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Liberian Daily Observer 01/16/2014
Liberian Daily Observer 01/16/2014
Liberian Daily Observer 01/16/2014
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TODAY!
EDITORIAL With US$53 Million and LD1.29 billion on Reserve, Who Can Mess with LBDI?
See Pg. 4
Delay Tactic?
www.liberianobserver.com
-Former BMC Workers US$4m Payment Postponed
PRICE: LD 40
LOCAL NEWS
A widow, angry about the news that payment is postponed See story on Pg.18
s Firestone Rubber Company in Harbel, Margibi County, has resolved to stop doing business with rubber brokers, over 50 brokers and farmers across
A
See story on Pg. 14
the country have called on the government to lift the moratorium on the exportation of unprocessed rubber in Liberia. They claimed that the decision by Firestones management has serious economic implications on them as the company is the only buyer of rubber from smallholder
farmers. It can be recalled that in April last year; the Liberian government enforced Executive Order No. 50 placing a moratorium on the exportation of unprocessed natural rubber to curtail the abuse, misuse, abandonment and theft taking place in the rubber industry. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer this past Monday at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the president of the National Rubber Brokers and Farmers Union of Liberia (NARBFUL), James Saye Kea, said Firestones decision is not in the interest of the countrys many farmers and brokers. He stated that his organization is a legal entity established to serve as middle men
Contd on pg.18
SPORTS
Madam Christiana Andrainpoulus, the US citizen who was kidnapped See story on Pg.18
20GB
50GB
1/16/14 1:45 AM
World News
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Foreign Briefs
Kenya
(BBC) - The trial of four men charged over the Westgate shopping centre siege in Kenya has started in the capital, Nairobi. The four suspected foreigners deny charges of aiding a terrorist group and being in Kenya illegally. The court heard testimony from security guards who saw what happened when the gunmen launched the attack in September, killing at least 67 people. Somalias al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group said one of its suicide brigades carried out the siege. The four are the first to be charged over the attack - the worst in Kenya since 224 people were killed in the 1998 bombing of the US embassy.
(BBC) - A senior UN envoy has called for a huge international effort for the Central African Republic. Speaking to the BBC in the capital, Bangui, John Ging of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the country was in a megacrisis. Mr Ging said that many in the population were living in fear because of religious and ethnic attacks. He said the concern now was that matters could worsen further. Last week the UN warned that the country faced disaster because of people fleeing the conflict to pack into overcrowded camps with poor sanitation. It said that measles had broken out at the airport in the capital, Bangui, where
about 100,000 people are seeking refuge from clashes between rival militias. Huge international effort Mr Ging said that massive displacement in the CAR had meant that almost a million people had left their homes throughout the country. And with that displacement, of course, you have all the humanitarian needs: shelter, food, medical care and so on. Our great fear is that it will deteriorate and spiral out of control. Although for a million people its already out of control. He called for a huge international effort to tackle the situation. Everything has been lost, he said. Homes have been destroyed, facilities, schools and medical centres completely ransacked and
[For some] the options are stark: stay in the jungle and die or come back and possibly be killed, he said. Foreigners in CAR continue to be repatriated. One of nearly 300 Malians who landed in Bamako on Thursday told the BBC of his relief to be out of the country. Its hard to know how to put it, except now we are in paradise. Over there it is hell, Mamadou Ndiaye said. They smashed up our house and shop. They are at the airport so we Muslims cannot go there, for fear of being chopped up. And the Christians cannot come into our neighbourhood, the one known as the Senegalese quarter, the 25-year-old said. Malis government brought back 500 people last week
and with further flights organised by the International Organisation for Migration, the number of Malian returnees is expected to be more than 1,000. Following a UN investigation into the conflict on Tuesday, which found widespread sectarian killings of civilians and sexual violence, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warned that massive violations could recur without further significant international invention. More than 1,000 people have died in sectarian violence, which erupted when Seleka rebels seized power in March last year and Michel Djotodia became the countrys first Muslim leader. Although he disbanded his Seleka, they continued to attack Christian civilians, prompting the formation of vigilante groups, which targeted Muslims. Mr Djotodia stepped down last Friday under intense pressure from CARs neighbours. A special session of parliament has convened to elect a new interim leader for the landlocked country of 4.6 million people. Sporadic violence has continued, despite the presence of 1,600 French troops and 4,000 African Union peacekeepers.
