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POLITICS Law & Order
VOL 8 NO.612
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 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
MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 L$86.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$88.00/US$1 L$89.00/US$1
L$89.00/US$1 L$88.00/US$1
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014
NEWS EXTRA pg. 5
LIBERIAN TROOPS RECEIVE UN MEDALS, PERFORMANCE
RATED HIGH ON PEACE KEEPING MISSION
EARNING THEIR
KEEPS IN MALI
The situation at times becomes diffcult because recently there as a little disturbance not far
from here, but we tried to keep it peaceful here and I am happy working with these Liberians,
- Lt. Col. Mohammad Zakaria, Chief of operations, Bangladesh Battalion
ENDING STALEMATE
POLITICS County News

Jurors To Decide Fate of 13
Grand Gedeans Today
D-DAY FOR 13
CHARGED WITH
MERCENARISM
CONFUSION ROCKS
CDC PRIMARY
ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY, INFLUENCING,
BALLOTS TAMPERING MAR OPPOSITION
PARTY CANDIDATES ELECTION PROCESS
UMC HINTS AT ASSUMING FULL COST
FOR BASSAS DISTRICT HEALTH CENTER
PROJECT
MISSING
LINK
POLICE BUDGET VS ROAD TO UNMIL
DRAWDOWN, GOL INVESTMENT
SEEMS MINIMUM

