil company, and if
they nd and pull out the oil from the sea they can take
away the money they put inside to nd the oil, and then the
company and the Liberian government will share the balance
oil money that is the prot. Later on, when Liberia gets
enough money and trained people, it can also do some of
the oil company work. Right now, we have not reached there
yet.
7
8

How much money will this oil business
bring?

It is hard to know how much money we can
get right now because we are s-ll checking
for oil. But when we hear about what other
countries went through, it shows that oil can
bring in plenty money if every thing is done
the right way by everybody concerned.

What does commercially viable mean?

It simply means the amount of oil under the
sea should be plenty enough for the oil
companies to sell, take away all their
expenses they made for trying to nd and pull
out the oil from the sea, and s-ll make prot.

9
10

How do PSCs work?

The contract between the oil company and the Government
of Liberia is called: Produc-on Sharing Contract (PSC) and it
is dierent from Mineral (mining) Development Agreements.

A Produc-on Sharing Contract (PSC) is like the type of
agreement that government signed with Firestone or Acelor
Mieal, that charges royal-es (special fees) and taxes. But this
contract is a liele bit dierent because in addi-on to
royal-es and taxes, the company will also share part of the
petroleum produced with the government either in cash or
oil. The produc-on share part of it comes out of the prot
oil.
The dierence between a produc-on sharing contract and
a concession agreement is like this: PSC is like a land
owner who gives out his land to a farmer to plant rice and
receives payment for the land as well as some of the rice
that will be harvested.
11
12
Concession agreement is like a landowner who
gives his land to a farmer to plant rice but only
receives payment for the land and not some of
the rice that will be harvested. So the PSC gives
the land owner ( Liberia) more.

How are PSCs signed? Is it only NOCAL that can
sign them?

No, NOCAL is not the only company that can discuss or sign
oil contracts with the oil companies. They way we do it right
now is that oil contracts (PSCs) are discussed between the
companies and the government of Liberia through a special
commieee called the Hydrocarbon Technical Commieee
(HTC). The agreement is then signed by the President of
Liberia and approved by the Legislature.

Members of the Hydrocarbon Technical Commieee are:

NOCALChairman
Jus-ce Ministry
Finance Ministry
Lands and Mines Ministry
Na-onal Investment Commission (NIC)
Environmental Protec-on Agency (EPA) and
The Legal Advisor to the President of Liberia.
13
14
Frontpage

What about shares in oil blocks?

There are two dierent kinds of shares being talked
about: The rst is State share and the second is
Ci-zens share. State share is for the government,
through NOCAL, to have a share in the opera-on of the
oil companies. This means, Liberia will share with the oil
companies the expenses to get the oil as well as the
prot amer the oil is sold.

The second is Ci-zens par-cipa-on. This form of
par-cipa-on comes in more than one way. One of the
ways is for individual ci-zens to be allowed to buy shares
from the oil companies and share with the company the
expenses to get the oil as well as the prot amer the oil is
sold. It also means they have small ownership of the
company through the shares that they buy from the
company.

The other way ci-zens can par-cipate, is for the
government to pay ci-zens, their por-on of the expenses
to get the oil and the prot amer the oil is sold, and this
will be divided among Liberians through their individual
accounts, social security and or health benets.
15 16

When will Liberia start receiving oil
money?

Liberia will start genng the oil (money)
revenue when enough oil is found and we
start pulling it from the sea. Remember, we
said before that even if enough
(commercial quan-ty) oil is found today, it
will take up to 5 or 7 years to build all the
machine around the place the oil is found.
However, Liberia is currently receiving
some money from the following places:

The sale of the oil pictures (Seismic
data) collected from the sea by the oil
sample picture collec-on company TGS
NOPEC.
Rental fees from the oil companies for
the area of the sea they are using to
check for the oil (drilling site).
Fees paid by the oil companies to
develop the various local communi-es
and the countrys human capaci-es.

17 18

Where do all these monies coming in go?

The money is divided among NOCAL, the
Government of Liberia through the Ministry
of Finance, and the University of Liberia.

NOCAL uses its por-on of the money for its
opera-ons including scholarships, community
projects and to run NOCAL.

The part of the money pot that is sent to the
government through the Ministry of Finance
is added to the na-onal budget; and

The one sent to the University of Liberia is to
develop science educa-on.

19 20

What are cost oil and prot oil?

Cost oil is the amount of oil a company needs to
sell to pay for all the expenses (costs) it makes to
check for and pull the oil from the sea.

Prot oil is the amount of oil that is lem over amer
an oil company takes away all the expenses (cost) it
takes to check and pull the oil from the sea.

Going by the Produc-on Sharing Contract (PSC), the
money from the prot oil is then shared between
the oil company concerned and the Liberia
Government according to a sharing schedule
agreed in the contract.
21 22

What is this thing they call local content?

Local content means the opportuni-es for
Liberian (local) businesses to benet from the
oil sector through business for example
Liberian (local) business companies should
provide support services to the big
Interna-onal Oil Companies (IOCs). These
services can be: taking care of the drilling
ships, selling food & drinks to the oil
companies, transporta-on, and housing for
workers, etc.

For good local content, countries usually make
strong laws to force the Interna-onal Oil
Companies (IOCs) use local contractors.

23 24

When will oil create jobs for Liberians?

