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Serving as commencement speaker at the fifth graduation exercise of the University, Rt. Bishop Felton Edwin May maintained that the prevailing proliferated situation in Liberia and the world at large can not be taken care of by politicians and other elite decision makers but the divine intervention of God.

The Interim Secretary-general of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church said diseases and other kinds of misfortunes that have besieged the world especially the African continent do not need caretakers who seek their own interest and personal benefits but the collective approach of individuals with the fear of God. Dr. May pointed out that great countries claiming to be superpower in the world are waiting for Africa to collapse so that they can take advantage of the situation and unjustly benefit from its wealth. “This, you must stand against knowing that all will be well again”, Dr. May maintained.

He reminded Liberians to desist from acts of war and urged the graduates to emulate the examples of great Africans who liberated their continent adding “you must stand firm and join hands with those who fought for the liberation and justice in Africa”.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. and Mrs. May were gowned by the family of the United Methodist Church and the administration of the United Methodist University and the title of Paramount Chief were conferred upon them as “Tuazamas” for their humanitarian services in Liberia and the rest of the world.

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Mysterious things are nowadays happening in Liberia, especially in the capital city, where each year strange incidents of unbelievable are always taking place; making many to be frightened for their lives.

The killings of innocent people in recent times in Monrovia especially at night by unknown armed men; leaving their victims ritually butchered with several part missing is creating serious concern amongst Liberians.

Victims are always found in public places, including the neighborhood of churches, entertainment centers, and street corners with their backs reportedly opened; taking away the important parts of their victims.

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The targeted number of newly trained soldiers according to Minister Warrick is currently put at 2100 with cross-portion of the political sub-division of the country inclusive. He said the initial training course, which ends at the end of this month will now enter another phase of an advance training of the new Liberian Army.

Minister Warrick further stressed that the entire training exercise for the new AFL is expected to come to an end in 2010. “As the AFL leaves the initial training stage, the people of Liberia will begin seeing their own Army in a different mood”, Minister Warrick revealed. He asserted that the ending of the entire training process of the Liberia Army in 2010 means that over 2000 soldiers will be prepared for national duty.

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Three political parties, including the ruling Unity Party (UP) are threatening members of the Liberian Senate who early last week crafted a “Resolution� to remove their colleague, the Senate Pro-Temp Isaac Nyenabo, which later turned to suspension is “unconstitutional�.

The three political parties include, National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), the New Deal Movement and Unity Party in separate statements questioned the constitutionality of the suspension of the Senate Pro-Tem.

One of the political parties, the NDPL of which Senator Nyenabo is a member, strongly warned members of the Liberian Senate, especially those who signed his suspension resolution to abide by the Liberian constitution or be prepared to face court action.

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In order to adequately inform donor agencies of the level of humanitarian services being provided by International Non-Governmental Organizations in rural Liberia, and the impact being created to bring relief to thousands of rural dwellers by these organizations, the Chief executive offer of the Global News Network is to shortly tour three counties in the Southeast of the country.

According to J. Cholo Brooks, this exercise is aimed are publicizing the level of humanitarian services been rendered to Liberian rural dwellers by both local and International NGOs, who were badly affected as a result of the Liberian civil war.

The second led tour in the series of similar visits will cover Maryland, River Gee and Grand Kru Counties, during these visits Mr. Brooks who is a major news provider to several websites including the Liberian Times and also Publisher of one of Liberia’s reliable weeklies, THE STAR will profile the operations of the Danish Refugees Council (DRC) in that part of Liberia.

While in that part of the Country, the GNN boss will conduct series of interviews with beneficiaries of the DRC, and the impact that International NGO operation has made over the years and is still making to bring relief to them.

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The Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been linked of being a major military player during the Charles Taylor led National Patriotic Front of Liberia war machinery, and that in fact she was spotted wearing military uniform.

This revelation was made yesterday by a founding member of the defunct Progress Alliance of Liberia (PAL) and former Director of the Cabinet during the erstwhile Liberia national Transitional Government (LNTG), Mr. Jesus Alieu Swaray when he appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to explain his role during the Liberian civil war.

