Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition

8/10/2019 Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition

1/14

Incumbency Factor Favors Nimba County Senator

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

PRICE L$40FrontPage

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STORIES pg 8pg 8 LegislativeBeat

Crime Watch

VOL 8 NO.744 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of

the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The

rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials

banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.

Source:

Research, Policy and Planning Department,

Central Bank Liberia,

Monrovia, Liberia

TUESDAY,DECEMBER 9, 2014 L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1

BUYING SELLING

L$82.00/US$1 L$83.00/US$1

L$83.00/US$1L$82.00/US$1

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2014

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2014

Petroleum News - pg.5

It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against theopposition of a cross section of the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing

New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2012. - Dr. Christopher Z. Neyor

ON THE SALE OF FOUR OIL BLOCKS IN MIDST OF EBOLA OUTBREAK

NEYOR THREATENSSUIT AGAINST NOCAL

LIBERIA VOTES 2014 - YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2014 SENATORIAL ELECTIONS

Your Vote is your Voice Vote your Nation & Vote Right

p 6 p 7

SMOOTH SAILING

FOR PYJ?GETTING READY

FOR 2017

Legislature to Ratify Block 16

But Police Tightlipped

On Identity

KIDNAPPERARRESTED

HASTYOIL SALE

Liberia Transformation Party KennedySandy Resigns With Eyes On Presidency


2/14

Page 2 | Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Monrovia-

Claims and counter claims continue to pile up ahead ofSaturdays Senatorial elections in Liberia.Already parties to the Montserrado CountySenatorial race have started trading accusations and

counteraccusations about possible attempts to cheat during theelection.For days now reporters have surfaced alleging that some candidateshave been buying voters registration cards from vulnerableconstituents, a situation that was also reported during the 2005election when the Unity Party of eventual winner President EllenJohnson Sirleaf and her supporters were accused of buying votersregistration cards of young electorates perceived to be diehard

followers of George Weah of the CDC.Sirleaf later in 2012 admitted that some of her followers didunorthodox things during the 2005 elections to help her win.While visiting the United States Sirleaf said some Liberian womencheated to help her in the 2005 election race against Weah.President Sirleaf at the time said that some women market-sellersin Monrovia prevented their sons from voting in the 2005 elections

because they were afraid the young men would vote for Weah."Knowing then that they had young sons who would all be thefollowers of one of the young candidates, they took all their votercards from them in the night to make sure that they were not ableto go to vote," said Sirleaf.The president also said "They (the women) even did someunorthodox things, as they confessed to me later on ... and I cansay it now since I am not running again."Eventually, Weah came in rst in the rst round but was defeatedin the second round by Madam Sirleaf who got 56 percent of thevote while Weah received 46 percent, according to NEC.Weah and the CDC protested and result and staged street protest

but later abandoned their protest.

Events of 2005, 2011 linger

The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) is onceagain raising a red ag again describing as criminal and prematurewhat it terms as act by some individuals to print campaign

propaganda materials calling on partisans of the party not to turnout to vote on Saturday, December 20, informing the public thatthe CDC candidate has withdrawn from the competition.According to Mr. Mulbah Morlu, Vice chairman for Operationsand Mobilization, a leaked election propaganda material printed

by some unknown individuals in the possession of the party isquoting the party as calling on its partisans not to turn out to voteon Election Day.Mr. Morlu accused President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of sponsoringthe Propaganda materials against the CDC because in his wordsshe is desperate to ensure that her son is elected senator ofMontserrado County.Morlu also claimed that some individuals using the name of the

CDC have printed T-Shirts bearing the party name renderingsupport to the candidacy of Mr. Robert Sirleaf something he saidis criminal and has the propensity to encourage election violence.The CDC ofcial said: As we speak today we have in our

possession huge number of voter registration cards collected byMr. Eugene Nagbe youth and sports Minister and his CollaboratorMr. Jacob Kabakollie at the Ministry of Youth and sports wherethey have created a center there to collect voters cards in exchangefor money this is something we have said before and peopleoverlooked it.He also claimed that it has being established that Minister Nagbeand Kabakollie with support from Mr. Abraham Kromah deputy

police director for operation now have two cartoons of voterscards collected from eligible voters in exchange for money.Mr. Morlu also claimed that Minister Nagbe and his collaboratorsare using the government funded Ministry of Youths and Sportsas a hub for the Robert Sirleaf campaign team something he saysviolates the law governing the code of conduct for public ofcials.The CDC executive also frowned on the decision by the National

Elections Commission to lift the ban on street parade days afterMr. Sirleaf violated the regulation as deceptive and an important

For days now reporters have

surfaced alleging that some

candidates have been buying voters

registration cards from vulnerable

constituents, a situation that was also

reported during the 2005 election

when the Unity Party of eventual

winner President Ellen Johnson

Sirleaf and her supporters wereaccused of buying voters registration

cards of young electorates perceived

to be diehard followers of George

Weah of the CDC.

Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]

coincidence that could suggest that the executive Branch ofgovernment as always speculated is involved in arms twistingwith the NEC to make decision to favor candidate Robert Sirleaf.He also claimed that the Robert Sirleaf campaign is usingeconomic strategies to compare employees at various publicagencies to wear Mr. Sirleaf Campaign shirt to turnout in theirnumbers or lose their l ivelihood.

Baseless Accusations, Rob team says

Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, a member of theRobert Sirleaf campaign team in a statement has described the

CDC claim as baseless and sophomoric.It has come to my attention that the Executive Committeeof the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), at a newsconference today, Tuesday once again spewed out its usual

baseless, sophomoric accusations which would not have meritedsuch response had our polity not been diluted by gullibility andmediocrity, stated Nagbe.

Nagbe further added I am therefore constrained to respond tothe laughable accusations that voter registration cards are being

purchased at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and that a batchof cards and other materials were seized at the Ministry byMilitants of the CDC. The allegations and vitriolic rhetoric aretotally untrue and are more of a reection of the sorry state ofleadership at the CDC then they are an indictment of the Ministry.According to Nagbe although he has announced his support for

Robert Sirleaf but stated that workforce of the Ministry of Youthand Sports reects all political parties.Stated Nagbe Although I have announced my support for Mr.Robert Sirleafs candidacy within my rights as a Liberian citizen,the workforce of the Ministry is a reection of all hues of ournational political dispensation partisans from all political partiesand persuasions, non-partisans all work here diligently under avery professional atmosphere to deliver on our statutory mandate.

Nagbe said he will not distracted by what he termed paranoidschemes by the CDC.We will continue to focus on implementing solutions for themanifold issues affecting the development of Liberian youths andnot be distracted by the paranoid schemes of this rudderless party

Nagbe declared.In 2011, the CDC protested election results with a street protestthat led to a fracas between supporters of the party and statesecurity forces.Live bullets were shot at protestors resulting to deaths and itseems Liberians might be bracing for another rounds of protest

provided the necessary mechanisms are not put in place by NEC

to convince all sides that the elections were conducted free, fairand transparent.

{L-R} A display of a poster bearing CDC logo pledging support to Sirleaf; Mr. Morlu displaying propaganda iers calling on CDC partisans not to turnout to vote


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FrontpageWednesday, December 17, 2014 Page 3

FrontPagev

Commentary

EDITORIALLIBERIA IS BIDDING fare thee well to Dr. Atai Umoruto and her

peers from the East African nation of Uganda who were brought in to

help Liberia ght off the deadly Ebola virus which has so far claimed

the lives of up to December 16, 2014, 6,841 people had been reported

as having died from the disease with the total number of reported

cases is more than 18,000.

THE THIRTEEN UGANDANS include Dr. AtaiOmoruto, Dr. Kaggwa

David, MadiraaKefa, Akugizibwe Rosemary, Waiswa Florence,

Komuhendo Judith, Kusemererwa Teddy, MukandirwaAs iat, Awilo

Sarah, Namutosi Catherine, NakayizaNakato- Annet, Candiga

Richard and Tony Walter Onena.

2014 BROUGHT UPON the West African sub-region, the worst ever

outbreak since scientists discovered the virus in 1976. The virus was

named after the Ebola River in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic

of the Congo (DRC).

TO DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN almost 20 outbreaks of the virus; in

the DRC, Sudan, Uganda and Gabon. In 2000 and 2001, around 425

people in Uganda were infected, four years later 149 people caught the

virus. Two further outbreaks were recorded in Uganda, but the total

the number of people infected with the virus was just over 30.

