Another Firestone Worker Wounded by Illicit Tapers

One more officer of the Plant Protection Department in Firestone has been seriously wounded in an illicit tapers’ attack.

Officer John Borbor was amongst a group of PPD officers patrolling the Division Forty-four Area on Tuesday night when the illicit tapers attacked.

Borbor explained that they were pursing the illicit tapers carrying several containers of latex when the men regrouped and wasted the acid on him.

He said the men had cutlasses, knives, acid water in plastic bottles and other sharp instruments that made it difficult for the officers to retrieve the latex containers.

Borbor is currently undergoing treatment at the Firestone Medical Center in Harbel.

Dozens of people have been either wounded or killed as a result of illicit tapping activities in Firestone.

Sundaygar Dearby Makes Headway in U.S. , Liberians Dancing to his Greatest Hits

(FrontpageAfrica)

His big hits, “Who Knock on My Wife” and “Baboon wants to become President” are huge party poppers at many Liberian gatherings and parties, but Sundaygar Dearboy is taking it all in stride as he wraps up his first tour of the U.S.

Dear boy, currently on tour in the United States arrived on the scene in 2004 with and the hit song has been widely received. ”In fact that’s what brought me up and everybody began to fall in love with it,” says Dearboy. This weekend, the Liberia’s Entertainer of the Year will rock Detroit in his final appearance at the Liberian Hall.

“The tour has been tremendous so far and we are getting ready for his farewell concert in Detroit this weekend,” says Emmanuel Toe, Dearboy’s promoter. “The outpour has been tremendous, especially wonderful.” Toe says many of those who attended Dearboy’s last concert in Maryland were left craving for more from the artist who is rapidly making waves among Liberians in the Diaspora and back home.

In terms of success of the tour, Dearboy says he has been around a lot of cities and people have embraced him with open arms as they sing and dance to his pulsating sounds. ”The tour was basically intended to introduce myself and my music to the Diaspora audience and making sure that musicians back home reap the benefits of their labor and this is the kind of tour I’m trying to do. I’m receiving a lot of good vibes.”

This week, Dearboy hopes to become the first local Liberian artist to film a music video – of the hit song, “Who Knock on My Wife”. “This is the first time a Local Liberian musician would be doing the video. The live shoot is planned for the concert on Saturday,” says Toe. Later this year, Dearboy will headline a Liberian Music festival along with the LIB Queen.

Word-of-mouth about Dearboy’s sold-out tours is generating calls from several Liberian communities in the U.S. Says Toe, “the Liberian community has been very helpful. Rhodes Island, Minnesota, Dallas, Atlanta and other places have come knocking on our doors, hoping to get Dearboy to perform in their area.

