Monrovia, Liberia News Summary For Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Foreign Minister Ngafuan’s penned deal with the Japanese Ambassador in a US$50 million agreement for the reconstruction and expansion of the Somalia Drive dominate today’s review. Other common stories include the sentencing of an ex-rebel general, the jailing of two jurors and concerns over Global Witness’ illegal logging operations in Liberia, among others. DOMINANT STORIES Gov’t, Japan Sign US$50M Somalia Drive Grant The Daily Observer, The News, FrontPageAfrica, The Inquirer, The New Dawn and others report on the signing of a US$50 million agreement for the reconstruction and expansion of the Somalia Drive. The papers write that the Governments of Liberia and Japan Monday signed the deal for the Somalia Drive which is an important economic road link that stretches from the commercial sector of Red Light in Paynesville outside Monrovia to the economic sector of Freeport on the Bushrod Island. Monday’s signing ceremony followed a Detailed Design Agreement that was signed in March of this year between both governments. Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan signed on behalf of the Liberian Government while Naoto Nikai, Ambassador of Japan accredited to Liberia signed for his government. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Ngafuan said, “We consider the Somalia Drive project a landmark because it is a major artery of Liberia’s trade corridor; that is, from the Freeport of Monrovia to the ever busy Red Light Market. It is expected that the completion of this project will alleviate traffic congestion and improve road worthiness in Monrovia and its environs, which translate to the reduction of transaction cost for the production and movement of goods and services, and ultimately contribute to the overall economic development of Liberia”. Earlier, Japanese Ambassador Nikai said he believed that the project will be one of the symbolic projects which represent the friendly relations between Japan and Liberia, suggesting that the Liberian people would consider to name the road the ‘Japan-Liberia Friendship Road’ once completed, the papers write. Ex-LURD General Jailed Gen. Aljaji Whosue Donzo, an ex-general of the defunct Liberia United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and his accomplice, Mohammed Bamba, were yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Monrovia Central Prison by Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice. The men were also fined US$300 each by the court. The decision followed a unanimous guilty verdict handed down early last month by the trial jury of the court. Reading the court’s ruling yesterday Judge Blamo Dixon declared, “It is the considered opinion of the court that the unanimous guilty verdict of the trial jury is hereby confirmed and affirmed. Defendants Donzo and Bamba are hereby adjudged guilty of the alleged crime of terroristic threat in keeping with Section (4.24) of the New Penal Code of Liberia, the Daily Observer, The News and other newspapers say. Jurors Jailed In US$49,000 Theft Case Judge Yussif Kaba of Criminal Court “C” yesterday confined Bailiff Felton Davis and a female juror, Agnes Paska, to the Monrovia Central Prison for 15 days each, for communicating with one of the co-defendants in a US$49,000 theft case. Judge Kaba also sentenced another juror, Alexander Solo, and co-defendant Mark Sampson, to 30 days (each) imprisonment. The court was hearing the case when the prosecution informed the court that some of the defendants were communicating with the jurors and court staff. This claim moved the court to have the Lone Star GSM Company summoned and compelled to produce call logs of the defendants. When the call logs were presented in court yesterday, it was proven that the accused jurors and court staff did communicate with the defendants – something two of the four accused had earlier denied, the Daily Observer reports. Several Logging Companies Linked To OTC …Global Witness Report Reveals Global Witness is calling on the Government of Liberia to investigate the managements of Forest Ventures and Mandra Forestry to determine the extent of the companies’ links to Oriental Timber Company (OTC), one of the most notorious logging companies operating during Liberia’s wartime. According to Forest Ventures’ Business Registry documents, one William Hock Kong Yii is listed as “empowered to bind” the company. The Inquirer reports that Global Witness said based upon interviews commissioned by it, three individuals with knowledge of Forest Ventures and OTC operations independently identified one William Yii as a logging manager now operating in Liberia, although they did not identify his official corporate role within Forest Ventures. OTHER STORIES CBL Launches Payment System Project The Inquirer newspaper reveals that the Central Bank of Liberia has embarked on the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) payment system development project implementation. The project is aimed at putting Liberia’s banking system on par with other African countries. Speaking to a team of journalists at the kick-off of the project, the Director of ICT and payment system, Mr. Will Bako Freeman, said, the project is very important to Liberia as it will help change the status of the banking system in the country Ellen’s Extradition War The Government of Liberia is vigorously gathering evidence to prosecute the former Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Ms. Ellen Cockrum, who is wanted here for corruption allegations. Ms. Ellen Cockrum recently left Liberia for the United States where she currently resides after she was booked for alleged corruption and subsequently dismissed. The government here has accused her of misappropriating more than $500,000.00, awarding state contracts to her boyfriend, including a fictitious foreign company called Diaspora International as well as violating laws governing the Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC), and the Public Financial Management (PFM). Liberia’s Solicitor-General, Cllr. Betty Lamin Blamo says the Ministry of Justice has ample and sufficient evidence to prosecute Ms. Cockrum, and that government would pursue an Extradition Treaty between Liberia and the United States of America to get her here for prosecution, the New Dawn newspaper asserts. Lawmaker Speaks On Money Scandal Claims The NEWS newspaper pens that A lawmaker who was accused of walking away with over US$100,000 intended to pay residents whose structures were damaged on the 24th Street has refuted ever squandering the amount. Montserrado County District #9 Representative, Munah Pelham-Youngblood said contrary to the allegation, residents whose structures were demolished by the government in the 24th Street Community have received their money inline with the value of their structures. Rep. Youngblood said 14 out of 16 family heads whose structures were demolished in January 2013 by the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) received their compensation from government. Rep. Youngblood said she received the amount from government and paid the residents US$257,897.83 even though she declined to state how much was given to each family head.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:31:20 +0000
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