wednesday, december 17, 2014 edition
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
1/14
Incumbency Factor Favors Nimba County Senator
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
PRICE L$40FrontPage
TOP
STORIES pg 8pg 8 LegislativeBeat
Crime Watch
VOL 8 NO.744 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source:
Research, Policy and Planning Department,
Central Bank Liberia,
Monrovia, Liberia
TUESDAY,DECEMBER 9, 2014 L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1
L$83.00/US$1L$82.00/US$1
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014
Petroleum News - pg.5
It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against theopposition of a cross section of the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing
New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2012. - Dr. Christopher Z. Neyor
ON THE SALE OF FOUR OIL BLOCKS IN MIDST OF EBOLA OUTBREAK
NEYOR THREATENSSUIT AGAINST NOCAL
LIBERIA VOTES 2014 - YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2014 SENATORIAL ELECTIONS
Your Vote is your Voice Vote your Nation & Vote Right
p 6 p 7
SMOOTH SAILING
FOR PYJ?GETTING READY
FOR 2017
Legislature to Ratify Block 16
But Police Tightlipped
On Identity
KIDNAPPERARRESTED
HASTYOIL SALE
Liberia Transformation Party KennedySandy Resigns With Eyes On Presidency
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
2/14
Page 2 | Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Monrovia-
Claims and counter claims continue to pile up ahead ofSaturdays Senatorial elections in Liberia.Already parties to the Montserrado CountySenatorial race have started trading accusations and
counteraccusations about possible attempts to cheat during theelection.For days now reporters have surfaced alleging that some candidateshave been buying voters registration cards from vulnerableconstituents, a situation that was also reported during the 2005election when the Unity Party of eventual winner President EllenJohnson Sirleaf and her supporters were accused of buying votersregistration cards of young electorates perceived to be diehard
followers of George Weah of the CDC.Sirleaf later in 2012 admitted that some of her followers didunorthodox things during the 2005 elections to help her win.While visiting the United States Sirleaf said some Liberian womencheated to help her in the 2005 election race against Weah.President Sirleaf at the time said that some women market-sellersin Monrovia prevented their sons from voting in the 2005 elections
because they were afraid the young men would vote for Weah."Knowing then that they had young sons who would all be thefollowers of one of the young candidates, they took all their votercards from them in the night to make sure that they were not ableto go to vote," said Sirleaf.The president also said "They (the women) even did someunorthodox things, as they confessed to me later on ... and I cansay it now since I am not running again."Eventually, Weah came in rst in the rst round but was defeatedin the second round by Madam Sirleaf who got 56 percent of thevote while Weah received 46 percent, according to NEC.Weah and the CDC protested and result and staged street protest
but later abandoned their protest.
Events of 2005, 2011 linger
The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is onceagain raising a red ag again describing as criminal and prematurewhat it terms as act by some individuals to print campaign
propaganda materials calling on partisans of the party not to turnout to vote on Saturday, December 20, informing the public thatthe CDC candidate has withdrawn from the competition.According to Mr. Mulbah Morlu, Vice chairman for Operationsand Mobilization, a leaked election propaganda material printed
by some unknown individuals in the possession of the party isquoting the party as calling on its partisans not to turn out to voteon Election Day.Mr. Morlu accused President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of sponsoringthe Propaganda materials against the CDC because in his wordsshe is desperate to ensure that her son is elected senator ofMontserrado County.Morlu also claimed that some individuals using the name of the
CDC have printed T-Shirts bearing the party name renderingsupport to the candidacy of Mr. Robert Sirleaf something he saidis criminal and has the propensity to encourage election violence.The CDC ofcial said: As we speak today we have in our
possession huge number of voter registration cards collected byMr. Eugene Nagbe youth and sports Minister and his CollaboratorMr. Jacob Kabakollie at the Ministry of Youth and sports wherethey have created a center there to collect voters cards in exchangefor money this is something we have said before and peopleoverlooked it.He also claimed that it has being established that Minister Nagbeand Kabakollie with support from Mr. Abraham Kromah deputy
police director for operation now have two cartoons of voterscards collected from eligible voters in exchange for money.Mr. Morlu also claimed that Minister Nagbe and his collaboratorsare using the government funded Ministry of Youths and Sportsas a hub for the Robert Sirleaf campaign team something he saysviolates the law governing the code of conduct for public ofcials.The CDC executive also frowned on the decision by the National
Elections Commission to lift the ban on street parade days afterMr. Sirleaf violated the regulation as deceptive and an important
For days now reporters have
surfaced alleging that some
candidates have been buying voters
registration cards from vulnerable
constituents, a situation that was also
reported during the 2005 election
when the Unity Party of eventual
winner President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf and her supporters wereaccused of buying voters registration
cards of young electorates perceived
to be diehard followers of George
Weah of the CDC.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]
coincidence that could suggest that the executive Branch ofgovernment as always speculated is involved in arms twistingwith the NEC to make decision to favor candidate Robert Sirleaf.He also claimed that the Robert Sirleaf campaign is usingeconomic strategies to compare employees at various publicagencies to wear Mr. Sirleaf Campaign shirt to turnout in theirnumbers or lose their l ivelihood.
Baseless Accusations, Rob team says
Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, a member of theRobert Sirleaf campaign team in a statement has described the
CDC claim as baseless and sophomoric.It has come to my attention that the Executive Committeeof the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), at a newsconference today, Tuesday once again spewed out its usual
baseless, sophomoric accusations which would not have meritedsuch response had our polity not been diluted by gullibility andmediocrity, stated Nagbe.
Nagbe further added I am therefore constrained to respond tothe laughable accusations that voter registration cards are being
purchased at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and that a batchof cards and other materials were seized at the Ministry byMilitants of the CDC. The allegations and vitriolic rhetoric aretotally untrue and are more of a reection of the sorry state ofleadership at the CDC then they are an indictment of the Ministry.According to Nagbe although he has announced his support for
Robert Sirleaf but stated that workforce of the Ministry of Youthand Sports reects all political parties.Stated Nagbe Although I have announced my support for Mr.Robert Sirleafs candidacy within my rights as a Liberian citizen,the workforce of the Ministry is a reection of all hues of ournational political dispensation partisans from all political partiesand persuasions, non-partisans all work here diligently under avery professional atmosphere to deliver on our statutory mandate.
Nagbe said he will not distracted by what he termed paranoidschemes by the CDC.We will continue to focus on implementing solutions for themanifold issues affecting the development of Liberian youths andnot be distracted by the paranoid schemes of this rudderless party
Nagbe declared.In 2011, the CDC protested election results with a street protestthat led to a fracas between supporters of the party and statesecurity forces.Live bullets were shot at protestors resulting to deaths and itseems Liberians might be bracing for another rounds of protest
provided the necessary mechanisms are not put in place by NEC
to convince all sides that the elections were conducted free, fairand transparent.
{L-R} A display of a poster bearing CDC logo pledging support to Sirleaf; Mr. Morlu displaying propaganda iers calling on CDC partisans not to turnout to vote
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
3/14
FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 3
FrontPagev
Commentary
EDITORIALLIBERIA IS BIDDING fare thee well to Dr. Atai Umoruto and her
peers from the East African nation of Uganda who were brought in to
help Liberia ght off the deadly Ebola virus which has so far claimed
the lives of up to December 16, 2014, 6,841 people had been reported
as having died from the disease with the total number of reported
cases is more than 18,000.
THE THIRTEEN UGANDANS include Dr. AtaiOmoruto, Dr. Kaggwa
David, MadiraaKefa, Akugizibwe Rosemary, Waiswa Florence,
Komuhendo Judith, Kusemererwa Teddy, MukandirwaAs iat, Awilo
Sarah, Namutosi Catherine, NakayizaNakato- Annet, Candiga
Richard and Tony Walter Onena.
2014 BROUGHT UPON the West African sub-region, the worst ever
outbreak since scientists discovered the virus in 1976. The virus was
named after the Ebola River in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC).
TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN almost 20 outbreaks of the virus; in
the DRC, Sudan, Uganda and Gabon. In 2000 and 2001, around 425
people in Uganda were infected, four years later 149 people caught the
virus. Two further outbreaks were recorded in Uganda, but the total
the number of people infected with the virus was just over 30.