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Former Chief Justice Chea Cheapoo has disclosed that apart from mass graves established during the Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe regimes, there were two additional mass graves around the Gurley street grave yard and the land that serves as the premise of the Monrovia Central Prison.

Yesterday, Mr. Cheapoo told the Truth and Reconciliation Public Hearing that the True Whig Party (TWP, which was the ruling party at the time, carried out the execution of 48 indigenous chiefs in Sass Town who were buried in a mass grave in the yard that now hosts the prison compound, while the 300 persons killed during the “Tolbert-Rice Civil Disobedience” were buried in a mass grave around the Gurley Street Grave Yard.

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Members of the Liberian Senate today suspended their colleague, the Pro-Temporal of the Liberian Senate, Isaac Nyenabo for six months.

The plenary of the Upper took the decision after nearly four hours of close-door discussion presided over by the Liberian Vice President, Dr. Joseph Boakai

The suspension of the President Pro Tempore started when twenty senators signed a resolution, seeking his removal for what they called administrative ineptitude.

Sources closed to the Upper House said the suspended Senate Pro-Temporal was on several occasions communicated secretly via cell phone to the Liberian President, head of the Executive Branch each time issues against the Executive Branch were put on the floor for discussion.

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Mr. Eastman further revealed that the amount of U,440.00 was equally distributed among six club teams namely the survival, Liberia Amputee Sports Association (LASA), the Mighty Conquerors, Young Invaders, Island Warriors and the Monrovia Giant to help prepare them for their participation in the upcoming national league. He also named additional sporting materials including jerseys, football and other sport items distributed as part of the federation contribution to assist teams in preparing for the league.

Mr. Eastman further claimed that the contribution made by the federation was meant to ensure that the national league this time around gets a better look as compared to previous competition. He expressed the hope that the various amputee club teams would exhibit good conduct and sportsmanship during the upcoming league.

Also speaking to this media, the secretary-general of the Liberia Amputee Sport Association (LASA) speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries lauded the federation for the donation and promised to mount up their various talents in making the league a success.

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The Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made in her government new appointments.

Those appointed late lastnigh were Budget Director, Augustine Ngafuan; Minister of Finance, Amara konneh; Minister of Planning, Natty Davies; Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Dr. Amos Sawyer; Chairman of the Governance Commission and Nathaniel Barnes Ambassador to the United States of America.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Liberia Senate, according to a release from the office of the President.

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Former United States President, William J. Clinton today ended his one day visit to Liberia with a call on Liberians abroad to return home to contribute to the development of their country which he described as very potential in economy growth.

My Clinton who led a 60-man delegation to Liberia to follow-up progress being made by his foundation, the William J. Clinton Foundation in Liberia praised the Liberian Government in its reconstruction drive.

Mr. Clinton and delegation while in the country toured several ongoing projects including the Bob Johnson five stars hotel currently under construction in Liberia.

The Clinton Foundation in 2002 launched an anti-AIDS initiative and this month has reached an agreement with several pharmaceutical companies to slash the price of the top anti-malaria.

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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) says recent media reports that the President Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will appear before the Commission next Tuesday,August 5, 2008 is inaccurate.

According to a release, the TRC clarifies that the information indicated in the press release of July 31, 2008 was inadvertent and purely an irregular error in our media regime as the commission has not confirmed yet with the president, as it has done with other witnesses appearing beginning next week for the TRC “Thematic Hearings on the Contemporary History of the Conflict (1979-2003)�, the date and time of her appearance.

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Criminal activities in the diamond rich community of Weasua, Gbarpolu County are said to be on the increase due to the lack of correctional institutions in that part of Liberia to detain criminals who are caught in their doings.

Both the police and local judges in the area are finding it very difficult to adequately perform their respective duties due to lack of the needy facilities, including building to house them.

A recent visit to this diamond rich town of Weasua by a team of the GNN early this week bombed into a dilapidated building; a building occupies by a local magistrate and a community police detachment.

