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Liberia Chair: Esther Maddox Director:
Committee Chair: Person ‘year Director:
LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
Contents
Chair’s Letter………………………………………………………...…..3
Introduction……………………..……………..……………..……..……4
History…………………………..……………..……………..……..…..11
Economics and Infrastructure………..………..……………..……..…..19
Government Structure………………..………..……………..……..…..24
Committee Positions………………..………..……………..……..……26
2 Committee Chair: Person ‘year Director:
LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
Chair’s Letter
Hey everyone!
My name is Esther Maddox and I will be serving as your chair at PMUNC 2014. I am a sophomore at Princeton University with a prospective concentration in the Woodrow Wilson School or the Politics department and a certificate in African Studies. My first Model UN experiences began the fall of my freshmen year when I decided to try out for the team. As a member of the Princeton Model UN Team, I have the opportunity to travel around the country and world participating in various Model UN conferences. In the past year, I have been a delegate in conferences at Columbia University, Chicago University, and McGill University. My involvement in Team has also led me to be more involved with Princeton’s International Relations Council, where I serve as the Community Service Co-Chair. As the Community Service Co-Chair I work on creating and implementing a program for middle and high school students in the local area that helps them learn more about International Relations and its relevance as well as allows for them to develop their public speaking and Model UN skills. I have worked two conferences previous to this one, PMUNC 2013 where I was a crisis staffer for the British and Irish Joint Crisis Committee and PICSIM 2014 (Princeton Interactive Crisis Simulation), our college conference, as the director for Interpol Committee. In the past year, I have learned so much from Model UN and I have had an amazing experience and I hope that I can share my knowledge with you and make sure that you have a wonderful time at PMUNC 2014!
A few of you may be wondering why I chose Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Cabinet in 2005 and may even not be too sure where Liberia is on the map. I chose this particular topic for two primary reasons. First, as a Liberian, I really wanted to conduct a crisis committee that is near my own heart and interests. I felt that I, as well as all of you, would enjoy and benefit from something a little different. Second, I wanted to have a committee that explored the intricacies and crisis that arise out of a government that has been plagued by civil war for well over two decades, where child soldiers, coups, rape, massacre, drugs, and a completely fractured infrastructure has become the norm. I felt that this crisis committee is ideal because of the potential for some interesting and challenging crisis as well as the flexibility that comes with being set in more modern times and the current lack of major solutions to the country’s problems. I really enjoyed developing this committee and I can’t wait to see what great ideas and solutions you will all come up with.
Besides the massive amounts of time that I spend doing Model UN, I am also involved in the Princeton Association of Black Women as a board member and the Princeton Questbridge Scholars on campus. I have also participated in the events put on by Princeton Latinos y Amigos and recently was part of the Princeton Shakespeare Company’s production of Twelfth Night as a cast member. When I am not busy with
3 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 class or my extracurriculars, I spend my spare minutes dreaming of sunny Southern California, binge watching Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, and Orange is the New Black. Please, if you have any questions about the conference or committee, do not hesitate to contact me beforehand. I look forward to meeting you all and fixing the world at PMUNC. Stay classy PMUNC Delegates!
Sincerely, Esther Maddox
4 Committee Chair: Person ‘year Director:
LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
Introduction
Committee Description and Africa. The past two civil wars also
Objective decimated the infrastructure of Liberia;
schools, hospitals, and sanitation need to
In 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was be revamped. The problems that have elected as President of the Republic of arisen as a result of the civil wars has
Liberia, following the years of made the road towards stability very widespread corruption, violence and difficult for Liberia, and the implications turmoil. Sirleaf and her cabinet took of Liberia falling into chaos once again office in January 2006 and were will not only mean bad news for just immediately faced with the many issues Liberians, but the West African Region that would need to be addressed before at large. The cabinet must work through
Liberia could be stabilized and start on establishing a stable Liberian the pathway prosperity. The last two government in order to withstand any civil wars decimated the country, future disasters and avoid a looming creating large-scale economic, political, third civil war on the horizon. The date social, and regional problems. Liberia that this simulation begins is January faces crippling debt to the US and other 16, 2006, the date on which President nations that must be addressed in order Sirleaf and her cabinet officially take for the country to move forward. In office. addition, there is the pertinent issue of
Liberian refugees scattered across West Committee Rules and Procedures
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All delegates are expected to wear
General Committee Rules Western Business Attire or, as the only
The committee will simulate the alternative, traditional Liberian/West executive branch of the national African Business Attire. The working governing body of Liberia. The cabinet, and official language of the committee headed by the President is responsible will be conducted in English. for determining and executing the laws and policies of Liberia. For the purposes Debate of this committee and to ease decision- The default setting for debate will be making, we have taken liberties with the a continuous moderated caucus. The roles of the executive, assigning powers cabinet needs a simple majority to pass usually reserved for the legislative directives and a two-thirds majority to branch of the government. It is important pass resolutions unless otherwise stated to note that this is the first Cabinet by the chair. Directives should be elected since the civil war, and although employed for crises that require the immediate fighting has ceased, immediate action while resolutions are instability still is present throughout the better suited for detailing a long-term country and even more so in the solution to a problem and should be used government. Because of this fragility of rarely. All sessions will begin with the government, the power structure in saluting the Liberian Flag and standing the cabinet is always subject to change. for the Liberian National Anthem.
