It has been disclosed that in order to carry its mandate of impacting collegiate knowledge to Liberians as the nation’s higher institution of learning, the University of Liberia needs about US$10 million for its smooth running without hindrance.

The Ad-hoc Budget Review Task Force set up to review the budget for the 2008/2009 fiscal of the University made the revelation. Apart from the mandate of reviewing the budget, it also reviewed various means through which the institution could be improved.

The team disclosed that the UL needs about US$10 million to run smoothly without hindrance to the issues of salary delay among others.

Making the disclosure at a news conference held last weekend on the main campus of the University of Liberia in Monrovia, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Task Force Committee, Professor Wilson K. Tarpeh said (US$10M will be used for teaching and research programs.

The country financial expert said the total revenue for the University of Liberia’s fiscal budget 2008 and 2009 is in the tune of US$8.211, 156 and said amount should be approved by the Joint Faculty Senate-Council and forwarded to the Board of Trustees for what he considered as approbation.

Giving the findings and recommendations on behalf of the committee, professor Tarpeh also said US$ 7.4million out of the said total amount (8.211, 156) is the total expenditures and US$ 8,000 as surplus.

Mr. Tarpeh said his committee made a determination from list of submissions from what he called Capital Budget to allocate US$75,000 for the office of the Registrar, US$50,000 for the Business and Finance office, US$100.000 among other offices and areas.

The committee then called on the government of Liberia to increase its support to the University of Liberia in order for said institution to function normally and said support according the committee’s chairman should begin with the provision of an additional US$520,000 needed to settle arrears due the support staff for lost earning not provided for in 2007 and 2008.

Mr. Tarpeh recommended that the salaries for the month of September 2008 be paid according to the prevailing structure and that all part-time instructors or professors be paid US$100 per course instead the current amount.

Speaking at the news conference, the president of the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA), Clifford J. Young thanked the co0mmittee and expressed the hope that the UL administration will implement what in the document.

He also expressed that said document will not be set aside in order to suffer the students of the institution and quick to say that the UL faculty is not interesting in making trouble as been said in some parts of the country.

The ULFA leader called on the president of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and stakeholders including the International Community to help support the UL.

7-ManUS Delegation Confers With BIN Authorities
By Sallu Swaray

A conference intended to review ongoing activities at the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) between a visiting 7-man United States delegation and authorities of the BIN, Deputy Commissioner for Administration Archie Williams has said.

Mr. Williams told reporters that the delegations was interested in knowing working of the Bureau, in respect to border controls management with specific reference to ferrying of goods and services across the borders.

Members of the 7-man delegation comprised of officials from the department of agriculture, commerce and treasury. He said the delegation was adequately on how the BIN and the Bureau of Customs of the Ministry are collaborating in the execution of their various duties at various entry points.

He did not give clear reasons for the visit, but the Deputy Immigration Commissioner deputized for Commissioner Chris C. Massaquoi conjectured.

“It was perhaps about they wanting to see how possibly they could render assistance to the BIN and that of customs in the country.”

According to him, though the visiting guest did not make any commitment to helping the BIN, they however promised to make a good report and at a later time get in touch with them.

The Deputy BIN commissioner described the visit and interaction with the delegation as a remarkable one which to a large extent demonstrates the United States’ commitment to helping them in realizing the importance of their work and to put forth the need for logistics, vehicles, communications, uniforms as well as the rehabilitation of some of Liberia’s porous borders.

Mr. Williams said the visit of the seven-member delegation to the bureau was also in furtherance of a promise made early this year by the former US Ambassador to Liberia, Donald E. Booth, who pledged the US commitment to assisting the BIN.

He made the commitment in Ganta, Nimba County during a guided tour of the Ganta-Guinea borders to familiarize himself with problems faced by the bureau security personnel.

The head of the delegation, Economic officer at the US Embassy, Lucy K. Abott said the visit was intended to get insight of the work and challenges facing the BIN, and to appraise achievements being made during the last few years.

Members of the delegation include Lucy Abott, Stephen Gardner, Chief Consul of the US Embassy and Saliha Jasmyn Loucif, an International Trade Specialist of the West Africa Desk Office at the US Embassy amongst others.