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Bad roads condition in Gbarpolu County, one of Liberia’s newest Counties is hampering hundreds of citizens in that part of the country, whose survival depends on the sale of their local produce.

Vehicles are inaccessible in the area thus making rural dwellers in the county to suffer from the purchasing of the needy commodities for their daily lives.

“Before you venture to ply the Bomi/Gbarpolu highway, you must have a jeep or a truck before coming to the County�, a stranded visitor who made her way to the county to see some relatives in Weasua Town told the GNN in an exclusive interview.

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Firestone has operated a large rubber farm in Liberia for over 80 years and is proud to be rebuilding that operation in partnership with the Liberian people after 14 years of civil war. However, some groups continue to spread falsehoods and inaccuracies about the company’s operations in Liberia and even seek to claim undue credit for the hard work done by Firestone since the signing of new investment agreements with the Government of Liberia in 2005 and 2008.

The recently released document by the Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) contains a host of inaccurate statements and unfounded allegations. This is disturbing since, in January 2008, Firestone provided SAMFU with a significant amount of information about its operations, at SAMFU’s request, that would have provided the basis for a much more balanced and accurate report. Unfortunately, it appears that SAMFU chose to ignore or disregard that information. Even more disturbing is the complete falsehood contained in the introduction to its report that Firestone Liberia did not respond to SAMFU’s request for information. That blatantly false statement should cause any reader to call into question the accuracy of the rest of the report, and the bias of the SAMFU leadership itself.

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Residents of the diamond rich town of Weasua in Gbarpolu County, Northwestern Liberia were on Wednesday of this week overwhelmed when a brand new school valued at over ,000.00 United States Dollars constructed by the Mano River Resources Incorporated with the support of the residents of the area who made available their labor.

During this colorful occasion, which was gracefully witnessed by both officials of the County and the company saw hundreds of residents joyously lauding the countless efforts of Mano Rover Resources Incorporated for providing their area with a school which they is the first time in the history of the County.

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She said the slain Catholic Sisters, all Americans could have left the country but they took a courageous decision to stay because they wanted to offer service to the State despite the declining security situation at the time.

Profiling individual performance in Liberia during their operations in the country, the Charge d ’Affaires of the United States Embassy praised Sister Shirley Colman for her giant efforts in reopening the St. Patrick’s High School and creating decent learning environment in the institution. She also recalled one of the Sisters, Mary Joel as a happy Musician who helped to nature the aspiring Musicians living at the Pastoral retreat.

She further recalled how Sister Agnes was known for teaching Liberian Market Women how to read and write while Sister Kathleen taught at St. Michael’s High School in Gardnersville. Madam Robinson further indicated that Sis. Barbara Ann was famous for riding around the streets of Monrovia with her blue motorbike providing medical car and healing the injured and the sick.

None of the former warring forces has accepted responsibility for the death of the five slain Catholic Nuns but speculations surrounding the death of the Catholic Sisters are link to the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia then headed by Charles Taylor. Other indicators dating back from Radio Talk Show hosted by a local radio station in Monrovia quote former Bomi County Representative Sando Johnson as linking the ailing Catholic Archbishop Michael Francis to the death of the five Catholic Sisters.

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Students of the Firestone Liberia School System have been urged to focus on their studies so as to prepare themselves ahead of the future challenges of national growth and development.

Production Group I Manager, Buster Jones, told a gathering of students, parents, Education Department personnel of Firestone Liberia, family members and well wishers at the Division 13 Elementary School recently, that studying hard would mean well for the students as doing so would yield fruitful results for a better tomorrow.

“Management continues to heavily invest in your educational wellbeing; take advantage of the educational facilities currently mushrooming within the concession area and get serious. The schools are available to you free of charge; all you need to do is to attend and remain, the challenge is yours.” Mr. Jones said.

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The Chairman of the Forum for the Establishment of a war Crimes Court in Liberia, Mr. Mulbah K. Morlu, is expected to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Friday, 1st August 2008 at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia.