Attire and Language
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Important Motions, Points, and the notice of the Dais. No
Means of Communication analyses or speeches may be
• Point of Order: A point of order made using a point of
may interrupt a speech and may information.
be used when a delegate feels the • Point of Personal Privilege: A
Chair or another delegate is not point of personal privilege may
correctly following the rules of be raised when a delegate’s
procedure. ability to participate in debate is
• Point of Inquiry: A point of impaired for any physical or
inquiry may not interrupt a logistical reason (for instance, if
speaker and may be used to the speaker is not audible). In
direct a question to the Chair to addition, this point may be used
clarify parliamentary procedure to bring up any issues with the
or motions or to ask a question. conditions of the room, such as
Substantive analyses or speeches lighting or temperature. This
may not be made using a point of point may interrupt a speech, and
inquiry. the Dais will immediately try to
• Point of Information: A point of resolve the difficulty.
information may not interrupt a • Right of Reply: Right of reply
speech and may be brought up by may be invoked in the rare case
a delegate in order either to that a delegate feels his or her
clarify a point or motion, or to personal dignity or integrity have
bring substantive information to been deliberately offended. The
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delegate may raise his placard amongst themselves and write
and ask the Chair for a Right of documents for submission.
Reply, which will be awarded at • Motion to Introduce Documents:
the Chair's discretion A motion to introduce documents
• Motion for a Moderated Caucus: requests that submitted
A motion to enter into a documents be introduced to the
moderated caucus must specify committee at large in order for
the topic of debate, the length of them to be discussed. The
the caucus, and the time for each document will be read out loud
speech. Much of committee by the Chair or by the presenting
debate is expected to take place delegate and be submitted for
in moderated caucus. committee discussion if it has at
• Motion for an Unmoderated least three signatures from
Caucus: A motion for an delegates. If the document is a
unmoderated caucus is up to the directive it will abide by the rules
Chair's discretion and must set forth below. In the case of a
specify a topic of debate for the motion to introduce an
caucus. If this motion passes, the amendment, if the
rules of debate will be suspended • amendment is friendly (that is,
for the given amount of time and the sponsor(s) of the original
delegates will be permitted to documents consent to its
leave their seats to discuss adoption), it is immediately
included as part of the proposed
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document. If it is unfriendly, a If this motion passes, then a
simple majority is required to motion may be made to enter
pass the amendment. voting procedure to vote on each
• Motion for a Question and clause separately. This motion is
Answer Session: At the Chair's subject to the Chair's discretion.
discretion, after a document has • Motion to Enter Voting
been submitted for debate a Procedure: If a delegate deems
delegate may motion for a that a document has been
question and answer session to sufficiently discussed, he or she
ask questions of the document's may motion to enter voting
author(s). If the Chair approves procedure. If this motion passes
this motion, the rules of debate then debate will be suspended on
will be suspended for a session that document and the committee
whose length is subject to the will enter voting procedure.
Chair's discretion. • Motion to Suspend Debate: At
• Motion to Split Directive the end of a committee session a
Clauses: A motion may be made delegate may motion to suspend
to split an already introduced debate. If this motion passes then
directive into its component debate will be suspended and
clauses, so as to vote on each resume at the next committee
clause separately. A three session. This motion may be
quarters majority is required for a ruled out of order at the Chair's
motion to split directive clauses. discretion and will only be
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entertained at a time reasonably by this committee require a
close to the end of the committee directive. Directives pass with a
session. simple majority.
• Motion to Adjourn Debate: At • Communiqué: Communiqués are
the end of the final committee formal communications (private
session a delegate may motion to by default) directed from the
adjourn debate. If this motion committee to other governments,
passes then debate at this individuals, or organizations.
committee for this conference Committee communiqués pass
will be adjourned and committee by simple majority.
business will be concluded. This • Amendments: If amendment is
motion may be ruled out of order friendly (that is, the sponsor(s) of
at the Chair's discretion. the original documents consent to
its adoption), it is immediately
Members of the committee may included as part of the proposed
introduce any of the following types document. If it is unfriendly, a
of legislation in general debate: simple majority is required to
• Directive: Directives are standard pass the amendment.
orders. All direct actions taken
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History of racial superiority and political representation. Origins of Liberia After living as a West African In the year 1820, there began Colony for two decades, Liberians serious talk of sending free blacks finally declared their independence (former slaves) in America back to from the ACS on July 26, 1847. They Africa. The American Colonization created their own constitution and Society (ACS) was formed to send became known as the Republic of African American volunteers to the Liberia. The leadership of this new Pepper Coast (dubbed that by the republic was disproportionately Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders dominated by the Americo-Liberians. that dominated the western coast of As a result of this, there were many Africa). The ACS was supported by clashes between the indigenous many prominent politicians of the Africans who were denied citizenship time, like Abraham Lincoln, and James under the constitution up until 1904. Monroe, who believed repatriation At the beginning Liberia’s was preferable to emancipation. As a economic development was hindered result of the ACS, only 528 free African by the large amounts of debt from the Americans were convinced to go to international markets and the lack of the West coast of Africa and were later markets for Liberian goods. With the to be known as “Americo-Liberians”. start of the 20th century came great With them, they brought to Liberia a changes for Liberia. With US culture infused with American notions
11 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 assistance, Liberia became a (from the Krahn ethnic group) led a modernized nation and grew. The military coup that overthrew
Lend-Lease act during WW2 brought President Tolbert Jr.’s government, seaports and airports to Liberia. killing him and the majority of his
Tubman, the president at the time, cabinet and governmental officials. encouraged foreign investment in The coup members founded the
Liberia, making it the country with the People’s Redemption Council (PRC)
2nd highest rate if economic growth in and used it as the political front to rule the 1950’s. Liberia became more over the country. Because of the confident in her position in the world strategic position of Liberia during the and involved herself more in the Cold War, Liberia became an realm of international affairs. Liberia important ally for the US and the Doe was a founding member of the UN, a regime received financial backing prominent critic of South African from the US. With the occurrence of a
Apartheid, and a proponent of African failed coup on the Doe regime by independence from European Thomas Quiwonkpa, government
Colonialism and Pan-Africanism. repression intensified as the Doe
regime executed many Gio and Mano
First Civil War tribe members. These government
However, it seems that even in crackdowns led to what would be the case of Liberia, all good things known as the first Liberian Civil War. must come to an end. In the spring of The war lasted from 1989 to 1997 and
