Embassy media Room Source: US Embassy Liberia
In partnership with the government of Liberia, the Liberia FORECAST Project (Focus On Results: Enhancing Capacity Across Sectors in Transition) a USAID/Liberia funded project, based in Monrovia, held an Open House on Friday, February 20, 2009.
US Contributes $100,000 to Help Combat Caterpillar
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced today that the United States Government will be doubling the budget to combat caterpillar swarms in several counties. The $100,000 USD will be split between two efforts: $50,000 for pest control and surveillance measures, and $50, 000 for water and sanitation.
African Partnership Station (APS) in Liberia
The U.S. Navy’s Africa Partnership Station (APS) has returned to Liberia. In 2008 the Africa Partnership Station and the military officers assigned to it spent the month of March in Liberia conducting humanitarian aid projects and training for the AFL. On Monday, February 16, 2009, the Free Port of Monrovia came alive.
USAID Signs Assistance Afreements with Liberia
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed four Assistance Agreements with the Government of Liberia to signal continued commitment to Liberia’s peace and recovery. The four agreements support USAID’s objectives and are consistent with the Government of Liberia’s priorities.
Embassy media Room
Local Press Summary
(The Informer, 10/30/09) “IFES Delegation Pays Courtesy call on Vice President Bookie”
The visiting President and Chief Executive Officer of the US-based International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), Mr. William Sweeny has held talks in Monrovia with Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Bookie. During their discussions, Vice President Joseph Boakai said the Legislature was expediting measures to ensure the passage of the population Threshold Bill.. Mr. Boakai is also President of the Liberian Senate. The passage of the bill is critical the success of general and presidential elections in Liberia in 2011.
(Parrot, 10/30/09) “USAID Gives NEC US$17.5 M-For Electoral Support”
In fulfillment of US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s declaration of her country’s technical support for Liberia’s electoral program when she addressed a joint session of the Liberian Legislature in August, the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) has awarded the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) “a mouth-watering” US$17.5 million for electoral support for the period of five years. USAID-Liberia Mission Acting Director, Carolyn Bryan announced the US grant Tuesday at a joint press conference in Monrovia, reaffirming USAID’s long-term commitment to the democratic process in Liberia.
(New Vision, 10/30/09) ”US Demands Credible 2011 Elections-Unveils US$17.5M Aid Package”
Ahead of general and presidential elections in Liberia in 2011, the United States of America is demanding free, fair, credible and non-partisan elections in Liberia as expressed by an official of USAID-Liberia. “USAID is launching a comprehensive package of assistance to help ensure that free, fair., credible, non-partisan elections are the rule in Liberia,” Carolyn Bryan, Deputy Mission Director for USAID declared Tuesday in Monrovia when at a joint press conference she announced a US$17.5 million grant in support of Liberia’s 2011 general and presidential elections and beyond for a five-year period.
(The News, 10/30/09) “US Restricts Travel by Guinea Junta”
The United States Government has restricted travel to the US by Guinea’s military junta which has been accused of planning an bloody crackdown on opposition protesters leading to the killing of more than 150 people.
(Public Agenda, 1030/09) “Obama Honors Fallen Americans At Dover”
Standing in the pre-dawn darkness, President Barack Obama saw the real cost of the war in Afghanistan: The Americans who return in flag-covered cases while much of the nation sleeps in peace.. In a midnight dash to this Delaware base, where US forces killed overseas come home, Obama honored the return of 18 fallen Americans Thursday. All were killed in Afghanistan this week.
(Public Agenda, 10/30/09) “Clinton Says Pakistan Bomb Calls for Greater Resolve”
US Secretary of State said the recent deadly bombing in Pakistan showed the need for “an even stronger commitment” to combat militants who threatened the region’s stability.
1.1 Liberian Coverage:
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “2011 Race-Ellen Hints Readiness”
President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf has hinted that she would contest the 2011 elections, saying the bridge will be crossed when she gets there. But the Liberian President said she does not want to be detracted from her current agenda.
