The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Melissa Chea-Annan
17 April 2008
Journalists of the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform Working Group, under the banner of the Press Union of Liberia, (PUL) the Ministry of Information and its partners are expected to march from the Union's headquarters on Carey Street today to the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill to present to the Legislature, three laws that would strengthen the improvement of the media.
The Liberia Media Law and Policy Working Group recently completed the drafting of three laws, including Freedom of Information Act 2008; an Act to establish an Independent Broadcasting regulator for Liberia and an Act establishing the Liberia Public Broadcasting Service to replace the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS).
The Chairman of the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform Working Group, Malcolm Joseph told The INQUIRER this week that the act is intended to make provision for the regulation of broadcasting in the interest of the public and to establish a juristic person to be known as the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which shall function wholly independent of State, governmental and party political influences and free from political or other bias or interference, among others.
According to him, the Broadcast regulation in Liberia shall seek to promote and protect constitutional principles, particularly the respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. He added that the policy will also foster national unity and reconciliation and at the same time promote and protect the right to freedom of expression.
On the issue of the Freedom of Information Act 2008, it is clearly indicated that the principal objective of the act is to grant the public the right of access to information in the possession of public functions in accordance with the procedures laid in the act.
The Act, among several other things called for removing all unjustifiable restrictions on access to information for members of the public in Liberia, and giving the public access to information on the operations of all public bodies and authorities, including the practice and procedures of public authorities.
Accordingly, the Act that seeks for the establishment of the Liberia Public Broadcasting Service (LPBS) shall be to provide a truly independent, nonpartisan, credible professionally efficient and accountable public broadcasting service that will cater to the needs of the Liberian people and thereby promote a vibrant, open, stable and democratized society.
Meanwhile, Mr. Joseph is calling on journalists throughout the country to join them in ensuring that these Acts be accepted by the Legislature and passed into law. Mr. Joseph is also calling on members of the media and its partners to join them today at 9:00 a.m. at the Union's headquarters to march to the Capitol Building where the acts would be presented.
Ailing Journalist Appeals For Help
A Liberian journalist, Zack V. Monir-Carl, is appealing to individuals of goodwill to come to his rescue so as to enable him undergo medication aimed at helping him recover from an illness he has encountered for the past two years.
Journalist Carl said that he became sick since November 2006, when he left Monrovia to reside in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County where he got a job to work with Radio Gbebzohn 106 FM as a Sales Director and Accountant.
He said since he didn't know the cause of his illness or what was actually happening to him, he returned to Monrovia from Buchanan where some concerned people recommended that he visit the TB Annex for medical examination to ascertain as to whether the chronic cough he was suffering from had any connection with TB infection.
Journalist Carl, who is a full member of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), said after his spectrums were tested, the result was negative and the medical authority at the TB Annex recommended the prescriptions of some drugs, which he bought and began to take.
According to him, his condition later improved as a result of taking the prescriptions and as such, he decided to return to Buchanan to continue with his job at the station.
He said few days later, he relapsed in his health while in Buchanan stressing that to his utmost surprise, something strange happened.
Journalist Carl, who has worked with some leading dailies in the country, said he had a dream and it was reveled to him by the Holy Spirit not to accept any other job in the Buchanan area but rather he should follow the Almighty God and preach his words. "As a result of this, I have now changed my name to Evangelist Zack Monir-Carl and I'm prepared to follow God," he said.
Carl, who walked into the offices of this paper looking very poor in health and using a stick to support him walk, said that his health condition has declined and he is currently at the examination unit of the John F. Kennedy Hospital, so as to determine the cause of his illness.
He used the occasion to appeal to Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes, the country's prominent Representative to the United Nations, whom he worked with for the past two years to come to his rescue as he is dying slowly. He also appealed to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ambassador Dew Mason and others to come to his aid.
He said anyone, who wants to assist him should contact the Managing Editor of this paper, Mr. Philip N. Wesseh on cell number 06516533.
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