1980 Master Sergeant Samuel Doe left in its wake 200,000 dead.
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The former government from the NPFL and form the minister Charles Taylor came from the Independent National Patriotic Front
Ivory Coast to start an uprising that of Liberia (INPFL). would eventually tipple the Doe August brought the economic government. His group, the National union of Africa ECOWAS into the
Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) was conflict when they created an made up of Gio and Mano people who intervention force called ECOMOG. were heavily persecuted under the Their goals with this intervention
Doe regime. The NPFL invaded Liberia force were to have a ceasefire, an through the North, in Nimba County in interim government, safe evacuation
December of 1989. The Liberian Army of foreign nationals and containment. was ready to counter the invasion, However, the fighting continued to however as a result many civilians rage, and Prince Johnson captured were caught in the crossfire. The Doe at the ECOMOG headquarters in
Liberian Army killed civilians and Monrovia and proceeded to brutally burned down villages, triggering the torture, execute and dismember Doe mass fleeings from Liberia to on camera in September of 1990. With neighboring Guinea and Ivory Coast as Doe and his forces out of the way, well as inflaming of the opposition for Prince Johnson and Charles Taylor
Doe. In June of 1990, Taylor along entered a power struggle over with Prince Johnson was laying siege Monrovia. to the capital city, Monrovia. But by Finally, towards the end of
July, Prince Johnson decided to split 1990, ECOMOG got2 Taylor and
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Johnson to agree to an intervention, ceasefire, and Charles Taylor agreed and an interim government was to a timetable to disarm troops. The formed under the supervision of main warlords in Liberia (Taylor,
ECOWAS. However the influence and Kromah, Boley) helped prepare power of this interim government Liberia for elections. However the extended only as far as Monrovia. The elections were postponed because rest of Liberia was still warring and fighting broke out once again in controlled by local gangs and factions Liberia. Elections resumed in 1997 of the NPFL. In June of 1991, an where Charles Taylor and his party uprising of former Doe supporters the National Patriotic Party won appeared as ULIMO. They fought overwhelmingly against 12 other against NPFL. However even they candidates and parties, averaging were not immune to power struggles 75% in the elections. The 1997 and eventually split into two factions. marked the end of the First Liberian
By this time, innumerable amounts of Civil War. human rights violations had occurred at the hands of the fighters and their Second Liberian Civil War leaders and so many Liberians were in The Second Liberian Civil War desperate need of humanitarian began in 1999 when the Liberians assistance, but were unable to receive United for reconciliation and any. Democracy (LURD), a rebel group
In August of 1995 the main backed by Guinea, emerged from factions in Liberia agreed to a Northern Liberia, led by Sekou
14 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
Conneh. The dissidents were thought Liberia. The insurgents were posing a to be from the Mandinka and Krahn major threat to the Taylor fighters of the former pro-Doe ULIMOJ government. Liberia was now engaged and ULIMOK. Also important in in a complex three-way conflict with forming LURD was an alliance, Sierra Leone and the Guinea Republic. brokered by ECOMOGSL Nigerian By the beginning of 2002, both chief General Maxwell Khobe, between of these countries were supporting
Liberian dissidents and the Sierra LURD, while Taylor was supporting
Leonean Kamajors hunter militia, various opposition factions in both including chiefs Sam Hinga-Norman countries. By supporting — practically and Eddie Massally. creating — the SL rebels, the
Against the dissidents Taylor Revolutionary United Front, Taylor deployed irregular ex-NPFL fighters also drew the enmity of the British with his more privileged units, such as and Americans. British and U.S. the Antiterrorist Unit, positioned to pressure on Taylor increased with ensure the irregulars did fight. rising financial support for Guinea and
Simultaneous September 2000 U.S./U.K. proposed sanctions, a counterattacks on Guinea from Liberia weaker version of which were and Sierra Leone by RUF – still loyal to imposed by U.N. Security Council May
Taylor and Guinean dissidents – 2001. achieved initial success. By January By mid February 2002 LURD
2001, however, Taylor’s forces were troops were just 44 kilometers from pushed back inside Sierra Leone and Monrovia, at Klay Junction, and Taylor
15 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 was forced to declare a state of fighters. In May, an attack on emergency. The February 2002 ICG Arthington, less than 20 kilometres report says that this attack was made from the capital, apparently prompted by pursuing ‘a strategy of infiltration panic in Monrovia. The state of of southwestern Liberia through the emergency was lifted in September thick bush of Southern Lofa, looping 2002, after, the government claimed, around government strongholds and the township of Bopolu had been disrupting supply lines while LURD retaken. In early 2003, a second rebel claims between 300 and 500 men group, the Ivoirian backed Movement were assigned to that mission, the for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), number that actually attacked was emerged in the south, and by the likely closer to twenty.’ Any image of a summer of 2003, Taylor's government large force gradually pushing toward controlled only a third of the country.