THIS IS WHY UGANDA answered the call when Liberia came
calling at the height of the outbreak in August, sending a team of
Ugandan doctors and health workers who were deployed by the World
Health Organization(WHO) to provide medical support for an Ebola
treatment centre in Monrovia.
THE TEAM came with vast experience in managing Ebola outbreaks,
having faced many cases of the disease since 2000.
WORKING IN SHIFTS, alongside their Liberian colleagues to
provide around the clock care and to help maintain strict infection-
control measures.
THAT THOSE doctors are bidding farewell to a nation turning the
corner on a deadly Ebola outbreak, speaks volume about the nature of
African solidarity.
DR. ATAI UMORUTO in particular has been a force, not just in
providing the basics to her Liberian peers but also looking out for their
welfare as well, pressing for benets and other essentials for Liberian
health care workers, while stepping on the toes of some unhappy
campers in the Liberian government who advocated for her to be sent
back to Uganda.
AT A FAREWELL PROGRAM last Saturday, Dr. Atai said it was
nightmare when she rst arrived in Liberia, to see dead bodies
everywhere even more than patients and health workers did not
to know what to do. I came in July, what I saw was dead bodies
everywhere, there were more dead bodies than patients, and nobody
seems to know what to do.
THIS IS WHY MANY including Montserrado District 13 Lawmaker
Rep. Saah Joseph, who attended the farewell ceremony expressedshock that the Ugandan Doctors are leaving. Rep. Joseph whose
First Responders Ambulance were the rst on the ground during the
high period of the Ebola outbreak has promised to write a letter the
Ministry of Health to ask the WHO why they are sending the Ugandan
Doctors away when Liberia has not been declared Ebola free. I will
really like for MOH to tell me why they are sending these Doctors
back when we still have Ebola in Liberia, they cant tell me there is no
money, I wont believe that, he said.
LIBERIA OWES a debt of gratitude to the people of Uganda and
those who came to Liberia during its darkest hour to help the country
battle what is inarguably the biggest epidemic ever to hit here.
THESE EXPERTS left their homes, their families and loved ones
to come to Liberias aid. At least two Ugandans died while helping
Liberia. DR. John Taban Dada, died October at a treatment center
on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia's capital while Dr. Samuel
Muhumuza Mutooro, died in July.
WE HOPE that those deaths would not be in vain and the expertiseof Dr. Atai and her colleagues would be passed on to Liberian
professionals.
LIBERIA AND LIBERIANS MUST never forget the contributions
of those who came to our aid, the Ugandans in particular came with
a mission of goodwill to aid fellow Africans and even dying in the
process. For this, we must honor and pay homage, they deserve the
highest honor Liberia has, because they came to our aid and helped to
save lives when we needed help the most.
COMMENTARY
A BIG THANK TO DR. ATAI& THE UGANDAN DOCTORSFrancis W. Nyepon, [email protected], [email protected]; Contributing Writer
Liberias Agricultural Sector is in an appallingly worrying
state due to the lack of vision, mismanagement, careless
investment priority and decient capacity. Over 3.5
million Liberians or 8 in every 10 persons lack adequate
food for a healthy and active life. Liberia is one of the least food-
secure countries in the world, with a ranking of 182 out of 187
according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Our
agricultural growth is stalled because we depend too heavily on
subsidized imports to feed our people. For instance, over 70%
of our food including 93% of our rice is imported. We cannot
grow sufcient food to feed ourselves because those who manage
the sector lack the require vision to transform it; while others
seem too scared to take decisive action because of job securityand preoccupation with politics. As a result, bold, daring andcourageous policy initiatives needed to transform the sector are
caught up in politics and self-interest.
In addition, farmers are not encouraged to either contribute
to improving the sector or reorganizing it to guarantee that
productivity increases. Instead, the overwhelming majority of
farmers are left to fend for themselves. According to the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 82 to
92 percent of Liberian farmers live in extreme poverty without any
possibility of upward social mobility in the next 50 years if things
continue as they are. Likewise, ensuring transformative success
in Liberian agriculture would require that farmers be given an
opportunity to actively engage policymakers or challenge policies
that are disadvantageous to them or to the country becoming self-sufcient in food production.
When these factors are paired with the effects of Ebola, many
Liberians are driven unnecessarily into hunger and unbearable
poverty as a result. Additionally, combined these factors with bad
roads, dismal transportation system, higher food prices, declinein farming activities and restrictions in cross-border agriculture
trade along with limitations in inter-country food supply routes;
then, one can envision the severity of the distress, which plagues
Liberias productive agricultural sector and causes it to be stalled.
Ebola has made growing, trading, purchasing and obtaining food
extremely difcult for millions of Liberians. It has caused poor
crop yields on the one hand. On the other hand, it has caused
tremendous dependency on donors to supply the country with
food. Moreover, the situation has been exacerbated and made morecomplex by the extreme poverty that exists in the country.
Existing Socioeconomic vulnerabilities require a new vision. An
analysis by the WFP concludes that over three and one half million
Liberians are currently having difculty getting food because of
Ebola and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. And, the situation could
get worse if bold new food policies arent immediately introduced
to effectively deal with the situation. This authors visit to the
heartland observed the planting season without regular agricultural
activities taking place or being performed in a meaningful way
to yield results. Indisputably, in 2015, there will be substantialshortage and higher prices for food due to disruptions in the
agricultural sector that has been compounded by Ebola.
The Ebola crisis can certainly be used to grow Liberias
productive agricultural sector in order to enhance productivityand assemble the skill sets needed to guarantee recovery and
reform the sector in a more holistic manner. Recent visits by
this author to ve counties, two of which were the countrys
breadbasket, reveal some shocking indicators that do not help in
supporting and promoting food security. During these visits, the
author observed severe disruption in the sector with vital farming
activities severely reduced. For instance, families that comprise
the majority of small-scale farmers were staying away from their
farms due to Ebola. Similarly, cross-border agriculture trade and
inter-country food supply routes with Guinea, Sierra Leone and the
Ivory Coast were disrupted. Likewise, transportation was a major
stumbling block in transferring food to market. Equally, the roads
that connected farms to markets were cordoned off; while, crucialpassageways that link major commercial centers of trade to the
people, were appalling and atrocious. The author also discoveredentire sections of the border in Bong, Nimba, River Gee, Grand
Gedeh, and Maryland severely barricaded, limiting or completely
being brought to a standstill cruelly suffocating critical social and
economic links.
The impact of Ebola on critical sectors of the economy, like
agriculture and food security can be remedied by homegrown
strategic policy alternatives. Agriculture, for all of its man-made
shortcomings in Liberia, can inevitably provide that comparative
advantage for sustainable development in terms of food security,
nutrition and health. Therefore, Liberia has this unique opportunity
to better harmonize and target food security as a prudent area for
obtaining real sustainable economic growth. However, policies
should be promulgated along with the appropriate vision to better
manage our resources in order to better lay-out an engaging
roadmap with direct implication for social expansion.
Restructuring the agricultural sector in the midst of Ebola could
boost food security in Liberia. The Ebola crisis presents a strategic
opportunity for Liberia to obtain greater food security. The
development and modernization of our agricultural sector can be
the catalyst and platform from which a successful roadmap can be
laid, and huge accomplishment in food security achieved within
3-5 years. In order to accomplish this goal, however, the followingshould be considered:
First, we can improve our agriculture productivity
growth by employing a more skillful and visionary management
team at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Second, we can boost food security by decreasing our
dependence on imported foods; especially, rice.
Third, we need to implement innovative policy initiatives
to develop a pluralistic, decentralized, demand-driven and market-
oriented system nation-wide and sector-wide.
Fourth, our government must painfully go out of
its comfort zone to encourage the participation of farmers
cooperatives and smallholder farmers in critical decision making
process to make the sector prosper in a more benecial manner. Fifth, we should employ a calculated strategy to
expand the purchasing power of vulnerable groups and local
communities through employment, training, capacity-building and
empowerment zones.
And, nally, the government needs to signicantly investin the sector with a bold new initiative that allocates at least 15-20
percent of our annual national budget to the sector.
In addition, Liberias agricultural growth needs to be fuelled by
expanding cultivated areas in every county to enhance better
capacity to augment productivity. In addition, bold new investment
priorities, farm-to-market road networks should be prioritized,
along with building transportation hubs and transport services
to better facilitate the efcient movement of foods across thecountry. Furthermore, bold new policy initiatives should guarantee
low interest loans and credit facilities for small-scale farmers to
purchase fertilizers and seeds, as well as, build irrigation and water
management systems. These are some of the supercial barriers,
which consistently deny Liberian farmers access to credit in order
to increase productive capacity.
