President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has directed the Ministry of Justice to prepare for the eviction of individuals illegally occupying the Ducor Palace Hotel in Monrovia.

The President said the illegal occupancy of Ducor Palace can not be allowed to continue indefinitely. She urged the Justice Ministry to institute a process that would lead to the eviction of all squatters at the hotel.

The President has also directed the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy to re-survey the premises of the Ducor for proper demarcation.

In an Executive Mansion statement, Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf gave the directives at Thursday cabinet meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia.

The directives followed disclosure by National Investment Commissioner (NIC) Boss, Mr. Richard Tolbert that the Libyan government was now ready to undertake the renovation and subsequent operation of the hotel.

The Libyans, Mr. Tolbert said, are now ready to begin renovation work but were awaiting the eviction of squatters for proper evaluation and assessment of the hotel.

Meanwhile, there has been a sharp increase in new business registration in the country. Mr. Tolbert informed the cabinet of a 60% increase in new business registration in 2006.

The increase, he noted, represents 5,255 new businesses registered in 2006, compared to 3,299 in 2005. Mr. Tolbert described the trend as a major indicator in the growth and attractiveness Liberia offers for doing business.

In a related development, the Liberian cabinet is to convene in Maryland County next week in its regular session. The April 13 cabinet meeting in Harper is part of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's upcoming tour of the south-eastern region of the country.

The tour, which starts Wednesday next week, will take the President and a team by road to Harper, Maryland County, Saclapea, Nimba County, and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. She will also tour Fish Town, in River Gee and Greenville, in Sinoe County.

While in the counties, Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf will inspect development projects in the area and assess the development needs of citizens. The President said it was important to travel by road to get a first hand account of the road condition in the rural parts of the country.