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “ Tubman on Sherman-The President Shouldn’t Be Listening to Him…”
Opposition politician Winton Tubman has questioned the motives of President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf’s political partner and lawyer, Counselor Varney Sherman, saying Liberians have the right to question his agenda. Tubman said Counselor Sherman ‘s reference to the Liberian Constitution as “a protective shield” for President Sir leaf is “too late,” but conceded that Sherman’s argument that the Constitution protects the President in that no law can be made for acts she allegedly committed to warrant barring her for 30 years from holding public office [as contained in the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report] is valid.
(The News, 10/30/09) “US$15 Million Committed to Fight River-Blindness”
The British Department for International Development has committed 10 million pounds equivalent to US$15 million to 12 African countries including Liberia to implement programs that would eliminate river blindness
(The Renaissance, 10/30/09) “Government to Replace Old Passports”
The Liberian government will on Monday, November 2, 12009 formally launch the “new national biometric passports” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia,. A press release from the Ministry said the new passports will meet the global requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization for “biometric machine-readable passports” to be in effect by April 2010.
(New Democrat, 10/30/09) “Liberian Killed In Taliban Attack”
A female Liberian UN staff, Yah Lydia Women, was amongst six killed in Kabul Wednesday when Taliban militants bombed the Indian Embassy and attacked an international guest house hosting UN Staff, including Ms Wonyene.
(National Chronicle, 10/30/09) “President Sirleaf Celebrates 71st Birthday”
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sir leaf Thursday ,October 2, celebrated her 71st birthday outside the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The celebration took in the provincial city of Greenville in Sinoe County.
Note: This site is not affiliated with the US Embassy in Libeira nor it is affiliated with the US government in any form. all information on this page are taken from the US Embassy Liberia website. Some of these information may not be current. Please see the US Embassy Liberia website for updated information.
News Headline
Everyone is a genius
Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – A Einstein
Drawing the line in Liberia
Crimes sponsored, committed, or masterminded by handful of individuals cannot be blamed upon an entire nationality. In this case, Liberians! The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results. - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Men with unhealthy characters should not champion any noble cause
They pretend to advocate the cause of the people when their deeds in the dark mirror nothing else but EVIL!!
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
If Liberia must move forward ...
If Liberia must move forward in order to claim its place as a civilized nation amongst world community of nations, come 2017 elections, Liberians must critically review the events of the past with honesty and objectivity. They must make a new commitment to seek lasting solutions. The track records of those who are presenting themselves as candidates for the position of "President of the Republic of Liberia" must be well examined. Liberians must be fair to themselves because results from the 2011 elections will determine the future of Liberia’s unborn generations to come - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's greatest problem!
While it is true that an individual may be held responsible for corruption and mismanagement of funds in government, the lack of proper system to work with may as well impede the process of ethical, managerial, and financial accountability - Bernard Gbayee Goah
What do I think should be done?
The situation in Liberia is Compound Complex and cannot be fixed unless the entire system of government is reinvented.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Any attempt to institute the system mentioned above in the absence of rule of law is meaningless, and more detrimental to Liberia as a whole - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's Natural Resources
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia needs a proper system
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Solving problems in the absence of war talks
As political instability continues to increase in Africa, it has become abundantly clear that military intervention as a primary remedy to peace is not a durable solution. Such intervention only increases insecurity and massive economic hardship. An existing example which could be a valuable lesson for Liberia is Great Britain, and the US war on terror for the purpose of global security. The use of arms whether in peace keeping, occupation, or invasion as a primary means of solving problem has yield only little results. Military intervention by any country as the only solution to problem solving will result into massive military spending, economic hardship, more fear, and animosity as well as increase insecurity. The alternative is learning how to solve problems in the absence of war talks. The objective of such alternative must be to provide real sustainable human security which cannot be achieved through military arm intervention, or aggression. In order to achieve results that will make the peaceful coexistence of all mankind possible, there must be a common ground for the stories of all sides to be heard. I believe there are always three sides to every story: Their side of the story, Our side of the story, and The truth – Bernard Gbayee Goah