LINA, LBS Need More Support

Government media houses such as the Liberia Broadcasting System or LBS and Liberia News Agency or LINA needs increased financial and logistical support, says LINA Director General Jay Nagbe Sloh.

According to him, LINA is a government owned institution without a budget. Mr. Sloh expressed regret that a national news agency will exist without budgetary allotment – least to talk about being independent.

According to him, the government has been short-coming in supporting its own media houses financially, adding that such media development was one area where the President, Minister of Finance and other government institutions need to support so that their stories can be told in details.

Speaking yesterday on the Super Morning Show on ELBC Radio in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, he said in spite of government’s limited support to its own houses, they continue to cover the entire country, through their correspondents and signals.

“As a government media house, what we have as the national news agency is just US$150,000.00 which is just for salaries; nothing more or less,” he added, stressing that when given the necessary support, the two institutions will be improved and citizens will be kept by the side of government projects and implementations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sloh has expressed optimism that the government will focus on the completion of existing projects, particularly roads rather than beginning new ones as the period of two-years is short to begin new ones.

“I don’t expect much in two-years other than what the president has already done. Probably reconditioning existing roads will be the way to go; new constructions, I don’t think so,” he asserted, further warning citizens against the destruction of the country as a means of putting food on their respective tables.

By Bridgett Milton