Award Winning Emmanuel Wheinyue

The Award Winner, according to the organizer represents Central and West Africa respectively.

Journalist Wheinyue’s trip to Kinshasa forms part of an International Media Award he won in 2009, from a competition called ‘Good News for Africa’.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had awarded three African journalists including Emmanuel Wheinyue, then of Star Radio Liberia, for promoting positive news of the continent.

He was invited to DRC as his grand prize, to monitor humanitarian interventions being carried out by the IFRC and the DRC Red Cross.

Mr. Wheinyue is expected to make field visit to Bas-Congo (Bi-Congo), where the Congolese Red Cross is implementing an HIV/AIDS project with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

According to the Federation’s DRC Country Representation in Kinshasa, Yawo Gameli Gavlo, the project is a pilot one as it combines HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support with community development initiatives in an integrated manner.

Bas-Congo province is about 360 Kilometers from Kinshasa.

While in DRC, Emmanuel is expected to visit the city of Goma in the North Kivu province, some three thousand Kilometers from Kinshasa.

This province of DRC is constantly at risk of seismic and volcanic disasters with potential methane gas explosions in Lake Kivu.

The vulnerability of the city is worsened by deforestation, environmental degradation, uncontrolled urbanization and concentration of populations in urban areas and high level of poverty coupled with armed conflicts.

The Red Cross has worked extensively to be prepared for a possible new eruption. It has set up an emergency operations centre, revised its contingency and evacuation plan, people have been trained about how to protect themselves against pollution from the volcano, there is an early warning system for populations and “monitoring brigades” have been trained who are in contact with the geological centre.

According to Mr. Wheinyue, this will give him opportunity to get to know the work of the Red Cross in terms of Social and psychological support for women victims of sexual violence.

Journalist Wheinyue’s award followed a competition in which fifty-five African Journalists representing nine countries participated to highlight positive stories from Africa.

Upon receipt of the Award in 2010, Emmanuel Wheinyue who is young Liberian journalist dedicated his award to all young media practitioners of Liberia.

Mr. Wheinyue called on his colleagues to remain focused in the pursuit to promote professionalism in the Liberian media landscape.

Min Karnwea speaks

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced a robust responsive strategy aimed at carrying the government to the people throughout Liberia.

Internal Minster Harrison S. Karnwea said the strategy is intended for improved communication from local level to the central region of government.

He said it will help the ministry respond quickly to information emanating from the counties.

He said, as part of the effort, the Ministry has begun the installation of V-SAT Dishes in the counties beginning with southeaster counties which are intended to strengthen and improve communication using the internet (email) system.

Minister Karnwea disclosed, to jump start the process, the Ministry recently dispatched a team of IT technicians from its Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) to the southeast to install V-SAT dishes in three southeastern counties, namely Rivercess, Sinoe and River-Gee

This ICT Division also setup Wireless Router, as well as cabling and networking of the Administrative Buildings in the three counties.

“This is done, so local people can communicate their information to the central region using email and other electronic media”, Min. Karnwea said.

The minister added that the Intranet and Internet System will also make communication faster and easier for the delivery purpose, that it is at the same time intended for check and balances in development program.

Minister Karnwea indicated that his ministry with support from the UNDP has established a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit as part of an effective, efficient and more accountable process.

At the same time, in the wake of natural disasters occurring in parts of Liberia, the National Disaster Relief Commission (NDRC) at the Ministry of Internal Affairs has responded greatly to the need of victims in Margibi and Bong Counties.

It can be recalled heavy storm hit the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata which removed and destroyed the roofs of several of the institute’s buildings.

Heavy storm also destroyed dozens of houses in several towns in Kokoyah Statutory District-Bong County recently, leaving at least three hundred persons homeless.

 At the Booker Washington Institute, the NDRC over the weekend donated twenty-five bundles of quality roofing zinc to the administration for the repair of the damaged roofs of the school’s facilities along with four bills of used clothes intended affected staff of  BWI.

Meanwhile, in Bong County the disaster commission distributed assorted relief items including one hundred sixty bundles of high quality roofing zinc to the affected families Doepa Camp II and Manakporloi communities in Kokoyah Statutory District.

Items distributed include; fifty (50) bags of rice, four (4) begs of slippers, buckets, twenty (20) tins of imported oil, several cartoons of lanterns, flashlights and roofing zinc nails amongst others.

In separate responds, the beneficiaries lauded government for the gesture for concern shown during their unfortunate situation.

BWI’s principal Mr. Mulbah Jackollie, who received his school’s relief items, praised government for the prompt responds.

Min Karnwea

Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea has assured local government officials that all is being done to tackle the numerous problems they are faced with.

High on the problem list is the issue of payment of local chiefs and their staff, which Mr. Karnwea considers a grave concern to his administration.

He said since his ascendency to the post, he continues to seek funding to quickly ensure local chiefs are placed on government payroll.

Though much has been done with commissioners, he said chiefs and their office staffs including clerks and messengers would be considered soon

He regretted the situation and said it was saddened for local chiefs to work all day long without pay, but called on those who are not on payroll to be patient as everything is done for them to begin receiving salary.

Minister Karnwea maintained a huge number of local officials have been placed on the payroll since he took over the ministry, but more needed to be done because according to him the local government is the bedrock of the governance system of the country.

He disclosed that an additional fund in the tone of US1.6 Million dollars has been acquired and the amount would be used to pay the remaining local official still not considered.

He assured local chiefs, he would ensure that logistics and other equipment comprising office furniture and office supplies are delivered to them.

