Liberian Media Summary

29 July Radio Summary

Local Media

Star Radio (News monitored today at 09:00 am)
Education Minister Calls for Maintenance of School Facilities

Education Minister Othello Gongar has called on the people of Nimba to ensure the maintenance of newly constructed school facilities in the county.
Mr. Gongar said the facilities are meant to contribute to improving the quality of education in the county.
The Education Minister also said teachers are being assigned to the county for active service beginning the 2010/2011 academic year.
Minister Gongar spoke recently when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf dedicated several school projects in the county.
Meanwhile, President Sirleaf has called on Nimbaians to take on the teaching profession to help educate their kinsmen back home.
Madam Sirleaf said it would be of no use to have schools built and there are no teachers for the students.

Stranded Teachers Vow Not to Return to Class if…

Over 200 teachers from four districts in Grand Cape Mount County are stranded in Sinje.
The teachers are quoted as saying they were told to go to Sinje to collect their four months salary arrears government allegedly owes them.
Some of the stranded teachers said they have been in Sinje for nearly a week and threatened not to return to class upon the resumption of school if government does not pay their salary arrears.
There has been no word on the plight of the teachers from government.

(Also reported Radio Veritas, Sky FM, and ELBC)

Health Authorities Raise Serious Cases of Malnutrition in Sanniquellie

Health authorities at the JW Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie, Nimba County have reported serious cases of malnutrition in the county.
The hospital’s director of nursing services said the children lack the balance diet needed to facilitate growth and development.
Ms. Alice Bamakpai spoke of serious vitamin deficiency which has affected babies whose parents lack the understanding of basic health requirement.
According to her, up to 20 cases of malnourished children are reported to the hospital on a daily basis.

China Donates to Immigration Bureau

UNICEF Donates 50,000 Chlorine Tablets

UNICEF has donated a consignment of 50,000 chlorine tablets to the JJ Dossen Hospital in Harper, Maryland County.
The hospital’s medical director Jean Kelly said the donation followed the outbreak of diarrhoea in Harper.
Dr. Kelly however said massive chlorination of wells; training of trainers’ workshops and awareness were carried out to control the outbreak.
The Environmental Health Unit at the hospital reports over 180 diarrhoea cases from Harper, New Kru Town and Hoffman Station communities from June to July.
The Unit attributes the diarrhoea outbreak to contamination of drinking water by bacteria.

Security Threat Reported in Diamond Rich Mano River Kongo

Residents of Mano River Kongo in Porkpa District, Grand Cape Mount County have alarmed over what they consider an imminent security threat in their area.
The residents said there is an influx of aliens in the area posing a serious security threat.
They mentioned the burning of the Immigration Check Point and the flogging of a police officer as incidents that demand serious attention.

Truth FM (News monitored today at 10:00 am)
Liberia Accedes to WCO

FDPL Chairman Calls for Senate Pro-tempore, House Speaker’s Resignation

The chairman of the opposition Free Democratic Party of Liberia (FDPL) has called on the Senate President Pro-tempore and the Speaker of the House to resign for reducing the constitution to a resolution.
Mr. Ciapha Gbollie said the action by the Legislature refusing to pass the threshold bill as prescribed by the Liberian Constitution violates the constitution and called on the President not to sign it.
According to Mr. Gbollie, the resolution reached by both the Senate and the House of Representatives will meet stiff resistance even at the level of the Supreme Court.
The FDPL chairman wants Senate Pro-tempore Cletus Wotorson and Speaker Alex Tyler to resign or be impeached by members of the Legislature.

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