The oil companies cannot provide many jobs
right now but, these companies will need plenty
goods and services (business) and Liberian
companies providing those goods or services
will give dierent kinds of jobs to qualied
Liberians. But all this job crea-on business will
only start if we nd enough oil and start pulling
it from the seaBut we have not reached that
bridge yet to cross it.

25 26

Will we rene oil in Liberia?

Right now, the main thing that the government is
thinking about is how to look at the old law on oil
in Liberia and make it beeer and stronger for the
country and the people and the companies. The
government is working on making a policy and law
that will cover checking for the oil and pulling it
from the sea (also known as upstream and
midstream ac-vi-es). The renery part is what is
called downstream but we have not reached there
yet. But when we nd enough (commercial
quan-ty) of oil, we will cross that bridge in the
future.
27 28

Why is the Legislature organizing Palava Hut
mee5ngs in the coun5es and Monrovia on the
Na5onal Petroleum Law?

The legislature wants to make sure that everyone
in Liberia can say something about how it wants
the new petroleum law to work for the best
interest of Liberia. It wants to make a petroleum
law that everyone is happy with. So that is why
they are mee-ng with people all over the country
to talk about how to make the new petroleum law
good for everyone to benet: the people of
Liberia, the government and the companies who
are bringing their money in to start doing the oil
business in Liberia.
27 28

Produced By the Public Aairs Division of NOCAL

Public Aairs Division
Na5onal Oil Company of Liberia ( NOCAL)
LISCR Building,
Corner of Randall and Ashmun Streets
1000 Monrovia 10
Liberia

Ques5ons?
Email: info@nocal.com.lr
Visit: www.nocal.com.lr

www.nocal.com.lr


LISCR Building,
1000 Monrovia 10
Liberia

Ques5ons?

www.nocal.com.lr


LISCR Building,
1000 Monrovia 10
Liberia

Ques5ons?

www.nocal.com.lr
Page 10 |
Frontpage
Announcement
In keeping with the vehicle and Traffc Law; Title 38,
approved May 9, 1972, and published in 1978, the
Government of Liberia is pleased to announce the approved
rates for Third Party Compulsory Motor Insurance Policy
in Liberia. These rates take effect January 2, 1996.
Approved Rates Sticker Price
No. Category of Vehicles Price
1 Taxi US$300.00 $ 15.00
2 Transport Pick-Up
S/Size-1/2 Ton 400.00 15.00
M/Size- 1 Ton 425.00 15.00
B/Size 1 Ton 450.00 15.00
3 Transport Buses
S/S-Max 18 Persons 550.00 15.00
M/S-30 Persons 600.00 15.00
B/S-30 Over Persons 650.00 15.00
4. Transport Truck
10 Tons (10 Tires) 720.00 15.00
12 Tons (12 Tires) 750.00 15.00
14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 800.00 15.00
Trailer-22 Tires 1,000.00 15.00
5 Private Car (PC + Personal Plate
Sedan 150.00 15.00
Jeep 225.00 15.00
6 Business Car (BC)
Sudan 175.00 15.00
Jeep 225.00 15.00
7 Pick Up
PP 250.00 15.00
BP 300.00 15.00
8 Business Truck (BT)
10-Tons (10 Tires) 575.00 15.00
12-Tons (10 Tires) 600.00 15.00
14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 640.00 15.00
Trailer (22 Tires) 800.00 15.00
9 Business Bus (BB)
S/S-Min 6-8 Persons 250.00 15.00
S/S-Max 18 Persons 440.00 15.00
M/S- 30 Persons 480.00 15.00
10 Private Bus (PB)
S/S-Max 18 Persons 335.00 15.00
M/S-30 Persons 385.00 15.00
11 Private Truck (PT) 575.00 15.00
12 Private Motorbike 150.00 15.00
13 Business Motorbike 125.00 15.00
Please ask Pearl 0886 578 981/ Lucinda 0886 514 623
/ 0777 514 623 / AB 0886 529 776
American Underwriters Group
INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
JG Bull BLDG, Randall Street, Adjancent DITCO Store

P.O. Box 68, Harbel Margibi County, Republic of Liberia
Tel: 231-76998848/49 eFax: +1(404) 506-9617
E-mail: liberiacaa@liberiacaa.com / www.liberiacaa.com

LIBERIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (LCAA)
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
(This Ad is being re-advertized because none of the applicants met the basic requirements)

Liberia Civil Aviation Authority is accepting applications from qualified and experienced professionals
with background in Mathematics or Physics to serve as Air Traffic Controller within the Air Traffic
Management Department of the CAA.
Job Title: Air Traffic Controller
Place of Work: Liberia Civil Aviation Authority / Robertsfield, Liberia
Reports to: Manager (ATMD), Liberia Civil Aviation Authority

Position Summary:
The Air Traffic Controller shall under the supervision of Senior Air Traffic Controller be responsible to
ensure the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of Air Traffic in the lower airspace of the skies of
Liberia by providing Air Traffic Services (ATS) and Aeronautical Information Services to ensure the safe,
orderly and expeditious movement of Air Traffic in the lower airspace of Liberia. The Air Traffic
Controller shall report to the Manager Air Traffic Management Department.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Prevent collision between aircraft arriving at or departing from Roberts/Spriggs and aircraft
transiting the Roberts Terminal Control Area/Control Zone (TMA/CTR) below 10,000
feet/Flight Level 100;
Prevent collision between aircraft on the maneuvering area and obstructions on that area; and
Expedite and maintain safe and orderly flow of air traffic.
Prepare on-shift duty report prior to turnover.
Respond to emergency distress calls and other unexpected events.