Monrovia is mistaken; ‘hit and run’ Despite some setbacks, by mid-2003 raids, rather than a continuous LURD controlled the northern third of advance, seem to have been the the country and was threatening the pattern. capital. The capital Monrovia was
Through the first half of 2002 besieged by LURD, and that group's
LURD mounted raids in Bomi, Bong, shelling of the city resulted in the and Montserrado counties, hitting, in deaths of many civilians. Thousands of addition to Klay Junction, Gbarnga and people were displaced from their
Tubmanburg, each time temporarily homes as a result of the conflict. seizing control from government
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A new bout of fighting began in which had come under attack, during
March 2003 after a relative lull and by Operation Shining Express. On 29 July early May; LURD and MODEL had 2003, LURD declared a ceasefire. gained control of nearly two thirds of ECOWAS sent Nigerian peacekeepers the country, and were threatening to Liberia. The first Nigerian battalion
Monrovia. came from Sierra Leone, detaching
Regional and wider pressure from United Nations Mission in Sierra led to the convening of a conference in Leone, and a second came from
Accra by the then Chair of the Nigeria itself. President Taylor
Economic Community of West African resigned on August 11, 2003, ahead of
States (ECOWAS), John Kufuor of the Accra Comprehensive Peace
Ghana, on June 4, 2003.By July 2003 Agreement (CPA), which formed the
Monrovia appeared to be in danger of negotiated end to the war, and was being occupied and devastated despite flown into exile in Nigeria. Interpol ongoing peace talks. The U.S. later issued an arrest warrant for established Joint Task Force Liberia, Taylor for war crimes committed by built around a U.S. navy amphibious his Revolutionary United Front rebel group with the 26th Marine allies in Sierra Leone but Nigeria
Expeditionary Unit aboard, positioned refused to deport him for a time off the West African coast. In July unless they receive a specific request
2003 the United States sent a small from Liberia. Vice-president Moses number of troops to bolster security Blah replaced Taylor. On August 14, around their embassy in Monrovia, rebels lifted their siege of Monrovia
17 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 and 200 American soldiers landed to LURD made extensive use of children support a West African peace force. in military service and were prolific
Thousands of people danced and sang on both sides of the conflict. as American troops and ECOMIL, the Liberian beliefs were often a
Nigerian led West African forces, took mix of Protestantism, Catholicism, over the port and bridges which had Islam and native West African split the capital into government and Shamanism. The result was a rebel held zones. An estimate 1,000 confusing syncretic religion that was people had been killed in Monrovia believed by many combatants. Several between July 18 and August 14. Moses leaders claimed to have chosen sides
Blah handed over power to the or determined strategy based on
National Transitional Government of visions, portents, and prophetic
Liberia on October 14, 2003. However, dreams. Best known for this was the transitional government exercised Joseph Blahyi, an antigovernment no real authority in the country, 80% warlord who declared war on Charles of which was controlled by the rebel Taylor after receiving a phone call groups. from the Devil.
There were also numerous
Other Issues in the Wars cases of human sacrifice in the civil
It has been said that no other war. It was an acceptable practice to conflict in the 21st century made use sacrifice, eat, maim, and murder of Child Soldiers more than the individuals in order to attain prowess
Liberian Civil War. Both Taylor and in battles.
