President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has signed several legislations submitted by the leadership of the Joint House and Senate Committee on Executive.

The legislation presented Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs include an Act prohibiting the sale and use of tobacco products in places in public places and the sale and use of tobacco and tobacco products by persons under 18- years of age, an act ratifying the Investment agreement entered into by the Government of Liberia and the Novel Liberia, Inc, as well as an act ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test- Ban-Treaty (CIBT) Were also signed by the Liberian Leader.

	• Pres. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

According to an Executive Mansion release, the president also signed a legislation fixing the day for the annual adjournment of the National Legislature not later than August 31 of each year, rather than the previously set July32st adjournment. An act establishing the Criminal Court’s E of the first Judicial Circuit, Montserrado County and

Special Divisions of the Circuit Courts of other counties to have special exclusive Jurisdiction over the crimes of rape, gang rape, aggravated involuntary sodomy, Voluntary Sodomy, Corruption, of minors, sexual abuse of wards and sexual assault respectively was also signed by the president.

An a ct ratifying the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in Liberia was also signed by the Liberian leader. The Legislature would ensure that persons with disabilities the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

In brief remarks prior to the signing ceremony, the Liberian president thanked members of the National Legislature for deliberating on the legislations, describing them as crucial to government’s effort to meet some of its International commitments.

The president made particular reference to the ratification of the Novel Concession Agreement, which she noted will enable government expand its domestic rice production program.

In a related development, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made more appointments in government, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate. According to an Executive Mansion, those nominated are Arthur W.B.Fumbah, Deputy Minister for Expenditure and Debt Management, Ministry of Finance, Roderick Smith, Deputy ministry of Administration, ministry of Public Works, Charles Carpenter, Deputy ministry for Rural Development and Isaac W. Jackson,Jr, Assistant minister for Culture, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Those nominated also include George k.Yango, Assistant minister for Community Service, Ministry of Public Works,William Slour, Assistant Minister FOR Operations, Ministry OF Public Works, Edsel Smith, Assistant Minister for Technical Services, Ministry of Public Works.

Others are Sumaiwou Z. Harris, Assistant Minister for Rural Roads, Ministry of Public Works,Klahn-Gboloh Jarbah, Assistant minister for Administration, ministry of Public Works,Mrs.Bindu Brewer, Assistant Minister for Planning and Programming including Zoning, Napolean Chattah, Assistant minister for Construction, ministry of Public Works .an Madam Elizabeth Mulbah, Commissioner, Governance Commission .

President Sirleaf Consoles Cuba, Congratulates Brazil

The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has sent a message of congratulations and best wishes to President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Brazil on the auspicious occasion marking the 186th Independence Anniversary of that country.

According to a Foreign Ministry press release, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, President Johnson-Sirleaf expressed conviction that the bonds of friendship and mutual cooperation subsisting between the two countries and peoples will be further consolidated as Liberia and Brazil work together to promote world peace, socio-economic development and the fight to eradicate poverty and disease for the benefit of their respective peoples.

Meanwhile, President Johnson-Sirleaf has on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia and in her own name, expressed deep and profound regrets for the wanton destruction of properties and loss of innocent lives caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Icke in Cuba.

The President said the people of Liberia are in sympathy with the people of Cuba, and pleased to identify with them during their hours of national tragedy.

The Liberian leader then prayed that God Almighty will comfort and give solace to the suffering people of Cuba to recover from the natural disaster.

Gov’t Issues Proclamation On EITI

The government of Liberia has issued a Proclamation, declaring implementation of Criteria and Principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) as an integral part of Government’s policy of accountable and transparent resource governance, which is also a key element of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

According to a Foreign Ministry press release, the Proclamation takes effect today, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 and shall remain effective for the maximum period provided by law unless earlier terminated upon the passing of a proposed legislation.

The Proclamation stressed that disclosure, publication and other reporting obligations as well as the manner of disclosure and publication established by and/or associated with implementation of the EITI are and shall be equally binding on all relevant agencies of Government as well as all extractive companies operating and/or seeking to operate in Liberia.

Accordingly, the Ministries of Finance and Lands, Mines and Energy; National Oil Company; the Forestry Development Authority; and other relevant Government agencies are hereby required to disclose, fully, timely, and in a manner required by the EITI Criteria and Principles, all revenues received from every extractive company in the country.

It is further directed that every company, especially oil, mining and logging companies, operating in Liberia shall, as of the effective date of this Proclamation, be obliged and required to disclose, fully, timely and in the manner required by the EITI Criteria and Principles, all payments made to every agency and level of the Government of Liberia.