Required Education & Qualification
A BSc Degree in Mathematics or Physics
Must have at least 3 years experience in either of the above fields

Knowledge

The Air Traffic Controller must have proficient knowledge in the following areas:

P.O. Box 68, Harbel Margibi County, Republic of Liberia
Tel: 231-76998848/49 eFax: +1(404) 506-9617
E-mail: liberiacaa@liberiacaa.com / www.liberiacaa.com

- English grammar fluency and composition;
- Communicate fluently and distinctly to airmen within Liberias territorial airspace; and
- Must have knowledge in Microsoft word-processing, Excel and Power-point.

Skills
The Air Traffic Controller must be able to demonstrate the following skills:
- Team building;
- Professional competence and independent judgment;
- Use of analytical discretion problem-solving;
- Firm in decision-making;
- Articulate and proficient oral communications skills;
- Computer literacy in Microsoft - word-processing;
- Possess stress and time management skills.
- Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
- Be self-disciplined

Personal Attributes
- The Air Traffic Controller must maintain strict confidentiality in performing duties assigned.
- Be honest, respectful and trustworthy.
- Be culturally aware and sensitivity.
- Must be flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics.
Employment Opportunity
Liberia Civil Aviation Authority is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants on the
basis of merit.
How to Apply
Please send your applications, along with your Resume and references attached to:

Human Resource Section
Liberia Civil Aviation Authority
Robertsfield, Liberia.

Deadline for submission of application is June 10, 2014.

ONLY SHORLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED

Frontpage
Page 12 |
Frontpage
IFBNO./NEC/SSE/NCB/001/2013/2014
INVITATION FOR BIDS (PRINTING, BINDING & PUBLICATIONS)
The Government of Liberia through the National Elections Commission
(NEC), intends to apportion funds toward the cost of procuring printing,
binding & Publications Services for the Special Senatorial Election IFB
No./NEC/SSE/NCB/001/2013/2014.
1. The Commission now invites qualifed and eligible bidders to submit
sealed bids for the provision of Printing, Binding & Publication Services
under the 2014 Special Senatorial Election Project which will be conducted
through National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures as specifed in
the Amended and Restated Public Procurement and Concessions Act and is
opened to all eligible and qualifed bidders.
2. The supply of Printing Services as per NEC requirements are listed
below per lot:

Lot Item Quantity Delivery Date

1. PRINTING OF POSTERS & FLYERS
Printing of A2 Posters 15,000 Pcs As per contract
Printing of A3 Posters 15,000 Pcs As per contract
Printing of A4 Flyers 5,000 Pcs As per contract
2. PRINTING OF STICKERS & BANNERS
Printing of 2x4 Stickers 3,500 Pcs As per contract
Printing of Banners 60 Pcs As per contract
3. PRINTING OF T-SHIRTS & CAPS
Printing of T-Shirt and Caps 367 Pcs As per contract
4. PRINTING OF ASSORTED FORMS
Replacement Card Handover Forms 500 Pcs As per contract
VR Card Replacement Forms 10,000 Pcs As per contract
VR Replacement Handover Forms 100 Pcs As per contract
Nominations Assorted Forms 6500 Pcs As per contract
5. PRINTING OF BOOKLETS & MANUALS
Replacement Training Forms R-01 1,000 Booklets As per contract
Replacement Manuals 500 Booklets As per contract
VR Card Replacement Booklets 3,000 Booklets As per contract
Nominations Procedure Manuals 200 Booklets As per contract