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Drugs also became an Economics and important part of the fighting culture. Infrastructure
Child soldiers and other combatants
were routinely addicted to cocaine, Economy khat, and other drugs as a means of Liberia is one of the world’s control. poorest countries, with a formal
The women of Liberia had a unemployment rate of only 15%. The very important role in ending the 14- GDP per capita of Liberia in 2005 was year civil war of Liberia. They formed at $170 USD, one of the lowest in the the organization called Women of world1. The Liberian economy has
Liberia Mass Action for Peace and depended heavily on foreign aid and forced Taylor to attend peace talks in direct investment as well as the
Ghana. Under the organization, they exportation of natural resources such held nonviolent protests and put as rubber, timber, and iron ore. pressure on warring factions. Current impediments to growth
include a small domestic market, lack
of adequate infrastructure, high
transportation costs, poor trade links
with neighboring countries and the
high dollarization of the economy. While official commodity exports
1 http://www.indexmundi.com/f acts/liberia/gdppercapita
19 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 declined during the 1990s as many 2006, is only increasing. Liberia is investors fled the civil war, Liberia's currently not a member or an wartime economy featured the observer in the World Trade exploitation of the region's diamond Organization. The Firestone Tire and wealth. The country acted as a major Rubber Company have operated the trader in Sierra Leonean blood world's largest rubber plantation in diamonds, exporting over US$300 Liberia since 1926. Due to its status million in diamonds in 1999. This led as a flag of convenience, the country to a United Nations ban on Liberian has the second largest maritime diamond exports in 2001, which was registry in the world behind Panama, not lifted by the time our simulation with 3,500 vessels registered under starts in January 2006. In 2003, its flag accounting for 11% of ships additional UN sanctions were placed worldwide. on Liberian timber exports, which had risen from US$5 million in 1997 to Communications over US$100 million in 2002 and were Communication in Liberia believed to be funding rebels in Sierra includes the press, radio, television,
Leone. As of January 2006, these telephone (landline and mobile) and sanctions are still in place. Due in the Internet. As a result of the two large part to foreign aid and consecutive civil wars in Liberia, much investment inflow following the end of of the communications infrastructure the war, Liberia maintains a large that existed before the unrest was account deficit, which, as of January
20 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 destroyed or plundered2. In addition to destroyed infrastructure, the wars Education contributed to low rates of adult Education in Liberia has been literacy and high rates of poverty, and continues to be negatively limiting the predominate forms of affected by the First and Second communication to radio Liberian Civil Wars between 1989 and
(http://www.audiencescapes.org/cou 2003. UNICEF reported that the ntryprofilesliberiacountryoverviewqu Literacy rate of Liberia this past year antitativesurveyqualitativeanalysisres hovered around 64% for males earch). Despite this, Liberia’s media between the ages of 15-24 years and has grown since the end of the war. 37.2% for females between the ages of
There has been a steady increase of 15 and 243. Although primary and newspaper publications, radio and secondary education is free and television stations, telephone lines mandatory from the ages of 616, local and Internet providers and users. government officials have had trouble
However, Liberia still has a long way enforcing attendance throughout the to go since the percentage of the country. On average, Liberian children population with access to these media attend about 10 years of schooling (8 outlets are comparably low to those of years for girls and 11 years for boys)4. other developing African nations. 3 http://www.unicef.org/infobyc 2 ountry/liberia_statistics.html http://www.ppiaf.org/sites/pp 4 iaf.org/files/publication/PPIAFImpact http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/av StoriesReformingLiberiaTelecomSecto p/soe/cihe/inhea/profiles/Liberia.ht r.pdf m
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The Liberian School system is plagued ratio of 76 patients to every one with inadequate facilities and doctor or health worker). Most of the supplies, as well as a lack of qualified medical infrastructure in Liberia was staff and teachers. destroyed during the civil wars and
Liberia also has a number of the government used only 16.8% of its public and private higher education total health expenditure in the providers. The University of Liberia is country. Because of the inability for the oldest and largest university, and the government to provide the full includes 6 professional schools scope of medical aid to its population, including a Medical School and the there has been a heavy reliance on aid nation’s only Law School. The from the international community to government has also opened help support the development of community colleges throughout the health infrastructure. Liberia has country. received help from WHOM, GAVI, MSF
that have contributed equipment,
Health vaccinations, and man power to the
The Liberian Health System is ailing Liberian Health system. As a yet another part of the Liberian result of the many years of intense
Infrastructure severely affected by its war, many Liberians suffer from
14 years of civil war. Liberia has mental illness, as well as mental and approximately 5,000 full time or part physical trauma. A study reported by time workers and 51 doctors to serve the American Medical Association a population of 3.8 million people (a stated that 40% of adults in Liberia
22 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 have shown symptoms of major The transportation depressive disorders, 44% had infrastructure includes railways, symptoms of PTSD. As of now, the highways, seaports and airports. As availability of psychiatric health is with the rest of the country’s severely limited, with only one infrastructure, the majority of the psychiatric professional and one railways, airports, seaports, and mental health hospital with only 80 highways were damaged during the beds, and over 1 million victims. In 14 years of civil war. As of now, the addition to mental health disorders, three railways for ore exportation are there is also the problem of out of service. The highways in Liberia malnutrition, the Integrated Regional are deteriorated due to heavy rains
Information Networks news reported and lack of maintenance, and many that 45% of Liberian children suffer roads in Liberia are unpaved. Out of from malnutrition. Malnutrition in the 47 major airports in Liberia, only 2 children affects not only the present, have paved runways. The seaports of but also the future. Because Liberia, and particularly that of malnourished children will have Monrovia, receive many shipments difficulties learning today, the from all over the world; however, lack economy of Liberia will be affected of security and regulation leaves these tomorrow. ports vulnerable to theft and
disruption.
Transportation
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Government Structure of members, judges and other public Liberia officials. The president and vice
president are elected to a six-year
Government term by majority vote in a two round
The Liberian government is system and are limited to serving up modeled after the government of the to two years in office.
United States; it is a unitary The Legislature is composed of constitutional republic and the Senate and House of representative democracy as Representatives. The House is led by a established by the Constitution. The speaker and has 73 members from government has three equal branches: among the 15 counties and is based on the executive which is headed by the the national census, with each county president; the legislative, which receiving a minimum of 2 consists of a bicameral Legislature; representatives. House members are and judiciary, consisting of the elected by popular vote of their
Supreme Court and several lower district for six-year terms. The Senate courts. is made up of 30 senators, two from
The president serves as the head each county. The senators serve 9- of government, head of state and the year terms and are elected by a commander-in-chief of the Armed plurality of the popular vote. The vice
Forces of Liberia. The president is also president serves as the President of responsible for signing or vetoing the Senate. legislative bills and appointing cabinet
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The highest court in Liberia, AFL has been a recipient of material the Supreme Court, is made up of 5 and training assistance from the members and headed by the Chief United States.