For Dearboy, the success of his tour has convinced him that the sky is the limit. “What one man can do, everyone is capable of doing but what no man can do, no man dreams about it. The final destination may be far from you, but we are all going there. You can make sure you realize your dream. With the help of Emmanuel Toe and other Liberians in the U.S., everything is going on well and we are making sure that we make a lasting impact on our people. We have to realize that we can make life better for our people. Keep your heads up high and I will never disappointment you, I will always come out with more hits to excite my fans but beyond that we have to build an institution that will recognize the talents of Liberians.”
”The message basically is how we can all live together. These songs basically speak of the ills of our culture and how we can address them. When it comes to promoting unity and peace in the sub-region, I believe my music has done a lot.”
Sundaygar Dearboy, Liberian MusicianDearboy says the motivation for the hit song,” Who Knock on My Wife” came as a result of the war which resulted into forceful marriage and abuse of women. “Thus, I decided to come out with that song as a song decrying the many ills in our society with respect to the situation I just mentioned to you, with the hopes and aspiration that people will related to it.”
Dearboy says his thought process was right as a lot of people have identified with the song. As a result of the war, many husbands and wives went their separate ways; the sanctity of marriage went out the door as many fell prey to one of the unheralded problems of the war. “A lot of people men came and told me how their women were taken away from them, not by way of arms but by other people coming around and taking their women because they had the upper hand. Others women left them because of peer pressure but it was not only limited to women. The equilibrium was created with men leaving their wives as well. So it was well accepted,”
Says Dearboy.
The singer says while he hasn’t really written a song that spoke against violence against women, “Who knock on my wife” is an exceptional tribute to a problem that plagued many families during the fourteen-year civil war.
His focus, he says has been singing songs that promote the heritage and culture or the Liberian environment and Africa as a whole. ”The message basically is how we can all live together. These songs basically speak of the ills of our culture and how we can address them. When it comes to promoting unity and peace in the sub-region, I believe my music has done a lot.”
Currently, Dearboy says he’s working along with the New Vision, Toe and entertainment organizer, Junda Morris and making sure that Liberians back home are benefited in so many ways. “As a matter of fact, Dearboy says while in the U.S., he visited the first black CD, DVD center in the U.S. where he was able to talk to owners and encourage them to go and invest in Liberia so that the sales of CDs and duplication won’t give us hard time as it is doing now. “They expressed concern and they will be going as a matter of fact in May to make an assessment. So those were some of the successfulness of my trip here. Though, I’m a businessman, I’m not involved in mining or other things but I’ve met other people who have expressed interests with respect to how I talk with them.”
Dearboy’s music has already caught the interest of some businesses in the U.S. Maurice Morton, a U.S. attorney and entrepreneur says he was overwhelmed by Dearboy’s music and personality and is planning an assessment team to Liberia shortly.
“I actually met with him last week. Some partners and I we actually have a strong interest in going to Liberia and helping out anyway we can. We met with his folks here and we’re trying to look at some of the opportunities and ways we can actually get African-Americans over there to see how we can help whether it is to invest or do business,” says Morton.
Morton says when Dearboy came in town he met with him and his partners and told them about some of the opportunities in Liberia - “and then he also brought his music. His music is outstanding, his message is outstanding.”
As a result, Morton says he is making efforts to get Dearboy’s out there and at the same time try to let people know about the opportunities in Liberia. “We should go back and invest in our own land as supposed to others going over. So that’s how we came across. We have a lot of the same interests so we want to help each other out.”
Maurice says he and his team hopes to be in Monrovia by April on an assessment mission.
“The main point of the first visit, Morton says is hopefully to meet with some government officials, take a look at the land and opportunities and see what the needs are and see how we can help be it infrastructure needs or whatever the needs may be, we can help bridge that gap and the connection between black-owned businesses in Liberia .”
As one of the few Liberian artists who weathered the storm and stayed in Liberia throughout the war, Dearboy has used his music to plea to Liberians to exercise patience with the young government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The result is “Manage it “Like That Papa Will Soon Come,” an up tempo-style sound that covers Sirleaf’s inauguration day lament when she spotlighted the hardships many Liberians face in making ends meet.

“As you know, in our various communities and towns, our children have a way of greeting their fathers when they come home after a long, tiring day of trying to find the means to feed the family that night and send the children to school in the morning.

They say, "Papa na come." For too many times, for too many families, Papa comes home with nothing, having failed to find a job or to get the help to feed the hungry children. Imagine the disappointment and the hurt in the mother and the children; the frustration and the loss of self-confidence in the father.”Through the message of this story, Sirleaf said she wanted Liberians to know that she understood their plight.
“This is a song mode­l after a phrase in President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s inauguration when she spoke of government recognizing the livelihood of the people to be improved and during her administration she will make sure that papa comes.”
Dearboy says a lot of people are expecting papa to come right away when the government took over within two months time but some of the expectations may be unfair to the young government presiding over a country emerging from war. “I feel that as a musician disseminating information through songs I have an obligation to sensitize the public, manage it like that, Papa will soon come.”

American Billionaire Gives US$30M to Liberia for Private Sector

An American billionaire, Robert Johnson has committed thirty million U.S. dollars to the private sector of post-war Liberia.

Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh told reporters the commitment was made the just-ended Private Sector Conference in Washington D.C.
Minister Sayeh said Mr. Johnson has also promised to work with OPIC for the achievement of its objectives.
According to Minister Sayeh, the Private Sector conference was jointly sponsored by OPIC and the International Finance Corporation.

PROFILE OF ROBERT JOHNSON

Robert L. Johnson, Business Personality / Media Mogul

• Born: 8 April 1946
• Birthplace: Hickory, Mississippi
• Best Known As: Founder of Black Entertainment Television

Robert L. Johnson is the founder, chairman and CEO of Black Entertainment Television (BET). He is also the majority owner of the the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association. Johnson grew up in Illinois and earned a graduate degree in international affairs from Princeton University. In the early 1970s Johnson found himself in Washington, D.C. during the early expansion of cable television. After a few years as a lobbyist for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Johnson borrowed money to start his own cable brand, BET. Launched in 1980, it was profitable within five years. In the early '90s BET became the first African-American-controlled company to be traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1998 Johnson bought it back and then sold it to Viacom, pocketing a reported $1.5 billion himself and retaining his position as chairman and CEO. Since then Johnson has continued to expand and diversify the BET brand, and in 2003 he became the owner of a new National Basketball Association franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats.