These are the solutions and answers, which this author nds are
practical in addressing food insecurity in Liberia in the midst of
Ebola. Boosting food security in Liberia at this time is critically
important. Our agricultural sector needs vision, leadership andbold new decision to move the sector forward in a holistic manner,
not recycled politicians and cronies who continue to run Liberias
agriculture sector amok. Social, economic and political disruptions
cannot continue to plague our country as they have done in thepast. Our leaders must now seize this opportunity to make Liberia
better by improving living standards, providing basic services, and
denitely insuring food security through adequate food production
for a healthy and active life for all Liberians. Liberias economy is
predominantly agrarian, yet our policymakers do not seem to truly
comprehend the magnitude of its impact on our society. Liberians
can do better. Liberians must do better. The failure to boost food
security is too grave to comprehend. If our leaders do not rise
to the occasion; then, the majority of Liberians will continue to
remain hopelessly disadvantaged, adversely deprived and linger in
abject poverty for generations.
For eight years, our annual budget was over half a Billion United
States Dollars. Yet, investment in our agriculture sector has beenunder ten percent of the annual budget. As a consequence, there
have been minimal improvements in the sector rebufng truetransformation from take place. Also, investing, monitoring and
evaluation of the sector were extremely weak during this past
eight years. This is because our government does not prioritized
food security as an important component of growth; therefore,
our high economic growth rate over the past eight years did not
yield tangible results for average Liberians, except for those well-
connected at the top. Living standards especially for farmers have
substantially dwindled to almost nothing. So, how can farmers
grow more food when they are severely challenged?
LIBERIA: BOOSTING FOODSECURITY IN THE MIDST OF EBOLA
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
4/14
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
5/14
FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 5
Monrovia-
Acontestant in the
upcoming SpecialSenatorial Elections
and a Former
National Oil Company of Liberia
(NOCAL) boss Christopher
Neyor has termed the sale of four
oil blocks by the government
of Liberia as illegal under theprevailing New Petroleum Law
adopted June 2012 and has
threatened a lawsuit against the
entity.
Neyor at a news conference on
Tuesday said the process leading
to the sale of the oil blocksviolated Chapter IV Section
4.4 of the New Petroleum Law.
Neyorthus threatened to le a
lawsuit against NOCAL for the
sale of four oil blocks under
dubious circumstances.I am preparing afdavit withadditional factual information
as part of the ling to our high
court, he said.
As a stakeholder and one
whose leadership our people
look up to especially in the oil
sector, I [Neyor] have consultedlawyers to le an injunction to
the honorable Supreme Court
against ratication of these
illegally obtained oil blocks.
Neyor said that he would be
forwarding information in his
possession to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission [LACC]
for investigation.
I have strong reasons to believe
Monrovia-
Last Saturdays ruling
by the Supreme Court
to quash the writ of
prohibition led before
it by several Liberians to halt theup-coming Senatorial election
rescheduled for Saturday,December 20, 2014 seem not to
be a political blow to some of
the petitioners, rather an action
intended to protect the lives of
Liberians against the deadlyEbola Virus.
Edwin Martins one of those who
joined several eminent Liberians
to oppose the holding of the
election in the mist of the deadly
Ebola virus by ling a writ of
prohibition to the Supreme Court
to says he has no regrets for
ling the petition.
Martins indicated that herespected the Supreme Courts
decision on the matter as anal arbiter of justice, but his
petition was understood and
taken into consideration due to
the dissenting views expressed
by two of the ve high courtjustices.
But Chief Justice Francis
Korkpor ordered the writ quashed
citing that the petitioners had
raised political issues rather than
substantive issues.
This court does not deal with
political issues as political
issues is left with the Executive
and Legislative branches ofgovernment, it will not be this
court to cancel election becausewe will not have the power to set
another election date, said Chief
Justice Korkpor hereby quashing
out the writ of prohibition.
Walking out of the Chamber ofthe Supreme Court last Saturday
after the ruling, Martins told
FrontPageafrica that the matter
had become history which every
Monrovia-
On Tuesday Liberians who gathered at the Temple of justiceto witness hearing into the writs of prohibition led
separately by Independent candidate Robert A. Sirleafand some lawmakers against President Ellen Johnson
Sirleafs executive order 65, were disappointed, as the court couldnot hear the matter.
Instead lawyer representing Senatorial aspirant Sirleaf called onthe judges to grant him time to consult his supporters on the lastSaturdays Supreme Court opinion to lift the stay-order placed on the
pending election.Your honors, currently campaign is taking place and all aspirants arecampaigning for the Saturdays election, we want continuance (time)
so that the petitioner can meet his supporters for their input, Cllr.Idriss Sherriff legal counsel for the petitioner.Lawyer for the lawmakers announced before the high court that
the lawmakers have decided to withdraw their petition because theelection for which the petition was led is just few days away so therewas no need to pursue the petition.
Petitioner Edwin Snowe and all beg your honors that they wish towithdraw their petition led before this court, for the fact that thesubject matter of the petition that is the election, is just few days
away said Cllr. KanieWesso, legal counsel for the lawmakers.His request was rejected by Solicitor General Betty LarmieBlamowho called on the high court not to accept verbal request of the
lawyer,but stated that the lawyer should make his request formalthrough a written document in consonance with the law.In response to Montserrado County Senatorial aspirant Sirleafs
request, Chief Justice Korpkor stated that the Supreme Court couldnot honor the request for time and make determination because thestate had led its brief on Tuesday morning and that judges do notknow what is in it. He ned Solicitor General Betty LaminBlamo
US$200 for ling the states brief late.Responding to the lawmakers lawyer s request, Chief JusticeKorkpor told them to make their request formal by documenting it.
This bench has no sh to fry in anybodys oil, what you bring beforeus is what we deal with, we are here to protect democracy; a parablethat means that the bench is absolutely neutral in its dealing with
any matter before it, said Chief JusticeKorkpor as he ordered thesuspended.
The Executive Order issued by the President on December 3, 2014 hadplaced a ban on mass movement of people including rallies, paradesand demonstrations on the streets of Monrovia during the ensuingspecial senatorial elections now scheduled for December 20, 2014
across the country.But a day after the Executive order was issued bythe president Sirleaf, several lawyers including Montserrado CountyDistrict#6 lawmaker Snowe led a writ of prohibition to the Supreme
Court opposing the order.In the petition the lawmakers called on the high court to quash theExecutive Order#65 because it violates Articles 13&17 of the 1986
Constitution and that Article 13 of the Constitution provides thatevery person lawfully within the Republic shall have the right tomove freely throughout, reside in any part thereof and to leave there
form subject however to the safe guarding of public security, publicorder, health or morals of the rights and freedoms of others.The lawmakers to include Edwin SnoweJr, J. Gabriel Nyenkan,Munah E. Pelham-Yougblood, Bill Twehway, Solomon George, A
VarmuyahConneh, Adolf Lawrence. Others are Saah Joseph, JuliusBerrian, Edward Forh, Acarous M. Gray, Thomas Fallah and WilliamDakel the order also violates Article #17.
The Supreme Court moved to place a stay-order on the presidentsorder after the lawyers and the senatorial aspirant led the petitionbefore the high court pending the high court hearing which was
assigned on Tuesday, December 16,2014.However a legal practitioner who spoke to FrontPageafrica strictlyon the basis of anonymity shortly after the high court was adjourned
had stated that with the lawmakers petition withdrawal does not noway means that the President Executive Order#65 is in force as thestay-order placed on the order is still holding until the high court can
make a determination.
PETITION ON HOLD
Rep Snowe Others Back Off On Executive
Order #65 Petition; As Robert Sirleaf,
Calls For Time to Consult Supporters
It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against the
opposition of a cross section of the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing
New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2012. - Dr. Christopher Z. NeyorKennedy L. Yangian, 077296781
Kennedy L. Yangian, [email protected] ,077296781
NEYOR THREATENS SUIT AGAINST NOCALON THE SALE OF FOUR OIL BLOCKS IN MIDST OF EBOLA OUTBREAK
Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498
that some stealing is being
perpetrated against our countryand following the advice of
counsel will be forwarding theinformation, he said.I have
written to the LACC for opening
of a full investigation into the
hurried and unwise sale of these
oil blocks.
