29 July Newspaper Summary

Over 60 World Leaders Extol Liberia
[National Chronicle, The Inquirer and The Analyst, New Vision]

• The Foreign Ministry says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the people of Liberia have received over 60 messages of congratulations from world leaders and sovereign governments as Liberia celebrated its 163rd National Independence Anniversary.
• Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs Josephus Gray said congratulatory messages and felicitations came from Presidents, Heads of States, Kings, Queens, Governor Generals and heads of global and regional organizations around the world.
• Amongst sovereign governments that extended greetings and facilitations to President Sirleaf, government and people of Liberia included the United States, Great Britain, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, China, India and Brazil.
• Others are Turkey, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Libya and Ghana.

Liberia Accedes to WCO
[The Analyst, In Profile Daily, The Informer, The Inquirer]

• The World Customs Organization (WCO) has accepted Liberia as a contracting party to its Harmonized System Convention.
• The WCO acceptance of Liberia also makes the country eligible to the ECOWAS Common External Tariff.
• The latest decision by WCO makes Liberia the 138th contracting party to the convention.
• The organization officially took the decision on 26 June 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.
• The Harmonization System Convention will enter into force in Liberia on 1 January 2012.
• Customs Commissioner Decontee King Sackie said she is happy Liberia has excelled to the WCO Harmonized System.

China Donates to Immigration Bureau
[The Inquirer, Heritage]

• The Chinese Embassy near Monrovia Wednesday donated 20 motorcycles to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN).
• Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao said the donation will help enhance the operations of the BIN especially along Liberia’s border posts.
• Ambassador Zhou said the donation was China’s way of identifying with Liberia and parts of efforts to reach the MDGs together with the post war country.

As Senate Approves Legislative Budget Office: Lawmakers’ Financial Autonomy in Prospect
[Heritage]

• The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has approved a proposed legislation that sets the basis for the financial autonomy of the Legislature.
• The Act to create a legislative budget office also seeks to assist lawmakers exercise full financial oversight over the country’s fiscal budget.
• The chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, Lofa County Senator Sumo Kupee, described the bill as critical  strive by the Legislature to ensure financial independence.
• According to Senator Kupee, the setting up of a Legislative Budget Office consistent with provisions of the bill will set the basis for financial autonomy of the Legislature.
• Meanwhile, the bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence in keeping with normal legislative practices.

House Deputy Speaker Indicted, Ordered Arrested
[Heritage, New Democrat, National Chronicle]

• Criminal Court ‘A’ at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia has ordered the arrest of House deputy speaker Tokpa Mulbah for his alleged involvement in the brutal flogging of police officer Lexington T. Beh.
• Officer Beh was recently beaten allegedly on orders of deputy speaker Mulbah.
• Police authorities said officer Beh was flogged after he stopped a truck belonging to the deputy speaker on the Robertsfield Highway.  
• But the accused deputy speaker has since rejected the claim and vowed to prove his innocence in a court of competent jurisdiction.  
• According to a writ of arrest issued Wednesday, 28 July 2010, the court ordered the arrest of the living body of deputy speaker Mulbah for him to appear in court to answer to charges ranging from Aggravated Assault, Criminal Conspiracy, Theft of Property and Physical Obstruction of Government Functions among others.
• Deputy Speaker Mulbah, the writ of arrest stated, is to be arrested along with defendants King T. Mulbah, Jacob Flomo, Emmanuel Yeleker, Emmanuel Quiminee, Menafi Mulbah, Ephraim Flomo and Emmanuel Smith based on an indictment drawn out against them by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County.

As Senate Approves Legislative Budget Office: Lawmakers’ Financial Autonomy in Prospect
[Heritage]

• The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has approved a proposed legislation that sets the basis for the financial autonomy of the Legislature.
• The Act to create a legislative budget office also seeks to assist lawmakers exercise full financial oversight over the country’s fiscal budget.
• The chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, Lofa County Senator Sumo Kupee, described the bill as critical  strive by the Legislature to ensure financial independence.
• According to Senator Kupee, the setting up of a Legislative Budget Office consistent with provisions of the bill will set the basis for financial autonomy of the Legislature.
• Meanwhile, the bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence in keeping with normal legislative practices.

Protest Mars Passage of Maritime Bill
[Heritage]

• Protest last Thursday marred the passage of a bill seeking to establish a Maritime Authority in Liberia.  
• The protest, which was led by Maryland County Representative James Baney and Montserrado County Representative Dave Koomey, stemmed from provision of the bill seeking to commit 70 percent of maritime revenue into the coffers of the proposed Maritime Authority.
• Upon passage into law, the Liberia Shipping and Corporate Registry (LISCR) will pay into government account at the Central Bank of Liberia revenue and the government will immediately commit 70 and 50 percent respectively within the period of two years to the Maritime Authority.
• The provision of the bill, according to the protesting lawmakers, contravenes the Central Financial Collectorate System of the government.