Ducor Petroleum Receives Commendations From Several Liberians

Ducor petroleum Petroleum Incorporated (DPI) which recently launched its services to the public nationwide has been praised by several Liberians for its initiatives to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Speaking to the GNN, two executives of one of the local rights group, The Liberian Youth for Democracy (LYD), Jeremiah Smith and Samuel Daniels said they were over happy for the level of assistance this Liberian owned company is doing for the youths of Liberia.

The youth leadership said the management of Ducor Petroleum Incorporated must be highly commended, "other Liberians who are in business must follow the good example of this company," they stressed.

For the benefit of our many browsers we again bring you this profile on the company read below.

(Visit our sister webpage www.gnn-globalnews.blogspot for interesting photos of the company)

Speaking to the GNN, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Amos Brosius said this was his own way of helping to boost the Liberian economy.

The young Liberian business executive who previously worked for the Mobil Oil Liberia Incorporated for over decades said his company, the DPI has established several gas stations troughout the City and its environ and also established branches in five of the fifteen counties of Liberia.

"At present, Our service have beyond Liberia, as we are currently supplying neighboring country like Guinea and hope to do same with other country soon, once the support if given us” the DPI CEO boastfully told the GNN in Monrovia.

Below is the DPI Chief Executive Officer profile, featured recently:

As Liberia gradually returns to the state of genuine stability under the leadership of Africa’s first female President, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian entrepreneurs are making all efforts to rebuild the Liberian economy which was destroyed over a decade ago as a result of a civil war.

One of these finest and industrious Liberian entrepreneurs who is striving to boost the growth of the Liberian economy through the establishment of a company to rapidly reduce the high rate of unemployment in the Country is no other but the General Manager of the Ducor Petroleum Incorporated, Mr. Amos P.K. Brosius, I.

Despite his appearance at first sight which confuses people due to his youthfulness and simplest interaction with people, Brosius manages the most reliable and serviceable petroleum distribution stations throughout the country, the Ducor Petroleum Incorporated, a subsidiary of the Monrovia Oil Trading Company (MOTC).

Due to its reliability and professionalism of its workforce, DPI services to the NGO community as well as International Organizations and Churches throughout the Country is been appraised by thousands of Liberians for the level of professional services has been provided by this Liberian owned company.

DPI headed by this learned Liberian, has grouped strategic areas in Monrovia for its service provider, including Bushrod Island Jamaica Road junction, where the Head office of the company is located, Center Street (Central Monrovia), Lone Star Filling Station in Gardnersville (Jacob Town).

For its outstations, DPI covers Ganta; Nimba County, Buchanan; Grand Bassa County Totota/Gbarnga, Bong County and Kakata, Margibi County. According to Mr. Brosius, it is his management’s desire to spread its wings through the length and breathe of the country by providing professional and reliable services to the nation.

With the support of his partner and major supplier in the petroleum business, the Monrovia Oil Trading Corporation (MOTC) which was established six years ago is said to be making a tremendous move alone with the DPI in helping to create and build confidence in the Liberian economy.

The setting up of DPI’s distribution networks throughout the country and managed by a staff of trained Liberian energetic professional individuals has indeed proven that this company is doing everything possible to empower Liberians in order to become masters of themselves in the future.

Mr. Brosius a 1996 product of the nation’s highest institution of learning, the University of Liberia where he sincerely earned for himself a BBA Degree in Accounting is happily married to beautiful and charming Ms. Hawa Fatta, now Mrs. Hawa Fatta Brosius, both are blessed with four (4) kids, two boys and three girls with ages 8, 5, 2 and one month old baby.

Mr. Brosius who believes in hard work and honesty has over the years worked with several reputable companies, including the Liberia Produce and Marketing Corporation (LPMC), and Mobil Oil Liberia Incorporated where he was also admired due to his professional handling of his assigned job, as Accountant.

While working at Mobil Oil Liberia Incorporated, he was privileged to have undergone several local and international exposure and training in Togo, Senegal, the Ivory Coast and the Republic of Ghana acquiring various techniques and experience through the sponsorship of Mobile Liberia limited, a gesture which he highly pleased with.

