CDCians Attempt Clean-Up Of Cities Ahead Of Inauguration!

According to the Liberian Observer several hundred supporters and partisans, comprising mainly the youth of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), yesterday stormed the major streets of Monrovia, Bushrod Island and Paynesville to begin a four-day clean-up exercise to make the cities presentable for the inauguration on January 22 of President-elect George Weah and his Vice President, Jewel Howard Taylor. The upbeat partisans told the Daily Observer that the clean-up initiative is aimed at giving Monrovia a face-lift for the January 22 inauguration. The CDC clean-up crews are reportedly working free of charge and are expected to be seen in action up to Thursday January 18. Among the groups moving along Tubman Boulevard up to GSA Junction were several engaged in sweeping, others gathering and piling up the trash for collection, some cutting grass, whitewashing the curbs, but many simply walking along, apparently not having any tools to work with. Also the cleaners were not aware of a designated area to dump the garbage they are collecting from the streets or the capacity to carry the trash to any dumpsite.  But the exercise clearly lacked the expertise of Madam Mary Broh to organize such a feat as cleaning up Monrovia and Paynesville. The volunteers left the few miles they covered litter free yesterday but it remains to be seen whether the public will cooperate by not trashing their efforts.  Some observers pointed out that the party’s clean-up exercise would only be successful if Liberians change their attitude and stop throwing trash on the streets and in residential areas. On the other hand, very few areas of the cities have garbage bins into which pedestrians can put their trash.Meanwhile as the clean-up exercise is ongoing, mountains of garbage still ruin the landscape from Red Light Market to Duport Road junction, as well as other places in and around Monrovia as has been repeatedly reported by this newspaper.  These giant heaps of garbage will require the services of special equipment and vehicles to remove.  It remains to be seen whether the Monrovia City Corporation and Paynesville City Corporation will get these unsightly garbage heaps out of sight, at least for the inauguration and the presence of the many guests expected in the country. Sadly, as yesterday’s campaign was folding up in the evening, some residents were still seen throwing trash onto the streets thereby defeating the efforts of the clean-up crews.

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Abuse Or Punishment: A Liberian Woman Burns Her Grandson’s Palm As Punishment!

A woman allegedly burnt the palm of her young grandson as punishment for unknown offence in New Kru town, Liberia. Read the report by Amos Sumo, National Assistant Secretary at Liberia National Children and Youth Advisory Board: Now, We must end Corporal punishment!!

Some parents continue to Violet the Rights of children, due to the poor justice system they often walk with impunity. It was reported yester week that a little boy in the Borough of New Kru town was dehumanized by his Grandmother for reason best known to herself.

This is a cross violation of the 2011 Children Law of Liberia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Maputo Protocol.

We’re calling on the Liberia National Police to launch an immediate investigation into this case.

At the same time, the victim should be seeking medical attention at Liberia’s biggest referral hospital, so as to; save his life.

And also, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Plan International Liberia, and Defense for Children International to collectively support the National Children and Youth Advisory Board in this advocacy for justice.

# We must commit our next President to Protecting the Rights of

children.

Parents of H&M Hoodie Model Says Family Forced to Flee Home!

The parents of the 5-year-old model featured in H&M Clothing’s controversial “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle” advertisement says they were forced to flee their home due to public backlash.

Terry Mango and her partner Fank Odhiambo appeared on ITV’s This Morning with the son Liam on Monday. They said they were forced to flee their Stockholm, Sweden home with their children after public backlash to the image of Liam wearing the hoodie.

Terry said Liam is unaware of the controversy because he’s only 5.

“He believes people love him for his modeling job,” Terry added.

“It’s very important to understand that me and Terry, we have a son, we have other children in the home that we are raising and we have an obligation to protect our children,” said Frank.

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