3. Interested bidders should have the capacity to retain supply of
Printing Services valid for the period of the Project. Must also be able to
respond to NECS schedule of supply. All bids prices should be quoted in
United States Dollars (USD).
4. Qualifcations requirements include the follow:
CURRENT BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE
CURRENT TAX CLEARANCE
PAST PERFORMANCE HISTORY WITH AT LEAST THREE (3)
REFERENCES
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR ATLEAST ONE (1)
OF THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLY AT ALL TIMES.
CAPACITY TO DO AT LEAST (30) THIRTY DAYS PRE-FINANCE
OF SUPPLY.
5. Complete set of bidding documents in English and other pertinent
information may be obtained from the offce of the Director of Procurement,
National Elections Commission Ground Floor Room 73 for a non-refundable
fee of Fifty United States Dollars (U.S. $50.00).
6. Submissions must be clearly marked, signed and sealed in an
envelope, including other requested information as follows:
CONFIDENTIAL BID, PROVISION FOR THE SUPPLY OF PRINTING
SERVICES and addressed to:
THE DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT
GROUND FLOOR, ROOM 73
National Elections Commission
9th / 10th Streets Sinkor
1000 MONROVIA 10, LIBERIA
MOBILE NUMBER: +231-886-603-336
7. Bids must be submitted at the NEC Procurement Unit located at
the Ground Floor of the main NEC building on Thursday, June 26, 2014,
on or before 2:00 PM. Late bids will be rejected and returned unopened.
Electronic Bidding will not be permitted. Opening will be done promptly
after closing at 2: 00 PM, June 26, 2014, in the Conference Room of the
National Elections Commission.
8. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders representatives who
choose to attend on Thursday, June 26, 2014.
9. The National Elections Commission reserves the right to reject
or accept any bid submitted and to annul the process at any time without
incurring any liability and without assigning any reason therefore; invitation
to Bid and Award of Contract will be issued to qualifed bidders in accordance
with Public Procurement Procedures.
Signed: ____________________________________
National Elections Commission
Frontpage
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
Nigeria's president orders offensive on Boko Haram
AFRICA NEEDS MASSIVE
INVESTMENT IN
INFRASTRUCTURE: IMF
EGYPT'S SISI WINS ELECTION,
FACES ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
IN BRIEF
MALAWIAN PRESIDENT
SAYS WILL ACCEPT COURT
RULING ON DISPUTED VOTE
OBAMA'S SPEECH
GETS MIXED RESPONSE
OVERSEAS
UKRAINE ARMY DEFLATED AS
GUERRILLA WARFARE UNFOLDS
LILONGWE (Reuters) -
M
alawian
President Joyce
Banda said on
Thursday she
is ready to step down if the
High Court ratifes a disputed
election last week and her
opponent ends up as the winner,
even though she still believes
the vote was fraudulent.
The High Court is due to decide
on Friday whether the Malawi
Electoral Commission (MEC)
should announce the result of
the May 20 vote, which Banda's
opponent is likely to have won,
or if it should recount ballots,
a process that could take two
months.
The decision could raise the risk
of post-election violence in the
impoverished southern African
country after the most hotly
contested vote since the end of
the one-party state two decades
ago.
"I have told the MEC and
related stakeholders that I will
accept their decision, and the
decision of the courts," Banda
told Reuters in an interview in
the Malawian capital Lilongwe.
SLOVYANSK, Ukraine (AP)
U
kraine's armed forces
suffered devastating
new losses Thursday,
underlining the scale
of the challenge the country
faces in quelling a guerrilla-style
insurgency that has proven to be
agile and ruthless.
A rebel rocket attack brought down
a military Mi-8 helicopter ferrying
out troops, including a general, on
the outskirts of Slovyansk, killing
at least 12 people onboard.
Acting President Oleksandr
Turchynov told parliament in
Kiev that rebels used a portable air
defense missile against helicopter.
Slovyansk, a city of 120,000
people, has become a focal
point for the armed pro-Russian
insurgency and has for weeks been
encircled by Ukrainian troops.
LONDON (AP)
P
resident Barack Obama's
speech emphasizing
soft power and
alliances over military
might crystallized into a single
speech what many experts said
Wednesday was an inevitable
and welcome evolution of U.S.
foreign policy.
The president who pulled U.S.
troops from Iraq, avoided direct
confrontation in Syria and has
tapered off the American military
presence in Afghanistan seemed
to be saying that the U.S. had
learned that it cannot impose its
will on the rest of the world, said
David Livingstone, an expert in
international security at London's
Chatham House. He said Obama's
words went against the "American
instinct to go in hard with the
military frst" when crisis erupts.
F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
FULL-SCALE ASSAULT
ABUJA (Reuters) -
N
igeria's president said
on Thursday he had
ordered "a full-scale
operation" against
Boko Haram Islamist militants and
sought to reassure parents of 219
schoolgirls being held by the group
that their children would be freed.
Speaking on Nigeria's Democracy
Day, Goodluck Jonathan said he
had authorized security forces to
use any means necessary under the
law to ensure that Boko Haram,
which operates in the country's
northeast, is defeated.
"I am determined to protect our
democracy, our national unity and
our political stability, by waging
a total war against terrorism,"
Jonathan said in a televised speech.
It was not immediately clear what
such an offensive might entail,
given that the northeast of the
country has been under a state
of emergency and a full scale
military operation for a year.
Nigerian forces are also hugely
overstretched.
Chad's President Idriss Deby also
used the phrase "total war" after
neighboring West African states
met in Paris in mid-May to seek
a common strategy to fght the
militants.
"I assure you that Nigeria will be
safe again and that these thugs will
be driven away. It will not happen
overnight, but we will spare
no effort to achieve this goal,"
Jonathan said.
The scale of the challenge was
underlined by a fresh attack on
Thursday in the northeastern
village of Gurmushi, near Nigeria's
border with Cameroon, in which
suspected Islamist gunmen riding
motorbikes killed 32 people.
On April 14 Boko Haram militants
surrounded a secondary school in
the remote northeastern village of
Chibok and took away in trucks
276 girls who had been sitting
exams, according to offcial fgures
from an audit this week.
Nigeria's Borno state, the epicenter
of the insurgency, said on
Wednesday that a total of 57 of the
kidnapped girls had escaped. But
219 others were still missing and
assumed held by the militants, who
say they are fghting for an Islamic
state in Nigeria and have killed
thousands over the years.
Since the day of the girls'
abduction, Boko Haram have killed
Maputo (AFP) -
A
frica's fast growing
economies need to
spend $93 billion
a year just to bring
infrastructure up to speed, the
head of the IMF said on Thursday,
sketching out the daunting
challenges still faced by the
continent.
Opening a major meeting for
fnance ministers and central
bankers in Maputo to plot Africa's
rise, Christine Lagarde said the
continent still faced massive
challenges.
"Only 16 percent of all roads are
paved, compared with 85 percent
in South Asia. These shortfalls
represent huge costs to business --
and to people."
Sub-Saharan African economies,
some of the fastest growing in the
world, are expected to expand by
more than fve percent this year.
