Community News

Efforts geared toward promoting financial best practices at the Monrovia City Hall, gets boost as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will on Thursday, August 12, 2010, handovers IT equipment to the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).

The ceremony is expected to take place today at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The donation is aimed at increasing government revenues and ensuring the efficient and timely payment of taxes due the Corporation. It is also aimed at establishing adequate, transparent and accountable financial systems and train personnel to manage and operate those financial systems.

The USAID donation includes a server, eleven computers, five small printers, UPS/surge protectors and a multi-purpose fax/printer/copier machine. Also in the package is a QuickBooks accounting software package, which ensures accurate and reliable recording of financial transactions and generates reports of said transaction.

IBI representative Michel Jacob said the US Agency’s donation is a manifestation of partnership, which helps to further strengthen ties that bind the two countries and peoples.

Maryland County Senior Senator John Ballout has challenged Medical students at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) to keep focused in their career.

Serving as guest speaker at the installation of the institution's student council government over the weekend, Senator Ballout told students to attach more seriousness to their studies adding that quality education brings quality life.

According to him, the medical field remains the cornerstone for Liberia and that a healthy society brings development.

He told the students that in the absence of qualified medical practitioners in Liberia; it could be quite difficult for the country to progress in terms of health, as it might put the country's health sector at risk.

He then called on the students’ leadership to maintain mature relationship, respect for the rule of law so as to ensure a smooth learning condition.

The Maryland County Senator also challenged the student body to be committed, obedient and unified in one spirit and never to let go of their dreams.

Senator Ballout, who is also chairman of the Senate committee on Security and National Defense, said the country and citizens were all relying on the students individual expertise for an improved health sector.

A local youth group in District #1, Montserrado County, has embarked on a US$500 project aimed at re-conditioning roads and drainages in the West Point community.

The Project targeted Power Plant community and ist environs were founded by the Potential Youth for Positive Change (PYPC).

“No government officials give us a dime, even, our District Representative. We wrote them, but they refused to give us the support.” PYPC chairman averred.

The Community is one of the many transport routes for residents in West Point, because it links the township to the rest of Monrovia.

Speaking to this Paper on Saturday, August 7, 2010, in West Point, Roosevelt Wesseh, chairman, PYPC, said the project was part of his organization social responsibility to help bring relief and sanity to the impoverished community of West Point.

According to Wesseh, bad roads and unattended drainages were some of the hindrance and impediments to vehicle and motorcycle taxis.

At the same time, Mr. Wesseh said he regretted the continuous cases of reported accidents, blaming it on the lack of maintenance on the road, by the Ministry of Public Works.

“Since we enter the raining season, I can count over hundred accidents involving children and homes,” he lamented. Adding, “We are appealing to the authority at the Public works to come and rescue the community from this huge danger.”

A Margibi County-based anti HIV/AIDS organization has called on humanitarian organizations, government as well as philanthropists to render financial assistance to its educational programs.

Speaking recently with the Daily Observer, the executive director of Daughters of the Kings, James Z. Sloan, said the organization was catering to over 45 young girls who were tasked with spreading anti-AIDS, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse messages across the county.

Mr. Sloan said the organization was a young one that had no funds to cater to the educational needs of its members.

According to him, these young Liberian girls were selected from impoverished families who can hardly afford to financially support the educational ambition of their girls.

Mr. Sloan intimated that the organization was women-based with its members aging from 4 - 24 years with most of their parents carrying the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease.

The group was established on 24 May 2007 in the provincial city of Kakata, Margibi County by the HIV/AIDS program of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. The organization's goal is to bring young girls together to raise positive behavioral change irrespective of their social and economic status. It values a sense of belonging, participation, freedom of expression, teamwork, humanity, leadership and transparency.