Egypt
(BBC) - Egyptians are voting for a second day in a referendum on a new constitution drawn up following the ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The army-backed government is seeking a Yes vote to endorse his removal. Mr Morsis Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated a terrorist group, is boycotting the vote. Wednesdays voting has so far passed off peacefully, in contrast to Tuesday when nine people died in clashes involving Mr Morsis supporters.
Iraq
(BBC) - At least 73 people have been killed in a series of bombings in central Iraq, police and medical officials say. Sixteen died in an attack on a funeral for a pro-government Sunni militiaman in a village south of Baquba, the capital of Diyala province. Nine car bombs meanwhile exploded across Baghdad, killing at least 37 people and wounding dozens more. There has been a surge in sectarian violence across Iraq in the past year, reaching levels not seen since 2007. The United Nations says 7,818 civilians and 1,050 members of the security forces died in 2013. December alone saw at least 759 killed.
Nigeria has tightened laws against homosexuals, including a ban on shows of same-sex affection
activist. Nigeria is a deeply conservative country, with an influential Christian evangelical movement in the south and strong support for Islamic law among many Muslims in the north. Hostility towards gay people has escalated since parliament debated the SameSex Marriage Prohibition Act last year, Dorothy AkenOva, a rights activist with the Nigeria-based International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, told the BBC. She said that she was aware of 38 people being arrested in Bauchi state last month, and was trying to confirm reports of more arrests in both the north and south of Nigeria since the new law was approved. What this act is saying is that they [gay people] do not deserve to exist, she told the BBCs Focus on Africa radio programme. It is heartbreaking that we have come to this point in Nigeria. Jibrin Danlami Hassan, the commissioner of Bauchi states Sharia Commission, said residents of Bauchi city arrested the alleged homosexuals. They were handed to the Islamic police force, which interrogated them, he said. They accept that they are doing that dirty game, Mr Hassan said.
Ms AkenOva said some of those arrested had been beaten up and tortured, but Mr Hassan denied this. The BBCs Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi says the Sharia Commission confirmed to him that a Christian had been arrested with the 11 Muslims, and would be tried in a conventional court. The Muslims could be sentenced to death by stoning if they are convicted, but the court would decide, Mr Hassan said. Sharia courts in northern Nigeria have handed down several stoning sentences since 1999; however, none have so far been carried out. The UK, US and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay have condemned Nigerias SameSex Marriage Prohibition Act as discriminatory and draconian. Mr Hassan said told the BBC he was happy that Mr Jonathan had signed it into law, despite threats by Western powers to cut aid to Nigeria. The threat they are doing cannot make us change our religion, he said.
Mexican
(BBC) - Vigilantes in Mexico have clashed with soldiers deployed in the western state of Michoacan to disarm the groups, who last week launched an offensive against the Knights Templar drug cartel. Most groups have ignored a government order to lay down their weapons. In the town of Antunez, they say soldiers shot dead at least three people from the community, including an 11-year-old girl. Vigilante groups have now taken control of large areas of Michoacan state. There is a strong police and military presence in the town of Apatzingan, considered the stronghold of the Knights Templar cartel.
he United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Liberia Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and with a USD1.5 million funding from the Government of Japan has empowered nearly 200 Liberian returnees through Entrepreneurship Development Training. On January 11, at the William V. S. Tubman High School on 12th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, a lively graduation ceremony of 193 Liberian returnees, who had completed an extensive 120-hour training in Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP). Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly, Education Minister Etmonia Tarpeh, who represented President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as well as LRRRC Executive Director, Cllr. Abla G. Williams, graced this occasion. In her opening remarks, Madam Williams outlined some of the achievements the Liberian Government has made in helping Liberians returning home to resettle; such as the provision of US$250,000 to support the reintegration projects of the Commission, as well as funding the academic education and skills training fees for returnees studying at various institutions. However,
UNIDO, LRRRC Empower Returnees Bobby Butlers through Entrepreneurship Development Funeral Saturday -Former U.S.T.C. Sales Manager, Former