But poor infrastructure, including
a lack of capacity in electricity
production and poor roads, is seen
as curbing growth.
"High quality infrastructure can be
a magnet for foreign investment,"
said Lagarde.
After years of hailing Africa's
economic development, policy
makers want to usher in a second
phase of development that sees
economic gains beneft all.
While the emergence of a middle
class has boosted consumer
growth, much of the continent's
growth has come from oil, gas and
other natural resources.
"Let me be frank, in too many
countries, the rents from extractive
industries are captured by just a
few," said Lagarde.
"Mining can account for an
important share of output and
export earnings, but often
contributes relatively little to
budget revenues and job creation."
Beyond the corridors of power and
conference talk-shops, Africans
are increasingly frustrated by the
lack of good jobs.
"Jobs are scarce," says Maputo
street vendor Ercilia, who sells
bread to passers by. "Some days
I make a living and some days I
don't."
"I believe in Africa some day all
this will change," said security
guard, Marcelino Jaime, noting
that few jobs were available for
uneducated young people.
"In Africa we need a lot of
creativity to improve things," he
added.
Lagarde earlier hailed the leaps
made by African economies in the
last decade as "nothing short of
remarkable."
But as policymakers take stock
of Africa's strong economic
performance, many are also
looking at the risks that lie ahead.
The region could face lower
demand for its exports should
growth slow in increasingly
important emerging markets like
Brazil, India and, in particular,
China.
Beijing is a top buyer of African
resources from copper to oil and
gas.
In rapidly growing cities such
as Maputo the Chinese presence
is manifest, from a Chinese-
built airport to the country's
businessmen chattering on cell
phones as they walk from meeting
to meeting.
But poverty perhaps remains the
continent's biggest challenge.
Ahead of the meeting, rights
groups questioned the current
optimistic view of "Africa's rise".
"Africa is not rising for
ordinary citizens," said Oxfam
International's Executive Director
Winnie Byanyima.
at least 500 civilians, according to
a Reuters count.
"With the support of Nigerians,
our neighbors and the international
community, we will reinforce our
defense, free our girls and rid
Nigeria of terrorists," Jonathan
said.
"I share the deep pain and anxiety
of their parents."
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The mass abduction thrust the
Islamist insurgency into the
international spotlight like never
before, with a Twitter campaign
#BringBackOurGirls drawing in
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama
and Hollywood star Angelina
Jolie.
Capitalizing on this, Jonathan has
sought to paint Boko Haram as
part of a broader global jihadist
movement being directed from
abroad, the frst time he has taken
this line.
"Extremist foreign elements,
collaborating with some of our
misguided citizens," was one
phrase he used to describe them.
"What we are witnessing in
Nigeria today is a manifestation
of the same warped and ferocious
world view that brought down
the Twin Towers in New York
(and) killed innocent persons in
Boston," Jonathan said, referring,
respectively, to the September 11,
2001 attacks and the April 2013
marathon bombing.
Scores have been killed in
Nigerian bombings in the past
month, including two in the capital
Abuja.
But signaling a willingness to
negotiate, Jonathan said: "our
doors remain open to them for
dialogue and reconciliation."
Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal
Alex Badeh said on Tuesday the
military knew where the abducted
girls were but ruled out a rescue
by force for fear of endangering
them. The military was criticized
for its slow response to the
crisis, but Jonathan has accepted
international help.
U.S. troops have deployed to Chad
on a mission to fnd the girls, and
surveillance drones are being used.
CAIRO (Reuters) -
F
ormer Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won a
landslide victory in a presidential election on Thursday but a
low turnout threatened to deprive him of the strong mandate
he needs to fx the economy and face down an Islamist
insurgency.
Sisi won 93.3 percent of votes cast, judicial sources said, with most
ballots counted after three days of voting. His only rival, leftist
politician Hamdeen Sabahi, gained 3 percent while 3.7 percent of
votes were declared void.
But a lower-than-expected turnout fgure raised questions about the
credibility of a man idolized by his supporters as a hero who can
deliver stability.
The stakes are high for Sisi in a country where street protests have
helped topple two presidents in three years.
Since a series of television interviews he gave ahead of the vote,
many Egyptians feel Sisi has not spelled out a clear vision of how
he would tackle Egypt's problems, instead making a general call for
people to work hard and be patient.
He has presented vague plans to remedy the economy, suffering
from corruption, high unemployment, and a widening budget defcit
aggravated by fuel subsidies that could cost nearly $19 billion in the
next fscal year.
"All in all the weak turnout will make it harder for Sisi to impose
painful economic reforms that international institutions and investors
are demanding," said Anna Boyd, an analyst at London-based IHS
Jane's.
Investors want Sisi to end energy subsidies, impose a clear tax regime
and give guidance on the direction of the exchange rate.
Turnout was about 46 percent of Egypt's 54 million voters, the
government said, less than the 40 million votes, or 80 percent of the
electorate, that Sisi had called for last week.
It was also less than the 52 percent turnout secured in the 2012
presidential election by Mohamed Mursi, the Islamist leader Sisi
ousted last year after mass protests against his rule.
Page 14 |
Frontpage
WORLD CUP 2014: LIONEL MESSI CENTRAL TO
ARGENTINA HOPES AS CARLOS TVEZ STRUGGLES
TO CONVINCE ALEFANDRO SABELLA
Partisanship divides when unity is required as generation-old debate over whether
to build the Argentina team around a genius rages ahead of squad selection
T
he World Cup
countdown has begun
in earnest with digital
clocks round the city
marking the seconds remaining
before kick-off. Manager
Alejandro Sabella is expected to
reveal his fnal squad within the
next few days, and amid a worry
due to Gonzalo 'Pipita' Higuans
recent injury, and a press fracas
over the peoples player Carlos
Tvez, the perennial abundance of
Argentinas frontmen dominates
the agenda.
Tvez, 30, has enjoyed a
superlative season with Juventus
but he has never been part of
Sabellas national project a
fact that has become a bone of
contention generating minor
demonstrations and widespread
emotional outbursts in some
circles.
It is incredibly unlikely he will
be included now, although among
the reasons given one is a possible
clash with Lionel Messi, if not
personally in terms of the position
they occupy on the pitch. Without
having expressed himself at all on
this subject, Messi is being hailed
as the axis around which the
squad must turn. Its a given that
whatever works for Messi is what
works for Argentina.
This is interesting: Messi, 26, is
still a bit of an unknown quantity
for his country, despite earning
some 83 caps. Not a natural leader,
his boy-next-door demeanour
and by now renowned economy
of words hide the power behind
his name. Whether he overtly
executes his infuence or simply
by osmosis makes whoever
happens to be the manager try out
the system in which he appears
13 Days to go: All the action leading up the Brazil
COUNTDOWN WORLD CUP