His professional services at Mobile at that time made his former bosses and other employees to missed him; being a man of integrity and diligent, others urged him to work for them but refused on ground that he was opting for his own business to help reduce and help to employ his fellow compatriots.

While also at this company (Mobil Oil Liberia Incorporated), according to some of his former workmates, the DPI Executive was always wining the hearts and minds of his bosses and receiving the highest appraisal every year from the company’s overseas office in Europe and the Americas. Similar honour was also given him at the end of last year (2006) when several media houses, honoured him for his valuable contribution to the state and its people.

His dream has today has become a reality, being a proud man to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of one of Liberia’s most reliable petroleum distributors which is measuring arms with some of the country’s biggest distributors in such business, “our services will cover the entire country, just give us some time”, Mr. Brosius relaxed behind his giant size desk in his office located at Jamaica Road Junction, Bushrod Island boastfully said.

When asked about his philosophy, the Gasoline and Petroleum guru smile and said, “The best way to happiness is to seek to make others happy”. Her said he has invested over half a million United States Dollars into the business and hope to invest more for the benefit of the Liberian people who will be catered to through the distribution of his products Nationwide.

Given his message to his fellow Liberians who may want to grow to become successful in business, Mr. Brosius urged them to “learn to be honest and committed and live within your means and pay your taxes regularly. These are the recipes for a successful businessman or woman”, the young Liberian business man stressed.

Mr. Brosius due to his hard work and interest in helping to reduce the high rate of unemployment in Liberia has also involved himself into farming. Presently he is operating a 10 acre farm land on the Monrovia/Roberts field highway where vegetables of all kinds are being harvested.

Speaking further, Mr. Brosius said 10 to 15 persons have been hired daily at a rate of US$5.00 per person, making sure that the ‘Green Revolution’ that was launched prior to the Liberian civil war regains its status. “This farm was recently harvested with lots of cabbages and other edibles vegetable,” Mr. Brosius.

Several Liberians spoken to by this writer called on other Liberian entrepreneurs to follow the good example of Mr. Amos Brosius who has taken the nationalistic initiatives to provide jobs for Liberians.

U.S. soldier gets 100 years for Iraq rape, killings

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 100 years in prison Thursday for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year.
Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24, also was given a dishonorable discharge. He will be eligible for parole in 10 years under the terms of his plea agreement.
Cortez, of Barstow, California, pleaded guilty this week to four counts of felony murder, rape and conspiracy to rape in a case considered among the worst atrocities by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
In his plea agreement, he said he conspired with three other soldiers from the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division to rape 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi. The girl, her parents and a younger sister were all killed.
Earlier Thursday, tears rolled down Cortez's face as he apologized for the rape and murders. He said he could not explain why he took part.
"I still don't have an answer," Cortez told the judge. "I don't know why. I wish I hadn't. The lives of four innocent people were taken. I want to apologize for all of the pain and suffering I have caused the al-Janabi family."
The military judge hearing the case, Col. Stephen R. Henley, issued a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum for the charges. Under military law, the defendant is given the lesser sentence unless he violates terms of the plea agreement, which requires Cortez to testify against others charged in the case.
Psychologist Charles Figley testified that Cortez and the other soldiers likely suffered stress brought on by fatigue and trauma.
"It eats you up," Figley said. "It's a horrible thing. This is not unique. We've seen this in other wars."
Five soldiers who served with Cortez in Iraq testified that his actions were out of character and described the hardships of war they experienced, including sleep deprivation and the lack of running water.
"I just never would have seen it coming," said Staff Sgt. Tim Briggs, who has known Cortez for five years and served with him in Iraq.
Prosecutors said the stress was no excuse for the actions of Cortez and the other soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell.
On Wednesday, Cortez described raping the girl in her family's home in Mahmoudiya last March, along with Spc. James Barker, 24. Barker pleaded guilty in November to rape and murder and was sentenced to 90 years in military prison.
Cortez said this week that former private Steven D. Green raped the girl in front of him; shot her father, mother and sister; and then shot her in the head. He also testified that the soldiers attempted to burn the girl's body; burned their own clothes; and threw the murder weapon, an AK-47, into a canal in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.
Cortez was found not guilty of more serious charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to premeditated murder.
Pfcs. Jesse Spielman, 22, and Bryan Howard, 19, await courts-martial. Green, who is accused of being the ringleader but was discharged from the military before being charged, will be prosecuted in a federal court in Kentucky.

