Withdraw the Maritime act from the Senate Madame President...............

President Sirleaf

The Executive and the Legislative branches of government in Liberia, are said to be locked up in continuing discussions over the passage of the new Maritime Act that, among others, seeks to transform the Bureau of Maritime Affairs into an Authority and gives it the power to collect its own revenue, creates its own security unit and immunes its officials from prosecution while serving a seven-year term, among others.

The United States Government, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have all slammed the Act, with the US warning that it potentially violates Liberia Public Financial Management Law. Even other government agencies such as defense and finance ministries have respectively opposed the financial autonomy and the establishment of a security unity under the Act.

Last week renowned Liberian rights activist Kimmie Weeks joined the chorus of opposition by denouncing the act as an affront to the Liberian People, Mr. Weeks claimed that the Act, which is being debated by the Senate and stands to give the Bureau of Maritime Affairs and its commissioners a broad power, gives way to the creation of an entity that will be unanswerable to the Liberian people and removes safeguards that prevent widespread corruption.
”We cannot allow ourselves to go back to the years long ago when multinationals and large companies could convince the Liberian Government to pass loss in their favors, but which were extremely detrimental to the Liberian people in the long run. We‘ve been accused of passing some of the worse contracts in the world. Let‘s not let history repeat itself. Just say no to Maritime act,” Mr Weeks said.

As a huge supporter of the Sirleaf Administration, i have praised the President when ever she did good, and when ever she was wrongly criticize for political reasons for the many good work she was doing for the Liberian people, but this Maritime act submitted by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is just not a step in the right direction. We just cannot let an agency of the government collect its own taxes, have their own security force and at the same time give them a wide range of powers including policing themselves, with out the input of the Liberian people. The international community thinks the act is seriously flawed, the Liberian people wants it withdrawn, and we think the President should seriously consider withdrawing it from the Senate.

couple of Interesting stories featuring Liberia on CNN Inside Africa.......

CNN inside Africa this week has a series of interesting report about Liberia, that i will also like to share here on my blog.

In the first story Prince Johnson -- once a rebel commander in Liberia's civil war, and a man accused of crimes against humanity -- says he has found God, and he wants to lead Liberia to a secure future as a born again Christin.

This fool was not only responsible for the death of many Innocent Liberians during the civil war, but he was also caught on tape drinking Budweiser while his men were cutting off the ears of then President- Samuel Doe to his amusement, before torturing and killing him. and to think he has the audacity to want to be President and govern Liberia makes me sick, this criminal should be in prison along with his Pal Charles Taylor where they all belong.

The next story in the series and one of my personal favorite is about the dissemination of information to the masses, and the voice and vision of the young generation of Liberians ready to rebuild after years of war.

The final story in the series is about surfing in Liberia, and a young Liberian who is trying to get recognition for the sport.

Happy Independence Day...........................

On July 26 1847 exactly 163 years ago 11 men, representing different parts of the commonwealth of Liberia, and led by Hilary Teage, signed the Liberian Declaration of Independence. By signing the declaration of independence these patriotic sons of Liberia told the world that a new country,called Liberia, the land of the free, the first free negro nation on the African continent was born.

Liberians will gather all over the world to celebrate Independence day.....

Happy birthday Liberia, and happy independence day to all my fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia all around the Globe, as we all gather to celebrate the 163 years birth anniversary of our homeland this July 26, let us not forget who we are or where we came from, let us remind ourselves that though we may be of many tribes, we are still one people with one common destiny.

The Liberian People are a proud, resourceful, and Patriotic people who despite all the hardship and horrors of the last decades, continue to rise and put our nation first. the daunting task of rebuilding the country,after decades of war, may seem sometimes impossible, but the future holds nothing but possibilities if we all just work together for the common good of our Country.
Long live the republic of Liberia, Long live the peoples of Liberia.

World bank cancels Liberia's 4.6 billion dollar debt....

One of the greatest achievement of the Sirleaf Administration came yesterday when the World bank agreed to cancel Liberia's 4.6 billion dollar external debt.
Noting that the country "has successfully implemented its poverty reduction strategy and maintained a stable macroeconomic environment, despite the global economic crisis.

The debt relief is expected to free up resources for Liberia to rebuild its social services following years of civil war.

