Trouble Still Brewing In Guinea, As Union Leaders Call For President Departure

A burnt Bus by protesters

(VOANEWS)

In Guinea's capital, people are stocking up on supplies in anticipation of a renewed strike, following violent protests that have left more than a dozen people dead. Union leaders and the opposition are calling for the president to go, saying his appointee as prime minister is too close an ally, and lacks the independence union leaders demanded. Phuong Tran reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar.In the capital, Conakry, people are stocking up on supplies before what they fear will be another crippling shutdown, as union leaders announced the continuation of their strike starting Monday.In the town of Kankan, east of the capital, thousands of youths shouted calls for President Lansansa Conte's death and declaring victory to the people.Anger is mounting over the president's choice of Eugene Camara, a close ally in the president's Cabinet, to be prime minister. Union leaders had called off a crippling strike late last month after the president agreed to fill the empty post of prime minister. Union leaders had demanded that the prime minister be given broad powers.But union and opposition leaders say Mr. Camara is too cozy with the ailing president, and too weak to lift Guinea out of corruption and poverty.Though union leaders called for the strike to resume, they also distanced themselves from what they call the youths' violent insurrection.Yamadou Toure, secretary general of Guinea's chapter of the International Trade Union Confederation, says union leaders do not support the vandalism unfolding across the country, and want to resolve the crisis through a strike until Mr. Conte steps down.In preparation for another long shutdown, residents in the capital walked around barricades to look for open stores to stock up on supplies.Journalist Maseco Conde reported from Conakry's mostly empty streets, where he says fearful residents are preparing for the worst.Conde says almost all the big markets and stores were shuttered because demonstrators had been stoning and vandalizing stores the day before.He says small corner stores that were still open were quickly being emptied of food and basic supplies, as people stocked up on dry goods.Five hundred kilometers south of the capital, in Nzerekore, debris from Saturday demonstrations littered streets.International Federation of the Red Cross local-office director Mamady Cisse says more than 20,000 students clogged the streets on Saturday. Nzerekore is Mr. Camara's hometown.

TOMORROW IS LIBERIA'S ARMED FORCES DAY

DEFENSE MINISTER, Brownie Samukai & His men in readiness

Tomorrow, February 12, Monday will be observed throughout the country as National Armed Forces Day.

The day which falls on the 11Th of February each year will be celebrated tomorrow since this year's day fall on Sunday.

The newly American trained soldiers will perform their military techniques through a colorful parade tomorrow at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) .Tomorrow (Monday) February 12, 2007 has been declared as National Holiday by the Chief Executive and Commander-In-Chief, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

3 Liberians Honored in UK after Completing Graduate Programs

The three Graduates
Three Liberians currently studying in the London, the United Kingdom recently were the happiest receipts of their degrees in various disciplines.

The three, P.Tarpowah Dortu Kear, Jr. received MSc. Pharmaceutical Services & Medicines Control, Prince Jemel-Yarmah Jallabah got M.A. (International Development Management, and Sidiki Ayoub Quisia M.A. (International Development Management.
The Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK) was represented at the graduation program at the highest level by the Chairman, Mr. John Nimly Brownell and Vice Chairman, Dr. George N. Flahn. ULO-UK officials congratulated their compatriots and encouraged them to return home to contribute in the post war reconstruction efforts. ULO-UK will be continuing discussions with the Government of Liberia to have professionals residing in the United Kingdom return home and join their compatriots particularly in the Health and Educational sectors.
Mr. Peter Tarpowah Dortu Kear Jr. holds a BSc. degree in Biology (with Chemistry as minor) from the T.J.R.Faulkner College of Science & Technology and a BPharm degree from the School of Pharmacy in the University of Liberia . Also, He is a UN trained (under aegis of the International Narcotics Control Board in Vienna , Austria ) Drug Control Officer, and a product of the Commonwealth Health Secretariat' s Training with emphases in Drug Demand Reduction.
Mr. Kear is the Acting Dean and an Assistant Prof.-II for Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy , University of Liberia . He served (from June 1999 to July 2002) as the Chief Pharmacist (i.e. Director of the National Pharmaceutical Services) of Liberia and, statutorily, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Board of Liberia.
Earlier, Mr. Kear served( April 1995 - 1997) as the Director (i.e. Deputy Administrator) of the Pharmacy Department of the J.F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Sinkor and later as the Administrator of said institution( 1995 - 1998).
Prince Jemel-Yarmah Jallabah holds a BSc Economics (with Management as minor) from the University of Liberia . He also holds a Certificate, Financial Planning and Programming from the Joint Africa Institute (JAI) African Development Bank, Tunis , Tunisia
Mr. Jallabah has worked as an administrator, Enisul Group of Companies, Gardnesville , Liberia and also special project officer/ analyst, office of the minister, Ministry of Finance in 2004. He is currently administrative manager of IE/Majestic Sports Association
Sidiki A. Quisia holds a BSc Economics from University of Liberia . He is a Junior Economist at the Macro-Fiscal Unit, Ministry of Finance, Liberia .

A Liberian in the U.S. Comfort Sunday Barduway Dies at Age 39

The Late Comfort Barduway & the late Samuel R. Johnson, Sr.

A Liberian in residing in the State of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the United States, Ms. Comfort Sunday Barduway died Thursday, February 8, 2007 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

According to the Liberia Media & Advertising Services, the late Comfort Barduway leaves behind her husband Sumo Mulbah, four children - Patricia, Sumo, Philip and Tumu - a grand child, one niece (Tetee), one sister, three brothers and a host of relatives and friends in the United States and in Liberia.
Wake and Funeral services of Comfort will be held on February 23rd and 24th in the U.S. as details via the LM&AS will be announced later. For more information, please contact:
Mrs. Alice Washington 763-747-1884
Mr. Hamilton Kayee 763-503-6981
Mr. Matthew Zarzar 763-3907857
Signed: Hamilton Kayee
Brother & Vice President
Sinoe County Association/Minnesota Chapter
On behalf of the Family.
Meanwhile, Mr. Samuel Harry Johnson (commonly known as Ilawobesa), who died recently in the U.S. was finally burried last week in the U.S.

He was born on July 22, 1934 and obtained his primary and secondary education in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He earned a degree in drafting engineering from the prestigious Oxford University in England in 1958.
Sam Johnson is survived by his wife Facia Johnson ( Ma Facia), his children- Sam Johnson (Comfort), Harry Johnson (Mina), Charles Johnson (Precious), Edna Johnson Scott (Nyemah), Sameria Johnson (Mark), Matilda Johnson, Linda Johnson, Roseline Johnson (Jallah), Jackie Johnson, Adolphus Johnson, Elizabeth Harris (Wleh), and a host of grandkids, relatives and friends in both Liberia and the U.S.