Liberia’s commitment to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen national revenue collection is receiving a significant boost through a weeklong Tax Inspectors Without Borders Criminal Investigation (TIWB-CI) training. The training workshop, currently underway in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, aims to enhance the capacity of financial and tax crimes stakeholders.
On July 26, 1847, Liberia declared itself a sovereign nation, becoming a beacon of hope for independence in Africa. History holds that Liberia kept its sovereignty when European colonial powers scrambled for the petitioning of Africa during the late 19th century. Historical accounts relate that President William Howard Taft (America’s 27th President) made American support for Liberia a priority of his foreign policy. This, among other exploits, enabled Liberia to remain in the American sphere of influence—thus becoming, to a greater extent, a respected and admired “big brother” in Africa. A great past!
(First Published June 2015)
By D Kaihennneh Sengbeh/Freelance Journalist
Public Works Minister William Gyude Moore
“They are sitting down and doing no intervention on this road,” he complained. By the middle of July if nothing is done at all, this whole Bardnersville road will cut from the rest of Monrovia,” the middle-aged citizen, riding on a motorbike along with this writer from Bardnersville Junction to Bardnersvile Estate, angrily lamented Wednesday evening (June 17, 2015).
By the time we arrived at our destinations, our trousers’ legs were already soiled as a result of the many pot holes filled with water that even the world’s best motorcyclist cannot escape.
While the just-come William Gyude Moore and his engineers might be restlessly working on revamping roads and bridges leading to the southeastern region for the hosting of this year’s Independence Day celebration (July 26), which is under only five weeks from now (at the writing of this article), his ability to adequately manage the country’s cumbersome infrastructure challenge is on the line in Montserrado — more especially in Gardnersville, Bardnersville, Johnsonville and Dixville.
The World Bank Group (WBG) has announced US$650 million as additional support to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone for the next 12 to 18 months to help them recover from the impact of the Ebola crisis.
Irish humanitarian Mrs. Adrienne Blomberg-Sarwahpue (along with Mr. Sarwahpue, middle) donating hand washing buckets and other anti-Ebola materials to the Gaye Dukpaye Community last September as Chairman Benedict Bropleh looks on
“In Gaye Dukpaye, we are not only on the alert, we will also keep engaging everyone that we have not won the war,” Shadrack S. Chea told me right before a big white barrel donated by CHAP International. The barrel contained diluted chlorinated water for passersby to wash their hands. It is part of measures the community has employed to fight the Ebola outbreak since last year. “Wash your hands; Ebola is still here; we need to fight it…” Continue reading “Success Of Fighting Ebola Thru Community-Based Approach — The Story Of Gaye Dukpaye Community”→
Liberia’s New Public Works Minister Gyude Moore has begun showing signs that he might make progress in helping revamp the country’s public infrastructure
“What kind of trouble is this?” he complained. “This is not time to fix roads; it should be done at night,” he menacingly added, though an opposed equal response would follow by a fellow passenger, a female. “People like you will never be satisfied,” a she countered. “When the people work, you vex; when they not work, you vex. Your give the people chance to do their work because we want good roads.”
Many Liberians in a around Monrovia, where road repair works are currently being done by the Ministry of Public Works are involved in heated exchanges like the above. One group of people argues that the Ministry needs to immediately respond to damaging roads across the city that are undermining free vehicular movements, while the other argues that it was inappropriate for the Ministry to “be fixing roads in the day” especially during rush hours. Continue reading “Feature: Public Works Resurrects To Do The People’s Work: Is Gyude Moore Showing Early Footprints?”→
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addressing the Nation in Monrovia on the National Plan to Combat Ebola last year
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has challenged public officials to either perform their duties and responsibilities in the interest of the state or quit public service.
She said during the last three years of her administration, she will leave no stone unturned to ensure that her government realizes its goals, adding, “as such any public official, irrespective of who it may be, will be dismissed from public service if he or she fails to perform to expectation.”
According to the Liberia News Agency, President Sirleaf proffered the challenge Thursday (Jan 15) at a program marking the induction into office of Justice Minister Benedict F. Sannoh at the Ministry of Justice in Monrovia. Continue reading “Ellen Sounds Dismissal Caveat”→
The United Nations development Programme (UNDP) has helped the Liberian government pay thousands of Ebola workers. Over $1 million dollars in cash payments were distributed across the country in January alone.
The workers were hired at the height of the crisis to help run treatment centers, help communities prevent transmission and track people that have had contact with victims. Many worked tirelessly without pay for months as the country struggled to cope with the epidemic. Continue reading “UNDP Helps Pay Ebola Workers In Liberia”→
PUL President K Abdullai Kamara listens to Paul Noring’s story of how he has been ill for more than seven years
He mustered courage and strength in his old ailing muscles and stood to greet and welcome the visiting team into his house. He had never before seen such a delegation of his professional colleagues at his house. He felt it was very appropriate to wake up and greet them.
“No, no, you don’t have to do that,” the head of the delegation advised empathically. “We understand your situation; just sit down.” The ailing old man returned to his sunken wooden seat, where he now spends bulk of his days—in a zinc shack house—listening to radio broadcast and following national issues.
As he looked at each member of the delegation, seeing familiar faces—people he had work with and covered news stories—tears oozed from his sickly eyes down his cheeks. I turned my face around, squeezed my eyes to stop any trace of my tears from rolling down, and continued taking my notes of the conversation—my job. Continue reading “Reflections From The PUL Visitation With Ailing Journalists: Did We Learn Any Lesson?”→
Statement Delivered By PUL Secretary General, D Kaihenneh Sengbeh, at programs marking the International Anti-Corruption Day 2014, organized by the Liberian Youth Natural Resource Governance Forum YMCA Conference Hall
December 9, 2014
I bring you professional greetings from the leadership and members of the Press Union of Liberia on whose authorities I stand before you.
PUL Secretary General, D Kaihenneh Sengbeh
The Press Union of Liberian is pleased to be invited to form part of this international observance against a terrible menace that has the propensity to stagnate the growth and development of any country and its people. I am speaking about corruption. Corruption is no stranger to Liberia. It is entrenched in our culture, in our homes, in the churches and mosques, in the schools, in our hospitals, in our bedrooms and in the blood veins of many of us. It is systemic, it is serious! Yes, even in the media, too.
It is even rampant among the politicians leading our country, the security sector including the immigration and the police. For example, between last Friday and Sunday, I saw acts that appeared to be corruption many times at the various police and immigration checkpoints along the Monrovia-Ganta Highway. Before passing through, commercial drivers are asked to “Drop the Gate”, when they are not the ones who mounted those gates. You know what I mean by drop the gate! Those gatekeepers (our security men and women) are demanding monies from the commercial vehicles. Continue reading “International Anti-Corruption Day 2014 Speech By PUL Secretary General, D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh”→
THE WEEPING PEN 