THIS IS WHY UGANDA answered the call when Liberia came

calling at the height of the outbreak in August, sending a team of

Ugandan doctors and health workers who were deployed by the World

Health Organization(WHO) to provide medical support for an Ebola

treatment centre in Monrovia.

THE TEAM came with vast experience in managing Ebola outbreaks,

having faced many cases of the disease since 2000.

WORKING IN SHIFTS, alongside their Liberian colleagues to

provide around the clock care and to help maintain strict infection-

control measures.

THAT THOSE doctors are bidding farewell to a nation turning the

corner on a deadly Ebola outbreak, speaks volume about the nature of

African solidarity.

DR. ATAI UMORUTO in particular has been a force, not just in

providing the basics to her Liberian peers but also looking out for their

welfare as well, pressing for benets and other essentials for Liberian

health care workers, while stepping on the toes of some unhappy

campers in the Liberian government who advocated for her to be sent

back to Uganda.

AT A FAREWELL PROGRAM last Saturday, Dr. Atai said it was

nightmare when she rst arrived in Liberia, to see dead bodies

everywhere even more than patients and health workers did not

to know what to do. I came in July, what I saw was dead bodies

everywhere, there were more dead bodies than patients, and nobody

seems to know what to do.

THIS IS WHY MANY including Montserrado District 13 Lawmaker

Rep. Saah Joseph, who attended the farewell ceremony expressedshock that the Ugandan Doctors are leaving. Rep. Joseph whose

First Responders Ambulance were the rst on the ground during the

high period of the Ebola outbreak has promised to write a letter the

Ministry of Health to ask the WHO why they are sending the Ugandan

Doctors away when Liberia has not been declared Ebola free. I will

really like for MOH to tell me why they are sending these Doctors

back when we still have Ebola in Liberia, they cant tell me there is no

money, I wont believe that, he said.

LIBERIA OWES a debt of gratitude to the people of Uganda and

those who came to Liberia during its darkest hour to help the country

battle what is inarguably the biggest epidemic ever to hit here.

THESE EXPERTS left their homes, their families and loved ones

to come to Liberias aid. At least two Ugandans died while helping

Liberia. DR. John Taban Dada, died October at a treatment center

on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia's capital while Dr. Samuel

Muhumuza Mutooro, died in July.

WE HOPE that those deaths would not be in vain and the expertiseof Dr. Atai and her colleagues would be passed on to Liberian

professionals.

LIBERIA AND LIBERIANS MUST never forget the contributions

of those who came to our aid, the Ugandans in particular came with

a mission of goodwill to aid fellow Africans and even dying in the

process. For this, we must honor and pay homage, they deserve the

highest honor Liberia has, because they came to our aid and helped to

save lives when we needed help the most.

COMMENTARY

A BIG THANK TO DR. ATAI& THE UGANDAN DOCTORSFrancis W. Nyepon, [email protected], [email protected]; Contributing Writer

Liberias Agricultural Sector is in an appallingly worrying

state due to the lack of vision, mismanagement, careless

investment priority and decient capacity. Over 3.5

million Liberians or 8 in every 10 persons lack adequate

food for a healthy and active life. Liberia is one of the least food-

secure countries in the world, with a ranking of 182 out of 187

according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Our

agricultural growth is stalled because we depend too heavily on

subsidized imports to feed our people. For instance, over 70%

of our food including 93% of our rice is imported. We cannot

grow sufcient food to feed ourselves because those who manage

the sector lack the require vision to transform it; while others

seem too scared to take decisive action because of job securityand preoccupation with politics. As a result, bold, daring andcourageous policy initiatives needed to transform the sector are

caught up in politics and self-interest.

In addition, farmers are not encouraged to either contribute

to improving the sector or reorganizing it to guarantee that

productivity increases. Instead, the overwhelming majority of

farmers are left to fend for themselves. According to the United

Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 82 to

92 percent of Liberian farmers live in extreme poverty without any

possibility of upward social mobility in the next 50 years if things

continue as they are. Likewise, ensuring transformative success

in Liberian agriculture would require that farmers be given an

opportunity to actively engage policymakers or challenge policies

that are disadvantageous to them or to the country becoming self-sufcient in food production.

When these factors are paired with the effects of Ebola, many

Liberians are driven unnecessarily into hunger and unbearable

poverty as a result. Additionally, combined these factors with bad

roads, dismal transportation system, higher food prices, declinein farming activities and restrictions in cross-border agriculture

trade along with limitations in inter-country food supply routes;

then, one can envision the severity of the distress, which plagues

Liberias productive agricultural sector and causes it to be stalled.

Ebola has made growing, trading, purchasing and obtaining food

extremely difcult for millions of Liberians. It has caused poor

crop yields on the one hand. On the other hand, it has caused

tremendous dependency on donors to supply the country with

food. Moreover, the situation has been exacerbated and made morecomplex by the extreme poverty that exists in the country.

Existing Socioeconomic vulnerabilities require a new vision. An

analysis by the WFP concludes that over three and one half million

Liberians are currently having difculty getting food because of

Ebola and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. And, the situation could

get worse if bold new food policies arent immediately introduced

to effectively deal with the situation. This authors visit to the

heartland observed the planting season without regular agricultural

activities taking place or being performed in a meaningful way

to yield results. Indisputably, in 2015, there will be substantialshortage and higher prices for food due to disruptions in the

agricultural sector that has been compounded by Ebola.

The Ebola crisis can certainly be used to grow Liberias

productive agricultural sector in order to enhance productivityand assemble the skill sets needed to guarantee recovery and

reform the sector in a more holistic manner. Recent visits by

this author to ve counties, two of which were the countrys

breadbasket, reveal some shocking indicators that do not help in

supporting and promoting food security. During these visits, the

author observed severe disruption in the sector with vital farming

activities severely reduced. For instance, families that comprise

the majority of small-scale farmers were staying away from their

farms due to Ebola. Similarly, cross-border agriculture trade and

inter-country food supply routes with Guinea, Sierra Leone and the

Ivory Coast were disrupted. Likewise, transportation was a major

stumbling block in transferring food to market. Equally, the roads

that connected farms to markets were cordoned off; while, crucialpassageways that link major commercial centers of trade to the

people, were appalling and atrocious. The author also discoveredentire sections of the border in Bong, Nimba, River Gee, Grand

Gedeh, and Maryland severely barricaded, limiting or completely

being brought to a standstill cruelly suffocating critical social and

economic links.

The impact of Ebola on critical sectors of the economy, like

agriculture and food security can be remedied by homegrown

strategic policy alternatives. Agriculture, for all of its man-made

shortcomings in Liberia, can inevitably provide that comparative

advantage for sustainable development in terms of food security,

nutrition and health. Therefore, Liberia has this unique opportunity

to better harmonize and target food security as a prudent area for

obtaining real sustainable economic growth. However, policies

should be promulgated along with the appropriate vision to better

manage our resources in order to better lay-out an engaging

roadmap with direct implication for social expansion.

Restructuring the agricultural sector in the midst of Ebola could

boost food security in Liberia. The Ebola crisis presents a strategic

opportunity for Liberia to obtain greater food security. The

development and modernization of our agricultural sector can be

the catalyst and platform from which a successful roadmap can be

laid, and huge accomplishment in food security achieved within

3-5 years. In order to accomplish this goal, however, the followingshould be considered:

First, we can improve our agriculture productivity

growth by employing a more skillful and visionary management

team at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Second, we can boost food security by decreasing our

dependence on imported foods; especially, rice.

Third, we need to implement innovative policy initiatives

to develop a pluralistic, decentralized, demand-driven and market-

oriented system nation-wide and sector-wide.

Fourth, our government must painfully go out of

its comfort zone to encourage the participation of farmers

cooperatives and smallholder farmers in critical decision making

process to make the sector prosper in a more benecial manner. Fifth, we should employ a calculated strategy to

expand the purchasing power of vulnerable groups and local

communities through employment, training, capacity-building and

empowerment zones.

And, nally, the government needs to signicantly investin the sector with a bold new initiative that allocates at least 15-20

percent of our annual national budget to the sector.