Justice of Liberia. Members are nominated to the court by the Politics
President and confirmed by the Liberia is still in transition
Senate. A member of the Supreme from dictatorship and civil war into
Court serves until the age of 70. The democracy. According to Freedom judiciary is further divided into House, in 2005, Liberia was reported circuit, specialty, magistrate courts as “Partly Free”, with scores of (on a and justice of the peace. The judicial scale of 1 to 7 with 1 being the best system is based on a combination of and 7 being the worst) 4.5 for a total
Anglo-American law and customary freedom rating, 4 for civil liberties, law, however an informal system of and 5 for Political rights. The press of traditional courts still exists within Liberia is also only partly free. the rural areas of the country despite Local government is broken being officially outlawed. down into the following hierarchies:
Town Chief, Clan Chief, Paramount
Military Chief, District Commissioner,
The Armed forces of Liberia Superintendent of the County who is
(AFL) are the armed forces of the appointed by the government. A local country, originally founded as the tribal group elects the Clan Chief and
Liberian Frontier Force in 1908. The
25 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014 the Paramount Chief is the top leader ▪ To report the financial for a tribal group. activities and financial
position of the
Government to the Committee Positions President and the • Minister of Finance: Legislature ◦ The Minister of Finance ▪ To maintain the central shall be charged with the accounting records of following duties: the Government and
▪ To effectively and prescribe for all
efficiently manage the Government agencies of
financial resources of accounts reporting and
the Republic; be the documentation
depository of necessary to safeguard
Government funds and the assets of the
of all indicia to title of Government assets of Government ▪ To formulate fiscal
▪ To administer the policies for financial
revenue program of the planning government, including ▪ To disburse supervision of the Government funds in collection of the accordance with revenues
26 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
legislative political, economic and
appropriations cultural benefits to the
▪ Generally to perform all nation. The Ministry
such services relative to communicates directly with
the government Foreign Governments
finances as are required through its own Missions
by law. overseas or through their
• Minister of Foreign Affairs diplomatic agents in Liberia
◦ The task of the Foreign on matters of prime
Service is to assist in concern to the Government.
realizing the Government's ◦ These include its:
overall goals in matters of ▪ Diplomatic relations,
foreign policy. The Ministry ▪ Regional and
is also responsible for international political
coordinating Liberia foreign issues
policy in the Government ▪ Treaties and
Offices. The Ministry of conventions, and aid
Foreign Affairs is to and economic issues.
maintain and promote • Minister of Transportation
friendly relations between ◦ The mission of the Ministry
Liberia and her foreign of Transport is to establish
partners; the Ministry seeks a policy framework that
to secure the maximum, ensures an effective and
27 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
efficient service delivery, and the Bureau of Lands
and infrastructure and Surveys
development in support of ▪ The Department of
the overall growth and Mineral Exploration and
development of Liberia, Research, which
which can be assured consists of the Liberian
through the development Geological Survey and
and execution of the the Liberian
National Transport Policy Hydrological Service
and National Transport ▪ The Department of
Master Plan. Mines and Mineral
• Minister of Land, Mines, and Resources Development
Energy and Conservation which
◦ The Ministry of Lands, consists of the Bureau of
Mines and Energy Mines and Bureau of
comprises of the following Economic Forecast and
departments: Mining Concession
▪ The Department of Appraisal
Lands, Surveys and ▪ The Department of
Cartography which Energy which consists
consists of the Liberian of the Bureau of
Cartographic Service Hydrocarbons and the
Bureau of Energy
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Technology and Policy deeds, providing safe
Development drinking water by
▪ The Department of conducting research in
Planning and water quality analysis
Development with help from many
▪ The Inspectorate institutions
Division (Governmental, NGOs,
▪ The Department of PVOs, International
Administration Organizations, etc.), the compilation of data with ▪ Over the years and
during the period under the aim of producing a
review, the Ministry new mineral resources
accomplished a number map of the country, and
of tasks in the areas of the supervision and
contracting concession controlled monitoring of
investment in the the alluvial mining
mineral sector by sector. The Ministry,
awarding numerous during the period
mineral rights, reactivated the National
instituting reform in the Energy Committee
land sector by adopting (NEC) an interagency
policies to control the advisory body on
illicit trafficking of energy matters
29 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
comprising nine sustenance of the Liberian
members including state.
government ministries ◦ 7 Key Strategic Initiatives:
and public corporations. Education ministry
This is in agreement ▪ Decentralization and
with the multisectoral system transformation
approach being ▪ Improve efficiency at
encouraged by the the Ministry of
Economic Community of Education Central Office West African States ▪ Improve educational
(ECOWAS). leadership at all levels
• Minister of Education (County Education
◦ The mission of the Ministry Officers (CEOs), District
of Education is to provide Education Officers
quality education for all and (DEOs), Schools,
prepare future leaders who Principals and
are capable of handling the Teachers)
task of nation building, ▪ Establishment of
protecting our national functional County
heritage and enhancing the Education Offices and
socioeconomic growth and Learning Resource
development for the Centers in each of the
15 counties
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▪ Recruitment and level of security in the
training of County state, which is attained
Education Staff through preventive
▪ Establishment of the rather than repressive
Centers of Excellence action of the law
Educational enforcement agencies.