Neyor told journalists that thebidding process, evaluation of
bids and award of contracts were
outsourced to private accounting
rm adding that it contradicts the
law.
All of the evaluation works
were done in secret in London,the United Kingdom, the
Former CEO of NOCAL said.
Neyor saida fragment of
the Hydrocarbon Technical
Committee was used in acontrolled and unprofessional
manner as rubber stamp.Neyor added, that they were
used in an attempt to legitimize
a predetermined objective not in
the interest of Liberia.
Moreover trained Liberian legal
and technical experts withinNOCAL were sidelined in the
entire process for sales of these
oil blocks, he said.
Continued Neyor: four oil
blocks have been sold under
dubious circumstances and now
President [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]has asked the lawmakers to defer
their break again for the sole
purpose of ratifying contracts for
this illegally sold national asset
that belong to all of us.
Neyor explained that the speed
of the process could lead one toconclude that the Liberian people
have been taken for a ride again.
It is a pity that not only werethese oil blocks sold in the midst
of the Ebola epidemic and against
the opposition of a cross section
of the citizenry but the entire
sale process was illegal under
the prevailing New Petroleum
Law of Liberia adopted June of2012, Neyor said.
Neyor said the government
is insensitive to the plight of
Liberians by selling the oil
blocks while people are dying
from Ebola.
Neyor said unemploymentremains high and the education
system a mess, while a smallgroup of people are living at the
expense of the vast majority of
the citizenry.
Our people cannot be dying
from Ebola, our young peopleacross the country remain
unemployed, the education
system is in a mess, roads to
densely populated communities
in our country are deplorable and
a small group in the government
forms a criminal syndicate atthe expense of all of us, Neyor
added.
The lawsuit by Neyor makes the
number of former ofcials in the
oil and gas sector two in recent
times suing the Oil Company.
WRIT OF PROHIBITION INTENDED TO PROTECTLIBERIANS: LAWYER ON HIGH COURT OPINION
Liberians should take note of.
Yes the high court has spoken,we accept the ruling of the
high court as the nal arbiter of
justice you saw the dissenting
opinions from the two other
Associate Justices, that means
that what my lawyer had put
forth was what they dissentedto and that was strictly in the
interest and protection of the
Liberian people against thisvirus said Martins. When
quizzed about what he made of
the courts US$ 300 ne imposed
by Chief Justice Korkpor onCllr. LaveliSupuwood one
of the lawyers for petitioner,
the National Democratic
Coalition (NDC) for negligently
representing his clients after ling
three briefs and withdrawing it,
Martins stated that the actionwas very unfortunate for such a
constitutional matter.
Atty Martins stated that such
situation exists at times in legal
profession, but lawyers have to
be very careful when undertaking
such a task that claims publicattention, not locally but also
internationally because the endresults is sometimes unfortunate.
Martins said the view put
forward in the writ of prohibition
was intended to protect Liberians
against the deadly virus.He urgedLiberians to remain focused in
the ght against the virus, as they
go to vote across the country,
come Saturday.
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
6/14
Page 6 | Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Selma Lomax, [email protected]
FRONTPAGE
POLITICS
Ganta, Nimba County -
As the countdown to
the December 20special senatorial
election in Liberia
commences, it is becoming
apparent that the incumbent
senator of Nimba County, Prince
Johnson, is riding a wave of
support that could see him retainhis seat.
The comparative turnout at the
campaign rallies of the three
leading contenders in the race:
former Nimba Superintendent
and Liberty Party (LP) candidate
Edith Gongloe-Weh, Congressfor Democratic Change (CDC)
Yarmie Gbeasaye and Senator
Johnson, coupled with the
expression of support by the
critical stakeholders in the
electoral politics of the county,indicate that Johnson is set for an
easy ride back to the Capitol.
The race has seemingly turned
out to be a clear race between
Gongloe-Weh and Senator
Johnson. The expectations
that Gbeasaye will be a majorcontender in the election had
evaporated when it turned out
that not a single prominent
member of his native Bain-
Garr administrative district has
endorsed his candidacy.
Securing Support fromInuential Groups
The Nimba County senator has
also secured the support of the
highly inuential Nimba elites
through the acknowledgement of
their contributions to the creation
and development of the county.He introduced the annual Nimba
Honors Award through which
icons of the county irrespective
of party afliations or political
tendencies are granted countyawards.
Political observers say, thisprobably explains why while
SMOOTH SAILING FOR PYJ?Incumbency Factor Favors Nimba County Senator
Senator Johnson receives daily
endorsements by the icons and
elders of Nimba County, even
those among the elders who aremembers of the Liberty Party
have seemingly maintained
a deafening silence on thecandidacy of Gongloe-Weh.
This silence of the graveyard
from elders in the Liberty Party
seems to be noticeable amongthe leading lights of the party in
the Gongloe-Weh campaign.
Although she has extended
the olive branch to fellow
contestants for the ticket of the
party, most of the aspirants,
FrontPage Africa has gatheredwho indicated interest in the
Liberty Party ticket, have been
lukewarm to the Gongloe-Weh
campaign.
This has raised widespread
questions if the former Nimba
superintendent will enjoy the
support of her party structure inthe December 20 election.
A critical factor that seems to
be playing a major issue in the
election is the personality of the
two leading candidates. Nimba is
regarded as one of the counties
with the highest number of ex-combatants in Liberia.
FrontPage Africa tour of ten of
the 17 administrative districtshas observed that it is creating
a niche for itself as having the
largest concentration of ex-
ghters in the country. Such acounty is better disposed to a
candidate that reects the ex-
ghters reference of the civil
war. This factor seems to weigh
heavily against Gongloe-Weh.
Current political permutations
Though, each of the threecandidates is specically from
a particular district that does not
preclude that the entire votes or
that the largest chunk of votes
in that district would be for
the home candidate. This is so
because there are other factors
that will give certain candidatereasonable additional votes
apart from his own district. An
analysis of their chances on the
district basis testies to this.
Though, the CDC candidate
is from the Bain-Garr
administrative district, the twoother candidates are equally
strong in this district in terms of
personalities and inuence.For Senator Johnson, the bulk
of his votes are expected to
come from this area because the
Representative of the district,Rep. Jeremiah Koung and four
members of the Nimba caucus
who had been pacied over
their choices turned up during
the senators mega rally held in
Ganta a week ago, to show his
solidarity.Since neither Gbesay nor the
CDC can boast of any landmark
achievements in the area because
the candidate and the party had
not govern the county, the hope
of the candidate in Saturdays
election, according to pundits,
lies in his pedigree of thecandidate and that the people
would believe that he can deliver
all that he had promised if he
becomes senator.
Though, there are not much
landmark projects initiated in
the area by Gongloe-Weh whenshe served as superintendent of
the county compared to those
executed in other parts of thecounty, most of the loyalists of
Gongloe-Weh made impact in
the lives of the indigenes of the
area in terms of employment atthe local level.
That the LP candidate would
get very appreciable votes
in the district cannot be over
emphasized for many reasons.
Going by the reasons advanced
above, the ght for votes in thisarea is between Gongloe-Weh
and Senator Johnson. However,
the LP looks good to carry the
day in this district.
Gbehlay-Geh Statutory District
This is an indisputable major
stronghold of Senator Johnson
not only because the Nimbasenator comes from the district
but for other reasons that are
obvious to residents of the area.
Here, in this district, the senator
can boast of many landmark
developmental projects
particularly in Nyor Gomarplay,the senators native town. The
area can boast of many projects
such as road constructionand other modern healthcare
facilities.
In general terms and with what
is visible on ground, Saturdaysbattle is mainly between the LP
candidate and Senator Johnson.
However, if the outcome of the
election is determined by the
level of crowd at the campaign
rallies, the number of lawmakers
of the Nimba Legislative caucuswho are declaring support
for candidates in the race, the
level of live touching projects
currently on ground and the
personal relationship that
Senator Johnson is noted for,
the incumbent is most favored to
win the election.