In addition, Liberias agricultural growth needs to be fuelled by

expanding cultivated areas in every county to enhance better

capacity to augment productivity. In addition, bold new investment

priorities, farm-to-market road networks should be prioritized,

along with building transportation hubs and transport services

to better facilitate the efcient movement of foods across thecountry. Furthermore, bold new policy initiatives should guarantee

low interest loans and credit facilities for small-scale farmers to

purchase fertilizers and seeds, as well as, build irrigation and water

management systems. These are some of the supercial barriers,

which consistently deny Liberian farmers access to credit in order

to increase productive capacity.

These are the solutions and answers, which this author nds are

practical in addressing food insecurity in Liberia in the midst of

Ebola. Boosting food security in Liberia at this time is critically

important. Our agricultural sector needs vision, leadership andbold new decision to move the sector forward in a holistic manner,

not recycled politicians and cronies who continue to run Liberias

agriculture sector amok. Social, economic and political disruptions

cannot continue to plague our country as they have done in thepast. Our leaders must now seize this opportunity to make Liberia

better by improving living standards, providing basic services, and

denitely insuring food security through adequate food production

for a healthy and active life for all Liberians. Liberias economy is

predominantly agrarian, yet our policymakers do not seem to truly

comprehend the magnitude of its impact on our society. Liberians

can do better. Liberians must do better. The failure to boost food

security is too grave to comprehend. If our leaders do not rise

to the occasion; then, the majority of Liberians will continue to

remain hopelessly disadvantaged, adversely deprived and linger in

abject poverty for generations.

For eight years, our annual budget was over half a Billion United

States Dollars. Yet, investment in our agriculture sector has beenunder ten percent of the annual budget. As a consequence, there

have been minimal improvements in the sector rebufng truetransformation from take place. Also, investing, monitoring and

evaluation of the sector were extremely weak during this past

eight years. This is because our government does not prioritized

food security as an important component of growth; therefore,

our high economic growth rate over the past eight years did not

yield tangible results for average Liberians, except for those well-

connected at the top. Living standards especially for farmers have

substantially dwindled to almost nothing. So, how can farmers

grow more food when they are severely challenged?

LIBERIA: BOOSTING FOODSECURITY IN THE MIDST OF EBOLA


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5/14


Monrovia-

Acontestant in the

upcoming SpecialSenatorial Elections

and a Former

National Oil Company of Liberia

(NOCAL) boss Christopher

Neyor has termed the sale of four

oil blocks by the government

of Liberia as illegal under theprevailing New Petroleum Law

adopted June 2012 and has

threatened a lawsuit against the

entity.

Neyor at a news conference on

Tuesday said the process leading

to the sale of the oil blocksviolated Chapter IV Section

4.4 of the New Petroleum Law.

Neyorthus threatened to le a

lawsuit against NOCAL for the

sale of four oil blocks under

dubious circumstances.I am preparing afdavit withadditional factual information

as part of the ling to our high

court, he said.

As a stakeholder and one

whose leadership our people

look up to especially in the oil

sector, I [Neyor] have consultedlawyers to le an injunction to

the honorable Supreme Court

against ratication of these

illegally obtained oil blocks.

Neyor said that he would be

forwarding information in his

possession to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission [LACC]

for investigation.

I have strong reasons to believe

Monrovia-

Last Saturdays ruling

by the Supreme Court

to quash the writ of

prohibition led before

it by several Liberians to halt theup-coming Senatorial election

rescheduled for Saturday,December 20, 2014 seem not to

be a political blow to some of

the petitioners, rather an action

intended to protect the lives of

Liberians against the deadlyEbola Virus.

Edwin Martins one of those who

joined several eminent Liberians

to oppose the holding of the

election in the mist of the deadly

Ebola virus by ling a writ of

prohibition to the Supreme Court

to says he has no regrets for

ling the petition.

Martins indicated that herespected the Supreme Courts

decision on the matter as anal arbiter of justice, but his

petition was understood and

taken into consideration due to

the dissenting views expressed

by two of the ve high courtjustices.

But Chief Justice Francis

Korkpor ordered the writ quashed

citing that the petitioners had

raised political issues rather than

substantive issues.

This court does not deal with

political issues as political

issues is left with the Executive

and Legislative branches ofgovernment, it will not be this

court to cancel election becausewe will not have the power to set

another election date, said Chief

Justice Korkpor hereby quashing

out the writ of prohibition.

Walking out of the Chamber ofthe Supreme Court last Saturday

after the ruling, Martins told

FrontPageafrica that the matter

had become history which every

Monrovia-

On Tuesday Liberians who gathered at the Temple of justiceto witness hearing into the writs of prohibition led

separately by Independent candidate Robert A. Sirleafand some lawmakers against President Ellen Johnson

Sirleafs executive order 65, were disappointed, as the court couldnot hear the matter.

Instead lawyer representing Senatorial aspirant Sirleaf called onthe judges to grant him time to consult his supporters on the lastSaturdays Supreme Court opinion to lift the stay-order placed on the

pending election.Your honors, currently campaign is taking place and all aspirants arecampaigning for the Saturdays election, we want continuance (time)

so that the petitioner can meet his supporters for their input, Cllr.Idriss Sherriff legal counsel for the petitioner.Lawyer for the lawmakers announced before the high court that

the lawmakers have decided to withdraw their petition because theelection for which the petition was led is just few days away so therewas no need to pursue the petition.

Petitioner Edwin Snowe and all beg your honors that they wish towithdraw their petition led before this court, for the fact that thesubject matter of the petition that is the election, is just few days

away said Cllr. KanieWesso, legal counsel for the lawmakers.His request was rejected by Solicitor General Betty LarmieBlamowho called on the high court not to accept verbal request of the

lawyer,but stated that the lawyer should make his request formalthrough a written document in consonance with the law.In response to Montserrado County Senatorial aspirant Sirleafs

request, Chief Justice Korpkor stated that the Supreme Court couldnot honor the request for time and make determination because thestate had led its brief on Tuesday morning and that judges do notknow what is in it. He ned Solicitor General Betty LaminBlamo

US$200 for ling the states brief late.Responding to the lawmakers lawyer s request, Chief JusticeKorkpor told them to make their request formal by documenting it.

This bench has no sh to fry in anybodys oil, what you bring beforeus is what we deal with, we are here to protect democracy; a parablethat means that the bench is absolutely neutral in its dealing with

any matter before it, said Chief JusticeKorkpor as he ordered thesuspended.

The Executive Order issued by the President on December 3, 2014 hadplaced a ban on mass movement of people including rallies, paradesand demonstrations on the streets of Monrovia during the ensuingspecial senatorial elections now scheduled for December 20, 2014

across the country.But a day after the Executive order was issued bythe president Sirleaf, several lawyers including Montserrado CountyDistrict#6 lawmaker Snowe led a writ of prohibition to the Supreme

Court opposing the order.In the petition the lawmakers called on the high court to quash theExecutive Order#65 because it violates Articles 13&17 of the 1986

Constitution and that Article 13 of the Constitution provides thatevery person lawfully within the Republic shall have the right tomove freely throughout, reside in any part thereof and to leave there

form subject however to the safe guarding of public security, publicorder, health or morals of the rights and freedoms of others.The lawmakers to include Edwin SnoweJr, J. Gabriel Nyenkan,Munah E. Pelham-Yougblood, Bill Twehway, Solomon George, A

VarmuyahConneh, Adolf Lawrence. Others are Saah Joseph, JuliusBerrian, Edward Forh, Acarous M. Gray, Thomas Fallah and WilliamDakel the order also violates Article #17.

The Supreme Court moved to place a stay-order on the presidentsorder after the lawyers and the senatorial aspirant led the petitionbefore the high court pending the high court hearing which was

assigned on Tuesday, December 16,2014.However a legal practitioner who spoke to FrontPageafrica strictlyon the basis of anonymity shortly after the high court was adjourned

had stated that with the lawmakers petition withdrawal does not noway means that the President Executive Order#65 is in force as thestay-order placed on the order is still holding until the high court can

make a determination.

PETITION ON HOLD

Rep Snowe Others Back Off On Executive

Order #65 Petition; As Robert Sirleaf,

Calls For Time to Consult Supporters

It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against the

opposition of a cross section of the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing

New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2012. - Dr. Christopher Z. NeyorKennedy L. Yangian, 077296781

[email protected]

Kennedy L. Yangian, [email protected] ,077296781

NEYOR THREATENS SUIT AGAINST NOCALON THE SALE OF FOUR OIL BLOCKS IN MIDST OF EBOLA OUTBREAK

Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498

that some stealing is being

perpetrated against our countryand following the advice of

counsel will be forwarding theinformation, he said.I have

written to the LACC for opening

of a full investigation into the

hurried and unwise sale of these

oil blocks.