Press Union Condemns Closure of Independent Newspaper, Complains Liberian Gov't to U.N

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has condemned the arbitrary closure of the Independent Newspaper by government Security forces yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

The Union says the seizure of the newspaper offices without court order is a violation of the rule of law which has been preached over the years by the same government.

The PUL further said while it acknowledges the reckless ethnical misconduct of the paper, it will resist any attempt by government to institute what the union called “mob justice” against the paper.

The Union challenges President Sirleaf not to allow her government to slide into repression and the practice of jungle justice, but give chance to the judiciary to function if there has been a violation by the newspaper.

“We will be interested in following to a logical conclusion, court actions against any member of the Press Union of Liberia so as to serve as a precedent for others,” the media group rights added.

Meanwhile, the Press Union of Liberia has complained the Liberian government to Ambassador Alan Doss, Special Representative to the U.N. Secretary General and other democratic crusader on the issue.

Heart Attack Brings Dead Baby Alive

Credit BBCNEWS






Brain scans have shown that Woody has suffered no lasting damageA baby boy who was pronounced dead after a heart attack came back to life 30 minutes later as he lay in his grieving parents' arms.
Medical staff at Leeds General Infirmary had tried in vain to resuscitate two-week-old Woody Lander.
He was handed over to parents Jon and Karen Lander so they could say goodbye.
After half an hour the couple heard the boy cough and doctors started his heart. Now 14 months old, Woody has been given a clean bill of health.
Mr Lander, 34, a civil servant from Farsley, Leeds, had been travelling with his 32-year-old wife to his parents' house in Norfolk in December 2005 when they noticed their child turn white and cold.
Woody was rushed to the emergency ward at Leeds General Infirmary where he had a heart attack. It was later discovered he had a blocked aorta.
The doctors said they had never heard of anyone coming round after 30 minutes of apparent lifelessness
Jon Lander, Woody's father, Mr Lander said: "We were in bits. After what seemed like an eternity the doctor came out and said 'I think we have done all we can'.
"They reached the cut-off point for resuscitation and said 'that's it' and handed Woody to us to say goodbye.
"They started taking tubes out and that's when he started twitching.
"They managed to get his heart going and he came back to life in front of us."
Full recovery
Brain scans have now shown no lasting damage and the Landers have been told their son can expect to lead a full and active life.
Mr Lander said: "We still don't know how it happened. We just know he's a little miracle.
"The doctors said they had never heard of anyone coming round after 30 minutes of apparent lifelessness, let alone a young baby.
"But the people at the hospital were unbelievable and they made the miracle happen."
Mr Lander is hoping to thank Leeds General Hospital by running in the Leeds 10k Run for All, set up by fund-raiser and terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson, later this year.
He is raising cash for the Children's Heart Surgery Fund at the hospital.

Liberia Lotteries in Crisis, As "Fassue Kelleh Leaves with clean hands"

The Liberia National Lotteries Incorporated which was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1982 with the sole purpose of financing welfare institutions, especially the disabled and old-folks homes and create jobs for those who are incapacity is said to be falling apart followed the resignation of its Managing Director.

According to report, Mr. Fassue Kelleh has taken his exist from the agency following countless efforts for its revival failed – the inability for the Liberian Government to play its part as a result of previous administrations miss-application of trusted funds from the agency’s coffer.

Mr. Fassue Kelleh former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) was last year appointed as Managing Director of the Liberian National lotteries by the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf due to his high profile administrative skills, a position he accepted to return home from the United States of America where according to report he secured a job as a banker.

According to sources, Mr. Fassue left the agency due to what he called the lack of support from the Liberian Government to up keep the institution in good shape and settle delinquents who have played this game over the years.

Recently an employee, Jallah Mendscoe, Marketing Manager of the Liberia National Lotteries in a recent news conference accused his former boss (Fassue Kelleh) of impropriety and miss-management of the agency’s funds, Mr. Mendscole also blamed Mr. Kelleh of draining down financially the Liberia National Lotteries.

This allegation leveled against the former Managing Director of the agency by Mendscole seems not to go down too well with some employees of the agency who described the allegation as” mare fallacy and deformation of Mr. Kelleh’s well earned reputation built over the years.

Also reacting to the allegation, sources closed to the Vice President of Liberia, who is also Chief Patron of the agency, said the allegation leveled against Mr. Kelleh by Mendscole and others has no iota of truth, and lack basic facts to spoil the good character of Mr. Kelleh, who the source described him as a fine gentleman who also mean serious business to sever his country.