According to a press release issued today and signed by M.Boakai Jaleiba, Jr., Secretary General of the Forum said, Mr. Morlu during the hearings will be speaking on the theme “Youth in National Development & Leadership; Conflict Roles & the Future”, will attempt to persuade Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about the need for the setting up of a war crimes tribunal to prosecute violators of international humanitarian law, and the widespread perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Liberia.

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The leadership of the Workers union of the Buchanan Renewable Energy say the action taken by the House of Representatives to cast a “Vote of No Confidence” in the Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), Dr. Ricahrd Tolbert is inhume and lacks constitutional backing.

According to a release email to the GNN and signed by the Interim leadership of Employee Welfare Association Buchanan Renewable Energy in Buchanan, said “In the wake of a purported VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE passed against the Chairman of the National Investment Commission Dr. Richard Tolbert by members of the House of Representatives, we the employees of the Buchanan renewable energy and citizens of Grand Bassa county use this medium to object this action on ground of been inhumane and lacking constitutional backing”.

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Although under debate at the National Legislature, Dr. Saku Malakpa proposed dual citizenship as policy directive that will further encourage Liberians in the Diaspora, like himself, to engage the country in a more meaningful way. The recommendation many have viewed as unnecessary.

Dr. Saku Malakpa, a visually impaired Liberian Professor and Lawyer is based at the University of Toledo in Ohio (USA). He is a graduate of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He spoke on the theme: “Hope on the inevitability of change; challenges, chances, choices”. He thanked the Liberian Leader President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for a once in a lifetime opportunity, and said that she was “first among equals”. He also paid tribute to the late President William Tolbert for sponsoring his education after the death of his parents and the development of his blindness at the age of 16.

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The NIC boss is accused of waiving 100 percent duty free privileges to the Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE). Mr. Tolbert who granted a US0 million investment contract to the BRE which is involved in the conversion of rubber trees into wood chips, environmentally friendly non fossil fuels for export.

Speaking on the issue to reporters in Monrovia, the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she has declared the agreement with the Buchanan Renewable Energy null and void.

She openly disclosed that the 150-million United States dollars agreement with a hundred percent tax waiver is not enforceable, and said it is a pity that the NIC boss Dr. Richard Tolbert could not explain the agreement well.

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In Commemoration of the 161st Independence Day of the Republic of Liberia, the Management of Firestone Liberia on Friday, July 25, 2008, hosted a sumptuous party in honor of children of its employees at three locations within the concession area.

The Independence Festival for children which started at about mid-day was graced by the President and Managing Director of Firestone Liberia, Mr. Charles E. Stuart and other corporate heads, including Mrs. Aumuo Abdullah Keshen, Community Affairs Manager, among others.

The Management of Firestone Liberia also distributed T-shirts to members of the Independence Day Committee and other employees with the inscription “let the children play again” and face caps as well as track suits.

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He indicated that during the hearings around the country, victims were able to answer to questions such as who, what, who did what and to whom, what happened and when it happened, who all were victimized and how and to what extend they were victimized. Cllr. Verdier also disclosed that the Commission was able to understand and record organizers, perpetrators, actors of the wars in Liberia and head of warring fictions and supporters of armed conflicts in Liberia

The pronouncement made by the TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier about the remaining twenty fine percent into the completion of the Commission’s operations sharply contravenes recommendation sent forth by Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson. Senator Johnson, a former rebel Leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) recommended an extension of time beyond TRC statutory mandate to allow Planners and actors of the civil wars in Liberia to appear before the commission.

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The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) of football star, George Oppong Weah is calling on the arrest of three senior officials in the Ellen leg Government for what the party called their involvement in Economic Sabotage.

In a brief, but rather serious news conference, the CDC in support to last week’s report that the House of Representatives cast in Dr. Tolbert “A Vote of No Confidence in the NIC boss in connection with the alleged violation of the Investment Incentive Law.

The NIC boss is accused of waiving 100 percent duty free privileges to the Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE). Mr. Tolbert who granted a US0 million investment contract to the BRE which is involved in the conversion of rubber trees into wood chips, environmentally friendly non fossil fuels for export.