Neyor told journalists that thebidding process, evaluation of

bids and award of contracts were

outsourced to private accounting

rm adding that it contradicts the

law.

All of the evaluation works

were done in secret in London,the United Kingdom, the

Former CEO of NOCAL said.

Neyor saida fragment of

the Hydrocarbon Technical

Committee was used in acontrolled and unprofessional

manner as rubber stamp.Neyor added, that they were

used in an attempt to legitimize

a predetermined objective not in

the interest of Liberia.

Moreover trained Liberian legal

and technical experts withinNOCAL were sidelined in the

entire process for sales of these

oil blocks, he said.

Continued Neyor: four oil

blocks have been sold under

dubious circumstances and now

President [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]has asked the lawmakers to defer

their break again for the sole

purpose of ratifying contracts for

this illegally sold national asset

that belong to all of us.

Neyor explained that the speed

of the process could lead one toconclude that the Liberian people

have been taken for a ride again.

It is a pity that not only werethese oil blocks sold in the midst

of the Ebola epidemic and against

the opposition of a cross section

of the citizenry but the entire

sale process was illegal under

the prevailing New Petroleum

Law of Liberia adopted June of2012, Neyor said.

Neyor said the government

is insensitive to the plight of

Liberians by selling the oil

blocks while people are dying

from Ebola.

Neyor said unemploymentremains high and the education

system a mess, while a smallgroup of people are living at the

expense of the vast majority of

the citizenry.

Our people cannot be dying

from Ebola, our young peopleacross the country remain

unemployed, the education

system is in a mess, roads to

densely populated communities

in our country are deplorable and

a small group in the government

forms a criminal syndicate atthe expense of all of us, Neyor

added.

The lawsuit by Neyor makes the

number of former ofcials in the

oil and gas sector two in recent

times suing the Oil Company.

WRIT OF PROHIBITION INTENDED TO PROTECTLIBERIANS: LAWYER ON HIGH COURT OPINION

Liberians should take note of.

Yes the high court has spoken,we accept the ruling of the

high court as the nal arbiter of

justice you saw the dissenting

opinions from the two other

Associate Justices, that means

that what my lawyer had put

forth was what they dissentedto and that was strictly in the

interest and protection of the

Liberian people against thisvirus said Martins. When

quizzed about what he made of

the courts US$ 300 ne imposed

by Chief Justice Korkpor onCllr. LaveliSupuwood one

of the lawyers for petitioner,

the National Democratic

Coalition (NDC) for negligently

representing his clients after ling

three briefs and withdrawing it,

Martins stated that the actionwas very unfortunate for such a

constitutional matter.

Atty Martins stated that such

situation exists at times in legal

profession, but lawyers have to

be very careful when undertaking

such a task that claims publicattention, not locally but also

internationally because the endresults is sometimes unfortunate.

Martins said the view put

forward in the writ of prohibition

was intended to protect Liberians

against the deadly virus.He urgedLiberians to remain focused in

the ght against the virus, as they

go to vote across the country,

come Saturday.


6/14


Selma Lomax, [email protected]

FRONTPAGE

POLITICS

Ganta, Nimba County -

As the countdown to

the December 20special senatorial

election in Liberia

commences, it is becoming

apparent that the incumbent

senator of Nimba County, Prince

Johnson, is riding a wave of

support that could see him retainhis seat.

The comparative turnout at the

campaign rallies of the three

leading contenders in the race:

former Nimba Superintendent

and Liberty Party (LP) candidate

Edith Gongloe-Weh, Congressfor Democratic Change (CDC)

Yarmie Gbeasaye and Senator

Johnson, coupled with the

expression of support by the

critical stakeholders in the

electoral politics of the county,indicate that Johnson is set for an

easy ride back to the Capitol.

The race has seemingly turned

out to be a clear race between

Gongloe-Weh and Senator

Johnson. The expectations

that Gbeasaye will be a majorcontender in the election had

evaporated when it turned out

that not a single prominent

member of his native Bain-

Garr administrative district has

endorsed his candidacy.

Securing Support fromInuential Groups

The Nimba County senator has

also secured the support of the

highly inuential Nimba elites

through the acknowledgement of

their contributions to the creation

and development of the county.He introduced the annual Nimba

Honors Award through which

icons of the county irrespective

of party afliations or political

tendencies are granted countyawards.

Political observers say, thisprobably explains why while

SMOOTH SAILING FOR PYJ?Incumbency Factor Favors Nimba County Senator

Senator Johnson receives daily

endorsements by the icons and

elders of Nimba County, even

those among the elders who aremembers of the Liberty Party

have seemingly maintained

a deafening silence on thecandidacy of Gongloe-Weh.

This silence of the graveyard

from elders in the Liberty Party

seems to be noticeable amongthe leading lights of the party in

the Gongloe-Weh campaign.

Although she has extended

the olive branch to fellow

contestants for the ticket of the

party, most of the aspirants,

FrontPage Africa has gatheredwho indicated interest in the

Liberty Party ticket, have been

lukewarm to the Gongloe-Weh

campaign.

This has raised widespread

questions if the former Nimba

superintendent will enjoy the

support of her party structure inthe December 20 election.

A critical factor that seems to

be playing a major issue in the

election is the personality of the

two leading candidates. Nimba is

regarded as one of the counties

with the highest number of ex-combatants in Liberia.

FrontPage Africa tour of ten of

the 17 administrative districtshas observed that it is creating

a niche for itself as having the

largest concentration of ex-

ghters in the country. Such acounty is better disposed to a

candidate that reects the ex-

ghters reference of the civil

war. This factor seems to weigh

heavily against Gongloe-Weh.

Current political permutations

Though, each of the threecandidates is specically from

a particular district that does not

preclude that the entire votes or

that the largest chunk of votes

in that district would be for

the home candidate. This is so

because there are other factors

that will give certain candidatereasonable additional votes

apart from his own district. An

analysis of their chances on the

district basis testies to this.

Though, the CDC candidate

is from the Bain-Garr

administrative district, the twoother candidates are equally

strong in this district in terms of

personalities and inuence.For Senator Johnson, the bulk

of his votes are expected to

come from this area because the

Representative of the district,Rep. Jeremiah Koung and four

members of the Nimba caucus

who had been pacied over

their choices turned up during

the senators mega rally held in

Ganta a week ago, to show his

solidarity.Since neither Gbesay nor the

CDC can boast of any landmark

achievements in the area because

the candidate and the party had

not govern the county, the hope

of the candidate in Saturdays

election, according to pundits,

lies in his pedigree of thecandidate and that the people

would believe that he can deliver

all that he had promised if he

becomes senator.

Though, there are not much

landmark projects initiated in

the area by Gongloe-Weh whenshe served as superintendent of

the county compared to those

executed in other parts of thecounty, most of the loyalists of

Gongloe-Weh made impact in

the lives of the indigenes of the

area in terms of employment atthe local level.

That the LP candidate would

get very appreciable votes

in the district cannot be over

emphasized for many reasons.

Going by the reasons advanced

above, the ght for votes in thisarea is between Gongloe-Weh

and Senator Johnson. However,

the LP looks good to carry the

day in this district.

Gbehlay-Geh Statutory District

This is an indisputable major

stronghold of Senator Johnson

not only because the Nimbasenator comes from the district

but for other reasons that are

obvious to residents of the area.

Here, in this district, the senator

can boast of many landmark

developmental projects

particularly in Nyor Gomarplay,the senators native town. The

area can boast of many projects

such as road constructionand other modern healthcare

facilities.

In general terms and with what

is visible on ground, Saturdaysbattle is mainly between the LP

candidate and Senator Johnson.

However, if the outcome of the

election is determined by the

level of crowd at the campaign

rallies, the number of lawmakers

of the Nimba Legislative caucuswho are declaring support

for candidates in the race, the

level of live touching projects

currently on ground and the

personal relationship that

Senator Johnson is noted for,

the incumbent is most favored to

win the election.