“The resignation of Fassue should not be considered as been corrupt, but rather due to the lack of the needy support from the government to uphold the agency’s responsibility to those clients whose payments seems to come forth,” the sources at the Vice President’s office told our reporter.

According to an investigation been conducted by reporters, prior to the departure of Mr. Kelleh from the Liberia National Lotteries as Managing Director, a “Proposed Recovery Project & Action Plan and Prospect for Survival & Growth” of the agency was submitted last July to the Liberian leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, stressing, “that the Liberian National Lotteries’ current debts and payable due the various banking institutions, operations cost, winners unpaid awards and balances astronomically shamefully and unbelievably now stand at L$40,663,916.57, or over US$790,000.00.”

Stating further in the report, Mr. Fassue said, “the Liberia National Lotteries sales has immeasurably decreased over the years. In 2004 for instance, each of the bi-weekly draw stood at over LD$200,000.00 – average. Sales have started dipping in 2004 when each draw barely reached LD$170,000.00 and players declined to below 12,000 customers only per draw”.

In the same token, the former Managing Director in a drive to revamp the agency last December (2006) in a communication to the Director General of the National Social Security & Welfare Corporation, Mr. Francis Carbah, said, “the Liberia National Lotteries Incorporated currently stands in dire financially loan to enable management revamp the operations by first paying off liabilities to its customers of over $100,000.00 or L$5.6 million’.

With all of these strives by the former Managing Director of the agency to improve the Lotteries of the nation, several individuals who spoke to this writer have taken exception to Mr. Mendscole’s allegation against the man he said is a credible Liberian.
Investigation continues.

Senator Prince Y. Johnson Tours Mali, Senegal

Former rebel commander of defunct Independence National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL) now Senior Nimba lawmaker, Senator Prince Johnson leaves the country this week for Bamako and Dakar, capital cities of Mali and Senegal, respectively, as guest of Medi-Lab, an International medical group based in Germany with seven offices in West Africa and Luxemburg.
The ECOWAS parliamentarian will be away for one week and while in the Malian capital, is expected to hold talks with officials of Medi-Lab including some investors, who may wish to invest in Liberia.
According to the office of the Nimba senior senator, his trip to those countries comes in the wake of invitation extended to him in January, 2007, but which he put on hold while he was undergoing medical treatment in a local hospital.
Information gathered from Senator Johnson’s office indicates that his doctor has advised him to move freely at this time. The information further say, he will depart the Robert International Airport this week for the visit to Mali and Senegal purposely to meet and discuss with the investors on the best way to establish a pharmaceutical industry in war torn Liberia.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Upper House’s standing committee on National Security, Prince Y. Johnson told our reporter that he would use the occasion to meet with members of the ECOWAS Parliament from both Mali and Senegal in their respective countries to discuss peace and reconciliation in the region.
The Senator also pointed out that while he is away for one week, his office will remain open for people from his constituency and for any other individuals. The Senator is expected to return to Liberia this weekend.

Willis Knuckles Finally Resigns, As President Sirleaf Expresses Regret, Calls for Immediate Prosecution of all Officials

The Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Willis Knuckles who was involved in widely publicized pornographic sex scandal yesterday tendered in his resignation to the Liberian leader, but many Liberians described the latest report as be littled.
Addressing the Nation by radio late yesterday evening at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, now Presidential Office, said she received a letter of resignation from her “able and respected Minister” of State for Presidential Affairs, Knuckles yesterday.
She expressed regret for this latest action on the part of the Minister, but said she will uphold the rule of law in the country, and promised to protect the moral value of the Liberian people.
Speaking further, the Liberian leader admitted that "Corruption is still rampant in government," in her thirteen months old government, but however assured the people of Liberia that she would ‘ruthlessly’ deal with it.
The President in a serious note said she would achieve this by prosecuting those involved in corruption in her Government and former administration.
The issue of Knuckles’ widespread sex scandal has created serious among Liberians and even those in the diasporas for what they described as “bringing disgrace to the civilized people of Liberia.
Following the much series of publicities on the issue, several groups including the Press Union of Liberia, students, human rights, church related organizations and even the ordinary Liberian called for the immediate dismissal of Minister Knuckles.
In a related development, the former NTGL Chairman, Gyude Bryant has been found guilty on corrupt charges and is expected to shortly face prosecution.According a local radio station quoting Justice Ministry sources, the former Transitional Chairman will be prosecuted after been found guilty.