The Internal Affairs Minister spoke in response to appeals from chiefs for the provision of logistics and salaries at separate Town Hall Meetings in Bomi County during a two-day County tour from January 4-5, 2011.

Minister Karnwea said he was aware of the numerous challenges being faced by the local government and was working tirelessly to solve the problems especially the salary issue.

The MIA release said the separate Town Hall Meetings were held in Klay, Senjah, Dewion#3 and Suehn-Mecca districts respectively as well as Tubmanburg City.

He said the two-day visit to Bomi County forms part of a nationwide exercise intended to assess development projects, acquaint himself with the local people and assess their plights in fulfillment of promise he made during his confirmation by the Senate few months ago.

Internal Affairs Min. Harrison Karnwea

Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea has called on residents of rural Liberia to turn out in mass and register in the upcoming Voter’s Registration exercise.

Minister Karnwea said the Voter’s Registration is the first major step to the 2011 General and Presidential Elections; therefore it must be taken seriously.

A release said he called on chiefs and elders to encourage their eligible citizens to turnout and registered from January 10 to February 6 in order to give them the voting power come Election Day.

According to the Internal Affairs Ministry boss the registration also requires the full participation of all citizens including rural dwellers because the 2011 elections would be a defining moment for Liberia.

Minster Karnwea appealed to farmers to take up some of the basic schedule to register in order to form part of what he considers the National decision making process in Liberia.

The Minister made the called when he held separate Town Hall Meetings in the various districts in the western County of Bomi, including Klay, Senjah, Dewion#3 and Suehn-Mecca respectively as well as Tubmanburg City.

He disclosed the two-day visit to the County forms part of a nationwide exercise intended to assess development projects, acquaint himself with the local people and assess their plights.

An Internal Affairs Ministry statement said Minister Karnwea also called on the citizens to put aside their differences and register.

The Director of Training and Examination at the LICPA said the seminar under the International Financial Reporting Standards targets commercial banks operating in Liberia

Mr. Nim’ne Mombo said Liberia needed to be on par with other countries because the International Financial Reporting Standards is a system of reporting generally acceptable by the world economy.

Meanwhile the Central of Liberia has welcomed the introduction of the IFRS in the financial private sector.

Speaking on behalf Governor Mills Jones, Central Bank Director of Finance Charles Sirleaf said the bank adapted the system because it makes financial Statements easier.

Liberian Bank for Development and Investment, Ecobank, United Bank for Africa-UBA, Guaranty Trust Bank-GT-Bank, International Bank-Liberia, First International Bank-IB, Global Bank are among commercial banks operating in Liberia

According to minister Korto, it has been rumored that the ministry has rescheduled re-opening schools by September 17.

He said the date is in line with the 2009/2010 academic calendar developed by consensus.

 Dr. Korto told Star radio, though there have been no new school buildings as planned, government would not compromise the school calendar.

The Ministry threatened administrative action against any school who fails to open on Tuesday.

The mandate comes less than a week after the House requested Educator Minister Joseph Korto to ensure that no private school increases its fees more than fifteen percent.

But latest report says the private schools have rejected the request, calling for a meeting with House Speaker Alex Tyler.

He said forty new schools planned to be opened this semester could not be opened due to constraints that the contractors encountered coupled with the heavy down pour of rain.

Meanwhile the Dr. Korto has clarified that the ministry would continue its scholarship program for private school students.

He said an earlier decision to discontinue the scholarship program was reconsidered following consultations from major stakeholders.

Dr. Korto Called on schools concerned to allow the scholarship beneficiaries.

Education minister Dr. Joseph Korto threatens serious actions against schools that would not re-open by September 1.

The Bong County Health Team  has outlined several challenges facing the fight against HIV/AIDS in the county.

The county Health Officer named access to  Antiretroviral drugs as key among the challenges.

Dr. Garfee Williams said the ARV drugs must be made available to people who agree to be  tested and diagnosed of the virus.

According to him, about sixty-seven cases of HIV have so far been recorded in 2010 with thirty-five persons benefiting from the Antiretroviral drugs.

Dr. Williams said the health system is also challenged by the limited laboratory equipment and supplies.

He has called for a stronger counseling program for the HIV/AIDS program in the central regional county.

The Bong Health Team boss  spoke Tuesday in Gbarnga, Bong County when the Executive Director of the UNAIDS program visited the Phebe Hospital.

Dr. Williams appealed for logistical support to enhance the health delivery system of the county.

Speaking earlier,  the UNAIDS boss Michel Sidibe called for concerted efforts for the attainment of  zero new infection of the disease.

He said preventing mother-to-child infection is crucial to combating the deadly disease.

Sixteen out of eight hundred eighty-nine tested since 2010 have been diagnosed positive.

DEA Commander in the County Augustine Doe said Edward was arrested on the Borlorla-Kakata high way for unlawfully possessing the gun.

Meanwhile, Col Doe said the suspect has been turned over to the Kakata Magisterial Court for interrogation.

The students believe the foundation, when established would raise necessary funds to cater to the educational needs of Liberian students.

The president-elect of the students Emmanuel Pour said the foundation would greatly reduce the funding constraints faced by grand Gedeh students yarning for university education.

Mr. Pour said the foundation would seek funding for the construction of schools.

Mr. pour spoke when he was elected along with others to lead grand Gedeh Students for next two semesters.

Others elected are Rufus Dakue-Vice president, Wilkins Gaou-Secretary General and Angeline Brown-Treasurer amongst others.