Page 2 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
infuence nearly every decision.
President Sirleaf in keeping with her constitutional mandate to
appoint and dismiss offcials of the Executive Branch of Government
has used violations of the PPC Law and other regulations to dismiss
and in some instances suspend several offcials of Government.
In dismissing former Auditor General Robert Kilby, President
Sirleaf said: I am today formally requesting the concurrence of the
Honorable Legislature to dismiss the Auditor General, Robert Kilby,
for failure to disclose private business activities that represent a clear
confict of interest with his offcial duties as Head of the institution
with prime responsibility to investigate and advise on non-compliance
with our public fnancial management and procurement laws.
The President also dismissed General Services Agency Director
General, Ms. Pearine Davis-Parkinson for the same violation.
In dismissing Ms. Parkinson, the Executive Mansion stated: For the
same reason, the Liberian leader said, she has dismissed the Director
General of the GSA, Ms. Pearine Davis-Parkinson, who approved
those contracts in violation of the countrys procurement laws and
procedures.
Besides the auditor general and GSA Director President Sirleaf has
suspended other offcials including the suspension of the Deputy
Minister for Public Works for Operations, Mr. Victor Smith, for
failure to adhere to the public procurement and fnancial rules of the
Government as relates to the awarding of construction contracts.
For the same violations, other offcials of government have gone free
like the case of the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the
Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Angelique Weeks.
Weeks signed a contract worth around US$1.5 million with a Chinese
Landlord without going through the requisite processes as required by
the PPC, Act, 2005 and 2010.
Under the schedule on threshold of the PPC, Act, 2005 and 2010 it is
provided that the Ministry of Finance shall take part in negotiations of
contracts above US$250,000.
The lease contract was signed without the involvement of the
Ministries of Finance and Justice, as the President through the
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism pronounced that the
Ministry of Justice has been instructed to work to nullify the contract.
A Lot of Contradictions
The contract is yet to be nullifed as the LTA is currently occupying
the building in question.
Statements by the President become policy statements and are
respected across the length and breadth of the country. The major
question now lingering is who will take action against an all-powerful
president Sirleaf for making a public pronouncement that shows
attempts to violate existing laws.
Many believe that Presidents Statement is an indication of some of
the maneuvering behind the scenes in the awarding of contracts of
high dollar value in Liberia based on interest from senior government
offcials.
Portion of the Executive Mansion was destroyed by fre that gutted
the building in July, 2006 but since that time building currently lies in
ruins with the President using the 6th foor at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs as her offcial offce.
For over 10 years the Government of Liberia has not been able to
renovate the Executive Mansion, providing no reason for the delay
in renovation work, prompting a Liberian journalist to recently fle
an Access to Information request using the existing Freedom to
Information Law of Liberia.
Under the FOI law, journalists and other Liberians are to be provided
information without restriction.
Over four Million allotted EM project in Vain
Budgetary allotments have been made for several years for the
renovation of the Executive Mansion but still the building lies in
ruins.
In the 2006-2007 budget an amount of US$500 was allotted for
renovation work on the mansion but the project was not implemented.
Again in the 2007--2008 national budget under the budget code
2504-01-02 Substantial Renovation/Executive Mansion an amount of
1,500,000 was allotted the project.
In 2008-2009, under the budget code 2504-03 Substantial maintenance
& renovation/Executive Mansion, amount of 1,000,000 was allotted.
During the implementation of the 2008-2009 budget an additional
US$ 1 million was allotted to the Executive Mansion renovation and
recorded under General Claims.
It is stated in the budget 42 Gen Claims Executive Mansion
renovation - US$1m 1,000,000, additional revenue allotted.
In the fscal outrun report, it was indicated that the fnal budget for
the Executive Mansion project during the 2008-2009 budget year was
US$3,000,000.
In the 2009, 2010 national budget under the budget code 2504-03-
01 Substantial maintenance and renovation/ Executive Mansion an
amount of 3,000,000 was allotted the Executive mansion project.
In 2010-2011 budget allotment to the Executive Mansion renovation
process disappeared from the national budget.
With the pronouncement by the President in 2014 about awarding the
contract for the renovation of the Executive Mansion to a company
it now raises questions as to what has been done with budgetary
allotments for the project.
Shortly after fre gutted the Executive Mansion during the independent day celebrations in 2006, the Liberian
government awarded CNQC the contract to renovate the seat of the presidency. That work should have been
completed with the reconstruction of the fourth foor for the president to move in. Now, eight years, later, the
president, disappointed in the pace and work done on the building is suggesting that a new company be awarded
the contract to renovate the mansion. What is the status of that work and why is the PPCC being bypassed?
Monrovia-
I
n the aftermath of the fre incident at the Executive Mansion in
2006, a deal for the renovation of the building was consummated
in April 2011 with a Chinese Company, Qingfan International
(Lib) Group Development Co. Ltd to perform the work, which
should have been completed in fve months for US$2.9 million.
A Liberian company, Milton and Richards was hired to provide the
architectural engineering consultancy for at cost of $240K.
According to sources, On February, 18, 2013, the Ministry of State
wrote to say they needed to add another consultant to set up CCTV
and needed electrical consultant for which $US120, 000 contract was
single sourced to Ian Yhap, Cape Resources for supervision of the
work.
Ironically, Milton and Richards with whom the government signed
a contract with for $240K back in 2011 were already doing the
original architecture work. In early 2013, the Ministry of State (MOS)
awarded another architectural contract, half of what they were paying
to Milton and Richards to do the same work.
According to highly placed sources, the MOS put the presidency
under the impression that the project had been completed and needed
security features including the CCTV for the presidency to move in.
In the wake of all the arrangements and contracts for the renovation
of the Executive Mansion, the question now is what is the status of
the fourth foor renovation for which two payments were made to
complete work?
Frustrated? Sirleaf awards contract
Apparently angry over the delay in the renovation of the Executive
Mansion, President Ellen Johnson has over the years suspended several
offcials of government for violations of the Public Procurement and
Concession laws of Liberia slipped on Friday when she publicly
declared that the contract for the renovation of the Executive Mansion,
offcial seat of the President, will be awarded to a particular company,
a statement that indicates that President has sidestepped the PPCC
regulations regarding the awarding of contracts.
More importantly, the presidents comments validate the widely held
belief by many Liberians that Chinese contractors have piled up
millions of dollars in construction work in Liberia but a lot of those
work has been substandard.
UL Fendell Campus scenario
The University of Liberia Campus at Fendell, the Ministry of Health
and several dilapidating road projects with short life-span, has
added to the growing sentiments among Liberians that the Chinese
monopoly of road projects in Liberia is adversely affecting the post-
war development.
Critics say the President comments also mean that the law for which
she has been suspending and dismissing several offcials does not
apply to her; as publicly declaring the awarding of the contract to a
particular company as an all powerful president is in fagrant violation
of the law she is to uphold.
President Sirleaf on Friday, June 6 during the dedication of a new
complex constructed by the National Social Security and Welfare
Corporation of Liberia said contract for the renovation of the Executive
Mansion would be given to the same company that constructed the
NASSCORP complex.
Executive Mansion confrms Sirleafs comment
In confrming that statement of awarding the contract for the
renovation of the Executive Mansion to a particular company without
bidding, the Executive Mansion in a statement indicated.
The Liberian leader particularly expressed delight that the project is
owned by Liberia and was built by a Liberian company, ECOCON
Incorporated, owned by Henry Q. Taylor demonstrating the realization
of the Liberianization policy.
In demonstration of the satisfactory work done by the company,
President Sirleaf informed the company to get ready to take over the
renovation of the Executive Mansion. The Executive Mansion has
been under renovation since the fourth foor was gutted by fre in July
2006.
President Sirleaf believes that if the Executive Mansion is renovated
by a Liberian company, one will see the demonstration of commitment
and passion to the country through their work as was done in the
construction of the complex.
Sirleaf comments violates PPC Act
Some critics say the comment by the Liberian leader publicly
supporting the awarding of a construction contract to a particular
construction company in the absence of a competitive bidding process
violates provisions of the PPC Act, 2005 amended in 2010.
Under the schedule on threshold of the PPC, Act, it is provided that
before contracts are awarded, a national competitive bidding shall be
conducted for contracts for procurement of goods, procurement of
services and works when the contract price is at a particular threshold.
Under Part IX, general Provisions, schedule on thresholds it is
provided National Competitive Bidding shall be used when the
estimated value of the procurement is below: a. In the case of contracts
for the procurement of goods, US$100,000 b. In the case of contracts
for the procurement of services, US$50,000 c. In the case of contracts
for the procurement of works, US$200,000
The PPC Act provides that when the contract price is much higher
for procurement of goods, services and works, the process should be
subjected to international competitive bidding.
International Competitive Bidding shall be held when the estimated
value of the procurement exceeds: a. In the case of contracts for the
procurement of goods US$100,000. b. In the case of contracts for the
procurement of services, US$50,000. In the case of contracts for the
procurement of works, US$200,000 the PPC Act provides.
Dismissals for violations
In Liberia the President has the appointing power and the power to
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 3
v
A
bstract: Liberia was at war when global leaders agreed
on the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
As the MDGs target date of 2015 approaches, the
country will not achieve MDG Two because of the
infrastructural defcit and weak governance capacity resulting
from the fourteen years civil confict. This paper discusses
how these obstacles slow the countrys progress in achieving
universal primary education. It concludes that Liberia should
woo donor support to complement national resources that will
allow government rebuild the damaged infrastructure; build
more primary schools and train professional teachers to run those
schools; and revamp the Ministry of Education and its local
structures to effcaciously coordinate and administer the provision
of quality primary education for all children in Liberia.
Key words: Millennium Development Goals, Obstacles,
Infrastructural Defcit, Weak Governance, Liberia
Introduction:
In 2000, when global leaders agreed on the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), the Republic of Liberia was
at war. The fourteen-year civil confict killed about 250,000
persons, and destroyed infrastructures, including schools, roads,
ports, hospitals and clinics. Several communities were burnt
down thereby uprooting residents and forcing them into exile or
displaced camps (Humphreys & Richards 2005). Rebel fghters
maimed civilians, kidnapped, raped and impregnated teenage
girls. To date, rape remains high in post confict Liberia, and
teenage pregnancy persists thus undermining the advancement of
most adolescent girls in the country. Presently, teenage pregnancy
rate in the country stands at 31% (United Nations in Liberia 2013).
Following series of negotiations, the African Union (AU), United
Nations (UN), and Economic Community for West African States
(ECOWAS) brokered a peace agreement in Accra, Ghana in
August 2003. This agreement brought an end to the Liberian civil
confict. An Interim Government was set up to disarm, demobilize
and reintegrate combatants. It was also given responsibility to
conduct free, fair, peaceful and democratic elections in October
2005 (Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement 2003). After the
2005 general and presidential elections, the country continues to
make quantum progress in implementing the MDGs especially
goals 3, 4, 6 and 8 (United Nations in Liberia 2013). Despite
this impressive progress, Liberia, like many sub-Sahara African
states, will not achieve MDG Two on target (Chibba 2011). The
two main obstacles to Liberias achievement of MDG Two are
the infrastructural defcit and weak governance capacity inherited
from the civil confict (Munoz 2008). This essay discusses how
these obstacles continue to slow the countrys progress in achieving
universal primary education. It also proffers suggestions on how
the state could surmount the obstacles and achieve this goal.
Two major obstacles to MD2 achievement
The Liberian civil war destroyed roads, bridges, houses, air and
sea ports, schools, water pipelines, electricity supply, hospitals
and clinics thereby creating a huge infrastructural defcit. The
estimated cost of rebuilding Liberias damaged infrastructure is
about two and half (2.5) billion US Dollars at a time the current
national budget of the state is just a little over fve hundred million
(Ministry of Finance 2013). This infrastructural challenge has an
adverse impact on the countrys economic development. Currently
the country lacks electricity and safe drinking water. Roads
linking all the ffteen political subdivisions are in a deplorable
state thereby hindering access to schools, clinics, markets and
other basic services. Due to lack of electricity, safe drinking
water and roads, investment cost remains expensive, and human
survival is at risk. The high cost of investment in Liberia leads to
stagnated economic growth and development.
Furthermore, the country cannot easily return to its pre-
war economic growth status. The slow economic growth
and development lead to widespread poverty (Collier 2007).
Currently, the poverty rate in the country puts those living under
one US Dollar a day at 63%, and the population living in extreme
poverty remains at 47.9% (Liberia Institute of Statistics and
Geo-Information Services 2007). The infrastructural defcit and
its accompanying effects, including the lack of suffcient and
quality primary schools in the country, undermine net enrolment
and completion of primary education. For example, while
primary school net enrolment stands at 34%, the overall grade
six completion rate in the entire country lingers at 35% (United
Nations in Liberia 2013). Against this backdrop, Liberia will not
achieve MDG Two on target.
Although the huge infrastructural challenge hinders Liberias
drive to achieving MDG Two, weak governance is another
key blockage to the countrys efforts to achieve universal
primary education. The war dealt a deleterious blow on all the
socioeconomic and political institutions. It not only destroyed
the effcacious functioning of the three branches of government,
Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary, but also the confict
rendered key technical national institutions dysfunctional and as
well led to high human resource defcit.
For instance, the Ministry of education lacks professional
educational administrators and has therefore lost control of its
statutory role to effectively coordinate, monitor and foster quality
education in the country. The hierarchical structures of the
educational system leading from the Ministry to County, district
and community education offces remain in the state of recovery.
These institutional weaknesses are compounded by low and
weak human resource capacities to effectively run schools and
effciently manage classrooms (UNICEF Liberia 2011). Despite
governments free and compulsory primary education policy for
public schools, majority of primary school age students cannot
enrol due to acute shortage of public schools and qualifed teachers
to manage the limited existing ones. While most of the educational
institutions in Liberia are managed by apprentice teachers, the few
that deliver quality education are predominantly owned either by
religious institutions or private investors whose primary objective
is guided by proft motives. Therefore, poor parents cannot not
afford to send their children to private institutions. As a result,
most of the children in Liberia remain out of school, consequently
obstructing Liberias achievement of universal primary education
in 2015.
Even though infrastructural defcit and weak governance impede
the achievement of MDG Two in Liberia, the country could reverse
the situation and make incremental progress towards achieving
MDG Two by taking advantage of two opportunities. First, the
international community, which still supports the United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) as a peace keeping force, takes
pride in the nations recovery. The United Nations considers the
restoration of peace and security in Liberia as one of the success
OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVING MDG2
IN THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
FrontPage
v
Commentary
EDITORIAL
THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency of Liberia has
requested the Ministry of Justice to provide its inspectors with
police protection in a bid to remove the generator that supplies
FrontPageAfrica with power to operate its offce in Congotown.
THE EPAS DECISION stems from a complaint fled by Dr.
Martha Sendolo Belleh, a former Minister of Health and Social
Welfare in the Samuel K. Doe government.
FOR THE RECORD, FrontPageAfrica has been operating in the
vicinity in question since 2008, long before Ms. Belleh commenced
construction of her building. Nevertheless, following a meeting
with Ms. Belleh, FrontPageAfrica and Ms. Belleh agreed that we
would carry out a number of facelift to prevent the emission from
entering Ms.Bellehs building.
For the past three month, since FPA was informed by Ms. Belleh,
we have not used the generator in question because we came to the
conclusion that we would complete the tune-ups which included
raising the fence adjacent to Ms. Bellehs building and raising the
pipe above her building so that the emission from the generator
will no longer enter her premises.
THAT WORK is nearly completed.
IN THE MEANTIME, our staff has been working off the premises,
unless in cases where the Liberia Electricity Corporation decides
to give power to the area and that has not been the case for some
time now.
WE DID ALL THIS just to satisfy the wishes of Ms. Belleh and
avoid confrontation with her, or any breach of the EPA regulations.
TO OUR SURPRISE, while the construction was taking place,
the EPA continued to send us communications regarding the
complaint when in fact we were doing everything in our power to
ensure that this matter was resolve.
AFTER EXPLAINING TO ANYAA VOHIRI, Director of the EPA
the efforts we were making to rectify the issue with Ms. Belleh,
the director agreed that we should continue with the retooling of
the building to keep the emission from Ms. Bellehs yard.
TO OUR SURPRISE, Ms. Vohiris deputy, Stephen Neufville
took it upon himself to write the following letter seeking police
protection from the Ministry of Justice to remove the generator
from our offce.
IN A LETTER dated May 28, 2014 sent to Cllr.Wheatonia Dixon
Barnes, Acting Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the EPA
writes:
Dear Minister Barnes,
I wish to present you my compliments and to inform you of
EPAs decision to remove a generator located in the vicinity of
Congotown and owned by Mr. Rodney Sieh of the FrontPageAfrica
Newspaper. This decision is the result of the intervention of a
complaint brought to the EPA by Madam Martha Sendolo-Belleh,
a resident of Congotown against Mr. Rodney Sieh for the emission
of generator smoke into her house by means of the exhaust pipe
built through her fence.
Upon receipt of said complaint, Mr. Sieh was invited for inquiry
and at the end of our inquiry, it was decided that the generator
be removed within seven (7)working days as of the date of the
decision which was on Thursday, May 1, 2014. But the removal is
yet to take place.
In view of the above and in keeping with Section 69 of the
Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia 2003
entitled Prohibition of Pollution by Emission which prohibits
pollution by Emission, we are therefore requesting that the
Ministry of Justice provides police protection to our inspectors in
the exercise of removing the generator. This exercise is scheduled
to take place on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 10: 00am.
Please accept the sentiment of my highest esteem as we strive for
save and clean environment for Liberians.
Kind Regards
Stephen Y. Neufville
Acting Executive Director
FOR THE RECORD, no representative of FrontPageAfrica
was part of any inquiry as claimed by Mr. Neufville. Secondly,
FrontPageAfrica is only a tenant in the building and its publisher
Rodney Sieh is not the owner of the generator. The generator is
COMMENTARY
WHAT DOES EPA
WANT FROM US?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY SEEKING POLICE PROTEC-
TION AGAINST FRONTPAGEAFRICA
Thomas Kaydor, Contributing Writer
owned by FrontPage Corporation.
WE ARE UNSURE what the motive is behind Mrs. Belleh and
the EPAs attempt to shut down our operations within the vicinity
when right next door to Mrs. Bellehs building is the Lonestar
Communication Corporations which has an even bigger generator
which spreads more smoke into the environment and her building.
The company equipment and operations are much larger than
FrontPageAfrica.
LONESTAR CELL operates two 500KVA generators which run
more hours than FrontPageAfrica which has an 80KVA generator
that operates less than fve hours daily and used only for printing
purposes at night.
ADDITIONALLY, the community is host to several companies
including Putu Range, Bea Mountain and others all with bigger
generators than FPA. This is why we are puzzled and do not see the
rationale for targeting FrontPageAfrica.
EPA HAS NEVER inspected the environment to know the volume
of smoke sent into the air by Lonestar Cell Communications and
other companies but is singling out FrontPageAfrica for reasons
best known to the EPA and Mrs. Belleh. More importantly, no other
company within the vicinity has taken the steps FPA has taken to
ease the concerns of Mrs. Belleh.
IT IS SAD that Mr. Neufville chose to use his power and infuence
to try and sabotage our operations by taking the generator away
from our premises.
IN A POST-WAR nation still struggling to restore electricity to
millions of its citizens, generator is the only source of power for
many homes and businesses.
THROUGHOUT Monrovia, the buzzing sounds of generators
can be heard daily and nightly. It is sad that the EPA has chosen
FrontPageAfrica as the only violators of its Section 69 EPA
Prohibition of Pollution by Emission policy.
WERE PRETTY sure that if this policy is implemented throughout
the length and breadth of Liberia, the EPA would need a lot of
police escorts to push a lot of businesses and homes into darkness.
Page 4 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
MINISTER
WEEKS SHOWS
CONTEMPT AGAIN
WHERE IS THE
HOUSE ETHICS
COMMITTEE WHEN
YOU NEED THEM?
FrontPage
Send your letters and comments to:
editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;
077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Wade C. L. Williams, News Desk Chief, wade.
williams@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0880664793
Sports Editor, Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.
com
Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.
com, 0886-304498
Sports Reporter, A. Macaulay Sombai,macaulay.
sombai@FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
Sinoe County, Leroy N.S Kanmoh, leroy.kanmoh@
frontpageafricaonline.com
0886257528
BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753, advertise@
frontpageafricaonline.com
E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
The Reader's Page
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER
In their 2013 book on campaign reporting and political science
entitled THE GAMBLE: Choice and Chance in the 2012 Presidential
Election, John Sides and Lynn Vavreck devoted a section to the three
stages of media coverage many candidates go through during primaries
on the road to the American presidency; they are as follows: discovery,
scrutiny and decline.
As a result of his charisma, and the adulation of a rising population of
soccer crazy youths and young adults, our legend, Ambassador George
Weah, didnt have to go through the stage of discovery. And apart
from the issue of education which he overcame, the popular candidate
hasnt yet undergone a serious scrutiny by the press on his integrity,
except now.
Despite his defense, would these emails be the smoking gun to trigger
a decline, and an end to his thrilling trek to the presidency? if Weahs
meteoric rise from rags to riches through determination, hard work and
competitive advantage is any guide, it would take more than emails to
slow down his ambition. Time will tell, we thank FPA for breaking the
story.
SELTUE R KARWEAYE SR. TOP COMMENTER METRO STATE
183 SUBSCRIBERS
The revelation of George Weah is sickening. It seem everyone is a
fatherly fgure to confused Weah. First Sapp Blatter and now Bin
Hammam. It was Sapp Blatter who appointed Weah to the Pretigious
FIFA Committee which also includes Members like Roger Milla and
Pele. Blatter even Weah continue to used his fame for corruptible
practices in order to maximize wealth-from the back door dealing
in Liberia politics to the international footballing stage. He should
be ashamed of himself! Unfortunately, the Brother have no Ethical
principles or Standards. Accepting mere 30 British pound for so-called
school fees is sad. I believe it's God revealing the true color of Weah and
criminal enterprise. We beat on Ellen's led government for corruption
and malpractices and yet Weah and his compatriots are catched with
their pant down and folks want to justifed Weah dealing in the FIFA
Scandal. Let called Spade a Spade. Sometime, I wondered if We
Liberian are Cursed People or just Wicked and Selfsh People.
JOHN WILLIAMS TOP COMMENTER EASTERN UNIVERSITY,
ST. DAVIDS, PA
Football made Weah and helped to propel him to the national political
scene. I hope football does not help to destroy his political career.
The elections in 2017 will be completely different from 2005 or any
presidential elections Liberia has ever seen. There will be rigorous
scrutiny of candidates like never before. In the past it was easy for
anyone to claim that "America or the UN sent me" and people would
buy it. After Ellen's performance that propaganda will not easily
work. Similarly, after the performance of the legislature and cabinet
ministers, just being a "country" man or woman will not earn anyone
automatic acceptance. Too many people have died and the Liberian
people have a responsibility to ensure that those hundreds of thousands
of innocent people who were killed did not die in vain. Liberians have a
responsibility to ensure that they elect people, from the lowest position
to the presidency, who will seek the interest of the country. I have
always maintained that academic excellence and international contacts
are good but they do not guarantee patriotism and good governance.
Liberians must search for competent and incorruptible people to move
the country forward. The state of Liberia is shameful and leaders who
are prepared to sacrifce for the country to make the great leap must be
identifed and given the opportunity to lead. As this story has shown,
there are people with money in the world who are prepared to buy
anything. If Liberia has not already been sold, Liberians have a duty
to ensure that the integrity of the country is retained and maintained!
EDWARD ROYE TOP COMMENTER LIBERIA COLLEGE
World best player turned BM? this is unfortunate. for sure, the rumor
that lone star sold her chance of going to worldcup in 2002 seem to
be real. if weah of all personalities who played for millions of dollars
can come so low as to take $50,000.00 to infuence vote in liberia, just
shows how unserious this guy who want to lead Liberia is. all of his
predecessors(renown world class footballers) are linked to positivities
not criminality; from King pele, Abdi Pele, Platini, kanu, abu trikha,
etc. why should it be our Weah?it is time for Amb. Weah to step out
of public domain and clear his name at the FIFA saga. it is time for
the CDC to ask amb. Weah to clear his name before being considered
political leader of his party. i m sure CDC would dare ask weah to do
such.
The Editor,
T
his is where the rubber meets the road, as the
expression goes. Would FPA please go back into
its fles and reprint the story,--either after "DR."
Antoinette Weeks was appointed or when she went
for her Senate confrmation hearings--to read again her resume,
degrees earned and ENGINEERING PROJECTS she claimed
that she supervised, managed and or completed. I wrote then
and asked for verifcation of those engineering projects listed on
her resume. Classroom accomplishment as in schools attended
and degrees earned is not equivalent to work experience or work
history, and verifable work references. But in the Senate did
they dare question the stated accomplishments of a DR. WEEKS,
an arrogant congua who rained insults on her native deputy as a
"country ass?"
Weeks has even shown her contempt for constituted authorities
to the Senate when she frst refused to appear to answer to the
deplorable state of the roads in Liberia. Not only that, she was a
no-show when her boss the president surprisingly showed up at
her offce recently, and not once but twice. Does Weeks cares?
No, she is a Weeks whose father and Ellen worked together and
were "b-friend-g-friend" back in the good old days at Finance
in the TWP era. So "Cousin" Ellen must look out for "Cousin/
Uncle" Weeks' children and siblings. Hence, the presence of three
WEEKS in Ellen's government
with top lucrative positions,---Dr. Antoinette Weeks, Minister
of Public Works; ANGILIQUE WEEKS, Chair of the Board,
Liberia Telecommunications Authority; and KIMMI WEEKS,
Chair of the Board of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation--
and justifably the reason for their corrupt and arrogant behavior,
to a point where Angelique, in violation of the law engineered a
US$1 million building leasing ponzi scam and could not be fred
by the president.
So Antoinette now wants to use Kof Woods as a scapegoat for
her incompetent handling of the giant Public Works Ministry. But
Kof is not a pushover and has challenged the government to sue
him if it suspects he was a crook. All because Kof is a lawyer
who defended Rodney Sieh and Woods could harbor presidential
dreams in 2017.
But for Ellen who is an "economist" from Havard, long term
strategic planning for our roads is necessary instead of the annual
temporary band aid solution of resurfacing rather than paving
if one takes into consideration our annual six months of heavy
tropical rain. But then again, I did not go to Havard University.
But this problem of the rainfall has been around as long as
the beginning of time, and will always be with us unless some
powerful magical forces move Liberia physically to somewhere
in all yearlong hot climate region like the Middle East.
Fantasy dream.
Why trade our fertile soil and virgin rain forest for yearlong hot
weather because we lack the genius to plan? So our government
must think and plan long-term solutions.
Maybe we need to ask the United States for help with its best
engineers and the best road networks of any country in the world
to help design and build our roads. Tradeoffs would be some
WEAH DEFENDS FATHER
FIGURE ADMITS PROBED
IN FIFA SAGA
natural resources: iron ore and now OIL. It would be a win-
win for both Liberia and the US which has been babysitting and
breastfeeding us since birth in 1847. Didn't the US literally stop
the war, and when President George W. Bush told Charles Taylor
its time to pack up and leave and Taylor fed into Nigeria? The US
has pumped billions of dollars into Liberia and what have we got
to show for that money? Liberians can have frst class all weather
roads if we put our ego on one side and ask the country with the
best roads and best road construction engineers in the world, the
United States of America.
Ellen, you should have made me one of your advisors. See what
I just suggested? I am awaiting a call from you President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. My number is: 301-789-7786. Trust
me, it will work and can be done, ONLY if we ask. It is called
technical agreement/aid. The Chinese are doing it all over Africa.
I just rather put my money on American road engineers.
Jerry Wehtee Wion
Washington, DC, USA....
The Editor,
H
ow many times will this goon (Rep. Acarous Gray)
get away with felony? (Re "Acarous Gray Denies
Phone Theft" Daily Observer Online)
Representative Acarous Gray has ALL the markings
of a felon!!!.. But will you ever see Gray in an orange jumpsuit??
Please. In Liberia, lawmakers are entitled to legislative immunity
for felony!
In case your short term memory has failed you, let's recap some of
Gray's felonious activities, shall we??
#1) Have you forgotten how Gray and his goons threw stones at
3 year old school children and blocked productive citizens from
going to work during their (CDC) so called "peace march" on
March 25, 2011???
#2) Have you forgotten how Gray dressed up in a military fatigue
to intimidate elections offcials and incite election violence
because a CDC candidate was correctly disqualifed from a the
by-election (Re "CDC By-Elections Disqualifcation Leads to
Another Violent Turn in Monrovia")???
3) Have you ever seen a picture of Rep. Gray on the internet
(FPA website)?? Gray is an opium smoker.. Look at his red eyes!
Red eyes are an indicator of heavy marijuana use, but our public
servants not required to take drug test, so Gray gets high and does
all kinds of crazy shit to law-abiding citizens!
Look. When you assault school children; incite election violence;
smoke pot on the job; and steal other people property-- you belong
in the jail house, not in the House of Representatives!
Where the hell is the damn House Ethics committee when you
need them?
Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
martyretire@yahoo.com
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 5
Bamako, Mali-
I
t was debatable as many
deemed it a dangerous
play in sending Liberians
troops who had just
undergone training to a
complex desert Mali region to
keep peace, but that seems to not
be the case as Liberian soldiers
in that West African country
following over eleven months
on peacekeeping mission have
received recognition for their
performance.
During a recent visit to Mali,
Liberias Defense Minister
Brownie J. Samukai and
delegation received pleasing
news from soldiers of other
countries serving on the UN
mission about the performance
of the Liberian troops.
I would like to point out
that the Liberian soldiers are
very professional and easy to
work with and it is an honor
and privilege to work with
them, Lt. Col. Mohammad
Zakaria, Chief of operations,
Bangladesh Battalion told
FrontPageAfrica in Diabady,
Mali.
Lt. Col. Zakaria, who heads
850 soldiers deployed in
Mali, works directly with the
Liberian Troops on a daily
basis and was full of praise for
his Liberian colleagues.
The situation at times becomes
diffcult because recently there
was a little disturbance not far
from here, but we tried to keep
it peaceful here and I am happy
working with these Liberians,
he said.
The Mali mission is Liberia
second international peace
keeping mission in over two
decades as the National Army,
the Armed Forces of Liberia
(AFL) suffered colossal image
damage due to the prolonged
civil war in the country,
becoming factionalized
and could not take its place
amongst other regional armies.
Liberia, one of the oldest
members of the United Nations
and a founding member
of regional organizations
including the Organization of
African Unity (OAU), which
has now transformed into the
African Union (AU) and the
Economic Community of West
African states (ECOWAS) for
decades could not partake in
peacekeeping missions due to
the status of its national army.
After the end of the countrys
civil war in 2003 the army has
undergone major revamping
with the recruitment of
new breed, trained with the
assistance of international
partners including the
Government of the United
States of America, China,
LIBERIAN TROOPS RECEIVE UN MEDALS, PERFORMANCE
RATED HIGH ON PEACE KEEPING MISSION
EARNING THEIR
KEEPS IN MALI
The situation at times becomes diffcult because recently there as a little disturbance not far
from here, but we tried to keep it peaceful here and I am happy working with these Liberians,
- Lt. Col. Mohammad Zakaria, Chief of operations, Bangladesh Battalion
Nigeria and several others but
still judging from the past,
restoring public confdence
in the army has been diffcult
prior to the Malis mission.
Following years of training,
the new and reformed Armed
Forces of Liberia had its
frst litmus test in partaking
in peacekeeping mission in
troubled Mali after Tuareg
rebels took control of the
northern region.
On home soil, the decision by
the Government of Liberia to
send troops to Mali met mixed
reactions with some Liberians
complaining that it was too
early to send newly trained
soldiers on peace keeping
mission with some describing
the mission as a deathtrap.
Still others saw it as a change
to give the new soldiers a
taste of international military
duties and Liberia through the
Ministry of Defense dispatched
49 soldiers to form part of
the UN Multidimensional
Integrated Stabilization
Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Liberian soldiers on high
For their performance over the
period of their stay in Mali, the
AFL soldiers were awarded
medals of Honor for their hard
work in helping to keep peace
in the Region.
At ceremony witnessed by
Minister Samukai, Chief
of Staff Lt. General Daniel
Ziankhan, Bong County
Representative and Chairman
of the House of Representatives
Committee on National
Defense, George Mulbah,
and some high ranking AFL
military offcers, the Liberian
soldiers were awarded United
Nations Medals.
The journey to the MINUSMA
headquarters in Diabady near
the Mauritanian Border is
normally said to a seven to
eight hours long ride from
the Capital Bamako. But the
Delegation boarded the UN
Airplane and made the frst
stop, after an hour in Morti
and thereafter, boarded the
UN Chopper for another hour
to reach Diabady, where the
troops are stationed.
The Liberian AFL soldiers who
appeared motivated when they
saw the Liberian delegation
were all dressed neatly in their
military attire waiting to be
inspected by Defense Minister
Samukai, who was later
accompanied by Chief of Staff
Lt. General Daniel Ziankhan to
give the medals of Honor to the
soldiers.
Liberia committed to Malis
peace
Defense Minister Samukai
assured that Liberia remains
committed to ensuring a
peaceful Mali.
We are committed in
supporting the MINUSMA
effort in bringing peace and
stability to this part of our
region, he said.
We are also here to honor
you for your hard work over
the last eleven months you
have served in the Mission
and in a few days you will
be returning home to reunite
with your families. We hope
this serves as a motivation to
your counterparts back home,
said Minister Samukai at the
honoring program.
Using the occasion, Minister
Samukai thanked the Mali
Government for their
hospitality and also thanked
the Bangladeshi and Togo
Battalions for their continuous
assistance rendered to the
Liberian Soldiers working
along with them on the
Mission.
Chief of Staff Lt. Daniel
Ziankhan told his troops
since he arrived in Mali,
he had received good news
regarding their output and he
was pleased with their level of
professionalism.
It has been two decades since
we last took part in a peace
keeping mission in Congo, so
it is a good sign to have you
on this peace keeping mission
here in Mali. Therefore, these
medals are high honor for
your hard work and it will
last with you for you and your
generations to come, Said
Chief of staff Ziankhan.
More support to troops
Impressed by what he had
seen, Representative George
Mulbah, said he would raise
the issue of support for the
troops in Mali and ensure that
they get the needed support.
Head of the Liberian contingent
on the UN mission 1st Lt.
Nathaniel Waka admitted that
it has been a tedious task.
Operating with a platoon size
in this area is diffcult but with
the assistance from Nigerians
contingent from the beginning
and now the Bangladeshi and
Togo, the tension has reduced.
The Bangladeshi contingent
has been helping us with
transportation of logistics while
the Togo contingent has been
assisting us with medical aid
on the feld, 1st Lt. Nathaniel
Waka, who is heading the
soldiers on the Mission, said.
He said they went as platoon
strength and merged with
other contingents in Mission
but it was not easy from the
beginning.
Diffcult task
The head of the Liberian
soldiers confessed that the
mission in Mali is not an easy
one.
We have been here since 11
months and ffteen days and
working under this weather
condition is not easy. This
entire area is a desert that we
recently had a sand storm, but
there was not casualty.
All of the foreign battalion
working along with the
Liberian Troop spoke highly
of the performance of the AFL
soldiers and how happy they
were to have them on board.
For his part the Togo Battalion
Commander Kezie Tohea also
working alongside with the
Liberian Troop, who does not
speak English well, struggled
to say he enjoyed working
along with the Liberian
Soldiers because they have no
problem and they all live as
brothers.
With less than three weeks
to return to Liberia and be
replaced by another troop,
the Liberian troop in Mali
that has been controlling the
Area for 349 days left Liberia
in June 2013 to form part of
the force of the ECOWAS
under the African led
international support mission
in Mali. They later joined UN
Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in Mali
(MINUSMA).
Since July 1, 2013, the unit
has conducted over 145
patrols along the Mauritian
borders including Napala,
Lara, Gati, Lomour and its
surroundings alongside with
the Nigerian battalion and
now the Bangladeshi and Togo
Battalion.
Mae Azango - FPA Staff Writer
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
UMC HINTS AT ASSUMING FULL COST FOR BASSAS
DISTRICT HEALTH CENTER PROJECT
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com