he death is announced of Mr. Bobby E. Butler, former sales manager of the United States Trading Company, a subsidiary of Firestone/ Bridgestone, sole distributor of Coca-Cola and its allied products. He also served as country representative of Africare (Liberia) and as sales manager at the Cammay Group in Lanham, Maryland, United States of America. Bobby died in Monrovia on December 28, 2013, following a brief illness. He was in his 71st year. Robert (Bobby) E. Butler commenced his education at the Robertsport Elementary School while living with his uncle and aunt, the Rev. Urias Freeman and Mrs. Elizabeth Gordon Freeman. Moving to Monrovia, he entered the St. Patricks Elementary School and later the Monrovia Demonstration Elementary School. In 1957 his mother emigrated to the United States with her children and they settled in Cleveland, Ohio. There Bobby completed high school. He later entered Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, United States of America, where he took the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management, with a minor in Sociology Bobby also undertook a Firestone International Executive Course in Akron, Ohio (1970) and later joined the Firestone Plantations Company in Harbel, Liberia as a public relations officer (1966). He did another course with Coca-Cola International - Monrovia, Liberia the same year. He was later transferred to the USTC as marketing manager. He later joined the Yes Taxi Company as operations manager. In 1967 Bobby married his childhood sweetheart, Ms. Ora Eugenia Cooper. This union was blessed with a son, Bobby Erskine Butler, Jr. That marriage having ended in divorce, Bobby later took the
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Some of the graduates along with officials of UNIDO, LRRRC, Edu. Min. Tarpeh and trainers after the program
she stated that despite these interventions, challenges remain for the Commission. Against this backdrop, the Japanese Government in collaboration with the GOL, LRRRC, and UNIDO were able to draw out plans that would provide skills to returnees in entrepreneurial development for selfemployment, Cllr. Williams stated. The EDP is the heart of this UNIDOs intervention and responses to the need of the majority of Liberian returnees, who wish to set up their own businesses. Education Min. Etmonia Tarpeh congratulated the graduates on their achievement and encourage them, with their new skill, to enter the world of work. Liberian trainers, who had been trained by UNIDO in TOT last September, carried out the trainings of 193. This was an important step in capacitating Liberians to train their fellow citizens in how to start and manage a business. Internal Affairs Min. Morris Dukuly, who delivered the keynote speech, praised the graduates: The fact that you desired to be part of this entrepreneurial development training is evidence that you do not want to be held back. I am commending your courage and decision to return home. Minister Dukuly emphasized that If there were a time when Liberia ever needed its people to just begin to believe in themselves, in their country, and in the promise of recovery, reconstruction, and socialeconomic development of our country that time is now. We have had 10 consecutive years of peace and we must work each of us in small and big ways to advance, nurture, and strengthen peace in Liberia. The training comes in time, as it is in line with the economic agenda of the Government of Liberia, which identified the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as central focus to foster growth in Liberia. The EDP training is part of a comprehensive UNIDO intervention, which contributes to the efforts of the Government of Liberia in empowering and reintegrating the Liberian returnees. The project will assist more than 800 Liberian returnees through high standard training in Entrepreneurship development and in markeddriven vocational skills.
r. Amos Brosious, the former general manager of Ducor Petroleum, who was exonerated from the crime of economic sabotage, has advised government to prosecute Mr. Charles Carron, a Belgian millionaire. Carron had accused Brosious of diverting over US$1.7million from Ducor Petroleum Inc, claiming that the act was a direct attack against the country he described as nothing less than
Be Contributors to Development
By Alvin Worzi
ontserrado Countys District # 17 in district 17, including Red Hill Field Community in Lower Virginia, outside Monrovia, Representative Dakel Monday, January 13, stated that gone were the days when people in district # 17 only sang praise songs for others while they sat and watched major developmental projects taking place in their district without them making any contributions towards the process. The lawmakers added that over the years he has
Representative, Mr. William V. Dakel, has called on citizens of the district, especially those he considered as praise singers, to contribute to development in the district. At a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose headquarter
observed that many citizens of the district--- especially some of the youth--- only sit and criticize and dont want to support developmental initiatives. According to him, while what is right should always be said because it demonstrates true democracy, dont hide any wrong doing for anyone; because ills that affect the community also affect us as individual Liberian citizens. Lets all be contributors to the success of the country, he
Rep. William V. Dakel asserted. During the ground breaking of the headquarters, the lawmaker said when completed, the project would serve the people of the
district. Mr. Dakel explained that funds used for the construction of the district headquarters came from the Montserrado County development Fund (MCDF). In addition, he told citizens of the district to always address their concerns before their lawmakers without fear or favor, adding that it is their right to do at any time; especially when it is done in a peaceful manner. Also speaking at the occasion was Montserrado County Superintendent, Florence Brandy, who commended the China Union
for helping the county to carry out its development projects. She indicated that the union remains one of the contributors to supporting projects of the county. According her, the union provides US$875, 000 annually to the county development fund as their contribution. She also urged the youths of the community to stand against violence and put education first. Mrs. Brandy stated the need to be prepared for the future should be their motivation.