NO SHOWBuchanan, Grand Bassa County -

The ve candidates in the ensuing Grand Bassa special

Senatorial election on Tuesday, December 16 failed to

honor invitations from the Press Union of Liberia (PUL)

to attend a town hall debate.The debate was previously planned for December 3 but the

Supreme Courts stay order on election activities thwarted early

preparations by the Union. Four of the ve candidates including

incumbent Gbehzongar Findley (independent), his main challenger

Jonathan Kaipay (Liberty Party) and Hon. Gabriel Buchanan

Smith (independent) as well as Solomon Murray of the Congress

for Democratic Change (CDC) were all invited to attend the

debate, according to the PUL.

The new debate date, December 16, was set after the National

Election Commission (NEC) extended the election to December

20 following the Supreme Court ruling on Friday, December 12.

PUL Debate Project Manager, E. Orlind Cooper described the

candidates action as disappointing: It is disappointing that people

who want to lead the Bassa people for nine will failed to show upfor the debate to explain their stance on issue that will affect the

lives of the people they are seeking vote from.

Cooper and his team said they ensured that they communicated

with all the four candidates but to no availed.

Several of the candidates who are reportedly on their campaign

trail in rural areas of the county are arguing that the timetable for

the debate is inconvenient to their already congested schedule.

But Cooper claimed that their excuses are unrealistic because the

entire election timing is tight and limited. He added that the debate

is the key platform for the candidates to campaign by presentingand explaining their platforms.

Amongst the four candidates, the debate moderators disclosed

that Hon. Gabriel Buchanan Smith (Independent) consented to

attend but the current court action against him over allegation of

ransacking a community radio station in Buchanan prevented him

from attending. Smith has not commented about t he reported arrest

warrant but it appeared that the warrant for his arrest prompted his

absence from the debate.

Kaipay and Findley were reportedly conducting serious political

campaign respectively in District as many residents of Buchanan

were set to witness the debate while the PUL arranged with all

the community radio stations in the county to broadcast live the

debate.

Unconrmed reports suggested that incumbent Findley had,several months ago, stated that he was not willing to go to debate

with any of the candidates while CDC candidate, Solomon Murray

failed to respond to several calls made to him by the debate team.

The nationwide senatorial debate is organized by the PUL with

support from USAID through IREX.

BASSA SENATORIAL CANDIDATES

SNUBBED PUL DEBATE

ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI,

[email protected]


7/14


Selma Lomax, [email protected]

FRONTPAGE

POLITICS

Gbarnga, Bong County -

As the December 20

special senatorialelection in Bong

County draws

near, all political parties and

their candidates taking part in

the election have taken their

campaigns to a feverish level.

In the run up to the election,candidates have intensied their

campaigns as they go round the

13 administrative districts of

Bong County trying to convince

the electorate to vote for them.

The election, FrontPage Africa

has reliably gathered, is mainly

between the incumbent, Jewel

Howard-Taylor-Taylor of theNational Patriotic Party (NPP),

Unity Partys Ranney Jackson

and the Congress for Democratic

Change (CDC) candidate

Augustus Jonathan Flomo.

Other contestants are Cuttington

University president Dr.Henrique Flomo Tokpa

(Independent), Liberty Partys

Franklin Siakor, the Movement

for Progressive Change

candidate Dr. Mator Kpangbai,

James Gbarbea, candidate

of the Alternative National

Congress ANC, Numehn Dunbar

(Independent), James Saybayand the Liberia National Union

(LINU).

For Senator Taylor, the message

has been Let the progress

continue and One good tenure

deserves another. On his part,

Jackson has continued to harp onthe man you can trust.

Jackson, the former Bong

superintendent started his

campaigns in phases from to

districts to districts and on to

the streets of urban areas in the

county. In every district, the

Unity Party candidate told the

electorates to choose between hisachievements and the legacies of

the incumbent.

Jackson described the NPP as a

political party without a history

of performance in the county,

urging the electorate to reject

the NPP candidate at the pollson Saturday, using their most

effective weaponthe voters

card.

According to him, if they tell

you what they will do in the

future, they must tell you what

COUNTDOWN TO D-DAYBong Senatorial Candidates intensify Campaign Ahead of Saturdays Poll

they did in the past. What we

have to live for is to ensure

that Bong County must makeprogress. As future leaders,

you have a duty to refuse to be

intimidated.

We must keep them out with

the power of the truth. Look at

the David Kuyon Sports stadiumbuilt during my tenure as

superintendent of the county and

look at the NPP legacies since

the last nine years. On Election

Day, the choice is yours whether

to vote for the toilet house

constructed by Senator Taylorcalled midwifery home or our

new revolution in education.

I urge you to stand by us.

Give us your votes and we will

shock you with more programs

and development. As a formersuperintendent of the county, Iam bound to bring development

to the county. We have been

delivering on roads, schools and

electricity. We are redening

politics to bring the greatest

good to the greatest number of

people.We will remain focused on

issues of development. You must

wait till the results are announced

and let us see how they change

the results. For us to ask for a

new mandate to continue, we

must justify what we have donein when we had the time to

serve you not as senator but as

superintendent.

Our work speaks louder than

our voice. You have your choiceto vote between evil and what

is good. We will do our bestfor these communities. Our rst

chance second will be a chance

to carry on with the second phase

of lifting the county, Jackson

said.

For his part CDC senatorial

candidate Flomo, in hiscampaigns in Samay,

electoral district two said his

administration would initiate

new projects and complete

ongoing ones in the localities.He said the failure of the

incumbent senator to provide

employment for citizens of the

county c contributed immensely

to poverty in the area and which

in turn has resulted in very slowpace of development in the rural

areas of the county.

The CDC Bong senatorial

candidate told his supporters

in Samay that Bong was one

of the counties receiving social

development funds in thecounty but was now ranked

as one of the underdeveloped

counties in Liberia due to fund

mismanagement on the part

of the county leadership and

members of the Bong Legislativecaucus.LINU candidate, Saybay,

promised to bring a 12-point

agenda when elected as senator

of the county which he said

includes agricultural revolution

for local farmers.

The candidate of ANC, PaulGbarbea, said he would provide

shelter, electricity, food and

things that would make life

easy for people of the county.

He promised to bring in foreign

partners for power generation.

For the Independent candidate,Tokpa, eradication of corruption

and meeting of peoples need

would be his focus. He said large

scale farming would be done to

engage the youths and that farmimplements would be distributed

free.Candidate of the Liberty Party,

Siakor said the missing link in

the county was human capital

development which he promised

to provide.

The political battle is on. The

dynamics keep changing.December 20 will return the

verdict.

Monrovia-

The Political Leaderof the Liberia

Transformation Party(LTP) Kennedy

Sandy has resigned from

the Constitutional ReviewCommittee (CRC) in preparationfor the presidency come 2017.I have voluntarily resigned

from the CRC. I want to bepresident for Liberia 2017, theLTP Political Leader said.

Many believe that LTP Sandysdecision to resign his post at theCRC is to avoid getting trapped

by the Code of Conduct which isexpected to create tension 2017election.

The Code of Conduct section5.2 b sates that any other ofcialappointed by the President who

holds a tenured position anddesires to contest for public orelective ofce shall resign said

post three (3) years prior to the

date of such public elections.Sandy was among several

defeated Presidential candidatesin the 2011 election and was laterappointed by President Ellen

Johnson- Sirleaf.Sandy said, his decision to workat the CRC was not for paycheckadding that it was his way of

contributing to Liberia.

GETTING READY FOR 2017

He said, the CRC has made gains

in reviewing the constitution

expressing that his absencewould not hinder the progress of

the review process.Sandy added that his resignationis to give way for a bigger calling

other than working at the CRC.Sandy said his stay at the CRCenabled him to understand the

level of support internationalpartners are providing to

Liberias recovery process.

I learned a lot about the support

the UNDP and UNMIL havebeen giving this process and

Liberia, Sandy added.Sandy promised to ensure thatthe views of the Liberian people

are reected in the constitutionreview process despite hisabsence.

I learned that the Liberianpeople are crying for change in

their constitution even though

I have resigned but I am going

to stand up for that change to beimplemented, Sandy added.

The LTP political leader added,that his absence from CRC is nota suggestion that the process will

discontinue.I went at the CRC to make surethe revision of the constitution

is done, my absence does notconstitute the discontinuation of

Liberia Transformation Party Kennedy Sandy Resigns With Eyes On Presidencythe process, the process will goon, there are competent peopleand my resignation is onlybecause I have a higher calling,

Sandy said.According to Sandy he tenderedhis resignation to the President

since October. October 12, Isent my resignation.Sandy said, it is time for

Liberians to be together thanever before in their countryhistory adding that the tension istoo high in these elections.