more comfortable, the fact is
he has become the centre of
expectation.
For years the national outcry was
why he didnt deliver with the
nation as he did with Barcelona.
Now Barcelona is no longer
deemed an adequate model to
aspire to, there is complacency
at the ease with which the nation
qualifed.
This could be a mistake. The
smoothest ride to a World Cup
fnals the country has known,
under the leadership of Marcelo
Bielsa in 2002, saw one of the
quickest exits in memory with
Argentina failing to get past the
group stage.
The quest for the right formula
has evaded many managers since
the last World Cup victory in
1986, when the rigid defensive
tactician and strategist Carlos
Bilardo succumbed to a team that
worked around Diego Maradona.
Argentinas frst World Cup
victory, in 1978, was under the
managerial nous of the chain-
smoking thinker Csar Luis
Menotti, who defended the beauty
of an attacking game above
everything and dared leave the
17-year-old Maradona out of the
squad completely, feeling a solid
team could work just as well
without a single genius.
The footballing discourse has not
changed for too long and the bi-
valued approach is ever present,
not just in terms of style but in
the culture as a whole: Boca or
River, pro-government or anti-
government, right or left, touchy
passes v dirty antics, everything is
reduced to one or other.
All approaches tried since, under
all manner of personalities,
have failed to win the Cup.
The fair-play nurturing Jos
Pkerman, the loud, fun-loving
indisciplined Alfo Basile (twice),
the inexperienced grumpy Sergio
'Checho' Batista, the defensively
furious Daniel Passarella, and
of course the God of football
himself, Maradona.
Nothing has worked beyond
activating the emotional responses
and angering or delighting
spectators. Nothing.
Perhaps it is time to stop
focusing so much expectation
on individuals: whether Tvez
and Messi can coexist as number
10s is less serious than whether a
country so geared to raising little
boys for international sale can
start to develop some defenders as
well as attacking midfelders, in
the long run.
Were in for a hell of a ride this
summer but if Messi fails to
deliver the actual World Cup
back to the Football Association,
profound structural changes
within the establishment which
has remained in power for over
three decades could well be afoot.
A new dawn in every sense of the
phrase is overdue.
We may have to wait until 2018,
when Diego El Cholo Simeone,
the freshest hope for the future of
football in Argentina, injects new
blood in to this old beast.
By Marcela Mora Y Araujo,
World Cup Nation: Argentina
Y
ou know that footage
of the Argentina
players lining up
before the game
against England in Mexico 86?
Maradonas face that of a fghter
about to enter battle. He has said
time and time again since then
his thoughts at that moment were
with the "boys" of Malvinas
(the name of French origin that
Argentina uses to refer to the
Falklands). I know publicly
we all used to say football has
nothing to do with war, but
intimately we knew a lot of our
boys had died, shot down like
little birds. And subconsciously,
we were aware of that,
Maradona went on to explain.
April 2 is a bank holiday in
Argentina, remembering the
day in 1982 when the Military
Junta led by General Galtieri
led Argentine troops onto the
small Islands at the end of
the world. Following massive
demonstrations against the
government, the Junta had
sensed something spectacular
even more powerful than
winning a World Cup had to be
provoked in order to recover this
support that was fading historian
Klaus Gallo told the BBC award
winning documentary World
Cup stories Argentina.
It worked, with the return of
scenes reminiscent of the World
WORLD CUP 2014: DIEGO MARADONA WAS INSPIRED BY
FALKLANDS BUT VITRIOL AND HATRED HAS NO PLACE IN FOOTBALL
Cup victory four years earlier as
the streets flled with chanting,
fag-waving people possessed
by a patriotic frenzy, fed by
propaganda claiming military
victory. The national squad,
holders of the World Cup since
1978, few to Spain to defend
the trophy only to come face to
face with the harsh reality that
the British had the upper hand
in the armed confict. We heard
in Spain about our boys dying of
cold and hunger in that rubbish
war and realised at home we
were being lied to, recalled
defender Alberto Tarantini, who
had by then spent a season with
Birmingham City.
The jury is still out on whether
the simultaneous defeat in
battle affected the favourites or
whether it was "just football".
But Argentina, basically the 1978
squad plus Maradona, suffered
an early exit from Spain 82 as
Galtieris troops surrendered.
Dream over.
Today on Argentine soil the
endemic culture of violence
associated with football grounds
has this season seen the banning
of visiting fans from all stadiums
a measure designed to curb the
incidents which have plagued
the local game for generations
and which show no signs of
waning. Off the pitch, street
crime is so high that there are
increasing reports of mobs
lynching pickpockets, and on one
occasion last week in Rosario, to
death. Violence, even in times of
military peace, is ever present.