NO SHOWBuchanan, Grand Bassa County -
The ve candidates in the ensuing Grand Bassa special
Senatorial election on Tuesday, December 16 failed to
honor invitations from the Press Union of Liberia (PUL)
to attend a town hall debate.The debate was previously planned for December 3 but the
Supreme Courts stay order on election activities thwarted early
preparations by the Union. Four of the ve candidates including
incumbent Gbehzongar Findley (independent), his main challenger
Jonathan Kaipay (Liberty Party) and Hon. Gabriel Buchanan
Smith (independent) as well as Solomon Murray of the Congress
for Democratic Change (CDC) were all invited to attend the
debate, according to the PUL.
The new debate date, December 16, was set after the National
Election Commission (NEC) extended the election to December
20 following the Supreme Court ruling on Friday, December 12.
PUL Debate Project Manager, E. Orlind Cooper described the
candidates action as disappointing: It is disappointing that people
who want to lead the Bassa people for nine will failed to show upfor the debate to explain their stance on issue that will affect the
lives of the people they are seeking vote from.
Cooper and his team said they ensured that they communicated
with all the four candidates but to no availed.
Several of the candidates who are reportedly on their campaign
trail in rural areas of the county are arguing that the timetable for
the debate is inconvenient to their already congested schedule.
But Cooper claimed that their excuses are unrealistic because the
entire election timing is tight and limited. He added that the debate
is the key platform for the candidates to campaign by presentingand explaining their platforms.
Amongst the four candidates, the debate moderators disclosed
that Hon. Gabriel Buchanan Smith (Independent) consented to
attend but the current court action against him over allegation of
ransacking a community radio station in Buchanan prevented him
from attending. Smith has not commented about t he reported arrest
warrant but it appeared that the warrant for his arrest prompted his
absence from the debate.
Kaipay and Findley were reportedly conducting serious political
campaign respectively in District as many residents of Buchanan
were set to witness the debate while the PUL arranged with all
the community radio stations in the county to broadcast live the
debate.
Unconrmed reports suggested that incumbent Findley had,several months ago, stated that he was not willing to go to debate
with any of the candidates while CDC candidate, Solomon Murray
failed to respond to several calls made to him by the debate team.
The nationwide senatorial debate is organized by the PUL with
support from USAID through IREX.
BASSA SENATORIAL CANDIDATES
SNUBBED PUL DEBATE
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI,
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
7/14
FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 7
Selma Lomax, [email protected]
FRONTPAGE
POLITICS
Gbarnga, Bong County -
As the December 20
special senatorialelection in Bong
County draws
near, all political parties and
their candidates taking part in
the election have taken their
campaigns to a feverish level.
In the run up to the election,candidates have intensied their
campaigns as they go round the
13 administrative districts of
Bong County trying to convince
the electorate to vote for them.
The election, FrontPage Africa
has reliably gathered, is mainly
between the incumbent, Jewel
Howard-Taylor-Taylor of theNational Patriotic Party (NPP),
Unity Partys Ranney Jackson
and the Congress for Democratic
Change (CDC) candidate
Augustus Jonathan Flomo.
Other contestants are Cuttington
University president Dr.Henrique Flomo Tokpa
(Independent), Liberty Partys
Franklin Siakor, the Movement
for Progressive Change
candidate Dr. Mator Kpangbai,
James Gbarbea, candidate
of the Alternative National
Congress ANC, Numehn Dunbar
(Independent), James Saybayand the Liberia National Union
(LINU).
For Senator Taylor, the message
has been Let the progress
continue and One good tenure
deserves another. On his part,
Jackson has continued to harp onthe man you can trust.
Jackson, the former Bong
superintendent started his
campaigns in phases from to
districts to districts and on to
the streets of urban areas in the
county. In every district, the
Unity Party candidate told the
electorates to choose between hisachievements and the legacies of
the incumbent.
Jackson described the NPP as a
political party without a history
of performance in the county,
urging the electorate to reject
the NPP candidate at the pollson Saturday, using their most
effective weaponthe voters
card.
According to him, if they tell
you what they will do in the
future, they must tell you what
COUNTDOWN TO D-DAYBong Senatorial Candidates intensify Campaign Ahead of Saturdays Poll
they did in the past. What we
have to live for is to ensure
that Bong County must makeprogress. As future leaders,
you have a duty to refuse to be
intimidated.
We must keep them out with
the power of the truth. Look at
the David Kuyon Sports stadiumbuilt during my tenure as
superintendent of the county and
look at the NPP legacies since
the last nine years. On Election
Day, the choice is yours whether
to vote for the toilet house
constructed by Senator Taylorcalled midwifery home or our
new revolution in education.
I urge you to stand by us.
Give us your votes and we will
shock you with more programs
and development. As a formersuperintendent of the county, Iam bound to bring development
to the county. We have been
delivering on roads, schools and
electricity. We are redening
politics to bring the greatest
good to the greatest number of
people.We will remain focused on
issues of development. You must
wait till the results are announced
and let us see how they change
the results. For us to ask for a
new mandate to continue, we
must justify what we have donein when we had the time to
serve you not as senator but as
superintendent.
Our work speaks louder than
our voice. You have your choiceto vote between evil and what
is good. We will do our bestfor these communities. Our rst
chance second will be a chance
to carry on with the second phase
of lifting the county, Jackson
said.
For his part CDC senatorial
candidate Flomo, in hiscampaigns in Samay,
electoral district two said his
administration would initiate
new projects and complete
ongoing ones in the localities.He said the failure of the
incumbent senator to provide
employment for citizens of the
county c contributed immensely
to poverty in the area and which
in turn has resulted in very slowpace of development in the rural
areas of the county.
The CDC Bong senatorial
candidate told his supporters
in Samay that Bong was one
of the counties receiving social
development funds in thecounty but was now ranked
as one of the underdeveloped
counties in Liberia due to fund
mismanagement on the part
of the county leadership and
members of the Bong Legislativecaucus.LINU candidate, Saybay,
promised to bring a 12-point
agenda when elected as senator
of the county which he said
includes agricultural revolution
for local farmers.
The candidate of ANC, PaulGbarbea, said he would provide
shelter, electricity, food and
things that would make life
easy for people of the county.
He promised to bring in foreign
partners for power generation.
For the Independent candidate,Tokpa, eradication of corruption
and meeting of peoples need
would be his focus. He said large
scale farming would be done to
engage the youths and that farmimplements would be distributed
free.Candidate of the Liberty Party,
Siakor said the missing link in
the county was human capital
development which he promised
to provide.
The political battle is on. The
dynamics keep changing.December 20 will return the
verdict.
Monrovia-
The Political Leaderof the Liberia
Transformation Party(LTP) Kennedy
Sandy has resigned from
the Constitutional ReviewCommittee (CRC) in preparationfor the presidency come 2017.I have voluntarily resigned
from the CRC. I want to bepresident for Liberia 2017, theLTP Political Leader said.
Many believe that LTP Sandysdecision to resign his post at theCRC is to avoid getting trapped
by the Code of Conduct which isexpected to create tension 2017election.
The Code of Conduct section5.2 b sates that any other ofcialappointed by the President who
holds a tenured position anddesires to contest for public orelective ofce shall resign said
post three (3) years prior to the
date of such public elections.Sandy was among several
defeated Presidential candidatesin the 2011 election and was laterappointed by President Ellen
Johnson- Sirleaf.Sandy said, his decision to workat the CRC was not for paycheckadding that it was his way of
contributing to Liberia.
GETTING READY FOR 2017
He said, the CRC has made gains
in reviewing the constitution
expressing that his absencewould not hinder the progress of
the review process.Sandy added that his resignationis to give way for a bigger calling
other than working at the CRC.Sandy said his stay at the CRCenabled him to understand the
level of support internationalpartners are providing to
Liberias recovery process.
I learned a lot about the support
the UNDP and UNMIL havebeen giving this process and
Liberia, Sandy added.Sandy promised to ensure thatthe views of the Liberian people
are reected in the constitutionreview process despite hisabsence.
I learned that the Liberianpeople are crying for change in
their constitution even though
I have resigned but I am going
to stand up for that change to beimplemented, Sandy added.
The LTP political leader added,that his absence from CRC is nota suggestion that the process will
discontinue.I went at the CRC to make surethe revision of the constitution
is done, my absence does notconstitute the discontinuation of
Liberia Transformation Party Kennedy Sandy Resigns With Eyes On Presidencythe process, the process will goon, there are competent peopleand my resignation is onlybecause I have a higher calling,
Sandy said.According to Sandy he tenderedhis resignation to the President
since October. October 12, Isent my resignation.Sandy said, it is time for
Liberians to be together thanever before in their countryhistory adding that the tension istoo high in these elections.