Management, Aiming to implement
Accreditation & both tasks, the Ministry
Certification and of the Interior is
Curriculum responsible for public
Development security and police,
▪ Construction, internal administrative
rehabilitation and affairs and migrations,
renovation of schools pursuant to the State
• Minister of Internal Affairs laws.
◦ The Ministry of Internal ▪ The Ministry of the
Affairs formulates and Interior, together with
implements policies the Police and the
relating to defense, Internal Affairs
security, law and order. Inspectorate as autonomous bodies ▪ The mission of the within its framework, Ministry is to provide performs tasks defined the highest possible
31 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
by law in the following relating to work permits,
fields of activity: investments, passports, and
▪ Internal administrative citizenship and for
affairs. maintaining services at
▪ Police and security: ports of entry. It provides
Police Force: Is statistics through its
responsible for the computerized system that
maintenance of law and is used by various
order, preservation of government departments
peace, protection of life and the private sector for
and property, the planning purposes.
prevention and ◦ Military Forces: Is made up
detection of crime and of the Army and the Naval
the enforcement of all Force, who are responsible
laws it is directly for defense, internal
charged with. security, international
◦ Immigration: Is responsible peacekeeping duties, nation
for the administration of building, youth training &
immigration functions infrastructure development
throughout the country. in rural areas, support
This includes the operations during disasters,
formulation and emergencies and maritime
implementation of policies research and rescue.
32 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
• Minister of Justice and Executive Branch of
Attorney General Government.
◦ Duties of the Ministry of ▪ Oversee the codification
Justice of Liberian Statutory
▪ To procure the proper Law; administer the
evidence for, and laws relating to
conduct, prosecute, or admission, deportation
defend all suits and and naturalization of
proceedings in the aliens, and the
courts in which the regulation of aliens
Republic or any officer within Liberia.
thereof, as to such ▪ Supervise the
officer, is a party or may Correctional System and
be interested. the commitment and
▪ Institute all legal treatment of prisoner.
proceedings necessary ▪ To the extent stated in
for law enforcement. the Aliens and
▪ Furnish opinions as to Nationality Law,
legal matters and administer laws relating
render services to the admission,
requiring legal skills to deportation and
the president and other naturalization of aliens,
agencies of the
33 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
and the regulations of Armed Forces; preparation
aliens within Liberia; of civil defense.
▪ Supervise the activities ◦ The Ministry of Defense
of the National Bureau prepares government
of Investigation, the business connected with
National Central Bureau the total defense, i.e.
and the National Police military and civil defense,
Force. protection and
▪ Oversee all government preparedness against
activities relating to accidents and preparedness
administration of the for severe peacetime
Vehicle and Traffic Law emergencies.
prevention and control ◦ Defense reform
of fires; ▪ The Liberia defense
• Minister of national defense system is undergoing
◦ The Ministry of Defense one of the largest
carries out administrative military reforms to be
and professional tasks undertaken by Liberia
related to the national in modern times as it is
defense plan; development, transformed from a
organization, equipment, defense force against
functioning, and command invasion.
and control of the Liberian
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▪ The Ministry of Defense Research, Publication and
aims to fulfill the Website Section.
objectives set by the ◦ Media Sector Development:
Government. The focus of media sector
• Minister of Information, development is to
Culture and Tourism encourage awareness of
◦ The Ministry is the government's plans,
government's major policies and progress
information agency within the country and
providing the link between abroad including greater
the government, the media awareness of the people's
and the public. social, economic and
Government's role is to political environment. The
better inform the public development of the media
about major national including the raising of
development issues and journalistic standards,
evolve an informed human resources and
approach to resolving them. capacity building is being
The Information Services actively encouraged. In
division includes a News recognizing its role in
Department, Film and nation building and
Television Unit, national development the
Photography Unit, and a media must work with
35 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
government, local Culture relate to the
authorities and creation, communication
nongovernment and protection of cultural
organizations in promoting values and media.
national unity by ◦ Tourism: The ministry
encouraging people's responsible for policy,
participation in programme, research,
development through well statistical review and
researched and informative formulation of tourism
material for public development planning. Its
dissemination. principal task is to
◦ Media Legislation: The coordinate and execute
Ministry is responsible for tourism development
developing and introducing programmed; monitor the
new media legislation to effectiveness of incentives
develop a more vibrant provided by Government;
media industry. The promote and facilitate the
introduction of new media development of the tourism
laws will help facilitate industry and through the
transparency and Liberian Tourist Bureau
accountability in the media. (LTB).
◦ Main Areas of Activity: The • Minister of Public Works
activities of the Ministry of
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◦ The Ministry of Public • Minister of Agriculture
Works carries out the ◦ This office:
following broad junctions: ▪ Oversees and
▪ Provision of advice, coordinates activities of
technical services, each of the Departments
planning, design and of the Ministry
construction of works ▪ Keeps abreast of
projects for other potentially available
Government international donor
Departments and assistance;
Agencies. ▪ Investigates and follows
▪ Management of works up on offers of
and maintenance international assistance
programs associated that are consistent with
with public buildings, development needs
roads bridges, airfields, ▪ Handles necessary
jetties, water supplies, details relating to
sewerage and rural negotiations and
electricity; and agreements in
▪ Maintenance and connection with
operation of facilities assistance from external
owned by the sources;
Government.