Tuesday, November 5, 16, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Thursday, January 2014
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he founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of K-Delta basketball team, Mr. Abraham B. Samukai, has said that basketballs improvement in the country demands the
cruit and train to eventually be able to make a better representation in a future competition. K-Deltas Board chairman said a good feeder program is also essential but it must be supported financially and materially by the government and corporate partners. Just as the government has its own responsibility towards basketball development, Samukai said, the LBA will have to ensure that it has a blueprint to improve the game. The Liberia Basketball Association, he said, must make use of Up-country basketball tournament, which in the past unearned striking talents for Liberia. On the current delay of the national basketball league, he said the LBA could have managed to end the league, despite the national County Meet.
ali needed a second-half goal by Ibourahima Sidibe to help record a 1-1 draw against South Africa in the second Group A match of the CAF African Nations Championships at Cape Town Stadium on yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. Bernard Parker put the host nation in the lead from a controversial penalty, while the Malians were denied a spot kick of their own before being closed out by the woodwork. The opening eight minutes of the encounter didnt bring much goal-mouth action until Bafana Bafana managed to break on the counter and allow for Siphiwe Tshabalalas shot to draw a save. Itumeleng Khune was lucky he didnt give away a penalty
hands. Fortunes were favouring Bafana Bafana when they were handed a penalty in the 23rd minute after Mbatha was brought down by Souleymane Konate. Bernard Parker made no error from the spot-kick, converting his second in as many games, but replays show that the tackle was made outside the box. Mali tried to respond through Ibourahima Sidibes looping header which looked to be heading on target, but Khune did well to it tip over the bar for a corner, just three minutes later. It could have been 2-0 for the home side just before the break if it wasnt for Mamadou Traore brilliantly clearing away Mbathas shot at the near post with a glancing header. But it was Les Aigles who were left ruing their luck three minutes from the interval when Abdoulaye Sissokos shot beat Khune but struck the bottom of the upright. Khune nearly got a goal of his own in the first-half stop-
pages with a cheeky longrange effort from a free kick which nearly caught his opposite number out only to see it sail just over. Thato Mokeke made a lovely challenge to break up a Mali attack but he couldnt do anything about the following onslaught which saw the visitors restore parity. Diarra crossed in a beautiful long ball to tee up Sidibe and he struck home a great volley nine minutes into the second half. Gordon Igesunds side could have taken the lead just after the hour mark when both Parker and Asavela Mbikile missed chances from Tshabalalas cross, however, the Chiefs man was offside. Bafana were doing well to press the Malians and Parker forced a save out of Soumaila with his turn and shot of the ball midway through the second 45. Despite Bafana Bafanas attempts in the final stages of the game, Mali did well to hold out for a draw as both teams crawled up to four points each in Group A.
outh & Sports Minister Eugene Nagbe has refuted the claim that the on-going County Meets organization has been poor, insisting that it is the best organized in recent times. He said all the fifteen counties received the same treatment, including the time funds were made available for preparation. He told the Daily Observer yesterday that this years theme Celebrating 10 years of Peace through sports is justified by the overwhelming participation of counties in the various disciplines. The disciplines are soccer, basketball, kickball, track and field and volleyball. He said the sports for development and peace concept, employed since the 2012/13 Meets, seeks to develop sports infrastructure, including stadiums, across the country, with funding from the central government. Grand Kru Countys technical committee chairman Alfred Sayon in an interview published in yesterdays edition of this paper said the ministry released funds to the counties at the time they could not cash the money, causing
orld Cup final referee Howard Webb has been included among the 25 who were named by Fifa on Wednesday for this years tournament in Brazil. The list included nine referees
Howard Webb
Felix Brych was picked from Germany, Carlos Velasco from Spain and Nicola Rizzoli from Italy, while there were
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 DAILY OBSERVER Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Letter Thursday, January 16, 2014
Page 5 4
Mr. Editor: Please permit me a space in your most prestigious and informative medium to express my pain as regards the common place of drugs in our society. Liberia, a country decimated by a prolonged diabolical, devastating and senseless civil uprising that claimed the lives of nearly three hundred thousand persons cannot afford to fight another round of war drugs war amid the huge presence of security forces, including personnel of UNMIL, who are armed to their teeth. One may even be tempted to say why security officers should be paid by central government amid the continued proliferation of all kinds of illegal drugs in the country, which are seriously poising threat to national security and to our younger generation. Ghettos are erected in residential communities in the city to the annoyance of residents, but dare to speak the matter for the fear of their lives or be placed on these drugs users black-list. Thus, I write to challenge the required authority to go beyond seizing, burning these drugs at the various points of entries to look beyond where they are coming from and why and by what means. This is worrisome, and must be stopped to safeguard national security. Clarence S. D. Sapoe Concern Citizen
Messengers of Peace
By MATENNEH-ROSE L. DUNBAR
Speak respectfully Speak out of pain Speak to violence Speak to register Speak for marriage Speak for vision Speak for liberty Speak for rights Speak over failure Speak to live well Speak to disasters Speak to weak hearts Speak to slowly within Speak new heights Speak much health Speak long life too Speak and claim all
Why it is that sincere love lasts till death? Why it is that a black heart knows no peace? Why it is that man desires more all the time? Why do women dearly love so much attention? Why do broken hearts take long to heal? Why it is that Friday is so gaily cherished? Why do lovers adore Valentine so greatly? Why Christmas comes with so many thrills? Why feel alone yet many people surround you? Why independence makes us feel patriotic? Why some people just cant find real love? Why it is that some people arent blissful? Why oh why and it will never fade away?
