Star Radio Daily news bulletin For June 2, 2005

Daily news bulletin


Bulletin of June 2nd, 2005
The National Team, the Lone Star has arrived in the Malian capital, Bamako.
According to reports the team will this evening start a training session on a local pitch.
The Lone Star is due to play the Eagles of Mali in the World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday.
_________________________________________________
Internally displaced people in Grand Bassa County say the government repatriation agency is delaying their resettlement.
Displaced people at the BISEMA Camp told Star Radio Buchanan's correspondent they want to return and participate in the electoral process.
The LRRRC County Coordinator assured the displaced that government is doing all it can to resettle them.
Mr. Alexander Zakar said the UNHCR and LRRRC are working together to arrange the return of the displaced.
Displaced of the BISEMA Camp are from Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Bong, Nimba and Rivercess Counties.
_________________________________________________
A survey has shown that more than seven hundred structures were destroyed in Tubmanburg, Bomi County during factional fighting.
The survey conducted by the residents showed that the figure represents forty percent of the city’s pre-war structures.
The regional city changed hands several times during the fourteen-year civil war.
The residents said there is scarcity of housing in Tubmanburg and landlords are demanding money in U.S. dollars for their houses.
They told Star Radio Bomi correspondent the situation has created hardship for low-income people.
_________________________________________________
The Commander of the Pakistani Contingent in Bomi County says Liberians should get involve in the search for peace.
Brigadier General Farrukh Rashiel said only Liberians could bring total peace to Liberia.
Brigadier General advised Liberians to elect people who would sustain the peace after the UN mission in the country.
_________________________________________________
The Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) has expressed concern over the lack of prison facilities in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.
FIND’s regional spokesman Daniel Johnson said the police holding cell is being used as a prison for all inmates.
But court officials in the county said it is the county’s main prison that the police are now using as holding cell.
The county’s Police Commander Roland Cooper told our correspondent he was not permitted to talk to journalists.
The FIND’s regional spokesman said the condition of the prison is deplorable and needs rehabilitation.
_________________________________________________
A contender for the United People’s Party Standard Bearer ticket says Liberia needs a serious reform program.
Mr. Milton Teahjay said it was time that Liberia looks at the the length of presidential and senatorial terms.
In Liberia, the president serves for six years and senators are elected for nine years.
Mr. Teahjay said the terms should be reviewed for a functional government.
_________________________________________________
The Minister of Transport says government confiscated seven buses from the Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA) for alleged breach of contract.
Transport Minister Vamba Kanneh said the buses have been turned over to the Genuine Transport Union and the Federation of Road Transport.
Mr. Kanneh said the two transport companies live up to the terms of the their contract with government.
_________________________________________________
The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) says the Freeport of Monrovia today resumed twenty-four hour operations.
A statement issued at the mission’s weekly press briefing said exhorbitant tariffs imposed by shipping companies would be repealed.
The Freeport had been operating twelve hours daily since the UN mission took over security at the port in April.
UNMIL took over security at the port after port users complaints of harassment and criminal activities
The mission last month appointed an American retired army officer, James Boynton as security coordinator at the Freeport.
_________________________________________________
The Ministry of Finance says it is putting in place measures for applicants of passports and visas to receive their books on time.
An official of the Ministry blamed the delay in the processing of traveling documents on Executive Order Number Two issued by Chairman Gyude Bryant.
The Executive Order calls for the centralization of all revenues at the Central Bank of Liberia.
It was the government’s adherence to fiscal discipline as requested by the international community.
Deputy Minister Tugbe Doe said this means the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should submit to the Ministry of Finance weekly the list of applicants to speed up the process.
_________________________________________________
Star Radio has gathered that seven presidential aspirants did not register to vote in the October Election.
The presidential aspirants involved are based in the United States and Europe.
Star Radio investigation revealed that most of the aspirants are independent candidates while others belong to proposed parties.
_________________________________________________
The Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Monrovia City Corporation will tomorrow begin removing petite traders from the Finance Ministry’s fence
The Director of Security at the Finance Ministry says the decision was due to the unsanitary condition of the area.
Mr. Albert Quaye told Star Radio today the petite traders were given prior notice to leave as of May 30.
Mr. Quaye alleged the petite traders refused to leave and that their forceful removal was now the only option.
The marketers denied the ministry’s claims that they have kept the area unclean.
The marketers said they have been selling around the ministry’s fence for years and have nowhere to go.
_________________________________________________
The National Bureau of Investigation says it is handling investigations into the leakage of the questionnaire of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) administratively.
NBI said it held a meeting with the heads of WEAC and the chairman of the Transitional Assembly’s Committee on Education.
NBI’s Director Anthony Kromah said the meeting was intended to amicably resolve the matter.
Mr. Kromah said the NBI would communicate with WAEC and the Education Ministry on how the questionnaire was leaked.
_________________________________________________
Several people were injured today in Kakata, Margibi County, when a vehicle ran into the Via Town Market.
Personnel of the United Nations Mission and the Liberia National Police arrived on the scene and took the wounded to the hospital.
Our correspondent says most of the victims are in critical conditions.
The accident occurred when a private care dodged a pedestrian and ran in the market.