37 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
▪ Coordinates the implementing, and
activities of and monitoring and evaluating
provides assistance to agricultural development
foreign consultants and programs from time to
advisors working with time. It also ensures that its
the Ministry; staff and the farmers are
▪ Coordinates trained to cope with the
international travel and challenges of the
arranges for agricultural activities.
appropriate Additionally, the Ministry
dissemination of ensures that agricultural
information from problems that impede
resulting reports. production are investigated
◦ The Ministry of Agriculture and lasting solutions found,
of the Republic of Liberia is and the farmers are
responsible for the provided the supportive
development of the services and the enabling
agriculture sector. It does environment to produce.
so by ensuring that an The Ministry’s core general
effective organizational areas of responsibility will
structure is put in place and most probably continue to
is manned by staff capable consist of: agriculture, both
of planning, coordinating, smallholder and
38 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
commercial; plantation this. Among our many
crops; fisheries; and partners we will be
livestock. particularly focused on
• Minister of Commerce and existing and new
Industry business, consumers,
◦ Mission Statement and helping move the
▪ “As a strong partner we informal into the formal
strive to create sound sector. We will do this
policies promptly for with respect for all
commerce and trade partners, with
that facilitate private accountability for
sector growth and efficient and effective
innovations, while performance and with
setting standards that professional standards
will empower all of our at a high level of
consumers to make integrity.
informed decisions ▪ Roles and Functions
improving the quality of • Establish and
life for all. In particular regulate commodity
we will facilitate private and trade standards;
sector growth, and set Collect, evaluate, and
good policies and publish data
standards to achieve pertaining to
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Commerce and Monitoring and
Industry; Establish regulating prices of and enforce essential goods. standards for • Minister of Health and Social business practices; Welfare
Promote sound ◦ Duties of Minister of Health development of and Social Welfare foreign and domestic ▪ The Minister of Health & trade; Issue Import Social Welfare shall be and Export Permits; charged with the
Control quality of responsibility of goods and administering commodity governmental activities imported into and pertaining to the exported from the protection and
Country; Implement improvement of Public efficient and Health and Social effective trade Welfare. management system ▪ More specifically, the including duties of the Minister preshipment shall include: Inspection of • Prevention of the imports and exports; introduction and
40 LIBERIA PMUNC 2014
spread of human diseases and
communicable, the collection and
infectious, and compilation of
preventable diseases pertinent statistical
within the Republic; data;
• Prevention of • Prevention and
medical care and abatement of
treatment through conditions
public hospitals, hazardous to the
clinics, mental public health;
institutions and • Supervise the
rehabilitation collection of data
centers for alcoholic relating to births,
and narcotic addicts; deaths, and burials;
• Licensing and • Supervise and
supervision of regulate the sanitary
medical aspects of hotels,
practitioners and boarding houses,
facilities; public eating and
• Promotion and drinking
conduct of research establishments,
in the prevention bathing
and treatment of establishments, and
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other businesses and • Cooperate with the
activities affecting judicial system in its
public health; administration of
• Overseeing the just, the law relating to
humane and juvenile
economic delinquency; and
administration of all with any other
Government agencies of the
operated welfare Government
institutions authorized to
exclusive of those administer
expressly within the institutions or
purview of other activities concerned
agencies of with social welfare;
Government; • Under authority of
• Supervising the statute or executive
distribution of all order, to lend
relief and welfare assistance to
funds granted by the persons in need
Government to the because of public
needy and disaster;
underprivileged; • Originate and
participate in
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programs for rehabilitation
promotion of child manpower and to
welfare and for promote public
prevention of understanding about
juvenile the needs and ability
delinquency; of handicapped
• To the extent people;
provided by law, to • Promote research,
oversee the care of experiments,
juvenile investigation and
delinquencies and studies in the
homeless children in education
foster homes, development of
hostels, and scientific methods
vocational for the diagnosis and
institutions; prevention of social
• Improve problems;
rehabilitation • Offer assistance in
knowledge and its the management of
application to charitable
increase the nation's organizations
service supply of established within
trained the Republic so as to
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provide maximum ▪ Violence Against
benefits to the public Women and Culture
and ensure that their ▪ Mainstreaming of
funds are utilized for women’s and gender
the purposes for concerns in the planning
which they were process and all policy
established; and areas.
• Perform such other ▪ Women and the Law
functions as may • Minister of Labor from time to time be ◦ The main sections of the
assigned by the Ministry and their
President. objectives are as follows: • Minister of Gender and ▪ Promote and encourage Development an enabling
◦ The Ministry is the primary environment for
advisor to Government on accelerated growth and
public policies that affect employment, facilitate
women. The Ministry Plan the process of
of Action includes strategic formalization of
objectives and directions employment through
for action in: appropriate policy
▪ Balancing Gender in intervention, improve
Decision Making and promote
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opportunities for ▪ Legal — provides legal
technical and vocational advice on labor
training especially in the legislation, and also
rural areas litigation and
▪ Permanent Arbitrator prosecution services for
— to provide a all sections of the
permanent institution Ministry.
for adjudication of ▪ Training — provides
industrial disputes on effective training
an expeditious and programs for the staff in
consistent basis. order that the highest
▪ Occupational Health and quality services are
Safety — the effective delivered.
administration of the Bibliography: legislation and other "Liberia GDP per capita." Liberia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. standards relating to
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