F
RONT
PAGE
LAW & ORDER
F
RONT
PAGE
COUNTY NEWS
Monrovia-
A
six-member jury at the Criminal
D at the Temple of Justice is
expected Tuesday to hand down
a verdict in the mercenary case
involving 13 defendants most of whom hail
from the Southeastern County of Grand
Gedeh.
The day for jurors verdict, which was
announced by the Presiding Judge Emery
Paye Friday during the close of the trial
when state lawyer Cllr. Theophilus Gould
announced that the state had rested with
the production of rebuttal witnesses to
rebut some part of the testimonies of the
defendants.
The court wishes to announced that with
the statement by the prosecution that it
has rested with the production of rebuttal
witness fnal argument into this trial is
scheduled for Tuesday June 10, 2014 at
9:am
According to Presiding Judge Emery Paye,
both the state and defense lawyers starting
at 9:am will announce the verdict of the
jurors, when the jurors return from the room
of deliberation following fnal arguments.
The 13 defendants were among 18
defendants initially arrested by state security
and charged with mercenarism in the
aftermath of the civil unrest in Ivory Coast
in 2011 between loyalists of former Ivorian
President Laurent Gbagbo and that of the
loyalists of current President Alahassan
Quattare but fve of the defendants were
released when the defense counsels made
the request to the court that throughout the
trial none of the prosecution witnesses ever
mentioned the names of the fve released
defendants.
The civil unrest in the Ivory Coast in
which the defendants are accused to have
participated erupted when former Ivorian
President Laurent Gbagbo protested the
presidential election in favor of current
Ivorian President Quattare on ground that it
was fraudulent.
The unrest in the Ivory Coast at that time
left several properties destroyed and a scope
of persons killed including seven United
Nations Peace Keepers from Niger serving
in the United Nations Peace Keeping
mission in the Ivory Coast.
The defendants who have been in detention
closed to three years, the frst time they
went on trial was May 2013, where they
denied all charges of mercenarism, though
state lawyers maintained that the men were
the ones involved in the fghting in the
Ivory Coast.
During the May 2013 trial was cut off by
the presiding Judge at that time when he
was forced to do same as one of the jurors
in person of Jeremy Neufville alarmed
about plans by the prosecution to bribe each
of the defendants to render guilty verdict in
favor of the state. The claim was however
denied by state lawyer Cllr. Daku Mulbah
adding that the juror in question was trying
to evade prosecution because he used two
names which was criminal in nature to get
on the panel.
Amidst the adjournment the case resumed
during the February 2014 Term of Court
where the defendants again denied all of
the charges levied against them by the state
adding that the state had lied on them to
implicate them in the Ivorian crisis they had
no involvement.
During the court of the trial state lawyers
led by Montserrado County Attorney
Daku Mulbah produced 11 witnesses,
several rebuttal armed and several other
documentary evidence in which they
claimed were enough to convict the
defendants who have through-out the trial
denied the charges.
While the defense counsels led by human
rights lawyer Tiawan Gongloe provided
several documentary evidence including
the testimonies of 13 defendants including
three other rebuttals witnesses who
testimonies defense also say is enough to
prove the defendants innocent and set them
free.
D-DAY FOR 13
CHARGED WITH
MERCENARISM
Jurors To Decide Fate of 13
Grand Gedeans Today
ENDING
STALEMATE
Buchanan, Grand Bassa
County-
A
s the administration
of Grand Bassa
County insists that
it will not directly
give cash to the Department of
Community Services (DCS) of
the United Methodist Church
(UMC) as funding intended
to complete the District Three
Healh Center project in the
county, the UMC through its
DCS has hinted at taking full
fnancial responsibility for the
project.
The news comes as residents of
the district continue to express
serious concerns over the delay
of the project which started
in 2011 and with their recent
appeal to the Director of the
DCS to help galvanize support
to help complete the project.
Making the disclosure to
FrontPage Africa, the UMC-
DCS Director, Jonathon
Kaipay said his department
is at a deadlock with the
county government for what
he described as some reason
best know to them having
signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) since
May 21, 2013 adding that the
DCS has lived up to the MOU
but the county is yet to perform
its portion of the bargain.
He said the DCSs action to
assume full responsibility
of the project is squarely
intended to help the people
since the government (County
Administration) has reneged
on their promise stipulated
in the MOU even though the
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led
government says it prioritizes
health and the reduction of
infant mortality rate in Liberia.
I see this to be irresponsible,
intense of signing a document
and later on start to reneged on
what you have signed and play
with people lives, Mr. Kaipay
blasted.
Continue Kaipay: Recently
when I was in Compound
Three, base upon the plea and
cry of the people so when I
recently when to Europe I
began series of negotiations
and fund raising and started
to linked the hospital project
with several leading hospital
in Europe and dividend will
be coming soon because
people have started raising
funding. While I was in Europe
we were able to raise over
US$20,000.00 for the hospital
project.
Mr. Kaipay disclosure comes
a week after FrontPage Africa
reported on the stalemate over
the project when the county
administration opted to open
a tripartite account at a local
bank which will require the
signature of all parties, namely;
UMC DCS, the countys
development offce and the
local community before
money is withdrawn to procure
materials for the project.
The UMC-DCS at the time
rejected the move by the
county saying the move will
impede already set policies and
donors requirements that the
department operates within.
On the other hand, there are
allegations that the entire
project is being politicized
with some individuals involve
with the project asserting that
Mr. Kaipays political ambition
is prompting the county
administrations to hold back
or delay their portion of the
fund.
Some critics of the county
administration say the delay is
intended to prevent Mr. Kaipay
from enjoying glorifcation
from the projects success
while the District Statutory
Superintendent, Mr. Abel
Nyounbol said the political
ulterior motive of the UMC-
DCS Director, Mr. Jonathan
Kaipay is preventing him from
reasoning with the county
administration over the matter.
When FPA contacted the
county administration the
Information Offcer insisted
that the initiative is a joint
project and therefore; the
church should not appear to be
the implementer of the project.
The project is worth
US$303,897.3 and its cost
was shared amongst the
church, the county and the
local community. According
to the MOU signed last year,
the county government is
to provide 40% funding,
the UMC-DCS provides
55% while the community
contributes the balance 5%.
Currently, the project is at roof
level with all works done so
far been underwritten by the
UMC-DCS as part of its 55%
obligation stipulated in the
agreement.
When FPA requested response
from the county administration
over the Churchs latest move
to complete project by ignoring
the role of the county, Eddie
Williams said he could not give
any quick reaction to the recent
development but promised to
give a response in the nearby
future.
With the latest development
on the ongoing health center
and the UMC imminent
preparedness to make an
impact, the UMC-DCS Director
is quite disappointment with
the trend the project has taken.
While the government is
insensitive to the health of
the people, the church under
her holistic ministry not just
preach Jesus Loves You but
do something that shows Gods
love we have begun a process
of lobbying for funding and
Gods willing the people of
Gorblee will have their health
center in the not too distance
future, Mr. Kaipay said.
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 7
ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY, INFLUENCING, BALLOTS TAMPERING
MAR OPPOSITION PARTY CANDIDATES ELECTION PROCESS
F
RONT
PAGE
POLITICS
CONFUSION ROCKS
CDC PRIMARY
Monrovia-
W
ell the Liberia
National Police
is not getting
the US$40
Million it was expecting in the
draft budget for FY: 2014/2015
instead, the government in the
new draft budget has earmarked
a little over US$20million for
the overall operations of the
police including salaries and
operations.
The government on the overall
seems not to be investing
heavily on security as sectors
under the civilian component
of the security pillar of the
government, which falls
directly under the ministry of
justice including the Bureau of
Immigration and Naturalization,
Drug Enforcement Agency,
National Fire service and
prisoner rehabilitation and other
areas only get a little over US$45
Million.
The GoL highlighting the
ministry of justices achievement
during the FY: 2013/2014 asserts
that it constructed four security
towers at the correction palace
and completed eleven laws,
which were enacted by the
Legislature. The government
states that the ministry reviewed,


