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ABC University Graduates 38, As Dr. Crudup Challenges Graduates To Be Influential

ABC University Graduates 38, As Dr. Crudup Challenges Graduates To Be Influential
One of Liberia's oldest and biblical institutions known as the African Bible College (ABS) University situated in Yekepa, Nimba County on May 11, 2013 graduated 38 of its students in various disciplines.

LUSD To Plant Cassava On 25 Acres of Farmland

LUSD To Plant Cassava On 25 Acres of Farmland
Three officials of the Liberia United for Sustainable Development (LUSD) have disclosed that plans have been finalized to plant cassava on its 25 acres of farm land located in Kakata, Margibi County.

Postal Affairs Devoted To Decentralization, As Asst. Minister Outlines Achievements

Postal Affairs Devoted To Decentralization, As Asst. Minister Outlines Achievements
Assistant Minister for Planning and Research at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Jenekai Lansanah, has outlined achievements made by the ministry over the year under the administration of Post Master/Minister Fredrick Norkeh.

IMRTUL Questions MRTUL Recognition, But…

IMRTUL Questions MRTUL Recognition, But…
Officials of the Independent Mano River Union of Liberia (IMRTUL) have raised serious concern over the recognition and the certification of another Mano River Transport Union (MRTU) by the Ministry of Labour which is the arm of government responsibl

Mont. Lawmaker Opens Several Community Roads

Mont. Lawmaker Opens Several Community Roads
Honorable Bill Twehway has commenced the reconditioning of feeder roads linking various communities in Electoral District #3 Montserrado County.

Ngafuan Lights AU's Ann. Torch

Ngafuan Lights AU's Ann. Torch
Liberia's version marking the Official Lighting of Torch of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union (AU) has taken place in Monrovia as Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan performed the ceremony.

Woods Inspects LPRC Flood Point, Other Projects For Action Today

Woods Inspects LPRC Flood Point, Other Projects For Action Today
Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods is expected today to tour and inspect several infrastructure projects in and around the capital, including the flood point before the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) on Bushrod Island.

Wologisi 'Wahala’...Lofa Citizens Woof At Ellen, Son... As PWYP Alarms Over Illegal Deals

Wologisi  'Wahala’...Lofa Citizens Woof At Ellen, Son... As PWYP Alarms Over Illegal Deals
Citizens of Lofa County are resisting any attempt by the government President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—reportedly on bogus concession signing spree—to give out the Wologizi Mountain without their full involvement and expressed approval.

Golden Handshake: Another Form Of Corruption Creeping In Liberia

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Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf must take note of how the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has dumped the free-flow of information environment that she has been striving to establish in the country into the dustbin. The Golden Hand-shake is being viewed by many as a cunning scheme devised by MICAT to strangulate the huge debt that government owes the National Publishers Association of Liberia (NPAL), an advocacy group for the rights of newspaper publishers in Liberia.

It can be recalled that on the 20th September 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was between the Government of Liberia (GOL) represented by MICAT, and the NPAL represented by its President Stanley Seakor for the amicable liquidation of the huge debts that government ministries and agencies owe publishers accumulated most especially between January 1, 2006 to August 31st, 2012 through advertisements published in various newspapers most whom are members of the NPAL.

AS part of the terms of reference for the payment, the total debt of one hundred and fifty thousand united States dollars (US$150 accumulated between the period January 2006 thru December 2011 constituting part-one of the arrears were to be paid in the amount of ten thousand dollars to: The daily Observer, The Analysts, FrontPage Africa, New Dawn, In Profile, New Democrat, Heritage, The News, The Informer, Insight and The National Chronicle.

Moreover, five thousand United States Dollars was to be paid to each of the following individual newspapers and Tri-weekly namely: Liberian Express, The Independent, Concord Times, Public Agenda, New Republic, Women Voices, Focus and New Vision. That part of the arrears shall cover the period January 2012 to August 2012 and same shall be separately and thoroughly validated and vetted by the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism and the Ministry of Finance.

It was also agreed in the MOU that either party may request changes to this MOU and that any changes, modifications, revisions or amendments to this MOU which are mutually agreed upon by and between the parties shall be incorporated by written instrument and shall be made effective when executed and signed by the parties to the MOU.

According to the MOU signed by NPAL President Stanley Seakor on the one hand and Finance Minister Amara M. Konneh and MICAT Minister Lewis G. Brown on the other, and attested to be Justice Minister Christiana Tah, effective September 1, 2012 no advertisement from ministries, agencies and institutions of government shall be published in dailies and tri-weeklies without the written consent o0f the minister, the head of the agency or institution or their deputies for administrations.

What is being perceived as corruption and a gross violation of the September 20, 2012 MOU is that during the past few months instead of honoring the terms of the MOU stipulated, government introduced a 'Golden Handshake', as a way of compensating the various media institutions, most of whom are members of the NPAL expecting full payment of their arrears under the clauses of the MOU through a full implementation of the MOU.

We view that the newly introduced Golden Handshake is not only a violation of the terms of the Terms of Payment MOU, but a slap in the face and a way of muzzling and strangulating the press in Liberia, thereby depriving them of their chances for survival. We also view that any other payment arrangement will not adequately take into consideration the transparency and equity that had already being bargained for since September 20, 2012.

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