I see a lot going on in Liberiaduring these elections; thetension is too high we need to
pray for peace in Liberia, he said.Sandy added that political parties
have the moral duty to helpprotect the peace in Liberia.Political parties, the life ofLiberia is in your hands. If you
want our democracy to die it willbut if you want it to ourish, itwill, Sandy explained.
He believes that his late arrivalon the political scene in Liberiamay have been one of his
hindrances to the Presidency in
2011.I came late for this goneelection and the accident in Cape
Mount County exacerbated theproblem, Sandy noted.The former Presidential
candidate added that hewants to be a part of Liberiastransformation process.
He named corruption and lack ofvision as some of the reasons forLiberias underdevelopment.Liberia is a rich country in
natural resources but yet and stillit is among the world poorestcountries, Sandy said. Liberia
must be free, he continued.Sandy said, Liberians have
witnessed lots of problemsadding that Security forcesshould not remind them abouttheir ugly past.
Look at what happened to ShakiKamara, our Security ofcersneed counseling, they should
be protecting our citizens, henoted.
Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
8/14
Page 8 | Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Henry Karmo (0886522495)
[email protected] F. Kanneh, [email protected]
Six year-old little girl in rainbow dress and Aunt
Bettie Johnson/ /0770197670/0886971922/ FPA STAFF WRITER
HASTY OIL SALE KIDNAPPER ARRESTED, BUTPOLICE TIGHTLIPPED ON IDENTITY
Monrovia-
L
ike the scenario of oil Block 13 the National Legislature
is set to ratify oil Block 16 despite the absence of the
countrys oil law that was recently validated by the body
along with other civil society organizations.
The Executive Branch of Government Tuesday, December16, 2014 presented to the National Legislature one of the four
remaining oil blocks for ratication before Friday of this week.
According to the communication from the Executive read in the
plenary of the House of Representatives three companies are
bidding for Oil Block 16 and if the agreement is ratied by the
Legislature, the Liberian government will generate twenty -two
Million United States dollars (US$22M) in signature fees.
The agreement for the Oil Block was subsequently sent to the
House Joint Committees on Judiciary, and Lands, Mines, Energy
and Natural Resources with a mandate for the committee to report
back to plenary by Thursday for nal decision.
Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the availability of
the agreements regarding the remaining four oil blocks.
The House of Representatives failed to hold regular session
Tuesday, the basis for the extension of the time for the lawmakers
usual agriculture break.
According to sources the lawmakers are dissatised with the
alleged failure of the President to meet up with her obligation tothe body through extra incentives for their stay.
According to legislative sources the executive is yet to present
to the legislature the act to ratify the four oil blocks said, to be
ready for auctioning as a result of a discussion held between
the National oil company (NOCAL) and an international group
because of some nancial obligations to the lawmakers.
It is also believed that the agreement has not appeared at the
Capitol because the oil law authorizing the sale of more oil
blocks has not being concluded by both chambers (Senate and
Representatives) to be implemented by a conference committee
comprising members of the two chambers.
On last Friday President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote the legislature
to postpone its December 12 set day for closure that has already
being delayed by the outbreak of Ebola by one week to enable
the body ratify the agreements for four of the countrys oil blocks
Many believe that the agreement will not be critically scrutinized
by the legislature because of the limited timeframe they have to
meet the one week deadline.
Some lawmakers conded in FrontPageAfrica that the bodywill ratify the instrument due to the necessary benets attached
especially during this period of election where the hope of some
senators in retaining their positions is in doubt.
In 2013 the Legislature was criticized by the Liberian public for
ratifying oil Block 13 despite calls by civil society organizations,
foreign experts and ordinary Liberians for the government not to
go ahead with negotiations surrounding the sale of the oil block.
Some Liberians including civil society organizations have
criticized the President action to request the legislators to delay
their agriculture break by one week.
The group under the banner the Coalition for the Transformation
of Liberia (CONTROL) known for organizing the failed April 12,
2013 protest in a statement issued during the week described the
President request as wicked and criminal to the Liberian people.
According to the group they are disappointed to see the President
who should be protecting and preserving state resources writing
the legislature to stay on job for personal interest in the name of
investment.The group also claimed that it has received tangible information
that some of the companies contracted for the purchase or lease
of the oil blocks are owned by the President and her son Robert
Sirleaf but being used by some agents covertly to criminally rob
the Liberian people as it has been done in the past.
CONTROL claimed to have had an agreement with the
government of Liberia which led to the cancellation of its protest
action to reserve the rest of the natural resources as well as the oil
blocks and said it was agreed by both parties.
Legislature to Ratify Block 16
Monrovia-
Amotorcyclist only
identied, as Kortee
believed to be in his
50s has been arrested
for allegedly kidnapping a six
year-old girl.
Police at the Johnsonville Depothas since refused to reveal full
name or allow photograph of the
accused to be taken.
At about 11am on Tuesday,
Mami Gleekiah and her little
niece Irene Nuahn, set off for
Redlight to get the little girl hairdone for Christmas. Gleekiah
said they asked a motorbike riderto drop them off at Redlight and
that she could pay him L$100
and the motorcyclist accepted.
To her dismay, Mami explained
they were taken on the bike
and on the way they came to
a waterside at which time themotorcyclist told her to get down
because the water was deep.
Gleekiah said as she was trying
to get the little girl off the bike,
the rider instructed her to leave
the girl on the bike because she
weighed less, so he could crossthe water with the child sitting
on the bike. But to her uttermostsurprise after crossing the water,
the biker ran off. I wanted to
get the little girl from the bike,
he told me to leave the girl, so
when he crossed he just started
running with the girl. Thats how
I started crying, calling people.And I paid some motorbike men
to run behind him.
Gleekiah said she immediately
called out for help and other
motorcyclists chased the man.
She said they were able to arrest
the biker and take him to theJohnsonville police station but
explained that the police has not
investigated the matter although
the biker is in custody.
The girls father, Timothy
Gleekiah laments that he doesnot trust the police, telling
FrontPageAfrica that the police
at the depot usually play double
standard with cases that are
taken to them.
I have been told by Neighborsin the same community which
helped to arrest the biker,
that similar cases have been
happening and reports brought to
the same station but those people
have always been set free.
Gleekiah continued: I dontwant that to happen with mine; I
want them to do the investigation
and forward us to court.
Timothy says he that does not
want the case to be delayed as he
expressed delight and luck thathe was able to get his daughterback from the kidnapper, fearing
that it could have been worse
as past incidents have led to
victims being used for human
sacrices usually during election
periods. I was just lucky, this
kind of thing, they just go andmake sacrice with children. I
dont want for this man to just
go with impunity. If he goes
with impunity, this thing will
continue. It will get rampant.
Monrovia-
An Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court
of Liberia says the
current senatorial
electoral process is poorly
regulated and monitored by the
National Elections Commission
with limited mechanisms put in
place by the body to protect the
citizenry against the virus by
guiding against the conditions
that would enable or facilitate
further spread of the virus
which is posing real threat to the
population.
I submit that the demonstrated
inability by the NEC to ensure
that the voting rights guaranteed
citizens can be openly enjoyed
is not a political question, said
Justice Banks.
The recent opinion handed down
by the full bench of the Supreme
Court did not go well with the
fourth person on the Supreme
Court bench.
The Supreme Court is made
of ve justices and a writ of
prohibition was led by three
petitioners requesting the high
Court to dismiss the pending
Senatorial Elections but the court
dismissed two of the petitions and
ruled on one.
Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said
the petition before the court was
led by Edwin Martin a bona de
voter of the Republic of Liberia
and Resident of Paynesville City
of Liberia.
We only have Edwin Martin
petition and the petition is
political and this branch deals
with judiciable issues and we
do not intend to discuss petition
so with the majority of theSupreme Court we are sending
it to the political branches that
is the Executive and Legislature
all we can tell NEC is to put in
guidelines to ensure the safety of
voters and their candidates, said
the Chief Justice.
But Justice Banks in his
descending opinion said I have
ELECTION POORLY MANAGED: SUPREME
COURT ASSOC. JUSTICE BANKS FROWNS
made this determination because
my conscience will not allow me
to sacrice the legal principles
which I have stood for over the last
decades that a public institution
can forfeit its responsibility and
hide under the issue presented,
growing of its non- compliance
is a political issue and that the
court cannot determine whether
there has been a violation or not
of protected rights.