As the World Cup draws closer,
the governments of Brazil and
Argentina are drawing up a
cooperation agreement, while
in Argentina guidelines for
travelling fans will top and tail
football broadcasts, encouraging
those with past records or
pending hearings to apply for
special permits to travel.
Brazil is no stranger to street
muggings, pickpocketing, and
organised gang action, so the
issue is non-negligible and
likely to be an ongoing sub-
plot throughout the tournament.
Argentine rivalry, added to close
proximity, could set things off
more than, for example, the
presence of British fans, or
German or Russian ones.
Violent actions, be they war,
terrace-related gang fare,
police brutality or lawless
street confrontations, permeate
societies. Football has the
potential to be the most noble
and beautiful of art forms, but it
comes hand in hand with notions
of sectarianism, territoriality,
exclusion, and hatred of the
other factors we are often all
too willing to forgive, on the
grounds that football justifes
them. Sadly, the love of football,
one way or another, is stacking
up a death toll that becomes
increasingly hard to swallow.
Maradonas sense of England as
the enemy spurred him to score
two of the most remarkable goals
on a World Cup stage within the
space of a few minutes, a perfect
illustration of all that is good
and all that is unjust about this
game. Michael Owen went on to
pay back in kind in 2002, diving
for a penalty which wasnt and
then shutting up any critics with
a superb solo effort from start
to fnish. Who knows what will
motivate the people who provide
the enduring images from the
turf this summer, a prospect that
has most of us salivating with
anticipation. Whatever magic
the ball unfolds, let it not be
refected off the pitch by vitriol
and hatred.
Football has the potential to be the most noble and beautiful of art forms, but this summer's
World Cup will have to work hard to avoid notions of sectarianism, territoriality and exclusion
Frontpage
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com
Ivory Coast boot Liberia out of under-20 qualifers as Bility, Kuoh, Dulleh and Snowe
go on a safari in Abidjan in the wake of a lack of support from government
Sports
SPORT BRIEF
PACERS KEEP
HOPE ALIVE
WITH 93-90
WIN OVER HEAT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
P
aul George and the
Pacers got one win
Wednesday night.
Now comes the hard
part: Winning an elimination
game at Miami against LeBron
James and the Heat.
George scored 21 of his 37
points in the fourth quarter
and inspired his teammates to
withstand the Heat's frantic late
charge to help keep the Pacers'
once-promising season alive
with a 93-90 victory in Game
5 of the Eastern Conference
fnals.
"We have to go and basically
do the impossible, which is go
down there and beat them in
front of an unbelievable crowd
with unbelievable energy and
knowing that LeBron is going to
come back and try to respond,"
Pacers forward David West said
after fnishing with 19 points
and nine rebounds. "We've got
an ultimate challenge in front
of us. I think guys are up for it."
DEFENDING CHAMP
NADAL INTO FRENCH
OPEN 3RD ROUND
PARIS (AP)
E
ight-time champion
Rafael Nadal
improved his
French Open
record to 61-1 after beating
big-hitting Dominic Thiem
of Austria 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on
Thursday.
The Spaniard's only defeat
at Roland Garros was in the
fourth round against Robin
Soderling fve years ago. He
was never in danger of losing
this time, but was occasionally
on the back foot as Thiem
went for his shots throughout
the match and broke the top-
seeded Nadal's serve twice.
"It was a dangerous match,
dangerous opponent today,"
Nadal said. "I am happy with
the way I resisted. When I
had to play long points I did
well. When I had to attack and
move him, I think I did well."
L
iberias quest to make
the second round of the
2015 African under-20
championship ended
on Sunday.
The Satellites were beaten
2-0 by the Baby Elephants of
Ivory Coast in the second leg
preliminary in Abidjan to bow
out 2-1 on aggregate.
Liberia were protecting Barrack
Young Controllers (BYC) striker
Blamo Nimleys 88th minute
penalty in the frst leg at the
Antoinette Tubman Stadium in
Monrovia on May 11.
But the hosts led 1-0 at half time
before they put the fnal nail on
the visitors coffn towards the
end of the match.
Liberia coach Robert Lartey was
without the services of Monrovia
Club Breweries midfelders
Murphy Dorley and Sylvanus
Nimely and NPA Anchors
attacking midfelder Stephen
Seameh.
Dorley had to complete writing
the West African Examination
Council exams on Friday while
teammate Nimely remained in
Monrovia to fy to Prague for
a trial in Czech Republic and
Seameh is in Abuja to secure a
Swedish visa for the Gothia Cup
in July.
And it appears Ivorian teams are
becoming Larteys nemesis after
Sewe Sport ended BYCs Caf
Champions League third round
dream on March 9.
POOR TRAVELERS
WHAT LFA SHOULD HAVE DONE?
Ivory Coast will now meet
Libya, who beat Tunisia 3-1 in
Tunis on Friday to go through
4-2 on aggregate.
Liberias preparation for the
return leg received some mental
and physical shocks before they