redrafted in some cases and
advised on a total of 152
contracts and also won a total of
144 cases out of 172 and lost 28.
The government also states that
the ministry operationalized the
Gbarnga regional security hub,
which has conducted ffty-six
confdence patrols, responded to
twenty-four security incidents,
twelve convictions in 14 trials of
rape cases.
For FY: 2014/2015, the ministry
wants to fast track prosecution
for tax offenders to increase
the governments revenue
generation. It also seeks to
recruit and deploy twenty law
school graduates in magisterial
courts around Liberia to
boost prosecutorial services.
The ministrys priorities also
include the construction of
health facilities in six Liberian
prisons, the renovation of prison
facility at the national Palace on
Correction and conduct trainings
for 140 correction offcers.
But with the expected United
Nations Missions in Liberia
(UNMIL) drawdown of its
military component by 2015 the
government has not spelled out
funding to this huge initiative
that will see the LNP taking over
the civilian aspect of Liberias
security.
There is US$0.00 allotted
for strengthening capacity
of the LNP in the new draft
budget even though there is
US$5,000,000 for LNP camp
maintenance and logistics.
Employees compensation alone
amounts to US$11.7 Million use
of goods and services amounts
to over US$2.112Million, with
fuel and lubricant making up
US$1Million.
The issue of uniforms seems
to be of prime concern to the
authorities of the LNP as police
offcers are seen all around the
country in uniforms that are
already faded. During a news
conference recently, police chief
Col. Chris C. Massaquoi stressed
the need for police offcers to
be given new uniforms, but it
seems that the government had
it all worked out for the FY:
2014/2015 as there is nothing
allotted for Uniforms. But the
budget still refects the amount
of US$400,000 that was allotted
in the 2013/2014 Budget even
though police boss announced
that there was nothing in the
budget for uniforms.
This time around, we decided
to have two uniforms per offcer.
Two uniforms per offcer with
one set of accessories, if they
dont want to give car, we
need to have two uniforms
and accessories, said Col.
Massaquoi.
I continue to let the president
know that the police has not
been provide uniform and say
what do you mean by that and
I said Madam President money
government can put in the budget
every year for uniform, by the
time it is time for the people to
graduate from the academy, we
give it to them, so tactically,
government has not provided
uniform for the police in the last
6, 7 or 8 years.
Col. Massaquoi guaranteed
offcers that they would be
properly attired after the new
budget is passed because all was
being done to secure funding for
uniforms.
One of the most important
things again is the credentials,
what do I mean by credentials,
your identifcation, your badges,
your headgear, your head badge;
those things have to be in place
and I can guarantee you, once we
have the credentials undertaken,
uniforms and everything
about 50% of the problems,
misconduct, corruption that we
are experiencing now will be
cut, he said.
I can guarantee you, so it
is a very sensitive thing, the
credentials, the uniforms have
to be in place, once it is in place
the behavior of the police will be
cut down by 50% those are some
of the things that we are working
on.
The police have come under fre
for widespread public corruption
and in the recent past, there have
been swift dismissals by police
authorities of a few offcers
who are caught in the act of
soliciting bribes from drivers.
But the problem according to
sources who worked closely
with the force during the
recruitment exercise done by
UNMIL and other partners, the
process was fawed and a lot of
bad apples infltrated their way
into the force therefore the level
of negative press the force is
getting but Massaquoi wants all
that to change.
The LNP under our watch is
determined and will not relent in
identifying and weeding out from
our midst any and all undesirable
elements within the Liberian
National Police when identifed,
with the aim of drastically
dealing with unethical behavior
or practices, he said during a
news conference recently.
But the question now is how
can the government weed out
corruption in the police without
the proper investment?
2015 will see a signifcant
drawdown in UNMIL forces and
the LNP will be left with other
arms of the security sector to
police the state, but its current
budget seems o be minimum to
the task that lies ahead.
MISSING LINK
Police Budget VS Road to UNMIL Drawdown, GoL
Investment Seems minimum
Monrovia-
L
iberias main opposition political party at the weekend
took on the task to light the political fame ahead of
the pending October 2014 midterm senatorial election
becoming the frst political party to go to primary in a
bid to elect 15 candidates to contest on the party tickets as senators.
The process was not void of confusion as the election of two
candidates remains in dispute, while two others were cancelled
due to chaotic scenes.
In Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, the process is said to have
gone without incidents but that has not proven to be the case with
the election for the candidate in Rivercess County now in dispute.
Although David Logan, National Elections Commission magistrate
in Grand Bassa confrmed to FrontPageAfrica on Saturday that
the National Elections Commission offcially observed the CDC
political primary held on Friday night, saying that there has been
no complaint from the party and that the NEC sees the primary as
in line with the rules of the body but the Rivercess County result
is now in dispute.
NEC Magistrate Logan clarifed that nothing of foul-playing has
been reported to his offce.
Reeves Vs Toe
J. Bismark Karbiah, Secretary General of the CDC in Grand
Bassa County told FrontPageAfrica in an interview in Buchanan
Saturday that Emmanuel Toe was the candidate elected to contest
on the party ticket for Rivercess County.
Without doubts Karbiah disclosed that Toe had won the primary
without protest from the other two contenders, Cllr. Teplah Reeves
and Rosina Shaack.
FrontPageAfrica in an effort to get the full listing of the winners of
the Grand Bassa primary for fve counties including Grand Cape
Mount, Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu and Rivercess was
told by some CDC offcials that Teplah Reeves was elected as
winner of the Rivercess primary.
When contacted on the conficting accounts of the Rivercess
primary, Jefferson Koijee, Youth league Chairman of the CDC
and member of the primary committee told FrontPageAfrica that
the party will make an offcial pronouncement on the winners of
the primary but maintained that Reeves had won the primary.
The noticeable occurrence at the Buchanan primary was the
alleged lobbying of Representative Gabriel B. Smith who is said
to have attempted to win the CDC ticket for Grand Bassa County.
In the intense lobbying ahead of the primary, some CDC partisans
in Grand Bassa opted for what they termed as a stronger candidate
in the county pushing Smith over eventual winner Murray.
Karbiah admitted in an interview that the CDC has a lot of work to
do to sell its candidate in the county he described as a stronghold
for the Liberty Party.
But Murray disagrees with Karbiah that the CDC is not popular
in the county CDC has a very large home base in Grand Bassa
County; its undisputed because weve proven that in many
elections, although we have not won any seat in Bassa, yet we
know there are places in Grand Bassa County that we remain
strong and we remain a phenomenal to contend with,.