He added that he is of the view that
the rationale for the high Court
to ignore the legal duties and
obligations imposed on NEC also
conveys the impression that any
decision made by the two political
branches of the government,
which could have devastating
legal consequences for the nation
or be violation of the guaranteed
rights of citizens or even have
the effect of destroying the entire
nation and the entire people could
not be reviewed by the high court
because to do so could entangle
them in political and policy issues.
I believe that there are
limitations imposed on the
two political branches of the
government and that holding
a narrow interpretation as the
majority opinion ignore the rights
granted the people of Liberia by
the Constitution, defeats the intent
and purpose of Article 2 of the
Liberian Constitution Justice
Banks said.
Article 2 of the 1986Liberian
constitution states that This
Constitution is the supreme and
fundamental law of Liberia and its
provisions shall have binding force
and effect on all authorities and
persons throughout the Republic.
Any laws, treaties, statutes,
decrees, customs and regulations
found to be inconsistent with
it shall, to the extent of the
inconsistency, be void and of
no legal effect. The Supreme
Court, pursuant to its power of
judicial review, is empowered
to declare any inconsistent laws
unconstitutional.
Justice Banks averred that he
has not joined his colleagues of
the court because they failed in
addressing the core issues which
he described as the fundamental
issue of whether the NEC has
put into place constitutional and
statutory mechanisms for the
conduct of free, fair, transparent,
healthy and free of fear of death
in the current Ebola environment
which warrants the attention of
the court.
The Associate Justice added that
NEC is demonstrating a callous
disregard to the health and safety
of the Liberian people.
All it concerned itself with
was meeting the mandate of
the Legislature to hold the
2014 senatorial elections not
later than December 20,2014,
regardless of what legal and other
consequences would be. NEC
failed to coordinate with security
and health institutions, he said.
The associate Justice further
added I refused to subscribe to
the theory or conclusions that the
health and safety of the Liberian
people against the EVD thereby
becomes a matter of politics for
the Legislature and the Executive,
regardless of the health and legal
consequences of the people.
Justice Banks pointed out
that if the National Elections
commission could not hold the
elections or put in place proper
mechanism for the conduct of
elections, it owed the legislature
and the Liberian people to inform
them on the difculties faced but
it was disingenuous on the part
of the commission to accept the
timeframe set by the Legislature
and Executive when it is an
autonomous agency.
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
9/14
FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 9
MonroviaDecember 16, 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press;
Icall you here today to this press conference to reveal to you and through you to our fellow citizens that while we were ghting the
Ebola epidemic that has ravaged our land causing killing many Liberians, our government has semi-clandestinely sold four oil blocks.
It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against the opposition of a cross section of
the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2002.
Why am I bringing this to the public? As a Liberian citizen and an expert in this eld and immediate past President and CEO of the National
Oil Company of Liberia, it is a patriotic duty to do so. Let me share with you, Ladies and Gentlemen, of the press copy of letter I wrote
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last September adding my voice to the that of many Liberians calling on the President to halt the sale of
these oil blocks for the stated reasons in the letter. As typical of the President on these kinds of serious national issues, this letter and that
of the call of other citizens were ignored.
Chapter IV Section 4.4 of the above reference New Petroleum Law of the Republic of Liberia established a Hydrocarbon Technical
Committee an ad-hoc national Hydrocarbon Technical Committee under the chairmanship, supervision, and direction of the National
Oil Company of Liberia and may include but not necessarily limited to the following members: Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy;
Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Finance; National Investment Commission; Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisor to the President:
Ministry of Labor; and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs. The law also states that the President of Liberia may, from time totime, designate, not more than three (3) such other persons, shall not be ofcials of Government, to serve as members of the Hydrocarbon
Technical Committee.
The New Petroleum Law further states that The Hydrocarbon Technical Committee shall have the power, under the chairmanship and
direction of the President/CEO of NOCAL, or his/her designee, to negotiate and conclude agreements with all applicants for hydrocarbon
development and exploitation rights and such related permits. The agreement so negotiated and concluded, shall become effective and
binding upon the parties and the Republic of Liberia, when signed by the applicants, the National Oil Company Of Liberia, the Minister
of Finance, the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, attested by the Minister of
Justice and approved by the President of Liberia.
We have credible evidence that the procedure for award of oil blocks as outlined in the New Petroleum Law of 2002 were not adhered to.
The biding process, evaluation of bids and award of contracts were outsourced to a private accounting rm contrary to the law and all of
the evaluation works were done in secret in London, the United Kingdom.
Fragments of the Hydrocarbon Technical Committee were only used in a controlled and unprofessional manner as rubber stamps in anattempt to legitimize a predetermined objective not in the interest of our country and suffering people. Moreover, trained Liberian legal and
technical experts within NOCAL were sidelined in the entire process for sales of these oil blocks.
Four oil blocks have been sold under dubious circumstances and now the President has asked the lawmakers to defer their break again for
the sole purpose of rectifying contracts for these illegally sold national asset that belong to all of us. We can only conclude from the speed
of the process and other information we have that the Liberian people have been taken for a ride again.
As a stakeholder and one whose leadership our people look up to especially in the oil sector, I have consulted lawyers to le an injunction
to the Honourable Supreme Court against ratication of these illegally obtained oil blocks. I am preparing afdavit with additional factual
information as part of the ling to our High Court.
I have strong reasons to believe that some stealing is being perpetrated against our country and following the advice of counsel will be
forwarding the information I have to the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission (LACC) for opening of a full investigation into the hurried
and unwise sale of these oil blocks. Our people cannot be dying from Ebola, our young people across the country remain unemployed, the
education system be in a mess, roads to densely populated communities in our country are deplorable and a small group in the government
form a criminal syndicate at the expense of all of us.
I ask all well-meaning Liberians to support us as we take the initiative to stop corruption in the government by those we elect to manage
the natural resources that belong to all of us and should be used for our collective good.
Thank you.
FOUR OIL BLOCKS HAVE BEEN SOLD
Press Statement of Mr. Christopher Z. NeyorPresident and CEO of the Morweh Energy Group and
Senatorial Candidate for Montserrado County
on the Illegal Sale of Four (4) Oil Blocks by the Government of Liberia
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
10/14
Page 10 |Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014
TALIBAN STORM PAKISTANI SCHOOL, KILLING 130
FAILED 2005 LONDONBOMBERS LOSE
EUROPEAN APPEAL
Strasbourg (France) (AFP) -
Four men who attempted
to set off a series of
explosives in London
in 2005 did not have
their right to a fair trial breached,
the European Court of Human
Rights ruled Tuesday.
Three of the men argued that they
did not have access to a lawyer
during questioning and the
fourth said the proper procedure
was not followed when he gave
testimony.
The Strasbourg-based European
court however ruled -- by six
judges to one -- there had been
"no violation" to their right to a
fair trial.SPAIN ARRESTS SEVEN
ACCUSED OF RECRUITINGWOMEN FOR ISLAMIC STATE
MNANGAGWA IN CHARGEOF ZIMBABWE AS MUGABE
GOES ON LEAVE
MADRID (Reuters) -
Spanish and Moroccanpolice have arrested
seven people in a ongoingjoint swoop on suspected
efforts to recruit women to go toSyria and Iraq to support IslamicState insurgents, the Spanish
Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.Spain is among a number of
European countries struggling tostop the radicalization of young
Muslim citizens and deter themfrom becoming jihadists in Syriaor Iraq, fearing they might return to
plot attacks on home soil.Four women and a man were
arrested in Barcelona and theSpanish North African enclaves of
Ceuta and Melilla, and two menwere detained in the Moroccantown of Fnideq, close to Ceuta, as
part of the operation, the ministrysaid in a statement.
Harare (AFP) -
Zimbabwe's President
Robert Mugabe has left
newly-installed Vice
President Emmerson
Mnangagwa in charge as he
began his annual holiday, state
radio announced Monday.
The move comes after months of
political upheaval in Zimbabwe
over the succession to 90-year-
old Mugabe when he dies or
steps down.
"President Robert Mugabe left
Harare yesterday for his annual
holiday in the Far East," Spot FM
radio reported.