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Amnesty International has condemned the recent signing by Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of a law calling for a death penalty for anyone convicted of armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking offenses if these crimes resulting to death.

In a Release to the GNN, the organization called on President Johnson-Sirleaf to repeal the law.

Amnesty International said that the law directly violates Liberia’s obligations under the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Liberia acceded to on 16 September 2005 and which abolishes the death penalty.

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Tomorrow, July 26, 2008 marks exactly 161 years since this West African State, Liberia, gained her Independence in 1847.

Respected amongst nations as Africa’s oldest Republic, Liberia began to lose its respect, following the unceremonious launching of a bloody civil war in 1989 by one of its former Presidents, Charles Ghanky Taylor, who is now in The Hague on war crimes charges.

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My recent visit to the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, a county blessed with the establishment of several multi-million dollars companies, saw hundreds of jobless Liberians who are now earning a monthly income from ArcelorMittal, the world largest steel company graciously commending ArcelorMittal for coming to their rescue.

My visit which coincided with the visit of Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai also saw the progress being made by this company to start actual operations after years of preparation.

The Liberian Vice President who toured facilities of the company, including the medical center which guttered fire a day after his arrival in the Port City of Buchanan, the ongoing construction of the Buchanan/Yekepa highway railroad and other projects appeared satisfied.

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The once bustling Atlantic Street in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County where hundreds of residents and visitors were housed and entertained from the echo of the latest sound through nightclubs has been taken over by the most powerful Atlantic Ocean.

Perhaps the Atlantic Ocean is claiming its name, “The Atlantic Street” as its determination to drive residents and those nearby areas away from the area gets serious, daily SOS call is made on local radio stations for government and others to come to their rescue.

Some of the residents of the area were seen in tears when a team of the GNN bombed into them, “My friend we dio not know where to go, we have leaving g here for over fifty year, look what is happening to us today”, an elderly woman, perhaps in her late sixties also in tears said.

The Atlantic Ocean did not only destroy ordinary but several churches were also destroyed, leaving members of these churches to change their places of worship.

The Superintendent of the County Madam Julia Duncan Cassell who has been making frantic efforts through often SOS calls, told the GNN that her administration is doing everything possible to solving the erosion problem.

Superintendent Cassell used the occasion to appeal to companies and International NGOs operating in the county to come to the aide of the effected residents.

Some of the victims who spoke to the GNN also made an urgent SOS call to humanitarian organizations, companies and the central government to quickly come to the rescue.

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A Liberian business executive is calling on the Liberian government to speedily bring to justice those schools administrators whose instructors are rampantly involve in abusing female students for sex for grades.

Mr. Sekou S. Kanneh Chief Executive Officer of the DUNKAN Falling Stations around the country spoke over the last weekend when he addressed student of the Anssar English & Arabic Elementary School in Gardnersville, Monrovia when he served as guest speaker at the school’s closing program.

Mr. Kanneh who spoke on the topic: “Kindergarten a Foundation for Quality Education” outlined the importance of education in any society, especially form its early stage, adding, “As it is always said, Education is light; meaning, where there is no light the people fall prey to darkness”, the National Port Authority (NPA) former Comptroller reminded students at the program.

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Speculations over the involvement of former President Samuel K. Doe and former AFL General Charles Julu at the Lutheran Church massacre was finally made public and confirmed by a survivor of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church massacre.



Earlier at the Memorial service held at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, a lady who narrowly survived the massacre confirmed that former President Samuel Doe, George Dweh and another AFL frontline commander were chanting amongst the dead bodies in the pulpit after the soldiers carried out the first round of killings.



The survivor said former Liberian President Samuel Doe and George Dweh chanted slogans as the soldiers executed their victims. Excerpt from a survivor: “I swear to God and upon anything. I saw President Doe, George Dweh and Charles Julu sitting amongst the dead bodies in the pulpit after the soldiers carried out the first round of killings and ceasefire briefly to refill their guns.