I see a lot going on in Liberiaduring these elections; thetension is too high we need to

pray for peace in Liberia, he said.Sandy added that political parties

have the moral duty to helpprotect the peace in Liberia.Political parties, the life ofLiberia is in your hands. If you

want our democracy to die it willbut if you want it to ourish, itwill, Sandy explained.

He believes that his late arrivalon the political scene in Liberiamay have been one of his

hindrances to the Presidency in

2011.I came late for this goneelection and the accident in Cape

Mount County exacerbated theproblem, Sandy noted.The former Presidential

candidate added that hewants to be a part of Liberiastransformation process.

He named corruption and lack ofvision as some of the reasons forLiberias underdevelopment.Liberia is a rich country in

natural resources but yet and stillit is among the world poorestcountries, Sandy said. Liberia

must be free, he continued.Sandy said, Liberians have

witnessed lots of problemsadding that Security forcesshould not remind them abouttheir ugly past.

Look at what happened to ShakiKamara, our Security ofcersneed counseling, they should

be protecting our citizens, henoted.

Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498


8/14


Henry Karmo (0886522495)

[email protected] F. Kanneh, [email protected]

Six year-old little girl in rainbow dress and Aunt

Bettie Johnson/ /0770197670/0886971922/ FPA STAFF WRITER

HASTY OIL SALE KIDNAPPER ARRESTED, BUTPOLICE TIGHTLIPPED ON IDENTITY

Monrovia-

L

ike the scenario of oil Block 13 the National Legislature

is set to ratify oil Block 16 despite the absence of the

countrys oil law that was recently validated by the body

along with other civil society organizations.

The Executive Branch of Government Tuesday, December16, 2014 presented to the National Legislature one of the four

remaining oil blocks for ratication before Friday of this week.

According to the communication from the Executive read in the

plenary of the House of Representatives three companies are

bidding for Oil Block 16 and if the agreement is ratied by the

Legislature, the Liberian government will generate twenty -two

Million United States dollars (US$22M) in signature fees.

The agreement for the Oil Block was subsequently sent to the

House Joint Committees on Judiciary, and Lands, Mines, Energy

and Natural Resources with a mandate for the committee to report

back to plenary by Thursday for nal decision.

Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the availability of

the agreements regarding the remaining four oil blocks.

The House of Representatives failed to hold regular session

Tuesday, the basis for the extension of the time for the lawmakers

usual agriculture break.

According to sources the lawmakers are dissatised with the

alleged failure of the President to meet up with her obligation tothe body through extra incentives for their stay.

According to legislative sources the executive is yet to present

to the legislature the act to ratify the four oil blocks said, to be

ready for auctioning as a result of a discussion held between

the National oil company (NOCAL) and an international group

because of some nancial obligations to the lawmakers.

It is also believed that the agreement has not appeared at the

Capitol because the oil law authorizing the sale of more oil

blocks has not being concluded by both chambers (Senate and

Representatives) to be implemented by a conference committee

comprising members of the two chambers.

On last Friday President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote the legislature

to postpone its December 12 set day for closure that has already

being delayed by the outbreak of Ebola by one week to enable

the body ratify the agreements for four of the countrys oil blocks

Many believe that the agreement will not be critically scrutinized

by the legislature because of the limited timeframe they have to

meet the one week deadline.

Some lawmakers conded in FrontPageAfrica that the bodywill ratify the instrument due to the necessary benets attached

especially during this period of election where the hope of some

senators in retaining their positions is in doubt.

In 2013 the Legislature was criticized by the Liberian public for

ratifying oil Block 13 despite calls by civil society organizations,

foreign experts and ordinary Liberians for the government not to

go ahead with negotiations surrounding the sale of the oil block.

Some Liberians including civil society organizations have

criticized the President action to request the legislators to delay

their agriculture break by one week.

The group under the banner the Coalition for the Transformation

of Liberia (CONTROL) known for organizing the failed April 12,

2013 protest in a statement issued during the week described the

President request as wicked and criminal to the Liberian people.

According to the group they are disappointed to see the President

who should be protecting and preserving state resources writing

the legislature to stay on job for personal interest in the name of

investment.The group also claimed that it has received tangible information

that some of the companies contracted for the purchase or lease

of the oil blocks are owned by the President and her son Robert

Sirleaf but being used by some agents covertly to criminally rob

the Liberian people as it has been done in the past.

CONTROL claimed to have had an agreement with the

government of Liberia which led to the cancellation of its protest

action to reserve the rest of the natural resources as well as the oil

blocks and said it was agreed by both parties.

Legislature to Ratify Block 16

Monrovia-

Amotorcyclist only

identied, as Kortee

believed to be in his

50s has been arrested

for allegedly kidnapping a six

year-old girl.

Police at the Johnsonville Depothas since refused to reveal full

name or allow photograph of the

accused to be taken.

At about 11am on Tuesday,

Mami Gleekiah and her little

niece Irene Nuahn, set off for

Redlight to get the little girl hairdone for Christmas. Gleekiah

said they asked a motorbike riderto drop them off at Redlight and

that she could pay him L$100

and the motorcyclist accepted.

To her dismay, Mami explained

they were taken on the bike

and on the way they came to

a waterside at which time themotorcyclist told her to get down

because the water was deep.

Gleekiah said as she was trying

to get the little girl off the bike,

the rider instructed her to leave

the girl on the bike because she

weighed less, so he could crossthe water with the child sitting

on the bike. But to her uttermostsurprise after crossing the water,

the biker ran off. I wanted to

get the little girl from the bike,

he told me to leave the girl, so

when he crossed he just started

running with the girl. Thats how

I started crying, calling people.And I paid some motorbike men

to run behind him.

Gleekiah said she immediately

called out for help and other

motorcyclists chased the man.

She said they were able to arrest

the biker and take him to theJohnsonville police station but

explained that the police has not

investigated the matter although

the biker is in custody.

The girls father, Timothy

Gleekiah laments that he doesnot trust the police, telling

FrontPageAfrica that the police

at the depot usually play double

standard with cases that are

taken to them.

I have been told by Neighborsin the same community which

helped to arrest the biker,

that similar cases have been

happening and reports brought to

the same station but those people

have always been set free.

Gleekiah continued: I dontwant that to happen with mine; I

want them to do the investigation

and forward us to court.

Timothy says he that does not

want the case to be delayed as he

expressed delight and luck thathe was able to get his daughterback from the kidnapper, fearing

that it could have been worse

as past incidents have led to

victims being used for human

sacrices usually during election

periods. I was just lucky, this

kind of thing, they just go andmake sacrice with children. I

dont want for this man to just

go with impunity. If he goes

with impunity, this thing will

continue. It will get rampant.

Monrovia-

An Associate Justice of

the Supreme Court

of Liberia says the

current senatorial

electoral process is poorly

regulated and monitored by the

National Elections Commission

with limited mechanisms put in

place by the body to protect the

citizenry against the virus by

guiding against the conditions

that would enable or facilitate

further spread of the virus

which is posing real threat to the

population.

I submit that the demonstrated

inability by the NEC to ensure

that the voting rights guaranteed

citizens can be openly enjoyed

is not a political question, said

Justice Banks.

The recent opinion handed down

by the full bench of the Supreme

Court did not go well with the

fourth person on the Supreme

Court bench.

The Supreme Court is made

of ve justices and a writ of

prohibition was led by three

petitioners requesting the high

Court to dismiss the pending

Senatorial Elections but the court

dismissed two of the petitions and

ruled on one.

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said

the petition before the court was

led by Edwin Martin a bona de

voter of the Republic of Liberia

and Resident of Paynesville City

of Liberia.

We only have Edwin Martin

petition and the petition is

political and this branch deals

with judiciable issues and we

do not intend to discuss petition

so with the majority of theSupreme Court we are sending

it to the political branches that

is the Executive and Legislature

all we can tell NEC is to put in

guidelines to ensure the safety of

voters and their candidates, said

the Chief Justice.

But Justice Banks in his

descending opinion said I have

ELECTION POORLY MANAGED: SUPREME

COURT ASSOC. JUSTICE BANKS FROWNS

made this determination because

my conscience will not allow me

to sacrice the legal principles

which I have stood for over the last

decades that a public institution

can forfeit its responsibility and

hide under the issue presented,

growing of its non- compliance

is a political issue and that the

court cannot determine whether

there has been a violation or not

of protected rights.