According to some CDC partisans who spoke to FPA on basis of
anonymity, Karbiah was in support of Smith who is not member of
the CDC becoming the party candidate because Karbiah believes
Smith is more popular than Murray.
Quizzed on his view about Murray, Karbiah denied views that he
was not in favor of Murray election but said he maintains that the
CDC needs a much stronger candidate in Grand Bassa County.
In Gbarnga, Bong County, according to eyewitnesses, confusion
erupted after delegates from Margibi County angrily attempted to
disrupt the ballot counting for the county.
According to inside CDC sources, some non partisans of Margibi
had paid delegates in an effort to obstruct the election of Ansu
Sonni and according to our Central Liberia correspondent Sonii
was hastily taken from the primary venue after the pronouncement
of the results.
Contentious Maryland County
Southeastern Maryland County has so far proven to be one of
the contentious of the primary held at three venues with both
Representative Bhofal Chambers and James Anderson claiming
victory.
Some members of the primary team from Maryland said Dr.
Chambers won the process.
A member of the Anderson campaign team phoned a local radio
station announcing that his candidate obtained 28 votes while
lawmaker Chambers only managed 5 votes out of the total 33
delegates that voted.
The Anderson campaign man said during the counting of the
ballots, some observers had ballots, which were included amongst
the ballots prompting the Liberian police to take over the ballot
counting process.
Another CDC partisan, James Gray phoned the same radio station
announcing that lawmaker Chambers won the election.
Dr. Chambers also called on the talk show declaring himself
winner of the primary. According to him allegations that he bribed
primary observers to change the results in his favor are untrue.
The party is expected to offcially announce the winners of its
primary soon but the ongoing confusion is an indication that
process could have been infuenced.
In time past, primaries of the CDC had not gone without confusion
both 2005 and 2011 primaries were more chaotic than the current
one.
Primaries for Bomi and Grand Kru counties are still pending.


