MICAT’s Thursday Regular Press Briefing

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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Major issues

Researcher work by: Dr. Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

Associate Professor of English

Penn State University, USA

Dr. Wesley is a Liberian Poet and Author of Four Books of Poetry. She’s currently in Liberia conducting a research on Liberian Women’s Trauma Stories from the Civil War. A grant was provided by the Penn State University in the tone of US$75,000 through Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering and Development in Africa (AESEDA) to record women’s stories, conduct workshops in teaching and writing.

PURPOSE

To engage Africa (Liberia) in Research, Scholarship, and Outreach programs.

PROCEDURE

1.    Continue ongoing research on Liberia women’s stories of trauma from the civil war.

2.    Conduct teaching/writing workshops with students’ and faculty at the University of Liberia main campus and Community Groups.

3.    Teach part of my research discoveries, narratives of incorporate in a course in African LITERATURE (comp. Lit 003 PSU) that fall at Penn State Altoona and for three years.

President Sirleaf off to USA

The President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf left Liberia for the United States of America yesterday for a two day official state visit. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf upon arrival will hold talks with officials of the United States Government and other development partners’ aim at soliciting more support for Liberia’s recovery program. The US Government has been a major contributor to Liberia’s Economic. While in America, the President will also meet with the House Foreign Affairs Committee and with Members of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, H.E Madam President will present Liberia’s case and inform the membership of Liberia’s progress since 2006 up to present under the Poverty Reduction Strategy. Minister Sieh will speak to that effect.

The Erection of billboards in the Streets

The Government of Liberia attention is drawn to the erection of billboard in the streets of Monrovia without authorization.  Minister Cletus A.  Sieh will throw more light on that.

Illegal Constructions on the RIA Road.

The Government of Liberia is warning against constructing on the main road. There are plans to widen the Rebort International Airfield hi-way in the future. All are asked to take note and govern themselves accordingly. Hon Cletus A. Sieh will further comment.

A U Summit

The President of Liberia, H.E Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will join other African leaders next week to participate in discussion leading to peace in Africa. It is expected that the crisis in Libya will dominate the Summit.

JULY 26, 2011 Orator and Theme:

Mrs. Garmai Estella Korboi

A resident of Voinjama, Lofa County

Venue: Voinjama City, Lofa County

THEME:  Rallying our Nation for Peace, Reconciliation and Development.

On Mexican Literary Works into Foreign Languages.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism is soliciting support in disseminating information about the support Program for Translation of Mexican Literary Works into Foreign Languages. With the aim of archiving a worldwide promotion and diffusion of the Mexican national culture, this program calls on foreign publishers to apply for grants to translate and publish the literary works of Mexican authors in their national languages. The program is sponsored by the Government of Mexico through the Mexican National Council for Culture and Arts as represented by the Mexican National Fund for Culture and Arts.

ON REFERENDUM 2011

The National Legislature passed a joint Resolution in August 2010 proposing a constitutional Referendum to amend certain provisions of the Liberian constitution including Articles 52(C), 72(b), and 83(a) &(b)

Referendum is the process by which citizens vote directly to either accept or reject a public policy, a propose law or constitutional amendment. In the Liberian context, the Legal framework provides for the holding of a referendum only for the purpose of effecting an amendment to provisions of the constitution. Bobby Livingstone, Public Relation Officer will provide information on Referendum 2011.

Article 52c says

“Resident in the Republic ten years prior to his election provided that the President and Vice President shall not come from the same County”.

To amend Article 52(c) which proposed that, the residency requirement for President be reduced from (10) years to five years prior to an election.

Article72b says,

“The Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the subordinate court of record shall be retired at the age of seventy; provided, however that a justice or judge who has attained that age may continue in office for as long may be necessary to enable him to render judgment or perform any other judicial duty in regard to proceedings by him before he attained that age”.

To amend Article 72(b) proposed that, the Chief Justice, Associate justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the subordinate Courts shall serve for life, except that they shall be retired at age seventy-five.

Article 83a says,

“Voting for the President, Vice President, Members of the Senate and Members of the House of Representatives shall be conducted throughout the Republic on the second Tuesday in October of each year.”

To amend Article 83(a) which proposed that the current constitutional election date be changed; and a new constitutional date for President, Vice President, members of the Senate and House of Representatives; and for chiefs, City Mayors and City Council is set.

Article 83bsays,

“All elections of   public officers shall be determined by an absolute majority of the votes cast .If no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first ballot, a second ballot shall conducted on the second Tuesday following. The two candidates who received the greatest numbers of votes on the first ballot shall be designated to participate in the runoff election”.

To amend Article 83(b) which proposed that election for all public officers, except for the President and Vice President, shall be by simple majority of valid votes cast in any election in Liberia.