He added that he is of the view that

the rationale for the high Court

to ignore the legal duties and

obligations imposed on NEC also

conveys the impression that any

decision made by the two political

branches of the government,

which could have devastating

legal consequences for the nation

or be violation of the guaranteed

rights of citizens or even have

the effect of destroying the entire

nation and the entire people could

not be reviewed by the high court

because to do so could entangle

them in political and policy issues.

I believe that there are

limitations imposed on the

two political branches of the

government and that holding

a narrow interpretation as the

majority opinion ignore the rights

granted the people of Liberia by

the Constitution, defeats the intent

and purpose of Article 2 of the

Liberian Constitution Justice

Banks said.

Article 2 of the 1986Liberian

constitution states that This

Constitution is the supreme and

fundamental law of Liberia and its

provisions shall have binding force

and effect on all authorities and

persons throughout the Republic.

Any laws, treaties, statutes,

decrees, customs and regulations

found to be inconsistent with

it shall, to the extent of the

inconsistency, be void and of

no legal effect. The Supreme

Court, pursuant to its power of

judicial review, is empowered

to declare any inconsistent laws

unconstitutional.

Justice Banks averred that he

has not joined his colleagues of

the court because they failed in

addressing the core issues which

he described as the fundamental

issue of whether the NEC has

put into place constitutional and

statutory mechanisms for the

conduct of free, fair, transparent,

healthy and free of fear of death

in the current Ebola environment

which warrants the attention of

the court.

The Associate Justice added that

NEC is demonstrating a callous

disregard to the health and safety

of the Liberian people.

All it concerned itself with

was meeting the mandate of

the Legislature to hold the

2014 senatorial elections not

later than December 20,2014,

regardless of what legal and other

consequences would be. NEC

failed to coordinate with security

and health institutions, he said.

The associate Justice further

added I refused to subscribe to

the theory or conclusions that the

health and safety of the Liberian

people against the EVD thereby

becomes a matter of politics for

the Legislature and the Executive,

regardless of the health and legal

consequences of the people.

Justice Banks pointed out

that if the National Elections

commission could not hold the

elections or put in place proper

mechanism for the conduct of

elections, it owed the legislature

and the Liberian people to inform

them on the difculties faced but

it was disingenuous on the part

of the commission to accept the

timeframe set by the Legislature

and Executive when it is an

autonomous agency.


9/14


MonroviaDecember 16, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press;

Icall you here today to this press conference to reveal to you and through you to our fellow citizens that while we were ghting the

Ebola epidemic that has ravaged our land causing killing many Liberians, our government has semi-clandestinely sold four oil blocks.

It is a pity that not only were these oil blocks sold in the midst of the Ebola epidemic and against the opposition of a cross section of

the citizenry but the entire sale process was illegal under the prevailing New Petroleum Law of Liberia adopted June of 2002.

Why am I bringing this to the public? As a Liberian citizen and an expert in this eld and immediate past President and CEO of the National

Oil Company of Liberia, it is a patriotic duty to do so. Let me share with you, Ladies and Gentlemen, of the press copy of letter I wrote

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last September adding my voice to the that of many Liberians calling on the President to halt the sale of

these oil blocks for the stated reasons in the letter. As typical of the President on these kinds of serious national issues, this letter and that

of the call of other citizens were ignored.

Chapter IV Section 4.4 of the above reference New Petroleum Law of the Republic of Liberia established a Hydrocarbon Technical

Committee an ad-hoc national Hydrocarbon Technical Committee under the chairmanship, supervision, and direction of the National

Oil Company of Liberia and may include but not necessarily limited to the following members: Minister of Lands, Mines & Energy;

Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Finance; National Investment Commission; Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisor to the President:

Ministry of Labor; and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs. The law also states that the President of Liberia may, from time totime, designate, not more than three (3) such other persons, shall not be ofcials of Government, to serve as members of the Hydrocarbon

Technical Committee.

The New Petroleum Law further states that The Hydrocarbon Technical Committee shall have the power, under the chairmanship and

direction of the President/CEO of NOCAL, or his/her designee, to negotiate and conclude agreements with all applicants for hydrocarbon

development and exploitation rights and such related permits. The agreement so negotiated and concluded, shall become effective and

binding upon the parties and the Republic of Liberia, when signed by the applicants, the National Oil Company Of Liberia, the Minister

of Finance, the Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, attested by the Minister of

Justice and approved by the President of Liberia.

We have credible evidence that the procedure for award of oil blocks as outlined in the New Petroleum Law of 2002 were not adhered to.

The biding process, evaluation of bids and award of contracts were outsourced to a private accounting rm contrary to the law and all of

the evaluation works were done in secret in London, the United Kingdom.

Fragments of the Hydrocarbon Technical Committee were only used in a controlled and unprofessional manner as rubber stamps in anattempt to legitimize a predetermined objective not in the interest of our country and suffering people. Moreover, trained Liberian legal and

technical experts within NOCAL were sidelined in the entire process for sales of these oil blocks.

Four oil blocks have been sold under dubious circumstances and now the President has asked the lawmakers to defer their break again for

the sole purpose of rectifying contracts for these illegally sold national asset that belong to all of us. We can only conclude from the speed

of the process and other information we have that the Liberian people have been taken for a ride again.

As a stakeholder and one whose leadership our people look up to especially in the oil sector, I have consulted lawyers to le an injunction

to the Honourable Supreme Court against ratication of these illegally obtained oil blocks. I am preparing afdavit with additional factual

information as part of the ling to our High Court.

I have strong reasons to believe that some stealing is being perpetrated against our country and following the advice of counsel will be

forwarding the information I have to the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission (LACC) for opening of a full investigation into the hurried

and unwise sale of these oil blocks. Our people cannot be dying from Ebola, our young people across the country remain unemployed, the

education system be in a mess, roads to densely populated communities in our country are deplorable and a small group in the government

form a criminal syndicate at the expense of all of us.

I ask all well-meaning Liberians to support us as we take the initiative to stop corruption in the government by those we elect to manage

the natural resources that belong to all of us and should be used for our collective good.

Thank you.

FOUR OIL BLOCKS HAVE BEEN SOLD

Press Statement of Mr. Christopher Z. NeyorPresident and CEO of the Morweh Energy Group and

Senatorial Candidate for Montserrado County

on the Illegal Sale of Four (4) Oil Blocks by the Government of Liberia


10/14

Page 10 |Frontpage Wednesday, December 17, 2014

TALIBAN STORM PAKISTANI SCHOOL, KILLING 130

FAILED 2005 LONDONBOMBERS LOSE

EUROPEAN APPEAL

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) -

Four men who attempted

to set off a series of

explosives in London

in 2005 did not have

their right to a fair trial breached,

the European Court of Human

Rights ruled Tuesday.

Three of the men argued that they

did not have access to a lawyer

during questioning and the

fourth said the proper procedure

was not followed when he gave

testimony.

The Strasbourg-based European

court however ruled -- by six

judges to one -- there had been

"no violation" to their right to a

fair trial.SPAIN ARRESTS SEVEN

ACCUSED OF RECRUITINGWOMEN FOR ISLAMIC STATE

MNANGAGWA IN CHARGEOF ZIMBABWE AS MUGABE

GOES ON LEAVE

MADRID (Reuters) -

Spanish and Moroccanpolice have arrested

seven people in a ongoingjoint swoop on suspected

efforts to recruit women to go toSyria and Iraq to support IslamicState insurgents, the Spanish

Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.Spain is among a number of

European countries struggling tostop the radicalization of young

Muslim citizens and deter themfrom becoming jihadists in Syriaor Iraq, fearing they might return to

plot attacks on home soil.Four women and a man were

arrested in Barcelona and theSpanish North African enclaves of

Ceuta and Melilla, and two menwere detained in the Moroccantown of Fnideq, close to Ceuta, as

part of the operation, the ministrysaid in a statement.

Harare (AFP) -

Zimbabwe's President

Robert Mugabe has left

newly-installed Vice

President Emmerson

Mnangagwa in charge as he

began his annual holiday, state

radio announced Monday.

The move comes after months of

political upheaval in Zimbabwe

over the succession to 90-year-

old Mugabe when he dies or

steps down.

"President Robert Mugabe left

Harare yesterday for his annual

holiday in the Far East," Spot FM

radio reported.

