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Catholic Archbishop Michael Francis Dies

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Catholic Archbishop Michael Francis Dies
Many Liberians, especially Catholics, were shocked Sunday May 19, 2013) when they were told that Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis was dead, nine years after he fell to illness.

Father's Heart, Kingdom Builders Donate Medical Supplies

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Father's Heart, Kingdom Builders Donate Medical Supplies
The Father's Heart International Outreach Ministry in collaboration with the Kingdom Builders Deliverance Outreach Ministry based in the United States of America have donated several medical supplies and other clinical materials to a local Maternity

Sexual Exploitation, Abuse Increase In Bomi County

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Sexual Exploitation, Abuse Increase In Bomi County
The Defense for Children International-Liberia DCI-Liberia, an international child right organization operating here, in Liberia has reported that the rate of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (S.E.A) is alarming in Bomi County.

VCFI Begins Weeklong Confab For Church Leaders, Workers

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VCFI Begins Weeklong Confab For Church Leaders, Workers
The Victory Christian Fellowship International (VCFI) on Monday, May 20, 2013 kicked off its one week conference for church leaders and workers with a call for effective leadership.

Swedish Govt. Pumps US$2M To Build Youth Capacity

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Swedish Govt. Pumps US$2M To Build Youth Capacity
The Swedish Government has committed US$2M for the empowerment of young people in Liberia through the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE).

PUL Lifts Ban On Ellen: Urges Unity, Courage Among Journalists

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PUL Lifts Ban On Ellen: Urges Unity, Courage Among Journalists
The Press Union of Liberia yesterday (May 21) officially lifted its blackout against the Liberian Presidency, with a call on journalists to remain united and fearless in their duties—exposing evil in public places and holding the government account

Aqualife 'Dirty Water' Probe Sleeps At MOJ: Envelope Reportedly Changes Hand

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Aqualife 'Dirty Water' Probe Sleeps At MOJ: Envelope Reportedly Changes Hand
Investigation into reports of Aqualife's sale of contaminated (dirty) water to the public has been reportedly compromised at the Ministry of Justice, leaving the fate and interest of the public to hang in the balance, this paper has gathered.
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PUP Shows Corruption In Government

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Sometimes early last year, the Government of Liberia (GOL) took cognizant of the wind of criticisms that was blowing from a New York based international anti-corruption watchdog, Global Witness and the local media concerning allegations of corruption in the issuance of the Private Users Permit (PUP) for logging companies to extract timber in the forestry sector for the export market.



It can be recalled that on the eve of Christmas day, December 24, 2012 the chairman of a 6-member investigation committee that was set up by government to investigate irregularities in the issuance of 63 PUPs to companies to do logging business in the country, Counselor James Dorbor Jallah presented a voluminous 200-page report of its findings to Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at her office.

At the time the President promised to share the report with stakeholders including the legal counsel to the President, the Ministry of Justice, Counselor Seward Cooper and others. The content of the report was the subject of the first Ministry of Information regular press briefing addressed by Acting Justice Minister Counselor Benedict Sannoh. Counselor Sannoh highlighted that the Public Procurement Act provided the legal framework for the management of the forestry sector, adding that few years ago government adopted a forestry management strategy for the management of the forestry sector.

He said in flagrant disregard of procedures governing the forestry sector the Forestry Development Authority whose Board is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture allotted several PUP to companies most of which lacked genuine land deeds, a failure to honor corporate responsibilities among others.

What is interesting about the report is that recommendations given by the committee as well as that presented by the President blamed the FDA and its board of directors for gross negligence and concern for the nation in the issuance of the PUP even when moratoriums were being imposed. The President therefore urged not only a suspension of the FDA boss the dissolution of the board and the justice ministry has been mandated to institute criminal investigations.

We are therefore urging government to ensure that the measures promised in harshly prosecuting government officials involved in malpractices in the issuance of the PUP be rigidly enforced without compromise and leniency.

We also agree with government's recommendations that there should be an extension in the evaluation of deeds to community lands and a probe into the fulfillment of corporate responsibilities and companies that defaulted should be seriously reprimanded to serve as a deterrent.

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