January 13 , 2012 Newspapers Headlines
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Gay Rights Debates Heighten

Public debate here on the call for the legalization of homosexuality continues to attract acrimonious responses, including condemnations with report that the man leading the campaign for the legitimization of gay and lesbianism Archie Ponpon narrowly escaped death Wednesday, on the Fendell campus of the University of Liberia outside Monrovia at the hands of angry students.

The debate for gay rights here has also received international inputs with some contributors seeing nothing wrong with the promotion of same sex union here, at least since this paper publish an article suggesting that gay activists were bend on pushing a 'gay bill' through.

One lawmaker told the New Dawn that the Liberian society is not prepared to introduce or sustain the legality of gay and lesbian practice. “If you were to go in my little village in Grand Kru and talk about same sex marriage, you will face the wrath of the residents, it is punishable traditionally just for saying it in the public.

The New Dawn
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All Set for Inauguration on Monday

The Special Steering Committee put in place to organize activities leading to the inaugural program of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and VP Boakai on the occasion of her second term has confirmed that all is now set for the successful holding of the event.

Disclosing how colorful the event would be, Madam Yvette Chesson Wureh addressing newsmen in Monrovia said that the committee has been working tirelessly around the clock making sure that every aspect of the program is properly arranged and organized.

Madam Wureh further confirmed that guests would start arriving in the country over the weekend while they have received confirmation from over thirty Heads of States to grace the occasion. United States of America and the People's Republic of China as well as other European states have also confirmed their participation, while several West African leaders have also confirmed that they would attend the ceremony, including leaders from the Central and Sub- Saharan regions.

The Inquirer
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Sec. Clinton Inauguration Visit Likely
Speculation Fuels Debate on same Sex Marriage

United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is expected to travel to Monday's inauguration ceremony of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government officials have suggested.

Though the US Embassy in Monrovia has neither denied reports of the impending visit, sources say it will coincide with the official opening ceremony on Tuesday of the newly constructed US$150 million US Embassy in Liberia.

“Well, we don't know yet. We will contact you when we get a confirmation”, Madam Dehab Ghebreab, head of public diplomacy at the US Embassy told the Daily Observer yesterday.

Daily Observer
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Greenville Port Lifts First Shipment of Logs
As NPA Celebrates

The first shipment of logs in nearly a decade has successfully left the Port of Greenville, Sinoe County, for the shores of Europe. The ship, 'Terry Sirte' sailed from the Port of Greenville on Thursday, January 12, at 7:40 hours with about 360 pieces of Ekki logs amounting to about 2,164 cubic meters.

The shipment of logs by the logging company Eco Timbers, marked the first shipment of logs from Greenville Port since the Ship, Oost Vieland sunk along the Marginal Wharf on May 31, 2008. The shipment was planned after the sunken Oost Vieland was dragged about 100 meters from the key. The current location of the wreck poses no danger to navigation in the basin.

Daily Observer
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LTA Fines LoneStar $500,000
For Communication Blackout During Nov. 7 Riot

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority this week slapped LoneStar Communications Corporation with a US$500,000 fine to be paid within one week, for “negligence and omission” on the part of the operator who failed to prevent the four-hour communication blackout that occurred on its network on November 7, 2011.

Additionally, the nation's telecommunications regulator has ordered LoneStar to give all its subscribers throughout Liberia a free four-hour call time on a day to be determined by the LTA, as compensation for the inconvenience they experienced during the four-hour LoneStar network blackout on November 7. The imposed free talk time, however will not include international calls.

The LTA is requiring LoneStar to sufficiently publicize the date and timing for the free calls to enable as many of its subscribers as possible to benefit from it.

Daily Observer
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President Admits 'Mistakes'
Inadequate Evaluation in Judging Ministers, Officials

Evaluation of cabinet ministers and public officials performance during her first term was inadequate and marred with mistakes, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf admitted at an annual dinner hosted for media executives.

But as she embarks on her second term, the President is urging journalists to assist in investigating and probing her officials more vigorously.

Speaking at the dinner hosted at the Monrovia City Hall Wednesday, the President said though officials were evaluated in the media, this was insufficient.

New Democrat
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Payment Ends
54,065 'Students' paid as MCC Runs into over US78,000 Claims

After paying 54,055 vacation students who were hired for temporary menial jobs, government has officially closed the payment exercise organized a few weeks ago, according to Jeronlinmek Piah, acting Information Minister.

Mr. Piah told reporters that after the completion of payments about three days ago, authorities at the Monrovia City Corporation have continued to receive huge numbers of young people claiming they were hired to work as vacation students but were not yet paid.

New Democrat
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Editorial of the Day:
Towards Ellen's Second Term

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph Boakai are next Monday expected to be inaugurated for a second term of office after being victorious in last year's presidential elections. The ceremony is in consonance with Article 50 of the Liberian Constitution which among other things states that “.........the President shall be elected by universal adult suffrage or registered voters in the Republic and shall hold office for a term of six years commencing at noon on the third working Monday in January of the year immediately following the elections”.

Already, massive preparations have begun to ensure the success of the event. The Government said the many high profiled world leaders and some Heads of States are expected to arrive in the country this week for next Monday's ceremony. As usual, the occasion is expected to begin on Sunday with an intercessory service in Monrovia.
The Sirleaf- Boakai's team was first elected in 2005 and sought re-election during the polls last year which they won on the ticket of the governing Unity Party.

The elections which was observed by local and international observers including, representatives from the American Government, the European Union, ECOWAS, African Union and the Carter Center, was declared as free, fair and transparent. Some observed that there were some problems, but it did not warrant discrediting the process.

As the nation prepares for the second term of Sirleaf's administration, it is worth mentioning that the new administration should realize that its election is a clear indication of the confidence the electorates have in continuing those policies and initiatives that brought progress to this nation. Besides, the second term should be seen as a reaffirmation of the trust and belief the people have in the administration that is capable of making more strives as it did in the last six years.

Despite the progress made in the past six years, this new administration should know that there are still more challenges to tackle in moving the country from backwaters to prosperity. There is still the problem of illiteracy and unemployment. The need for better roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and infrastructures are all appendages of the challenges.

While recognizing the progress made by this administration, more is expected of it in the next six years. Therefore, as it takes office on Monday, it should be mindful of the many challenges ahead, this is no time for complacency, but time to press forward to achieve more in the interest of the country.

The Inquirer