"The president is expected
back in Zimbabwe in mid-January. In his absence Vice
President Emmerson Dambudzo
Mnangagwa is the acting
president."
Mnangagwa, a long-time ally
of Mugabe who doubles as
Zimbabwe's Justice Minister,
was sworn in as vice-president
last Friday, putting him rmly in
line to succeed the veteran ruler.
IN BRIEF FRONTPAGE
WORLD NEWS
SCHOOLSKID SIEGEPESHAWAR, Pakistan
(Reuters) -
At least 130
people, most of
them children,
were killed
on Tuesday when Taliban
gunmen stormed a school
in the Pakistani city of
Peshawar, taking hundreds
of students hostage in the
bloodiest insurgent attack in
the country in years.
Troops surrounded the
building and an operation was
underway to rescue children
still trapped inside, the army
said.
Hours into the siege, three
explosions were heard inside
the military-run high school,
and a Reuters journalist at
the scene said he heard heavy
gunre.
Outside, as helicopters
rumbled overhead, police
struggled to hold back
distraught parents who were
trying to break past a security
cordon and get into the
school.
Bahramand Khan, director of
information for the regional
Chief Minister's Secretariat,
said at least 126 people were
killed and 122 wounded.
"It may rise," he said, adding
that more than 100 of the
dead were school children.
A local hospital said the dead
and wounded it had seen were
aged between 10 and 20 years
old.
The hardline Islamist Talibanmovement immediately
claimed responsibility.
"We selected the army's
school for the attack because
the government is targeting
our families and females,"
said Taliban spokesman
Muhammad Umar Khorasani.
"We want them to feel the
pain."
It was not clear whether some
or all of the children were
killed by gunmen, suicide
bombs or in the ensuing
battle with Pakistani security
forces trying to gain control
of the building.
HOSTAGES STILL
INSIDE
An unspecied number of
children were still being
held hostage in the school,
a provincial ofcial said,
speaking some three hours
after the siege began.
The Pakistani Taliban, who
are ghting to topple the
government and set up a strict
Islamic state, have vowed to
step up attacks in response
to a major army operation
against the insurgents in the
tribal areas.
They have targeted security
forces, checkpoints, military
bases and airports, but attacks
on civilian targets with no
logistical signicance are
relatively rare.
In September, 2013, dozens
of people, including many
children, were killed in an
attack on a church, also in
Peshawar, a sprawling and
violent city near the Afghan
border.
With the rescue operation
under way, the situation
remained uid, with
contradictory reports about
what was happening inside
the school and witness
accounts difcult to come by.
"An army doctor was visiting
us teaching us about rst aid
when attackers came from
behind our school and started
ring," one student told
Pakistan's Dunya Television.
"Our teachers locked the
door and we ducked on the
oor, but they (militants)
broke down the door. Initially
they red in the air and later
started killing the students,
but left the hall suddenly.
"The attackers had long
beards, wore shalwar kameez(traditional baggy clothes)
and spoke Arabic."
The army said ve Taliban
militants had been killed and
that they were searching for
any remaining gunmen. The
Taliban had earlier said they
had sent six insurgents with
suicide vests to attack the
school.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
condemned the attack and
said he was on his way to
Peshawar.
"I can't stay back in Islamabad.
This is a national tragedy
unleashed by savages. These
were my kids," he said in a
statement.
"This is my loss. This is the
nation's loss. I am leaving
for Peshawar now and I will
supervise this operation
myself."
Military ofcials at the scene
said at least six armed men
had entered the military-run
Army Public School. About
500 students and teachers
were believed to be inside.
"We were standing outside
the school and ring suddenly
started and there was chaos
everywhere and the screams
of children and teachers,"
said Jamshed Khan, a school
bus driver.
66 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN PAST YEAR ASATTACKS GROW MORE BARBARIC: REPORT
Paris (AFP) -
Attacks on journalists
have grown more
barbaric and
kidnappings havesoared, Reporters Without
Borders said Tuesday, after a
year when violence against the
media took centre stage and 66reporters were killed.
Among those murdered this
year was AFP journalist SardarAhmad, 40, who was shot dead
in March when Taliban militants
stormed a hotel in Kabul. He
died along with his wife and two
of his three children.
The beheading of James Foley
and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic
State group also highlighted the
extreme danger journalists face
in covering modern conicts.
"Rarely have reporters beenmurdered with such a barbaric
sense of propaganda, shocking
the entire world," said Reporters
Without Borders in their annualreport released Tuesday.
There was a slight drop in the
number of murdered journalists-- down from 71 last year --
thanks largely to fewer deaths in
countries "at peace". A total of
720 reporters have been killed
since 2005.
But kidnappings soared to 119
-- up 37 percent on last year --
thanks to the tactics of separatists
in eastern Ukraine and militants
operating in the Middle East and
North Africa.Diane (R) and John Foley, the
parents of US journalist James
Foley, stand at the war reporters'
Of those kidnapped, 33 were in
Ukraine, 29 in Libya and 27 in
Syria. Forty are still being held."Local journalists pay the
highest price, representing 90
percent of those abducted," the
report emphasised.
"Of the 22 journalists currently
being held by armed groups in
Syria, 16 are Syrians. All of the
eight journalists currently held
hostage in Iraq are Iraqis."Reporters Without Borders
highlighted several cases of
journalists punished by their
governments, including that
of Raef Badawi, a Saudi
citizen-journalist who won the
organisation's Press FreedomPrize this year. He was sentenced
in September to 10 years in
prison and 1,000 lashes for
"insulting Islam" with his views
on the Liberal Saudi Network.
It also highlighted the case of
Khadija Ismailova in Azerbaijan-- "now Europes biggest prison
for media personnel". Her work
on government corruption has
made her a target of smear
campaigns, blackmail and
spurious legal charges.
University of Central Floridastudents attends a candle light
vigil for journalist Stephen
Sotloff o
"Now she is being held on the
absurd charge of 'pushing' a
former colleague to attempt
suicide, a charge that carriesa possible sentence of three to
seven years in jail," the reportsaid.
Worldwide, a total of 178
professional journalists were
in prison as of December 8, the
same number as last year.- 'Carefully-staged threats' -
China is the world leader in
imprisoning journalists, with 29
currently behind bars, followed
closely by Eritrea (28) and Iran
(19).
Among the high-prole targetsis 70-year-old Gao Yu, who
won UNESCOs World Press
Freedom Prize in 1997. Having
already spent seven years in
prison in China, she is again on
trial for "divulging state secrets"
to a German broadcaster.Conicts also led to large
numbers of journalists eeing
their homes. Forty-seven Libyan
and 37 Syrian reporters ed
their homeland in the past year.
A crackdown on privately-
owned Ethiopian media drove 31journalists into exile.
Beatings and rough handling
were most common in Ukraine,
followed by Venezuela and
Turkey -- a symptom of the
targeted violence used by police
in attempting to suppress protestsin those countries this year.
The report "highlights an
evolution in the nature of
violence against journalists and
the way certain kinds, including
carefully-staged threats and
beheadings, are being used forvery clear purposes," it said.
"The murders are becomingmore and more barbaric and the
number of abductions is growing
rapidly, with those carrying
them out seeking to prevent
independent news coverage anddeter scrutiny by the outside
world."
-
8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition
11/14
FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 11
Danesius Marteh, [email protected]
SportsSPORTS
HERRERA DENIESMATCH-FIXING CLAIMS
Manchester
United star
Ander Herrera
has pleaded his
innocence after he was one of41 gures quizzed as part of a
match-xing investigation in
Spain.
The midelder, nine of his
former Real Zaragoza team-
mates and the club's ex-coach
Javier Aguirre stand accusedof paying Levante players
965,000 before the last game
of the 2010/11 La Liga season.Herrera, who played for the
club between the age of 12
and 22 has ercely denied the
claims on his ofcial Facebookaccount and promised to help
assist the case by any means
possible.
GARCIAS QATAR BIDDINGREPORT APPEAL REJECTED BY FIFA
I DREAM OF RETURN TOFOOTBALL - PUYOL
Michael Garcia
will not be able
to appeal Fifa'sreport of his
investigation into the bidding
process for the 2018 and 2022
World Cups.
Former United States attorney
Garcia led the investigation
by Fifa''s Ethics Committeeinto the bidding process for
the next two World Cups, to
be held in Russia and Qatar
respectively