left Monrovia on Thursday.
The LFA refused to encamp the
squad and training sessions were
cut due to a lack of support from
the government but it purchased
tickets for president Musa Bility,
vice president Cassell Kuoh,
executive committee member
Ansu Dulleh and Montserrado
County Representative Edwin
Snowe, who were on a safari in
Abidjan.
Does Team Bility believe
that the mere registration for
a competition amounts to
preparation or for the empty
bluff of telling sports journalists
that Liberia have participated
in all competitions under their
regime?
Why spent scare resources
foolishly when employees have
not been paid for December
2013, March, April and May
2014?
A
staggering L$100,000
and a big trophy are up
for grab in a month-long
tournament organized
by the Liberia Football Players
Association (Lifopa).
The tournament, which began on
May 23, features 18 communities
in Montserrado County.
During the opening ceremony,
Lifopa board chair Sekou Konneh,
who is also Barrack Young
Controllers (BYC) president,
urged players to take advantage
of the organization that has been
established to seek their welfare.
"If you see me in this thing, as part
of this organization, means it is
serious. I urge you the players to
join [this organization]," Konneh
is quoted in a press statement
issued on facebook on May 27.
In the kick-off, central Monrovia
drowned Clara Town 4-2 in an
entertaining showpiece at the Blue
Field on Lynch Street.
West Point narrowly beat Doe
community 3-2 with BYC chief
patron and board chairman Robert
Sirleaf among the spectators at the
Blue feld on May 25.
At the D-Tweh sports pitch in New
Kru Town, Logan Town lost to St.
Paul Bridge 1-2 while New Kru
Town pinned Brewerville 1-0.
There were two drawn matches
at the Bardnersville estate sports
pitch with Gardnersville versus
Jacob Town and Bardnersville
versus New Georgia ending in 1-1
respectively.
In a related development, Lifopa
have hailed Montserrado County
District #15 Representative
Adolph Lawrence and LISCR FC
president Mustapha Raji for the
support given to the tournament.
Rob Sirleaf, who is footing the
bills for referees handling the
matches at the Blues Field, and
Watanga FC senior vice president
Andy Quamie were also praised
for contributing to the successful
start of the tournament.
The off-season jamboree, which
has Unity through Sports as
its theme, features players of all
categories who are residents of
participating communities.
Although the Liberia Football
Association (LFA) closed the
2013/2014 national league in
February for a political reason, it
is yet to hold several off-season
tournaments such as the Presidents
Cup and Who Owns the Land it
said necessitated the early closure
of the league.
FrontPageAfrica says it will cover
the tournament to the end in line
with its editorial policy to promote
local sports and commends Lifopa
president Wleh Jean Jack Bedell
and the movers and shakers of
our time for contributing to a
worthwhile initiative.
Footballs movers and shakers contribute to Lifopas month-long tourney
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.605 FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014
J. J. ROBERTS UMS RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING STUDENTS
Monrovia-
N
inety-six students of the Junior High
Division of the J. J. Roberts United
Methodist School were on Thursday
recognized for academic excellence at
the schools edifce in Sinkor.
The school chose these students as a way of
motivating them and others to be studious and
always exhibit the mark of good citizenship. The
schools edifce was crowded with family members
and friends of the students who were pinned and
certifcated. There were many smiling faces and the
look on the faces of the parents was that of pride and
honor.
Former Chairman of the National Oil Company
of Liberia (NOCAL) Mr. Christopher Neyor
congratulated the parents of these honorees for
instilling the discipline and love for learning in their
children.
My own quest for academic excellence was instilled
by my father who wanted to make sure that I learned
and I owe all to him today, said Mr. Neyor.
I am sure all of you parents are very proud today
for the academic achievements and the awards your
children are receiving today; so I want to thank you;
I would like to encourage you.
Mr. Neyor encouraged the students to remain studious
because it is with such admiration that opportunities
would come their way.
BHP Billiton presented full scholarship to student
Emmanuel Morris of the eighth grade and Morris
expressed thanks to the company for the scholarship
and promised to work hard to maintain the award.
Student Eileen Flama, daughter of the late John
Torchus Flama (former Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the school) was also honored.
THERE IS HONOR IN EDUCATION
Spot News FrontPage
POOR TRAVELERS
Ivory Coast boot Liberia out of under-20 qualifers as Bility,
Kuoh, Dulleh and Snowe go on a safari in Abidjan in the
wake of a lack of support from government.
13 Days to go: All the action leading up the Brazil
COUNTDOWN WORLD CUP

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