"Liberia can now mobilize additional resources to rebuild the road network and the electricity supply system, providing the infrastructure needed to allow economic growth, while continuing to expand the health care and education systems," IMF mission chief for Liberia Chris Lane said in announcing the decision. "Liberia will also be able to further develop its own financial market and channel private savings to productive uses."

Liberia becomes the 29th country to reach the completion point under the HIPC Initiative. The completion point marks the end of the HIPC process, which started in 2008 when the Executive Boards of the IMF and the World Bank agreed that Liberia had met requirements for reaching the decision point, when countries start receiving debt relief on an interim basis.
Tuesday's announcement will reduce Liberia's debt by 90 percent, according to the IMF, relieving 4.6 of the 4.9 billion dollars the country owes.

We applaud the President and her team in Monrovia, for doing a great job, The granting of debt relief marks a significant milestone in our Country's path toward recovery, it would not have happen without the leadership of the President.

Actor Director Dermot Mulroney will direct a film based on George Weah....

Actor Director Dermot Mulroney will direct a film based on the life of Liberian football player George Weah.
The actor - who recently completed filming on his directorial debut Love Wedding Marriage - and his partners are said to be excited about making a movie about the soccer legend.


Weah known in Liberia as King George rose from the slums of Liberia's capital, Monrovia, to not only become one of the best soccer player in the world, but also the only person to win FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year in one season (1995). He used his popularity as a sports figure to help child soldiers lay down their weapons during Liberia's civil war, and he was a factor in bringing down the bloody dictatorship of Charles Taylor, presently on trial at the Hague for international war crimes.

Mulroney, along with producing partners Tharita Cutulle and Rainier Negri, recently secured a deal for Weah's life rights after making a final presentation to him at his Miami home.

President Sirleaf meets President Obama at the Whitehouse.....

President Barack Obama today praised Liberia's progress against poverty and corruption, saying its neighbors can learn from its emerging dedication to democracy.

Obama welcomed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday for an Oval Office visit, praising her for leading Liberia after its brutal civil war.

Obama met Sirleaf in the Oval Office, and pledged the United States would stand with Liberia at every step of the way of its democratic development.

"I have been an extraordinary admirer of her work for many years now.... The United States and Liberia are close friends, longstanding partners, and Liberia is now emerging from a very difficult period," Obama said.



"Part of the reason it has been able to emerge is because of the heroism and courage of President Sirleaf."

"She is committed to the rule of law, made strides in reforming the judiciary and in all these endeavors I want to make sure the people of Liberia understand... that the United States is a constant friend and partner."

Obama said Sirleaf's example should be taken as inspiration to other African nations including, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Niger.

Sirleaf said her country had made important progress, and she thanked Obama for his and America's support.

Africa's first elected female head of state, Sirleaf said that she would not hide the fact that Liberia had challenges, but added that all basic freedoms were alive in her country today.

"We said that we were going to make Liberia rise again. I come today on behalf of the Liberian people to say that we have made a lot of progress," she said.

"We have been able to maintain peace for seven years now."

Delta airlines to start direct flight to Monrovia in September.....

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Tuesday it will again begin once-a-week service between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia, in September of 2010.

The flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Roberts International Airport in Monrovia will stop in Accra, Ghana.

Delta, based in Atlanta, had planned to start the flights last June, but they were delayed while the airport in Monrovia was brought into compliance with international aviation standards.

Delta said the service will begin Sept. 4 and use Boeing 767 aircraft with 34 premium seats and 181 seats in coach.

The airline said Liberian aviation officials and have approved the flights, and U.S. regulators have given preliminary approval. Delta has operated in Africa since 2006.

The new service between Atlanta and Monrovia will be welcome by Liberians in both Countries....

In a statement issued by Delta, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said her government was enthusiastic about the first direct flights to the United States in several years.

Delta had hoped to launch Liberia flights in June 2009 but had been awaiting government approval since then.

The Transportation Security Administration pulled the plug on the planned route launch last year because the Monrovia airport did not meet international security standards. Also last year, Delta's planned inaugural flight to Nairobi, Kenya last year was canceled amid terrorist threats.

On Tuesday, Delta announced that it had preliminary approval from the U.S. government, along with approval from the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority, to sell tickets for the new flights. The company said it expects final U.S. government approvals before the flight begins.