By MATENNEH-ROSE L. DUNBAR
The cool of the mild breeze on your face As the world quietly spins by our dreams Taking along the tiny pieces thought Built in our souls from the beginning Colors of purpose some with a slight haze Paste our inimitable globe into our tinge Poised as feathered flyers on brittle ends Suddenly pitched as an eagle towers wings Beneath millions of feet in boots the worms Makes mold hills out of not but shere gusto Bade uneven fears a lazy wave to the bins Loose as a butterfly kite in free sea breeze Leads you toward the land lined with sands Golden in the milleniims from a foamy bath Walk down the jagged way so reach to glory Rimmed by the times equal to the challenges Worship to satisfy your holiness oh awesome Clap warmth near the wet toes of some needy Spread wide the cheeks to make a sunshine true Glow as a candle lit on the hill top touch many
SERENITY
RECONSIDER
By Varney Gean
You always make those absurd plans but then what? You always act brusquely to show off but then what? You just run around being thoughtless but then what? It Is time to reconsider You thumb down when it should have been an okay You just saunter away when you should have stayed You frowned when all needed was a smirk from you It Is time to reconsider You just wont understand even how simple it appears You just wont be bother even if it needs your attention You feign when you should have bore tenderness It Is time to reconsider You thought of only yourself when others were involved You know hatred will never conquer love so why seek? Why fight those you love so dearly if only you grasp It Is just the right time to reconsider
he history of the 20th Century has shown that utopian schemes, usually undertaken in the name of collectivities, lead inevitably to military boots crushing the human face. Because all persons are equally free and emphatically are not merely the means to anothers end, each individual bears the responsibility for the choices he or she freely makes. Since the establishment in September 17, 2008, Messengers of Peace-Liberia, a youth based non-governmental, nonreligious and non-political organization, has been guided by seven core value commitments that includes, integrity, non- violence, Volunteerism, passion and compassion for peace in Liberia, partnership/ networking, social human investment and a unified community. We believe in integrity of man, the honest acknowledgment of the objective realities of the self and the world; respect for our differences, abilities and diversity and the unswerving devotion to ethical principles. The sole purpose of Messengers of Peace Liberia is to contribute to the consolidation of peace through dialogue and reconciliation by spreading positive messages of peace, forgiveness, non violence and tolerance. We are actively involved in speaking engagement on reconciliation and peace consolidation in Liberia and we tap into the potential/ synergy of youth and engaged their skills in promoting these messages. We believe in promoting the spirit of volunteerism amongst youths because there is no heart stronger than that of a volunteer. Volunteerism is the wellspring of progress and sustained effort can produce lasting improvement in the lives of people and nations. Our passion and compassion for a peaceful society is exhibited in various communities and school activities.
By MATENNEH-ROSE L. DUNBAR
A wise man sits in the company of kings A slow talker checks his words for folly A greedy eats careless with both hands A spirited edge the valleys still makes it A dugout canoe that rivals might yachts A snail that drags endlessly but wins all A will too be made novelty by the world A dare to take the bull by the horn now Dynamic Be It The Chance Is Yours
Dynamic
Mind Readers
By Varney Gean
As if they know my deepest thoughts As if they just know how I really feel Questions the mind dare not answer Searching for the covered like that Great minds readers they would make Plans to unearth those games played Gazing beyond the huge starry eyes Wishing all veiled be seen from afar Some will marvel how much is cagey Great minders they would make
By Varney Gean
Why it is that Monday is so dreaded?
WHY?
DAILY OBSERVER