Page 8 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
LIBERIANS SOLDIERS IN MALI RECEIVE UNITED NATIONS MEDALS FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE,
DEFENSE MINISTER SAMUKAI ASSURES LIBERIAS COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL MALI-PICTORIAL
The Delegate takes Group photo with the Liberian troops
Defense Minister Certifcates outstanding Liberian soldier
Mr. Albert Gerard KOENDERS, SRSG to Mali with Defense
Minister Brownie J. Samukai, Jr.
Defense Minister & MINUSMA Forces Commander Jean Bosco Kazura
Defense Minister Samukai Pins 1st Lt. Waka, Nathaniel K. Platoon
Commander/ MINUSMA
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 9
Chief of Staff Ziankhan address soldiers Rep Mulbah address soldiers Defense Minister Samukai address soldiers
SRSG and Samukai
Force commander shakes Minister's hand Minister Samukai greets Bangladeshi Soldier
Minister Assitant Dongbo & Chief of Staff Aid
Bangladeshi Soldier at the ceremony
Force commander shakes Ziankhan's hand
Rep. George Mulbah and Minister Samukai at ceremony
Minister Samukai, Rep. George Mulbah and Chief of Staff Ziankhan at ceremony
inspecting the troop Group photo with Bangladeshi soldiers
Page 10 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com


MINISTER WEEKS
WOES DEEPEN
Protest for removal enters second day
W
ith just few days since a
motion for reconsideration
by Senator Alphonson
Gaye of Grand Gedeh
County save her from being charged with
contempt by the Liberian senate pressure
is still being mounted on Public Works
Minister Antoinette Weeks.
Protesters calling for the resignation of
madam weeks for the second day gathered
at the Public works Ministry carrying anti
Weeks placards calling for her resignation
because according to them she is not the
right person for the position.
The protesters said, they did not want
to question the academic credentials of
Madam weeks but claimed that she lacks
the technical know how to run the public
works ministry especially with evidence of
deplorable roads across the country.
According to Mr. Sekou Kolasko
spokesperson of the group, their gathering
at the public works ministry Monday was
in continuation of their protest action
against the minister of Public works who
according to him has failed the country
infrastructure needs.
Kolasko said: It is prudent enough that
we as Liberians rise to the occasion, we
want to rise to the occasion to prove to our
offcials that we as Liberians are conscious
enough in seeing Liberia being on the right
trajectory and that can only be done if there
are competent people in public offces.
He described as lazy the argument put up by madam Weeks last
week at the Senate that there is no money to carry out and continue
roads projects around the country because according to him the
President who appointed Madam weeks have earlier criticized her
for doing nothing.
He also described madam Weeks as a Pathological liar for claiming
that she needs money to kick start projects because according to
him the minister only needs consultation with friendly partners.
If you can recall fve million was taken away from this ministry
in the last budget year and sent to the Agriculture Ministry by the
president because she felt the ministry had nothing planned for the
money, he said.
He recommended that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appoint the
public works Minister to the University of Liberia because of her
academic credential.
Madam Weeks last week faced the Liberian Senate twice to answer
to questions about non-compliance with the senate committee on
public works and her refusal to respond to the many inquiries
from senators about stalled public works projects around the
country.
Madam Weeks is also expected to face the House of Representatives
Plenary today, Tuesday June 10, to answer to seminar questions
from the House of Representatives though a contempt charge
against her from the senate is being delayed by a motion for
reconsideration.

Monrovia-
R
esults from the
Congress For
Democratic Change
(CDC) primary in
River Cess County seems to be
marred by controversy as two
aspirants are claiming victory.
Mr. Emmanuel Toe, one of three
who contested for the slot is
claiming that of the 27 delegates
that voted in River Cess he
obtained 15 of the total votes
cast making him winner. But the
party hierarchy is claiming that
Madam Teeplah Reeves is the
real winner.
Aspirant Emmanuel Toe was
announced winner after the polls
on Saturday night, but the result
was reportedly changed the next
morning in favor of Cllr. Reeves.
Toe, Reeves and Rosina Shaack
were three candidates for the
River-Cess slot.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica in
an interview, Mr. Toe accused
those who conducted the election
Saturday night of attempting to
cheat him in the process. He said
there is evidence of the continued
switching off of the power, but
it remained on because of the
vigilance of his representatives
at the polling center.
Asked if since the result was
announced there has been
someone opposing him he said
no but, information in the media
about Madam Reeves being
the winner has the propensity
WHO IS CDCS RIVER-CESS CANDIDATE?
Controversy Brews Over Party Primary Results, Two Names Surfaces As Winners
to create a dent in the results in
her favor, because according to
him he did not trust the way the
process was carried out.
Toe said: I am here to respond to
the FrontPageAfrica news article
about Madam Reeves being the
winner of the River Cess CDC
primary. I was announced winner
and not Reeves.
For his Part Mr. Charles Bartee
chairman of the CDC River
Cess charter said, he cannot
comment on result of the River
Cess County CDC primary, but
the Party National Executive
committee, which is charged
with the power to conduct the
primary has promised to release
all results on Wednesday of this
week.
Bartee said: I only got
information from people who
witnessed the poll, but I cannot
really speak to that in the press
right now. I was at the center
when the election was being
carried out, but we were asked
to leave the area during the
counting process.
Myself I am equally waiting for
that result; so what I advise party
to the election is to wait until
Wednesday to know who won
the election then it will put us
in a better position to know who
won and then we can address
ourselves to concerns.
He said the party rules call for a
protest to be fled within 24 hours
after the release of offcial results
and urged individuals who feel
disenchanted in the process to
take advantage.
There was no offcial result
announced for the [Rivercess]
primary, but there were a lot
of commotion. According to
observers who reported to me,
there were 27 delegates but I
was told that one Emmanuel
Toe, one of the aspirants, got 18
votes in his favor, followed by
one Rosina Shaack who got 8 of
the votes and Cllr. Teepla Reeves
who got one vote, Bartee said
via a telephone conversation.
He explained that this was based
on reports he received from
observers: That is the report
that came to me. So this brought
about some dissatisfaction
among the aspirants and brought
about protests.
Bartee said: At the same time,
they came to me as county
leader with their plight. The
National Leadership has not said
anything to us. But according to
what we read on AllAfrica.com,
they announced Teeplah Reeves
winner. But the aspirants are now
calling for re-election. And so, I
as the county chairman, I do not
have any fact in my possession
now to say who won, because we
were asked out of the auditorium
during the vote-count. But
the National Leadership has
not contacted me, though the
Leadership should contact
the county leadership. But as
we speak, Im on my way to
Monrovia.
According to one of the
observers in person of one
Trokon, he reported to us that
indeed his mother Rosina Shaack
lost because she had only 8 votes
and admitted to me as Chairman
that Emmanuel Toe had 18 of
the votes that night and Teeplah
Reeves got just one. Those were
the reports the two observers
brought to me. But I dont know
by which means Teeplah Reeves
was announced the winner. So
we as a County Leadership are
trying to follow up with the party
headquarters because we cannot
protest for any aspirant.
It not clear what is prompting
the CDCs National Leaderships
delay in coming out with the
winner for River Cess.
There was a similar situation
during the partys 2011 primary
in Bensonville during which
then incumbent Representative
Regina Sokan Teah was
reportedly robbed off the
Montserrado County seat in favor
of Pauline Weah-Nyanfor. Both
however failed in their respective
bids during the legislative race
after Representative Teah joined
Ambassador Dew T. Maysons
National Democratic Coalition
(NDC).
CDC secretary general Mr.
Nathaniel McGill has named
Madam Teeplah Reeves as
the offcial winner of the
Party Primary in River Cess
County. Mr. McGill also told
FrontpageAfrica that there
has been no offcial result
from Maryland County. But
Initial reports from the County
were conficting as Dr. Bhofal
Chambers who is currently
serving his term in the House of
Representatives for Maryland is
tipped as the winner of that slot.
The CDCs primary was held
last weekend simultaneously
in Buchanan, Grand Bassa,
Gbarnga, Bong and Harper,
Maryland Counties from the 6th
to the 8th of June 2014.

Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 11
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)
PURCHASE FOR RICE
IFB NO: MOD/NCB/008/14/15
NCB NO. MOD/NCB 008/14/15
1. The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of National
Defense (MOD) anticipates funding from its national budget for
FY 2014 -15 for the procurement of Rice.
2. The Ministry now invites sealed bids from eligible registered
bidders for the supply of Par Boil Rice to soldiers of the Ministry
for FY 2014 15.
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National competitive
Bidding process as enshrined in the Public Procurement and
Concession Act (PPCA).
4. SPECIFICATION AND QUANTITY
NO. PRODUCTS QUANTITY TYPE
1. RICE 28,250 Bags 50KG Parboil Rice
5. Qualifcation requirements include:
V) Articles of Incorporation
Vi) Valid tax Clarence
Vii) Valid business registration
Vii) Past performance records including the names and
contact numbers of at least two clients,
Viii) Evidence of a Ware house with a capacity of over
seven thousand (7,000) bags
6. All interested eligible bidders may obtain copy of the bidding
documents from the procurement unit of the Ministry of National
Defense beginning Wednesday, 4 June to Thursday, June 26,
2014.
7. Sealed bids must be delivered to the Procurement Unit of the
Ministry of National Defense no later than Friday, July 18, 2014
at 12:00 noon. Please note that late bids will be rejected and
return to bidders unopened. Bid will be opened in the presence
of bidders who chose to attend or their representatives on Friday,
July 18, 2014 at 12: 00 noon.
8. Bids submitted must be sealed and labeled:
REF: IFB NO. MOD/NCB/010/14/15
Attention:
Procurement Director, Procurement Unit,
Ministry of National Defense
BTC, United Nations Drive & Lynch Street
Monrovia, Liberia
Signed: _______________________________
Anthony D. Lander (0886337632)
Deputy Director for Public Affairs
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)
PURCHASE FOR FUEL
IFB NO: MOD/NCB/001/14/15
NCB NO. MOD/NCB 001/14/15
1. The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of
National Defense (MOD) anticipate funding from its national
budget for FY 2014 -15 for the procurement of petroleum
product.
2. The Ministry now invites sealed bids from eligible
registered bidders for the supply of petroleum products for FY
2014 15.
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National competitive
Bidding process as enshrined in the Public Procurement and
Concession Act (PPCA).
NO. PRODUCTS QUANTITY GRADE
1. Petroleum Products 294,461 Gallons
5. Qualifcation requirements include:
. V) Articles of Incorporation
Vi) Valid tax Clarence
Vii) Valid business registration certifcation
Vii) Past performance records including the names and contact
numbers of at least two clients,
Viii) Evidence of Vendor having flling station in at least fve
counties, to include the southeast of Liberia.
6. All interested eligible bidders may obtain copy of the
bidding documents from the procurement unit of the Ministry
of National Defense beginning Wednesday, 4 June to Thursday,
June 26, 2014.
7. Sealed bids must be delivered to the Procurement Unit of
the Ministry of National Defense no later than Friday, July 18,
2014 at 2:00 Pm. Please note that late bids will be rejected and
return to bidders unopened. Bid will be opened in the presence
of bidders who chose to attend or their representatives on Friday,
July 18, 2014 at 2: Pm.
8. Bids submitted must be sealed and labeled:
REF: IFB NO. MOD/NCB/010/14/15
Attention:
Procurement Director, Procurement Unit,
Ministry of National Defense
BTC, United Nations Drive & Lynch Street
Monrovia, Liberia
Signed: _______________________________
Anthony D. Lander (0886337632)
Deputy Director for Public Affairs
Page 12 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
PAYNESVILLE CITY CORPORATION GIVES
ELWA JUNCTION A NEW LOOK
SURVEY NOTICE

June 9, 2014

The public is hereby informed that in keeping with the Private Land Surveying
Regulation No 1-3-27-87 promulgated by the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy
(MLM&E) in relation to create public awareness, Madam Vickie Wannie Wilson, of
the city of Monrovia, has order the resurvey of Two (2) Town Lots Parcel of land,
with Lot No: N/N (portion of).

The property to be resurveyed lying and situated in Schiefflin Town, Schiefflin
Township, Lower Margibi County.

The resurvey will commence on Saturday, the 14
th
Day of June A.D. 2014 at the
hour of 9:30 am.

Henceforth, all adjacent property owners and interested person(s) having interest
in the survey who names are not mentioned and having property (ies) with in the
said community should come along with their Original Deeds, Diagrams or Area
Maps to substantiate their claims in order to avoid land dispute.

Let this notice claim the attention of the following property owners:
1. The S.D.A. Mission
2. The Smith
3. J.G.M & S.Z.H (cornerstones)

Signed:
James S. Fred, Jr.
Registered Land Surveyor
LIC #: 062 Republic of Liberia
Cell #: 0886-528-268 / 0777-904-060

Cc: Office of the Commissioner
Schiefflin Town, Schiefflin Township
Lower Margibi County
Paynesville City, Montserrado
County-
T
he Paynesville
municipality is one of
the densely populated
and commercial
districts in Liberia but the area
is suffering from problems
including garbage disposal,
keeping the city clean and other
beautifcation projects due to its
population.
The administration of the
Paynesville City Corporation
has been working to give the
City a facelift in the midst of
the numerous challenges and the
ELWA Junction was a scene of
attraction over the weekend as
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
cut the ribbon unveiling the
beautifcation project at ELWA
Junction.
The facelift by the Paynesville
City Corporation and the
construction of the National
Social Security and Welfare
Corporation (NASSCORP)
Pension complex have all given
the gateway to the capital a new
look.
President Sirleaf praised, the
Mayor of Paynesville for turning
a vision into reality adding that
with more of such persons in
Liberia the country will move
forward.
President Sirleaf said "our
government has a vision, we
have the plan, short, medium and
long term but we cannot deliver
unless all of those responsible
are ready to implement those
plans, here is an example of
someone who demonstrated the
commitment to turn over what
was a diffcult and hard situation
into work of art that will beneft
all."
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
said the ELWA beautifcation
project was a surprise adding
the hard work by the mayor has
turned diffcult situation into
reality.
President Sirleaf added, She
didn't really tell me what they
were planning and doing. Today
we see it and I want to commend
her for this kind of initiative and
creativity."
President Sirleaf furthered that
if every Liberians where getting
things done and taking up
initiative Liberia will not be at
its current status.
"If all Liberians were to have this
spirit of doing it, getting it done,
taking initiative just think how
far this country will be much,
much further than we are today,
we tell you and your staff a big
thank you," Sirleaf added.
President Sirleaf urged, the
Mayor of Paynesville to go
beyond beautifcation of ELWA
to other parts of the city.
The challenge is the Du-port
road junction now that you have
started this beautifcation you
cannot stop, people who get
things done, the more they do,
the more people ask of them
President Sirleaf added.
Mayor recounts challenges
The Mayor of Paynesville
Cyvette Gibson recalled, the
challenges her administration
faced to get the beautifcation
project started.
TURNING VISION
INTO REALITY
Al-Varney Rogers alrogers2008@gmail.com

"on august 24 2013 PCC began
the clearing of ELWA junction
to commence the rendering of the
gateway to our nation, September
1, 2013 we had the ground
breaking ceremony for this
beautifcation project, we wrote
helpless letter requesting support
and only one Agency endorsed
our vision NASSCORP," Mayor
Gibson added.
Mayor Gibson said, the
community involvement and
cooperation played a major for
PCC to achieve its goal.
PCC Boss said, apart from the
facelift given to ELWA junction,
the project created employment
for residents of ELWA and GSA
road communities.
Mayor Gibson said, "The
project created employment for
resident in the ELWA and GSA
communities, the community
involvement and empowerment
was essential to the achievement
of this goal, most importantly
ownership as they transformed
this junction."
The Mayor said that the success
of the project was a collective
effort by the communities,
business owners and PCC
staffers.
"To NASSCORP your
contribution in providing funding
for this endeavor is highly
appreciated, to our stakeholders
at the ELWA junction thanks
for endorsing the vision , we
have received cooperation
from LNP youth organization,
yana boys, pehn-pehn boys and
market women, Mayor Gibson
asserted.
She furthered that appearance
of the municipality refects the
dream and aspirations of the
ordinary people of Paynesville.
ELWA junction is the gateway
to our nation capital, the
appearance of the municipality
refects the dream and aspiration
of our citizens as we move
forward to structure this city the
Paynesville Mayor said.
Mayor Gibson thanked, the
people of Paynesville and
employees of PCC for been far
sighted in allowing development
to take place in the city.
I thank you [PCC staffers]
for your dedication it has
extended beyond employment
expectation.

Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 13
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
IN BRIEF
SYRIAN PRESIDENT
DECLARES AMNESTY
FOR PRISONERS
TALIBAN LAUNCH DEADLY,
NIGHT-LONG ATTACK ON HIGH-
PROFILE PAKISTAN AIRPORT
S.SUDAN LEADER SET
TO MEET REBEL CHIEF
FOR PEACE TALKS
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)
S
yrian President Bashar
Assad declared a
general amnesty
Monday for prisoners
in the country, state media
reported.
It was not clear how many if
any prisoners would be freed
after the presidential decree,
issued just fve days after Assad
had won a third, seven-year term
in offce amid the 3-year-old
civil war in his country.
The offcial SANA news agency
did not say if the amnesty would
apply to the tens of thousands of
opposition supporters and their
relatives activists say are held in
the country. However, SANA's
report suggested it would reduce
prisoners' sentences without
freeing them.
Addis Ababa (AFP) -
S
outh Sudan President
Salva Kiir and rebel chief
Riek Machar are set to
meet Tuesday in a fresh
push to end nearly six months of
civil war, sources said Monday.
A source close to the talks in the
Ethiopian capital said the rivals
are set to meet "in the afternoon"
on Tuesday, along with regional
leaders from the East African bloc
IGAD.
A face-to-face meeting between
the foes "would be very good" for
the peace process, the source told
AFP.
The summit would be the frst time
leaders of the warring parties have
met since signing a ceasefre on
May 9, the second since January.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -
T
aliban militants
disguised as security
forces stormed
Pakistan's busiest airport
on Sunday and at least 27 people
were killed in a dramatic night-
long battle at one of the country's
most high-profle targets.
The assault on Jinnah International
Airport in Karachi, Pakistan's
sprawling commercial hub of 18
million people, all but destroys
prospects for peace talks between
the Pakistani Taliban and the
government of Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif.
It also deals a heavy blow to
Sharif's efforts to attract foreign
investors to revive economic
growth and raises questions about
security at the country's main
installations.
F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER HITS
NIGERIAN BARRACKS: WITNESSES
ABUJA/MAIDUGURI
Nigeria (Reuters) -
A
female suicide
bomber killed
herself and a
soldier outside an
army barracks in Nigeria's
northeastern city of Gombe on
Sunday, the military said, as
local leaders reported the death
count from a string of earlier
militant attacks had reached
110.
No one claimed responsibility
for the blast or last week's
assaults but Islamist group
Boko Haram has set off bombs
and killed thousands in its fve-
year-old bid to carve out an
Islamist state in the region.
Soldiers stopped the woman as
she tried to get into the barracks
with explosives hidden under
her robes, defence headquarters
said in a statement.
The device went off, killing her
and a soldier searching her, it
added. "I heard a loud sound
and then black smoke covering
the place ... We saw soldiers
moving bodies," Gombe trader
Bello Kasuwankatako told
Reuters.
Witnesses had earlier said
between three and fve people
died.
Boko Haram which
dominated world headlines
by kidnapping more than
200 schoolgirls in April has
fought back against an army
offensive, piling political
pressure on President Goodluck
Jonathan and the military to
end the carnage. Leaders from
Gombe's neighbouring state
of Borno told journalists on
Sunday they had now buried
110 bodies from attacks on
nine villages early last week
- giving the frst detailed
breakdown on the casualties.
[ID:nL6N0OL43R] "It was a
great tragedy. There are still
corpses lying in the bushes
surrounding the communities.
Many of our people that fed to
the top of the hills during and
after the attacks are still there
and now stranded," said Ali
Ndume, a senator representing
southern Borno.
CIVILIANS EASY TARGETS
Boko Haram started off
focusing on military and
government targets alongside
schools - seen as representing
corrupt Western infuence -
churches, and Muslim leaders
who do not follow its brand of
Islam. It has been increasingly
turning its guns on civilians
in recent months, particularly
after locals started setting up
vigilante groups to try and fght
back.
It has become the biggest
security threat to Africa's
biggest economy and oil
producer.
Traditional leader Lawan Abba
Kaka said they had buried
42 corpses at the village of
Attagara, 24 at Aganjara, 20
at Agapalawa and smaller
numbers at other settlements -
all of them in the Gwoza hills
near the border with Cameroon.
"The insurgents came and
said they wanted to discuss
something with us. They said
we need to discuss some issues
bordering on our differences
in the communities but they
opened fre on people who
were gathered," said Kaka.
On Wednesday, gunmen
rounded up more villagers
outside Borno's state capital
Maiduguri saying they were
going to deliver a sermon,
then opened fre, killing at
least 42, said a police source.
[ID:nL6N0OM59C]
"It seems they are moving to
rural areas," Hannah Donges,
a researcher at the Small Arms
Survey, told Reuters. "They
are easier targets ... It doesnt
need sophisticated tactics. It
makes them (Boko Haram) less
predictable."
Suspected Boko Haram
militants attacked a town
in Cameroon's far north on
Saturday but local security
forces fought them off, killing at
least two gunmen, Cameroon's
government said. The militant
group is also thought to be
active in neighbouring Niger
and Chad. [ID:nL5N0OP0CW]
The kidnapping of the girls from
a secondary school in Borno's
town of Chibok triggered a
national and international
campaign under the Twitter
hashtag #BringBackOurGirls,
calling on the government to
step its efforts to free them.
NORTH KOREA THREATENS
'PLOT-BREEDING' U.N. RIGHTS
OFFICE WITH 'PUNISHMENT'
SEOUL (Reuters) -
N
orth Korea on
Monday threatened
a planned U.N. feld
offce in South Korea
set up to investigate human rights
abuses in the isolated country,
saying anyone involved would
be "ruthlessly punished".
The United Nations in March
called for the feld offce to
monitor human rights in North
Korea following the release of
a 372-page U.N. Commission
of Inquiry report that detailed
wide-ranging abuses, including
systematic torture, starvation and
killings comparable to Nazi-era
atrocities.
"Anyone who challenges our
dignity and social system and
agrees to go ahead with the
establishment of the offce
will be ruthlessly punished,"
the North's Committee for the
Peaceful Reunifcation of Korea
said in a statement.
The committee handles issues
related to South Korea.
South Korean president Park
Geun-hye and others from
international human rights
organizations would "pay the
price", the statement, carried by
the offcial KCNA news agency,
said.
The planned offce was a
"hideous politically-motivated
provocation", and an "anti-
North Korean plot-breeding
organization," led by South
Korea and the United States, it
added.
North Korea "categorically and
totally" rejected the accusations
set out in the report, saying they
were based on material faked
by hostile forces backed by the
United States, the European
Union and Japan.
North Korea called Michael
Kirby, the Australian judge who
led the investigation and held
hearings in South Korea, Japan,
Britain and the United States,
a "disgusting old lecher with
a 40-odd-year-long career of
homosexuality".
North Korea is under U.N., U.S.
and other national sanctions
due to repeated nuclear and
ballistic missile tests since 2006
in defance of international
demands to stop.
Page 14 |
Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
LUKAKU TO MISS
WORLD CUP OPENER
2 Days to go: All the action leading up the Brazil
COUNTDOWN WORLD CUP


R
omelu Lukaku
may miss
Belgium's
World Cup
opener with Algeria after
suffering ankle strain in
warm-up match
Lukaku suffered
injury in 1-0 friendly win
over Tunisia on Saturday
The 21-year-old
striker will miss four days
of training due to injury
Belgium play
Algeria in their World Cup
Group H opener on June
17
Belgium have
already lost Aston Villa's
Christan Benteke to injury
Romelu Lukaku may miss
the start of the World Cup
after suffering an ankle
strain during Belgium's
1-0 win over Tunisia in
Brussels on Saturday.
The 21-year-old striker
will sit out training for the
next four days, meaning
that he is an injury doubt
for Belgium's Group H
opener against Algeria on
June 17.
Belgian fans will be
particularly worried
as they have already
lost Aston Villa striker
Christian Benteke from
the World Cup squad due
to an Achilles injury he
sustained two months ago,
leaving Lukaku as their
main striker.
Lukaku had been in
great form, scoring three
goals in a 5-1 win over
Luxembourg and adding
another in a 2-0 away win
against Sweden over the
past two weeks, as well
as netting 16 times in 33
appearances on loan at
Everton last season.
South Korea and Russia
are Belgium's other Group
H opponents.




Frontpage
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Page 15
PULL OUT
LFA Withdraws Lone Star U-17 squad from (CAF) U-17
championship qualifers championship qualifers
Sports
SPORT BRIEF
DROGBA WARNED
BY COACH THAT
HIS PLACE IN IVORY
COAST STARTING XI IS
NOT GUARANTEED
I
vory Coast coach Sabri
Lamouchi has warned
Didier Drogba that his
place in the starting line-
up for the opening Group C
game against Japan is far from
guaranteed.
The Frenchman left Drogba
on the bench for one of Ivory
Coasts group matches at the
African Cup of Nations last
year and is under no pressure
to pick certain players because
of their status.
There is no favouritism here,
he said. Before me, nobody
had dared put Didier or Kolo
(Toure) on the bench. I did it
against Tunisia and we won
3-0. It was not to assert my
power, but just to show that at
certain moments, status is not
enough.
R
omelu Lukaku has
acknowledged he may
have to leave Chelsea
permanently to further
his own career as the Belgium
international looks to showcase
his talents at the World Cup
fnals in a bid to drum up further
interest in his signature.
The forward, signed from
Anderlecht in the summer of
2011 for an initial 8m, has spent
the last two seasons impressing
on loan at West Bromwich Albion
and Everton. He scored 16 goals
for the Merseysiders last term as
they fnished ffth and qualifed
for the Europa League, but the
21-year-old still only boasts a
solitary start for his parent club in
the Premier League having failed
to secure regular football under
three permanent managers.
D
iego Costa took
another step closer
to confrming his
32million move to
Chelsea on Saturday night after
claiming 'it looks like' he is set to
join Jose Mourinho's side.
As Sportsmail revealed on
Thursday, everything is in place
for the Spain international to
move to Stamford
Bridge and Costa has spoken out
about the transfer for the frst
time.
Speaking after Spain's 2-0
friendly win against El Salvador,
Costa told AS: 'Am I going to
Chelsea? It looks like it.'
GROUP OF DEATH NOT
LOOKING AS DAUNTING
FOR U.S. JUST DAYS BEFORE
ROMELU LUKAKU WILL USE WORLD
CUP TO SECURE PERMANENT
MOVE FROM CHELSEA
Monrovia-
F
rontPageAfrica
has gathered
information from
reliable LFA
sources that the Liberian
football Association (LFA)
has withdrawn the Lone
Star U-17 squad From the
Confederation of African
Football (CAF) championship
qualifer preliminary round.
Lone Star U-17 squad was
expected to engage their
Sierra Leonean counterpart
in the preliminary round
late June 2014, but the LFA
sources confrmed that the
nation football house decided
to withdraw the team from
the competition after the
Lone Star U-20 squad lost to
Ivory Coast U- 20 side in the
preliminary round of the CAF
youth championship.
The decision also stems from
the senior Lone Stars failure
to advance to the second
round of the 2014 Africa Cup
of Nations preliminary round
after they suffered a 2-0
defeat away to Lesotho in the
return leg about a week and a
half ago.
The question football
enthusiasts are asking now

PAY DEAL RESOLVED, CAMEROON
SQUAD LEAVES FOR BRAZIL
is whether this withdrawal
of Lone Star U-17 is a clear
sign that the LFA plans
to withdraw Liberia from
all international football
competitions in order to get
back to their drawing board
and put their house in order.
It can recalled that for the
past fve to six years, several
football analysts have called
on the LFA to withdraw all
of Liberia national teams
from all international football
competitions in order to go
back to the drawing board
and better prepare these
teams for future challenges;
but their call was not taken
into consideration.

YAOUNDE (Reuters) -
C
ameroon's squad
left for the World
Cup early on
Monday after
resolving a strike over
bonuses that saw them
refuse to board their plane
to Brazil on Sunday.
The special flight carrying
the "Indomitable Lions"
left the capital Yaounde
at 5 a.m. on Monday after
the Cameroonian football
federation FECAFOOT
paid each player a bonus
of more than 5 million
CFA francs ($10,400), in
addition to a 50 million
CFA francs bonus paid by
the government.
The FECAFOOT payment
was equivalent to six
percent of the sum the
Cameroonian federation is
due to receive from FIFA
for participation in the
World Cup, the officials
said.

A. Macaulay Sombai, sombai121@gmail.com 0777217428
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.612 TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2014

2 Days to go: All the action leading up the Brazil
COUNTDOWN WORLD CUP


LFA WITHDRAWS
Lone Star U-17 squad from (CAF)
U-17 championship qualifers
Monrovia -
A
visitor was at a public
school just outside the
Nations capitol Monro-
via and what she saw was
shocking. Students continue to learn
under difficult conditions, as authori-
ties responsible to provide the requi-
site materials or environment for the
learning are not doing so. At the Gbon-
deh Public School Behind the Ricks
Mission in rural Montserrado, the
classrooms are full of potholes like on
a motor road, classrooms are without
adequate seating and the building have
not been painted for several Christ-
mases and New Year events. The stu-
dents, some with only one copybook,
others trek to school without shoes on
foot because there is no road and the
parents are so poor. The Lift Liberia,
Agenda for Transformation is yet to
reach these people in this part of Li-
beria, even though they are so close to
the center of where development origi-
nates.
CRY FOR EDUCATION
Spot News FrontPage
Students face diffculities in quest for knownledge