"The president is expected

back in Zimbabwe in mid-January. In his absence Vice

President Emmerson Dambudzo

Mnangagwa is the acting

president."

Mnangagwa, a long-time ally

of Mugabe who doubles as

Zimbabwe's Justice Minister,

was sworn in as vice-president

last Friday, putting him rmly in

line to succeed the veteran ruler.

IN BRIEF FRONTPAGE

WORLD NEWS

SCHOOLSKID SIEGEPESHAWAR, Pakistan

(Reuters) -

At least 130

people, most of

them children,

were killed

on Tuesday when Taliban

gunmen stormed a school

in the Pakistani city of

Peshawar, taking hundreds

of students hostage in the

bloodiest insurgent attack in

the country in years.

Troops surrounded the

building and an operation was

underway to rescue children

still trapped inside, the army

said.

Hours into the siege, three

explosions were heard inside

the military-run high school,

and a Reuters journalist at

the scene said he heard heavy

gunre.

Outside, as helicopters

rumbled overhead, police

struggled to hold back

distraught parents who were

trying to break past a security

cordon and get into the

school.

Bahramand Khan, director of

information for the regional

Chief Minister's Secretariat,

said at least 126 people were

killed and 122 wounded.

"It may rise," he said, adding

that more than 100 of the

dead were school children.

A local hospital said the dead

and wounded it had seen were

aged between 10 and 20 years

old.

The hardline Islamist Talibanmovement immediately

claimed responsibility.

"We selected the army's

school for the attack because

the government is targeting

our families and females,"

said Taliban spokesman

Muhammad Umar Khorasani.

"We want them to feel the

pain."

It was not clear whether some

or all of the children were

killed by gunmen, suicide

bombs or in the ensuing

battle with Pakistani security

forces trying to gain control

of the building.

HOSTAGES STILL

INSIDE

An unspecied number of

children were still being

held hostage in the school,

a provincial ofcial said,

speaking some three hours

after the siege began.

The Pakistani Taliban, who

are ghting to topple the

government and set up a strict

Islamic state, have vowed to

step up attacks in response

to a major army operation

against the insurgents in the

tribal areas.

They have targeted security

forces, checkpoints, military

bases and airports, but attacks

on civilian targets with no

logistical signicance are

relatively rare.

In September, 2013, dozens

of people, including many

children, were killed in an

attack on a church, also in

Peshawar, a sprawling and

violent city near the Afghan

border.

With the rescue operation

under way, the situation

remained uid, with

contradictory reports about

what was happening inside

the school and witness

accounts difcult to come by.

"An army doctor was visiting

us teaching us about rst aid

when attackers came from

behind our school and started

ring," one student told

Pakistan's Dunya Television.

"Our teachers locked the

door and we ducked on the

oor, but they (militants)

broke down the door. Initially

they red in the air and later

started killing the students,

but left the hall suddenly.

"The attackers had long

beards, wore shalwar kameez(traditional baggy clothes)

and spoke Arabic."

The army said ve Taliban

militants had been killed and

that they were searching for

any remaining gunmen. The

Taliban had earlier said they

had sent six insurgents with

suicide vests to attack the

school.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

condemned the attack and

said he was on his way to

Peshawar.

"I can't stay back in Islamabad.

This is a national tragedy

unleashed by savages. These

were my kids," he said in a

statement.

"This is my loss. This is the

nation's loss. I am leaving

for Peshawar now and I will

supervise this operation

myself."

Military ofcials at the scene

said at least six armed men

had entered the military-run

Army Public School. About

500 students and teachers

were believed to be inside.

"We were standing outside

the school and ring suddenly

started and there was chaos

everywhere and the screams

of children and teachers,"

said Jamshed Khan, a school

bus driver.

66 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN PAST YEAR ASATTACKS GROW MORE BARBARIC: REPORT

Paris (AFP) -

Attacks on journalists

have grown more

barbaric and

kidnappings havesoared, Reporters Without

Borders said Tuesday, after a

year when violence against the

media took centre stage and 66reporters were killed.

Among those murdered this

year was AFP journalist SardarAhmad, 40, who was shot dead

in March when Taliban militants

stormed a hotel in Kabul. He

died along with his wife and two

of his three children.

The beheading of James Foley

and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic

State group also highlighted the

extreme danger journalists face

in covering modern conicts.

"Rarely have reporters beenmurdered with such a barbaric

sense of propaganda, shocking

the entire world," said Reporters

Without Borders in their annualreport released Tuesday.

There was a slight drop in the

number of murdered journalists-- down from 71 last year --

thanks largely to fewer deaths in

countries "at peace". A total of

720 reporters have been killed

since 2005.

But kidnappings soared to 119

-- up 37 percent on last year --

thanks to the tactics of separatists

in eastern Ukraine and militants

operating in the Middle East and

North Africa.Diane (R) and John Foley, the

parents of US journalist James

Foley, stand at the war reporters'

Of those kidnapped, 33 were in

Ukraine, 29 in Libya and 27 in

Syria. Forty are still being held."Local journalists pay the

highest price, representing 90

percent of those abducted," the

report emphasised.

"Of the 22 journalists currently

being held by armed groups in

Syria, 16 are Syrians. All of the

eight journalists currently held

hostage in Iraq are Iraqis."Reporters Without Borders

highlighted several cases of

journalists punished by their

governments, including that

of Raef Badawi, a Saudi

citizen-journalist who won the

organisation's Press FreedomPrize this year. He was sentenced

in September to 10 years in

prison and 1,000 lashes for

"insulting Islam" with his views

on the Liberal Saudi Network.

It also highlighted the case of

Khadija Ismailova in Azerbaijan-- "now Europes biggest prison

for media personnel". Her work

on government corruption has

made her a target of smear

campaigns, blackmail and

spurious legal charges.

University of Central Floridastudents attends a candle light

vigil for journalist Stephen

Sotloff o

"Now she is being held on the

absurd charge of 'pushing' a

former colleague to attempt

suicide, a charge that carriesa possible sentence of three to

seven years in jail," the reportsaid.

Worldwide, a total of 178

professional journalists were

in prison as of December 8, the

same number as last year.- 'Carefully-staged threats' -

China is the world leader in

imprisoning journalists, with 29

currently behind bars, followed

closely by Eritrea (28) and Iran

(19).

Among the high-prole targetsis 70-year-old Gao Yu, who

won UNESCOs World Press

Freedom Prize in 1997. Having

already spent seven years in

prison in China, she is again on

trial for "divulging state secrets"

to a German broadcaster.Conicts also led to large

numbers of journalists eeing

their homes. Forty-seven Libyan

and 37 Syrian reporters ed

their homeland in the past year.

A crackdown on privately-

owned Ethiopian media drove 31journalists into exile.

Beatings and rough handling

were most common in Ukraine,

followed by Venezuela and

Turkey -- a symptom of the

targeted violence used by police

in attempting to suppress protestsin those countries this year.

The report "highlights an

evolution in the nature of

violence against journalists and

the way certain kinds, including

carefully-staged threats and

beheadings, are being used forvery clear purposes," it said.

"The murders are becomingmore and more barbaric and the

number of abductions is growing

rapidly, with those carrying

them out seeking to prevent

independent news coverage anddeter scrutiny by the outside

world."


11/14


Danesius Marteh, [email protected]

SportsSPORTS

HERRERA DENIESMATCH-FIXING CLAIMS

Manchester

United star

Ander Herrera

has pleaded his

innocence after he was one of41 gures quizzed as part of a

match-xing investigation in

Spain.

The midelder, nine of his

former Real Zaragoza team-

mates and the club's ex-coach

Javier Aguirre stand accusedof paying Levante players

965,000 before the last game

of the 2010/11 La Liga season.Herrera, who played for the

club between the age of 12

and 22 has ercely denied the

claims on his ofcial Facebookaccount and promised to help

assist the case by any means

possible.

GARCIAS QATAR BIDDINGREPORT APPEAL REJECTED BY FIFA

I DREAM OF RETURN TOFOOTBALL - PUYOL

Michael Garcia

will not be able

to appeal Fifa'sreport of his

investigation into the bidding

process for the 2018 and 2022

World Cups.

Former United States attorney

Garcia led the investigation

by Fifa''s Ethics Committeeinto the bidding process for

the next two World Cups, to

be held in Russia and Qatar

respectively

Documents

Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Edition