Liberia: Legislators Must Now Work Hard for Their Money; Several Bills Soon To Hit The Capitol

Legislators in session at the Capitol Building in Monrovia

If members of the Legislature thought they had some serious work ahead of them, they need to think again. After a brief rest from her Annual Message (as if she needs it) President Johnson Sirleaf is soon going to swamp the floors of this 53rd Legislature with more bills than anyone of them has seen in a long time--- bills for consideration and action.

That means that this batch of legislators had better start rolling up their sleeves now, because this time around, they are going to have to work for their money. And if members of the House and Senate start demanding an increase in their salaries as well because of the amount of work that lies ahead, don’t be surprised.

In Liberia: Rape Still Rampant

The alarming rate of GBV in the country worries the President

In her two-hour annual message to the second session of the 53rd Legislature delivered on Monday in Monrovia, President Johnson Sirleaf acknowledged the rise in gender-based violence, particularly child rape across the country. She described it as “alarming” and urged that Government worked along with partners to adopt a domestic violence law “to bring an end to these heinous crimes.”

This acknowledgment on the part of the President gives us enough reason to be worried because it makes it seems as though the enactment of the 2006 Rape Law, which calls for tougher punishment for rape convicts, has become a curse on women and girls rather than a blessing to prevent them from being abused in a variety of ways.

Rape was a common weapon used against women during Liberia’s decades of civil strife. Unfortunately, in contemporary Liberia, though there is relative peace, more rape cases are being reported across the country. Previously, there was no legislation against rape per se, though gang-rape was considered an offense.

President Sirleaf's 2nd Annual Message

The President announced a seven-month retroactive pay-rise for civil servants in her speech

INTRODUCTION

We gather today to fulfill a constitutional duty. In humble fulfillment of that duty, I shall lay before you, Honorable Legislators, and the nation, the Legislative Agenda of the Administration, requesting that this august body considers the passage of enabling laws to advance the purposes of the State; to continue to deepen the sacred bonds of our nation; to continue to heal the wounds of discontentment; to continue to consolidate reforms to our democratic governance; to continue to promote the values of freedom, the protection of rights, the access to opportunities, and the equality of all Liberians. I shall place before you and the nation this Legislative Agenda, and request that you pass laws to sustain the gains made in building our peace, securing our liberties and improving economic opportunities for all of our people.

In Monrovia: Stiff Traffic Restrictions Begin Today

As of today, January 28, the Monrovia - Robertsfield Highway will only be used by the Presidential convoy and vehicles belonging to dignitaries that are in the country for the HLP conference, the Traffic Division of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has announced.

Traffic from Congo Town to Airfield will be diverted through Vamoma House and traffic from the city center (Central Monrovia) to Sinkor will be diverted through Jallah Town. At the same time, traffic from Paynesville to Central Monrovia will be diverted back to Paynesville through Red Light and Somalia Drive. Only emergency vehicles are exempt from these restrictions, the LNP has said.

Indeed, You Owe It to the People

The second session of the 53rd Legislature opened with a weighty challenge from Vice President Joseph Boakai to members of that national assembly: the VP began by sounding off to his law-making colleagues, on the need to build on the trust and respect the Liberian people have reposed in them, especially in the discharge of their duties.

The Vice President did not mince his words when he said that “Pragmatism, instead of dogmatism, must serve as the vehicle that drives our deliberations. We must resist any and every tendency that augurs (promises, predicts only for bluster (rant, complain loudly) in partisanship or self-serving pursuit.”

Taylor Demands Benefits

Former President Charles G. Taylor has requested the Government of Liberia, through the National Legislature, to make available to him his pension benefits and other due benefits for his service to the nation. As a former president, Taylor said he is entitled to his benefits keeping with the Constitution of the country. He asked the Legislature to ensure that he receives his “lawful annuities.” In a written communication dated September 3, 2012, addressed to the Legislature, Taylor requested his pension benefits covering the period between August 11, 2003, and 2012.

Girl Talk: Wrapping the Scarf

It normally takes me seven to eight trials before having my scarf beautifully wrapped in a way that suits my face. It is the most tedious aspect of my morning formalities before leaving home for work. The reason is very simple. Each fabric has its own unique texture and wraps differently. When you begin wrapping a scarf, you must properly layer its foundation; it has got to be done smartly.

Role Reversal

Today's edition is focused on wives taking on roles as primary breadwinners in their families while their husbands assuming the stay-at-home role with the responsibilities of raising the children. Nowadays, more women in Liberia are becoming primary breadwinners for their families, stepping away from their 'home keeping' roles.

African Petroleum BeginsTwo-Well Drilling Offshore Liberia

African Petroleum Corporation Limited kicked off its two-well drilling program in Block LB-09 offshore Liberia on January 4, 2013 with Ocean Rig’s semi-submersible rig, the Eirik Raude, the company announced yesterday. It is currently drilling the Bee Eater-1 well in Block LB-09 offshore Liberia.

The Bee Eater-1 well, the company said in a statement issued yesterday, is located 9.5 km northwest of the 2012 Narina discovery which discovered high quality oil in Turonian reservoirs. The Bee Eater -1 well will test a potentially westerly extension of the Narina-1 Turonian oil discovery in an axial position of the fan for improved reservoir quality and is located up dip of the postulated Narina -1 OWC, Africa Petroleum said in its statement signed by Karl Thompson, the company’s chief executive officer.

Mean recoverable un-risked prospective resources for the Bee Eater/Narina fan system, which extends over an area of 300 sq km, are estimated as 840 million of oil barrels (840MMstb) and 2396 MMstb for the additional prospects identified on Blocks LB-08 & LB-09 (3236 MMstb in total).

The second well in this drilling program, the company said, will be drilled with the Eirik Raude in Liberia following immediately after completion of the Bee Eater-1 well. “A number of potential well locations in Blocks LB-08 & LB-09 are under consideration dependent on the outcome of the Bee Eater-1 well,” Africa Petroleum disclosed.

The Domestic Chef

I recently bumped into a neighbor, just in time, when she was mercilessly lashing out at her 12-year-old house-help for being poor at cooking. “Look! The soup is so salty. The meat is not properly cooked. The rice is too soft. I can taste particles in the food. What kind of person are you?” she yelled, scaring the life out of the little girl who stood trembling before her.

In Liberia: Gov’t Extends Suspension of Tariff on Rice

In its Executive Order No. 45 issued over the weekend in Monrovia, Government said that in its desire to continue bringing relief to the public, it hereby extends Executive Order No. 19, suspending the import tariff on rice as classified under tariff Nos. 1006.30.00 (in packing of more than 5kg or in bulk); 1006.30.00 (in packing of at least 5kg); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Revenue Code of Liberia Act 2000.

Ellen Tightens Screw on Logging Ban

The President has vowed to prosecute those officials indicted by the special committee in its report

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Friday renewed her ban on the felling and exporting of logs under Private Use Permits (PUPs) granted or authorized by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).

In Search of that 'Designer' Look

For most women, their looks, self-presentation is nothing to joke with. They devote time and money to dyeing their hair, using cosmetics, obtaining pedicures and manicures, and dressing in clothes they spent huge amounts of time shopping for and eventually buying. The thing is that some women are just too over-concerned with their beauty. Most days, they carefully select the right outfits from their wardrobes and groom themselves thoroughly. But guess what? Men are the reason for all these. This is because more often than not, men are fascinated with a woman’s beauty. There is a good chance that a man gives more importance to a woman’s beauty than to her intelligence. So don’t be surprised to see a woman becoming too fussy about the way she looks or appears.